Pipestone Flyer
Wetaskiwin-Camrose MLA, Hon. Verlyn Olson, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, wishes to announce that he has decided to support Gary Mar for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and Premier of Alberta.
Olson has made this decision very carefully, having waited until after nominations were closed and then having carefully considered each candidate and the needs of the province and the party.
There are a number of reasons why Olson has chosen to support Gary Mar in this PC Party election. He sees Mar as a wonderful communicator, open, affable, easy to like and warm up to. At the same time, Mar is a man of substance with a balanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities which Alberta faces. Mar has mixed roots, not merely Edmonton or Calgary or rural, and his three years in Washington representing Alberta have given him perspective and a broader understanding. Seeing Mar in action has reinforced this very positive impression.
MLAs Arnold Dirkson and Ray Princ who know agriculture well and have worked with Mar confirm that he has a very good understanding of agriculture.
Mar is concerned about the need to work with our aboriginal people, the youngest and fastest growing sector in Alberta. This involves working with the Federal Government, but aboriginal people in Alberta are Albertans.
Mar can also be funny and engaging, and does impressive Ian Tyson and Elvis impersonations when appropriate.
In choosing to support Gary Mar in this PC Party election, Olson is supporting the candidate whom he believes to have the best balanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities which Alberta faces, to have the best communication skills to help others understand, and to have the best ability to bring people together and attract support. Olson believes that Gary Mar is the best person to lead the PC Party and the province forward.