Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
An Edmonton lawyer will represent the Liberal Party of Canada in the Yellowhead riding during the federal election on Sept. 20.
Sheila Schumacher has been practicing law in Edmonton, and throughout northern and central Alberta, since 1989.
Although a long-time member of the Liberal Party who has worked on many campaigns, this is her first time running as a candidate for the party.
鈥淭hey asked very nicely if I would and I couldn鈥檛 say no,鈥� Schumacher said.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be a candidate. I didn鈥檛 have the courage to do it, I suppose, when I was younger.鈥�
Last month, the Liberal government called an election in hopes of achieving a majority status.
鈥淚t does seem that there are different ways to move forward from this point,鈥� Schumacher said.
鈥淭he pandemic has been an incredible challenge to everyone and certainly to governments as well as the people, so I think our government made the right decision to call the election to move forward to rebuild the economy, to get people back to work and back to normal.鈥�
Schumacher supported the Liberal government鈥檚 overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She highlighted the number of support programs available for workers, employers, seniors and students.
鈥淚 was very proud of the way they moved forward forcefully, decisively and appropriately right at the beginning with no hesitation to get the benefits out to people, to put money in people鈥檚 pockets and food on the table and help to keep small businesses open as much as possible.鈥�
In Schumacher鈥檚 opinion, the biggest misconception in Alberta about the Liberals was that the federal government wasn鈥檛 supporting the oil and gas industry.
While the Liberals are working to address climate change and environmental issues, the government has invested in the Transmountain Pipeline and provided subsidies for cleaning up orphan wells.
鈥淚 guess I would disagree with anybody who says that the federal government is not supportive of the Alberta oil and gas economy,鈥� Schumacher said.
Schumacher urged constituents to vote Liberal, since the current government 鈥渨as doing a wonderful job鈥� and would provide the best way for Canada to get back to a functioning economy and return to normal as soon as possible.
鈥淚 do believe the Liberal government is the best choice in that regard.鈥�
