Lethbridge has not been kind to the New Democratic Party (NDP) in federal elections, having never elected a member of parliament from the party. Those odds did not stop this year’s candidate, Shandi Bleiken, from venturing into a challenging race against an incumbent.

“It can seem really dark sometimes, but our community always finds a way to come together and make something hopeful,” she said.

The future can seem unpredictable for young Albertans, who are worried about problems such as the ability to find a job in an uncertain economy, an opioid crisis currently gripping communities such as Lethbridge and the spectre of climate disasters to come.

“I know many people who are choosing not to have children, even though they want to, because they’re not sure what kind of a world they’d be bringing their children into,” said Bleiken.

Before the campaign, the NDP candidate was involved with an organization called OUTreach, which works to support young people and educate the public about the LGBTQ community.

“I care about my community and know that all the work that we do exists in this political framework, and when we have people who work hard and listen to our community, that framework can be really strong,” said Kristina Larkin, Bleiken’s campaign manager.

One thing important to many people in the area is drug addiction and its disastrous effects. Lethbridge’s safe consumption site experienced nearly quadruple the number of visits of Calgary’s site, according to A Community Based Report on Alberta’s Supervised Consumption Service Effectiveness by Alberta Community Council on HIV. Bleiken said the NDP, if elected, would immediately declare a national emergency to deal with the opioid crisis. The party would also explore the possibility of taking legal action against pharmaceutical companies who are exacerbating the problem.

The NDP released an optimistic campaign platform, which includes a universal pharmaceutical care program and heavy investment in a future of green energy. Renewable energy might not be the first thing that comes to mind when speaking about issues for voters in southern Alberta, but Bleiken said the region’s weather could make it a good location for an energy hub.

“I’ve talked with many experts in the field and they tell me the potential we have with solar and wind energy. The college has fantastic programs with wind turbines and different renewable energy sources,” she said.

The NDP said it will create 300,000 jobs across the country with a plan for a clean economy by creating new infrastructure for renewable resources such as wind and solar. It would also work with communities to determine a solution to the disappearance of Greyhound bus routes, with a goal of creating free transit systems that run on zero emissions, according to Bleiken.

“People need access to that transit so they can go to the hospital, go to school. We know that transit is one of the things that gives people access to a better future,” said the candidate.

Many people in the Lethbridge riding make their living through agriculture in a region known as the Palliser Triangle, which relies on mountain runoff for irrigation. The NDP would support an organization called Farming Smarter, which works by connecting researchers and farmers to conserve soil and water. Bleiken said her party is also committed to using agricultural products locally and reducing emissions and waste from exporting to other countries.

“We would really focus on making sure all the processing and manufacturing was happening locally and… make sure food is being consumed locally, so we’re not constantly shipping it out to foreign markets,” she said.

Bleiken will be competing for votes with candidates from the following parties: the Conservatives, the Liberals, the Greens, the People’s Party of Canada and Christian Heritage.

“She is so committed to lifting up the people around her and I know she would be a really wonderful member of parliament who would really carry the voices of Lethbridge to Ottawa,” said Larkin.

Conservative Rachel Harder won over 56 per cent of the vote in the last federal election, while the NDP candidate received 20 per cent.