In 1971, Peter Lougheed's PCs beat Harry Strom's Social CredIit party, ending a 36-year political dynasty in Alberta. On April 23, political lightning may strike twice in the province, with Danielle Smith's Wildrose party bringing an end to the 41-year-rule of Premier Alison Redford's PCs.
If Wildrose wins - and it seems likely, with a healthy 10 to 14 point lead over the PCs in most polls and Smith's strong performance this week in the leaders' debate - it would be good news for conservatives, Albertans, and Canadians. Smith's libertarian instincts, right of-centre policy proposals, and support for more individual rights and freedoms make an excellent political tonic. It would revitalize Alberta's conservative base, and bring an end to the PC dynasty that has looked weak under the past two premiers, Ed Stelmach and Redford. It would also hopefully produce a successful provincial government that the federal Tories would notice, study, and perhaps emulate.
Less than three years ago, Wildrose was a respectable yet minor player in Alberta politics. Many observers liked the party's populist and conservative positions, but couldn't see how a third party could smash down the powerful PC monolith. Then along came Danielle Smith.
For years, Smith was well-known in various political and economic circles. When I first met her, she was almost finished her one-year internship at the Fraser Institute. It was pretty clear Smith was an intelligent, talented and extremely affable person. Her love of public policy was evident, her thirst for learning was unquenchable, and her desire to promote smaller government and property rights for all was admirable.
Over a relatively short period of time, she held some impressive positions: director of the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute, campaign director for Alberta Property Rights Initiative, and Alberta's director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She was a trustee for the Calgary Board of Education, host of the TV show Global Sunday, and a popular Calgary Herald columnist and editorial writer.
But it's been in her role as Wildrose leader where she has truly shone. Smith, a libertarian, has always been able to build political bridges with conservatives, classical liberals and other right-leaning individuals. Her support for limited government, lower taxes, less government intrusion, and more greater personal freedom has always been music to fiscally conservative ears. Even though she's a social moderate (I can confirm with 100-per-cent certainty that she's "pro-choice and pro-gay marriage," as mentioned earlier this week), Smith has always worked hard to find common ground with social conservatives, including respecting conscience rights and opposing judicial activism.
On the campaign trail, Smith and Wildrose have made sensible political and economic proposals. The party would balance the budget by "limiting spending increases to no more than population growth plus inflation." There would be "free votes" on all legislative bills, even if it ultimately brought a Wildrose government down. An Energy Dividend would be implemented to "send a portion of Alberta's oil and gas revenues directly to Albertans, to help them pay their bills and meet the rising cost of living." A Wait Times Guarantee would give Albertans "access to medical services within clinically acceptable wait times." And the Alberta Accountability Act would "restore accountability and democracy to government, empower MLAs to be true representatives of the people in their ridings and not just mouthpieces for the government, and restore transparency to how we are governed."
To be fair, would I have personally preferred broad-based tax relief rather than a targeted tax credit like the Energy Dividend? Yes. But this important proposal would put more money back in the taxpayers' pocket to use or save as they choose. Families can always use a few extra dollars for groceries, diapers and other household items, and this dividend would do the trick.
Is it a risk to propose a Wait Times Guarantee when the federal Tories did the same thing in 2006 - and never delivered? Yes. But it's something that needs to be done to improve health care delivery in Canada, and reduce long waiting lists for important medical and diagnostic procedures. For Alberta, that would be a step in the right direction.
As well, don't right-leaning parties always call for more accountability and transparency? Yes. But it's something all parties, regardless of political stripe, should desire to see in the political process. More to the point, it's something Smith has fought her whole adult life to achieve. If anyone is ever going to accomplish it, she will.
Wildrose's mix of libertarian, conservative and populist values would energize Alberta politics as well as Canadian politics. In my opinion, if Albertans choose Smith for premier on April 23, they will have made an inspired - and impressive - decision.
Michael Taube, a political analyst and commentator and former speech writer for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, appears every other Saturday.
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Michael Taube
If Wildrose wins - and it seems likely, with a healthy 10 to 14 point lead over the PCs in most polls and Smith's strong performance this week in the leaders' debate - it would be good news for conservatives, Albertans, and Canadians. Smith's libertarian instincts, right of-centre policy proposals, and support for more individual rights and freedoms make an excellent political tonic. It would revitalize Alberta's conservative base, and bring an end to the PC dynasty that has looked weak under the past two premiers, Ed Stelmach and Redford. It would also hopefully produce a successful provincial government that the federal Tories would notice, study, and perhaps emulate.
Less than three years ago, Wildrose was a respectable yet minor player in Alberta politics. Many observers liked the party's populist and conservative positions, but couldn't see how a third party could smash down the powerful PC monolith. Then along came Danielle Smith.
For years, Smith was well-known in various political and economic circles. When I first met her, she was almost finished her one-year internship at the Fraser Institute. It was pretty clear Smith was an intelligent, talented and extremely affable person. Her love of public policy was evident, her thirst for learning was unquenchable, and her desire to promote smaller government and property rights for all was admirable.
Over a relatively short period of time, she held some impressive positions: director of the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute, campaign director for Alberta Property Rights Initiative, and Alberta's director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She was a trustee for the Calgary Board of Education, host of the TV show Global Sunday, and a popular Calgary Herald columnist and editorial writer.
But it's been in her role as Wildrose leader where she has truly shone. Smith, a libertarian, has always been able to build political bridges with conservatives, classical liberals and other right-leaning individuals. Her support for limited government, lower taxes, less government intrusion, and more greater personal freedom has always been music to fiscally conservative ears. Even though she's a social moderate (I can confirm with 100-per-cent certainty that she's "pro-choice and pro-gay marriage," as mentioned earlier this week), Smith has always worked hard to find common ground with social conservatives, including respecting conscience rights and opposing judicial activism.
On the campaign trail, Smith and Wildrose have made sensible political and economic proposals. The party would balance the budget by "limiting spending increases to no more than population growth plus inflation." There would be "free votes" on all legislative bills, even if it ultimately brought a Wildrose government down. An Energy Dividend would be implemented to "send a portion of Alberta's oil and gas revenues directly to Albertans, to help them pay their bills and meet the rising cost of living." A Wait Times Guarantee would give Albertans "access to medical services within clinically acceptable wait times." And the Alberta Accountability Act would "restore accountability and democracy to government, empower MLAs to be true representatives of the people in their ridings and not just mouthpieces for the government, and restore transparency to how we are governed."
To be fair, would I have personally preferred broad-based tax relief rather than a targeted tax credit like the Energy Dividend? Yes. But this important proposal would put more money back in the taxpayers' pocket to use or save as they choose. Families can always use a few extra dollars for groceries, diapers and other household items, and this dividend would do the trick.
Is it a risk to propose a Wait Times Guarantee when the federal Tories did the same thing in 2006 - and never delivered? Yes. But it's something that needs to be done to improve health care delivery in Canada, and reduce long waiting lists for important medical and diagnostic procedures. For Alberta, that would be a step in the right direction.
As well, don't right-leaning parties always call for more accountability and transparency? Yes. But it's something all parties, regardless of political stripe, should desire to see in the political process. More to the point, it's something Smith has fought her whole adult life to achieve. If anyone is ever going to accomplish it, she will.
Wildrose's mix of libertarian, conservative and populist values would energize Alberta politics as well as Canadian politics. In my opinion, if Albertans choose Smith for premier on April 23, they will have made an inspired - and impressive - decision.
Michael Taube, a political analyst and commentator and former speech writer for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, appears every other Saturday.
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Michael Taube
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