Darrell Dunn. File Photo
Darrell Dunn is keeping his eyes on the prize running for the Alberta Party in the provincial election.
The Lloydminster resident says electing him and the party in the Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright riding on May 29 will end what he calls the dysfunctional two-party system in Alberta.
He says he joined the party two and a half years ago frustrated by an entrenched left-wing and right-wing political system with no room in the middle for constructive compromise.
“Subsequent events have proven the pervasive dysfunction of our two-party reality to be good for the party leaders, but disastrous for the people of this province,” said Dunn.
He says the basic structure of our system of elected government was designed for MLAs to act in their role as the voice of the people who elected them—noting that no longer happens.
“With the growth and evolution of the party system, the focus has shifted from the contribution of MLAs to a cult of leadership,” said Dunn.
He says that means the party leader declares what is going to happen; what is expected from each ministry; what their MLAs will say in question period and finally, how those MLAs will vote.
“That is not the Alberta Party,” said Dunn, who says the role of an MLA is to represent the riding and raise your voice in committee, in meetings and in the Legislature for your constituency.
It’s no wonder representation is top of mind campaigning on health care, seniors issues, education, affordability, infrastructure, economic growth and development and for this constituency, in particular the relationship with Municipal Affairs.
“With all of the downloading of costs to the municipalities against what the riding provides in GDP and taxes, the issue of fairness needs to be considered,” said Dunn.
“We need serious advocating for the riding overall, regardless of who is in the aisles.”
Dunn says he was initiated into prairie politics when he was a kid and his dad introduced him to the then-premier of Saskatchewan.
Learning about “citizenship” was done around our kitchen table and the prevailing attitude was, if you’re not involved, then you don’t get to complain.
Dunn has lived in Lloydminster with his wife for the past 15 years and puts beans on the table with his legal issue consultancy, D.W. Dunn Legal Solutions.
The business includes private investigations, small claims agency work, legal documentation, and notary and commissioning work.
Dunn’s community involvement spans the Snowflake House Respite Foundation, the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society and a run for City Council in 2020.
He’s the current corporate secretary of the Alberta Party and a former party vice president.
Dunn’s resume includes careers in agriculture and law enforcement, and he’s been an elected official, bureaucrat, consultant and advocate with an education background in law, political science, history and economics.
“Our family is grown and away and my wife and I spend a great deal of our time active in the community and surrounding area,” said Dunn.
“I would love the challenge of representing the constituency and its people in Edmonton.”
