Tyler is a 21 year old student attending SAIT in the Graphic Communications program. He is also a part time freelance graphic artist.

Tyler Kinch is an active and outspoken community member. He has hosted an online blog for almost 5 years that deals with a broad range of social issues. He is involved in many initiatives surrounding Alberta’s affordable housing crisis, including being the founder of a tremendously popular Facebook group advocating rent control in Alberta.

Tyler was previously a member of the SAIT student legislative council, where he helped spearhead a sustainability committee with fellow councilors.

Tyler Kinch’s nomination speech for the NDP candiacy in Calgary Hays (2008 Alberta Provincial Election):

I am deeply honored to be the NDP candidate for Calgary Hays, as I know the NDP is the only party standing up for ordinary working Albertans. I believe that everyone has basic rights that need be protected.

I know it won’t be an easy fight, but I am up for the challenge.

Let me talk a bit about our public health care system in Alberta. Many constituents in Calgary Hays, and across the province, have poor access to health care facilities due to cutbacks by the Klein government. While the Progressive Conservatives keep on trying to push private health care on us, only the NDP is standing up for improving the public system. Our party created public health care in this country, and we are the only ones who can be trusted to protect it.

Rent control is another idea that Albertans across the province are demanding. Many of you may know that I recently started a Facebook group that is demanding rent control in Alberta. That group has reached almost 2000 members in only 1 month and has also received a lot of media attention! This is definitely an issue that Albertans are passionate about, and even though a large portion of the constituents in Calgary Hays are homeowners, I believe homeowners understand the importance of stable housing in our society. No one should ever have to make the choice between paying the rent or buying groceries, yet so many Albertans have to make that choice. Rent control must be implemented in Alberta along with an actual affordable housing plan.

The economy in Alberta is booming. But so many Albertans are falling further and further behind. This is not right. Our party took the lead on the royalty issue by demanding a fair share for Albertans, and they continue to take the lead on ensuring that the wealth of this province is accessible by all Albertans.

I’ve been asked before, why am I NDP? Why not Liberal? The answer to that is easy: because I believe government should serve the people first, not corporations. The Liberals and PC’s can promise all they want to the people of this province but when they take corporate donations, they have someone else to pay back first before delivering on their promises to the people.

I’d like to ask everybody to consider volunteering or donating to any of the great NDP candidates in Calgary. It is because of members like you, donating your time or money to campaigns, that allows the NDP to run a strong campaign in Alberta.

The NDP is the party for the people of this province. We do not take any corporate donations, and our MLA’s have a reputation of taking care of your interests first in the legislature. I am proud to be an NDP member in Alberta, and I am honored to be a candidate in the next provincial election. With passion and hard work, we can shake things up in Alberta.

Thank you for your time.

E-mail: tyler@tylerkinch.com