Conlon Seeking UCP Nomination For Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright

Paul Conlon. Photo submitted

Vermilion Town Councillor Paul Conlon says his decision to seek the United Conservative Party nomination for the Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright constituency comes from a desire to ensure rural voices continue to be heard in Edmonton.

Conlon, who has served two consecutive terms on Vermilion Town Council, announced his intention to seek the nomination following the news that current MLA Garth Rowswell would not be seeking re-election.

“This wasn’t something I had planned to do this early in life, but when I recently learned Mr. Rowswell wouldn’t be running again, I felt it was the right time to change my plans,” said Conlon.

“There are a lot of issues in our region that I have a direct connection to and a real passion for improving.”

A lifelong resident of the constituency, Conlon said he believes his age and life experiences position him well to understand the diverse needs of the riding.

“I’m right in the middle of our constituency’s diverse population—young enough to understand the needs of our youth, old enough to be raising a family myself, and respectful of the needs of our seniors through the close relationships I have with family and friends throughout the area.”

Conlon said his years in municipal politics have prepared him for the realities of provincial office.

“Having the opportunity to serve two consecutive terms on Town Council has given me a wealth of experience. I’ve seen both the best and the worst sides of politics,” he said.

“I’m not jumping into provincial politics blind. I understand how the government should operate properly. I’m going to avoid rookie mistakes like making promises I can’t keep or telling people things that simply aren’t possible.”

Conlon said municipal politics has reinforced the importance of honesty, accountability and listening.

“You don’t get into politics to be liked by everyone,” he said. “You get into it knowing you’ll never please everyone, but you owe people honesty and respect.”

Asked what he believes the provincial government needs to better understand, Conlon pointed to the level of respect often seen at the municipal level.

“One thing I’ve never liked is political jargon or answers that avoid the question being asked,” he said. “Our local councils generally operate with a level of respect that I don’t always see when I watch debates at the provincial level. Too often it turns into political theatre instead of productive discussion.”

Conlon said the UCP is the party whose values most closely align with his own, but stressed that an MLA must represent everyone in the constituency.

“An MLA represents everyone in the constituency, not just those who voted for them,” he said. “My job would be to advocate for the needs of every resident, regardless of political affiliation.”

Rural healthcare emerged as the dominant theme throughout Conlon’s campaign priorities.

A member of the Vermilion Fire Department for more than eight years, Conlon said he has experienced both the strengths and weaknesses of the rural healthcare system firsthand.

“I’ve been on emergency calls where we’ve waited more than an hour and a half for an ambulance to arrive,” he said. “During that time, firefighters are doing everything we can to care for the patient while family members ask why the ambulance hasn’t arrived.”

Conlon emphasized that his concerns are not directed at frontline paramedics.

“To be clear, this isn’t a criticism of our paramedics. They’re doing an incredible job under difficult circumstances. The problem is the system setup itself.”

If elected, Conlon said healthcare would remain his top priority, particularly improving ambulance response times, strengthening rural hospitals and recruiting healthcare professionals.

“My wife is a nurse, and my mother was a nurse, so I’ve heard firsthand about many of the challenges facing our healthcare system,” he said.

“I’ll advocate for improving EMS response times, increased recruitment of Advanced Care Paramedics, and continued efforts to attract and retain doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals that fit our demographics needs.”

Public safety and infrastructure funding also rank high among Conlon’s priorities.

He said helping with stronger collaboration between the RCMP and Alberta Sheriffs to improve community safety will be a priority. “We need to give police the tools and support they need while advocating for a justice system that holds repeat offenders accountable.” Continued on page 7

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Conlon understands that municipalities across the constituency continue to struggle with aging infrastructure and increasing costs.

“Rural communities simply can’t keep absorbing these costs without placing an even greater burden on local taxpayers. Predictable, long-term infrastructure grants and reduction of provincial downloading costs would be a topic of discussion I’d like to have.” he said.

Conlon also highlighted the importance of agriculture and energy to the future of the region.

“Agriculture and energy are the backbone of this region,” he said.

Conlon said protecting trade markets and supporting young farmers are essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of family farms.

“It has become incredibly difficult for the next generation to take over family farms because of rising costs and shrinking returns. We need to find practical ways to help young people continue farming so family operations can thrive for generations to come.”

Having spent much of his career working in the energy sector, Conlon said responsible energy development will remain a priority.

“Oil and gas remain vital to our region, but wind and solar also have a role to play, only where they create jobs and investment that can sustain themselves,” he said.

When asked what sets him apart from other potential candidates, Conlon pointed to his lifelong connection to the constituency and his broad range of experiences.

“I’ve built relationships with blue-collar workers, business owners, families, seniors, first responders and municipal leaders,” he said. “Those experiences have given me a broad understanding of the issues affecting our communities.”

Conlon described his leadership style as “honest, approachable and firm.”

“I don’t believe in sugar-coating problems or avoiding difficult conversations,” he said. “Good leadership isn’t about telling people what they want to hear. It’s about listening, making informed decisions and having the courage to stand behind them.”

Beyond politics, Conlon is a husband and father of soon-to-be three children. After high school, he earned his commercial helicopter pilot licence before eventually becoming a business partner in a local oilfield company. He is a firefighter with the Vermilion Fire Department and has been deployed by the Province of Alberta during both the Jasper and Redwater wildfires.

Conlon said improving rural healthcare is what ultimately motivated him to seek provincial office.

“If I’m successful, I’ll work tirelessly to improve healthcare in our region,” he said. “If I’m not successful, any knowledge, research, or ideas I’ve gathered won’t go to waste. I’ll gladly share them with whoever earns the nomination because, at the end of the day, improving our communities is what matters most.”

The United Conservative Party nomination vote for the Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright constituency has not been set but is rumored to be in the late fall and you need a membership to be eligible to partake in that.

Conlon said the response from residents since announcing his candidacy has been overwhelmingly positive.

“One comment I hear repeatedly is that people appreciate seeing someone who was raised here, who speaks plainly, and who genuinely wants to serve the community,” he said.

Asked why voters should place their trust in him, Conlon said his answer is simple.

“Because I’ll always listen,” he said. “I won’t pretend I can solve every problem, and I won’t make promises I can’t keep. What I will do is listen, be honest, and work hard to ensure our region’s concerns are heard at the provincial level.”