Copeland hopes Smith will appoint northeastern cabinet minister

With UCP members voting for the new leader of Alberta, Cold Lake mayor Craig Copeland is hopeful that northeastern Alberta will get a larger voice when making decisions.

Danielle Smith won the leadership race and will be the next Premier until the spring provincial election.

In talking with Mayor Craig Copeland, he has experience working with Smith in the past, and is hopeful this region will benefit.

“Let’s hope in northeastern Alberta we get somebody at the cabinet level,” he told Lakeland Connect. “It doesn’t matter where you are in the northeast, we really haven’t had anybody with the seat at the cabinet table. So I guess that would be my big wish, if she’s going to readjust the cabinet with her being the leader, that we have some representation from northeast Alberta.” 

The vote went down to the final ballot before Smith edged out candidate Travis Toews.

Smith said she will chose a new cabinet on October 21.

“She’s not going to sugarcoat it, that’s for sure. She’s a really frank speaker, I’ve worked with her quite a bit over the years. I think what she might bring to the caucus is the MLAs, I think are going to have more significance within her caucus. And I think municipalities will work with their MLA to bring the issue forward. And the MLAs will have probably a bigger voice at the table,” said Copeland.