Alberta leadership hopefuls work the crowds at premier’s pancake breakfast

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CALGARY — The three men running to be Alberta’s next leader were on hand for the premier’s annual Stampede breakfast in downtown Calgary.

Ric McIver, Thomas Lukaszuk and Jim Prentice say if they become premier, they’ll fight to make sure the province’s unique needs are reflected in the federal Temporary Foreign Worker program.

McIver says he planned to bring the issue up with his caucus colleagues at a meeting today that he believes Alberta must continue to fight changes to the program federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney announced last month.

Lukaszuk, who handled the jobs file before entering the leadership race, says the changes are not in Alberta’s best interests and as premier he’d make sure the province’s views are on the national agenda.

Prentice says he aims to have a constructive discussion with his counterparts in Ottawa about how Alberta’s huge labour needs can be met under the program, while making sure it remains transparent and any abuses are addressed.

It was the first time hosting the event for Premier Dave Hancock, who took the helm on an interim basis following Alison Redford’s resignation in March.