Innisfail—Sylvan Lake

Innisfail—Sylvan Lake is a central Alberta riding stretching between the agricultural town of Innisfail and the resort community of Sylvan Lake, just west of Red Deer. The constituency includes the communities of Penhold, Bowden, Delburne, Elnora, Springbrook, Spruce View, Markerville, and Dickson. The riding blends a farming economy with the recreational tourism draw of Sylvan Lake and the commuter belt around Red Deer. Kerry Towle won the seat for the Wildrose in 2012 but crossed the floor to the PCs in 2014 and lost the riding in 2015 to Wildrose candidate Don MacIntyre. MacIntyre resigned in February 2018 after being charged with sexual assault and sexual interference, and UCP candidate Devin Dreeshen won the subsequent by-election in July 2018 with roughly 82 percent of the vote.

Candidates

Devin Dreeshen (United Conservative) — A fifth-generation farmer from the Pine Lake area and son of federal Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen, Dreeshen studied economics and political science at the University of Alberta. He worked as a policy advisor to federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz from 2008 to 2015, focusing on agriculture trade and rural infrastructure. He served as a director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and the Crossroads Agricultural Society.

Robyn O'Brien (NDP) — Born and raised in Red Deer, O'Brien held a bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Calgary. She founded and ran an arts nonprofit providing low-cost or free art programming for individuals dealing with mental health challenges. Her campaign prioritized publicly funded health care and the NDP's $25-a-day childcare proposal.

Danielle Klooster (Alberta Party) — A certified management consultant from Penhold, Klooster ran for the Alberta Party for the third consecutive election. She served two terms on Penhold town council and worked as a senior business development advisor at Catapult Entrepreneurs, a regional business incubator.

Chad Miller (Freedom Conservative) — The Freedom Conservative Party's candidate in Innisfail—Sylvan Lake.

Brian Vanderkley (Alberta Advantage) — The Alberta Advantage Party's candidate in Innisfail—Sylvan Lake.

Ed Wychopen (Independent) — An independent candidate in Innisfail—Sylvan Lake.

Lauren Thorsteinson (Reform) — The Reform Party's candidate in Innisfail—Sylvan Lake.

Local Issues

Rural crime was the most urgent concern across the riding heading into 2019. Crime rates in Sylvan Lake had risen roughly 19 percent year-over-year by 2017, with a five-year increase of over 28 percent. Residents of Penhold and smaller communities expressed fear about property crime and break-ins, and the issue dominated local candidate forums. The NDP government's rural crime strategy, which added funding for RCMP officers and Crown prosecutors, was a response to these pressures but faced criticism from those who felt it did not go far enough.

The vacancy in political representation caused by MacIntyre's resignation had left the riding without a sitting member for several months before Dreeshen's by-election win restored representation, and the episode underscored frustration over political instability in a riding that had changed hands repeatedly.

Highway infrastructure was another local priority. Sylvan Lake residents had long pressed for improved access from Highway 11 into town, arguing that the lack of a direct connection hurt local businesses and complicated commuter travel. Farmers in the riding's eastern sections were also focused on the impact of the carbon tax on their input costs and continued to voice frustration over Bill 6, the farm safety legislation that had provoked large protests in central Alberta.