October 24, 2011

Alberta’s Place in the Global Economy

Mr. Anderson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations to the Premier on her leadership victory. Although it was not a mandate from all Albertans, her actions will now affect Albertans greatly, and because of that I wish her the very best in good judgment. Today I have a few tough words – I know that’s a surprise – but these are words that need to be spoken. They’re from the heart because like everyone in this House I love this province, and I’m worried about the direction she’s heading right now. Mr. Speaker, the world is indeed experiencing troubled times, and although the blessing of abundant resources and still-record-high oil prices has insulated us more than almost any place on earth, we are certainly not immune to the turmoil outside our borders.

There are several causes of this turmoil, but the main ones are these: corruption and a lack of ethics in government and around corporate boardroom tables, fiscal irresponsibility by governments and individuals, and a culture of “What’s in it for me?” that is becoming far too common among far too many in society. In one word our problem is selfishness and its siblings greed and corruption.

What the world so desperately needs and what this province needs to avoid disaster is leaders and role models and parents with the integrity, courage, and wisdom to stand up and do and say what is right when it’s hard, not just when it’s easy and convenient. Unfortunately, I fear our new Premier does not understand the need for such leadership. I fear that because her actions over the last three weeks have shouted down her increasingly hollow words and promises of change.

Alberta needs a leader to end the era of fear and intimidation that has become so prevalent in this province. We need a leader who shows by her actions that government funding for community services and infrastructure isn’t dependent on a town council’s or an individual’s support for the PC Party. We need a leader who will tell her cabinet and caucus that if it is confirmed that any of them have been undertaking actions to intimidate or remove from their jobs potential candidates of other parties or health workers or others, those intimidators and bullies will be kicked out of her party without any hesitation. We need a leader who sees the outright corruption that is the Bill 50 transmission lines project, repeals the bill fully, and starts over with an independent needs assessment so that ratepayers are protected from billions in unnecessary costs.

We need a leader who shows by her actions, not just her words, that she is committed to democracy and to following through with commitments made by keeping and not flip-flopping on her promise of fixed election dates, one that doesn’t cancel the fall sitting of the Legislature, then restart it for two days, take a month off, then come back for a week, and in justifying it says, “It’s not necessary for us to be in the house to make government decision – that is the job of the cabinet of the premier.” Sorry, Premier.

You’re wrong. Legislation and policy decisions proposed by government are to be debated and passed by the peoples’ representatives, not by cabinet fiat, and this Premier should be ashamed of suggesting otherwise, particularly with her background and good work in advocating for democracy in other countries.

We need a leader who demands integrity and competence from those that surround her rather than appointing as the most powerful civil servant in a $40 billion government an individual whose company won’t pay its creditors despite repeated court judgments to do so. How can one promise to govern with fiscal competence when her first move is to appoint someone who represents the very opposite of that? We need a leader who selects government appointments based on merit, after a full and open competition of the best and brightest of Alberta, not one who appoints her biggest leadership rival because it’s a politically convenient way to get him out of sight and out of mind.

We need a leader who understands that Alberta has a spending problem and doesn’t promise billions of taxpayer dollars for the purposes of blatantly buying votes, a leader who is committed to balancing the budget now, that won’t mortgage the future of our kids to try and save her party’s political hide. In short, we need a leader with the ethics and thoughtfulness of Preston Manning, not a reincarnation of Joe Clark.

Mr. Speaker, I love this province like everyone here. We have such amazing people and potential. I sometimes sit in wonderment as I think about the opportunities that we have at our fingertips right now. But we are selling ourselves short. Our new Premier has not been up to the challenge during her first three weeks. I hope that changes. Albertans expect better, Madam Premier. My four sons and every child in Alberta deserve better. What is happening in this province right now is unacceptable. I hope you realize that it isn’t just about winning; it’s about doing the right thing for the right reasons. There’s a lot of time to still change and to get back on the right track, away from what’s happened over this first three weeks of your administration. Let’s see you do what you said you would do and advocate for true change.

On behalf of the Wildrose caucus and our leader, Danielle Smith, let me assure all Albertans that the Wildrose stands ready to govern if called upon. We can’t and won’t promise the world, but in these unsettled times we do promise this: we will bring accountability to government by mandating free votes, fixed elections, and voter recall; we will end the culture of fear and intimidation that currently permeates our business, health, and political communities; we will shine a bright light of transparency in every corner and closet of government; and we will work to clean out the skeletons and the cobwebs that we find.

We will balance the budget and start saving some of our oil wealth without delay because we owe it to our children to do so. We will target Albertans’ tax dollars for the things that matter most to them like health and education, teachers and doctors, and seniors. And we will cut without any reservation the PC corporate welfare handouts, the pet projects, the executive bonuses, the new MLA offices, the replacement museums, the cabinet salary increases, the golden handshakes, and all of the deals behind closed doors that cost Albertans millions.

We will defend Alberta’s largest industry aggressively and competently. We are proud of producing the most ethical oil on earth and will work with our energy entrepreneurs to continually improve upon their already strong track record of environmental stewardship. There’s always room to do better.

This is what the Wildrose has been and will continue to fight for. Whether Albertans give us 16 or 60 seats in the next election, our principles will remain unchanged: fiscally conservative, pro entrepreneur, democratic and transparent, giving a hand up and not a handout, respect for local decision-making, and the protection of the liberties of families and individuals. These principles reflect the values of Albertans. If we as a province adhere to them, we will weather the global economic storm and become a true beacon of prosperity and freedom in all the world.

If we continue to abandon these principles as so many in this House and around the world have done, we will become a tragic and forgotten footnote in history. It’s time for Alberta to stand back up and lead the way again.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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