The PCs have ruled Alberta for 41 years, and for the last many years at least they ruled with an ironic fist.
In other words, for many of the senior leaders in the PC party, the “Conservative” in Progressive Conservative is a noun, not an adjective.
They call themselves Conservatives but have rejected the conservative approach to governing.
If it pleases the court of public opinion, I offer as an example a single piece of startling evidence.
In January, Calgary’s School of Public Policy released a report showing wage increases for Alberta’s public sector employees ate up 95% of the total increase in government revenues between 2000 and 2010, far outstripping public sector wage growth in other provinces.
Yes, that’s right, 95%, which happens to rhyme with “all our future spent.”
I’m tempted to set up a tent in the park and throw around a Frisbee to protest the unfairness of this, but I can’t think of a more ridiculous way to make a point so I will write this column instead.
Anyway, that sobering statistic is a metaphor for all that has gone wrong with the once-great Alberta PCs.
Over time the PC government grew drunk on oil money and then fell in love with those alluring sisters: Government spending, sprawling bureaucracy and centralized decision-making.
Current Premier Alison Redford wanted to show early on she was going to be different but then she promptly restored $100 million in education funding as a sop to the teachers’ union. After that it was a series of controversies, some inherited, which have now dogged her into the election.
For the longest time, abundant jobs and rising wages seemed to foster political indifference in Alberta, but that was also before Alberta had another conservative option.
Enter the Wildrose Party and their smart and appealing leader Danielle Smith. Her calculation early on was that Albertans still want the same things they’ve always wanted, and her platform has reflected that.
In the Wildrose worldview, government has a role as a partner, but usually as a junior partner.
Her proposal to give back a portion of budget surpluses to the public (Alberta has no debt) in the form of rebates makes a sharp point about where Wildrose believes that money can do the most good.
On the other hand, Alison Redford brings to the table her considerable smarts and her time as an assistant to Joe Clark. She believes in a more activist government.
The poster child policy for that point of view is the Alberta government’s plan to take away your keys if your blood alcohol exceeds .05%.
The accused would never be charged, but anyone blowing over would have their car impounded. Albertans are deeply divided on the issue.
As of this moment it is Wildrose that best reflects the Alberta way of thinking, a province founded on the motto, Fortis Et Liber (Strong and Free).
Original Article
Source: lfpress
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