Damaging fact-check on Gordon Dirks

Before you vote on May 5 in Alberta, please check out this damaging fact-check on Alberta's Education Minister Gordon Dirks.

Alberta's Education Minister skips education forum in his own riding

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark attended Calgary
Elbow's education Forum. Gordon Dirks
was a #PCnoShow. (Jeremy Nolais/Metro)

Albertans are used to Progressive Conservative candidates being no-shows at public events, debates and forums.

During last year's by-election, Jim Prentice was a no-show for an all-candidates forum.

In March, Gordon Dirks was a no-show for an Alberta Teachers' Association all-party forum on education.

Ten days ago, not one PC candidate from Red Deer North, Red Deer South or Innisfail-Sylvan Lake could be bothered to show up for an all-candidates education forum in Red Deer.

On Tuesday, April 28, PC candidate Gordon Dirks was another PC no-show for an all-party public education forum in Calgary. 

That's right, Alberta's Education Minister skipped an education forum in his own riding.

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark, who is leading Dirks in Calgary-Elbow, said, "The basic expectation for anyone who seeks elected office should be public accountability -- you should attend debates. The PCs had 71 other MLAs and they didn't send a representative. They're not interested in talking with teachers, they're not interested in engaging with parents. They're hiding."

For more details on the public events that PC candidates decline to attend, follow the Twitter hashtag #PCnoShow.

PC no-shows at public events all over Alberta

A pumpkin sits in place of no-show Jim Prentice
at a Calgary-Foothills debate.

There is an election in Alberta.

There is a lot of discontent for the 44 year old government run by the Progressive Conservatives.

Things are so uncomfortable for the Progressive Conservatives that they would rather avoid engaging the public at forums, events and debates.

During last year's by-election, Jim Prentice was a no-show for an all-candidates forum.

This year, Gordon Dirks was a no-show for an Alberta Teachers' Association all-party forum on education.

For the PCs, it's safer to not show up.

It's safer for them to not engage.

It's safer for them to not use social media.

The PCs are fuelling the status quo with silence. On May 5, election day, the PC Prentice Team is hoping that Albertans stay home.

In an effort to refuse fatalism, Albertans need to make public every time PC candidates are a no-show for public events.

On Social Media, Albertans can use #PCnoShow.

There is an education forum in Red Deer on Monday, April 20th. I have a feeling I will be Tweeting with #PCnoShow.

PCs decline to attend Alberta Teachers' all-party forum

PCs decline to attend ATA forum

On Saturday, March 14, The Alberta Teachers' Association is hosting an all-party forum education. The Liberals, NDP and Wildrose are attending but the PCs declined.

Is it too much to ask the PCs to engage with teachers at an all-party forum on education with Alberta teachers?

Why is Education Minister Gordon Dirks not finding the time and making the effort to engage with Alberta teachers at such an important event?

If Gordon Dirks and the PCs can't be bothered to attend, then I suggest that their empty chair could be filled by the Alberta Party's Greg Clark who will already be in attendance.

Because the Alberta Party now has a sitting MLA in Laurie Blakeman, it makes sense that Greg Clark represent the Alberta Party at the ATA's forum.