Calgary-Foothills byelection forum: Part 1 on the Calgary Eyeopener

For the third time in less than a year, residents in the riding of Calgary-Foothills are heading to the polls to elect a new MLA.

There are six candidates vying for the seatin the Sept. 3 byelection and they've all been invited to debate the issues this week on the Calgary Eyeopener.

• Calgary-Foothills candidates debate the issues ahead of Septemberbyelection
• Calgary-Foothillsbyelectiona close race, suggestsMainstreetpoll

On Wednesday, the Liberal, PC and Alberta Party candidates were in the hotseat.Here are some of the most memorable quotes from the forum.

PCBlair Houston

• "They're mad at Jim [Prentice], I'm mad a Jim. I worked on both those campaigns side-by-side with Jim so it was very frustrating for me and so many people in the party, so many volunteers. So that's what's given me my motivation to get out there and represent the actual voice that makes a difference for this PC party."
• "You know, the temper has changed because are people are scared. They're scared of the economy, they're scared of what's happening."

LiberalAli Bin Zahid

• "95 per cent of all businesses in Alberta are small businesses. We want to eliminate the small business tax, create jobs and provide the economy the stimulus they need."
• "We don't have balance in the legislature right now. We have two ideological extremes. So we're the only party that can provide balance and we're in the moderate-centre.

Alberta PartyMark Taylor

• "The NDP ...is making some pretty rash decisions when it come to the oil and gas industry. And I think that comes from a place of lack of knowledge."
• "What can one MLA do? I take a look at what Greg Clark is doing.He's hitting above his weight class. He's demonstrating that one MLA can reallytruly make a difference.He's doing a fantastic job for Calgary-Elbow and I want to repeat that in Calgary-Foothills."