Editor:
Déjŕ vu – that’s all I can think of when I start considering the current election campaign in Alberta.
Most of us remember The Western Canada Concept Party, Representative Party, Alberta First, Heritage Party, Alberta Reform and Alberta Alliance; all parties which were right of centre and had ideologies similar to the Progressive Conservatives but desired a more right wing direction than the PCs.
The Wildrose Party, a recent adaptation, grew from the Alliance, but ideologically is now a copy of the PCs. The reasons Albertans do not accept these right-of-right parties is because they propose an agenda which makes us feel uncomfortable.
In reality, Albertans are ‘centralists’; we accept that there is a place for government in our daily lives, but we also desire the freedom to make a living unencumbered by endless legislation and bureaucrats.
The Wildrose Party are the PCs with a different name and colour. The call for less bureaucracy and reduced spending is a popular campaign theme for anyone wanting power, which is what Wildrose wants – their hands on power. There is little or nothing that a Wildrose government will or can do any different from the PCs. The truth is, voters want more hospitals, schools, parks, doctors or teachers, etc., which means more spending.
However, we are not a province that needs any extreme medication or radical change. We have the best tax system, best economy, best growth and lots of jobs. Can we do better?
Yes we can. To use the health care analogy, do we need to change doctors during the middle of our treatment regime? Would you feel comfortable after you have gone through a serious medical treatment, putting your life into the hands of a group of intern medical students led by a first resident?
I like the fact we have had the same party governing for 40 years, which should not be confused with the same government. We have, in fact, had many different governments, led by five premiers who adapted to the times.
When it was time for radical treatment we had Ralph Klein, who closed hospitals, schools and downsized government, which all led to the Alberta we have today; no debt, low tax and excellent services. If the opposition feels unheard it is because they are not saying anything anyone wants to hear. If some Albertans feel their views are not being represented, it’s because they are not talking or writing to their MLA, not showing up at town hall meetings and not voting.
Some things in this province need to be tinkered with; for one thing I think we pay too many service fees at all levels of government. The Wildrose idea of eliminating all non-mandatory school fees is a good idea, but they have a bad solution, a solution which will mean more regulation, reduce student activities and strain school budgets to which the only solution then will be more taxes.
Change can be good, but not at the expense of experience. I do not want to be represented by a party of rookies and be the guinea pig upon which they will use their scalpel for the first time.
Stability of government has been one of the cornerstones of Alberta’s success.
Bob Ward,
Canmore
