With less than a week to go in the United Conservative Party leadership race, leadership hopefuls are making one last push before voting starts.

Both Doug Schweitzer and Jason Kenny made a stop in Red Deer yesterday (Oct.23), as they continue their trip around Alberta, spreading the message on why they should be elected as the new leader.

Schweitzer had this to say at City Hall Park, on what he can bring.

“Whether it’s Gay/Straight Alliance, making sure we’re not outing gay kids, to advocating for women’s issue as well, from domestic violence to income gaps, our campaign has been clear on a lot of those issues and making sure we set the tone on it.”

Kenny spoke to a crowd at the Harvest Centre in Westerner Park, and said his years of experience make him the better choice.

“As head of the (Canadian) Taxpayers Federation, fighting for fiscal responsibility, as a senior minister in the federal government, over seeing reforms in a number of ministries and in the 16 months leading this movement to unity, I think that’s the kind of experience we’ll need if we become government in 2019.”

Although he feels confident, Kenney said he isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We’re feeling good, I think people are responding positively to our message. We feel we’ve had a strong basis of support from, what I would call, legacy progressive conservatives and growing support amongst people who had been in the Wildrose Party. We will see what happens Saturday night.”

Schweitzer pointed out that people are seeking change, and said it’s something he can provide.

“People are looking for a different kind of politics here in Alberta. They’ve sent that signal at the municipal level and they sent that message in the last provincial election. Conservatives have to listen to Albertans. We need to make sure that we reflect the times, reflect the young population. It’s the youngest population in Canada at 36 years old.”

UCP members will select a new leader in a province-wide vote that begins on Thursday and ends on Saturday.

Former Wildrose leader Brian Jean rounds out the list of who’s running.