As most Albertans well know, a key component of effective governance is the ability to distinguish between programs and infrastructure that are critically needed, and initiatives that might be nice to have, but can either wait or are things best left for the private sector to deal with.

For example, just prior to Christmas, the PC Government announced that various community organizations that provide services to the disabled and others in need would be asked to cut roughly $10 million dollars from their budgets in the coming year. Now I am all for improved cooperation and efficiency when dealing with taxpayer dollars, however, this is not an effective way to do it. Many of these organizations have signed leases and hired staff. They've made promises of help to those in the direst of circumstances. With donations to local charities down this year due to the recession, money is extremely tight for these organizations in the first place. What these agencies need is sustainable funding with small yearly increases in line with the cost of living so they can better plan for the future – not cuts and the uncertainty of year-to-year roller coaster funding.

Some might call my disapproval of such cost cutting inconsistent with my public calls for more fiscal responsibility. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone with even basic financial literacy knows that to be penny-wise and pound-foolish can quickly leave a household or business insolvent. Government is no different. Why cut $10 million from disabled persons when you could cut $35 million in grants to Horseracing Alberta? Why contemplate $300 million in reductions for education when we could save $2 billion by cutting the carbon capture and storage corporate welfare handout? Why cut $70,000 from Alberta Hospital for basic living essentials for the mentally ill when there is roughly $1.5 million per year spent on grants to golf courses?

It's not rocket science. The Government of Alberta has spent by far the most per person of all Canadian provinces over the past decade, and will likely ring in at or close to the top of the spending pile yet again this year. It's not like we don't have enough money for the needs of our citizens - recession notwithstanding.

The problem is an inability to effectively prioritize. This PC government can't seem to distinguish between wants and needs. As a Wildrose opposition member, and on your behalf, I'll try and help them understand the difference.

Rob Anderson

MLA Airdrie-Chestermere