 Top News - February 23, 2008 |
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| Candidates reinforce need for change |
By Cory Hare
Staff Writer
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Change was the main theme at a provincial election forum for local candidates Wednesday evening in St. Albert.
The forum included all eight candidates running in the constituencies of St. Albert and Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert.
Liberal candidates Jack Flaherty and Ray Boudreau led an attack by opposition candidates, who insisted it’s time to end "one-party rule" by the Progressive Conservatives, who have held power for 37 years.
"It’s time for democratic renewal as many Albertans have lost their faith in government," said Boudreau.
PC candidates Ken Allred and Doug Horner countered by insisting that Premier Ed Stelmach has re-energized the party.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m very pumped about this new leader," Horner said.
Both sides received raucous applause throughout the evening, as did other candidates. Most of the 170 in the crowd appeared to be affiliated with one of the campaigns. One side of the room was sprinkled with red caps and scarves, a sign of Liberal support, while blue and orange PC pins were also common.
Boudreau attacked the Conservatives for mismanaging the province’s growth and for announcing nearly $2 billion worth of programs just before calling the election.
"I’m a man that believes in truth telling and being measured for what I’ve done and not by the money I throw out," he said.
He later urged people to be open to change.
"Change is scary and I know many of you people in the room only vote one way," he said.
Horner said Stelmach has effectively handled many long-standing issues in his first year.
Among his list was a five-year deal with the province’s teachers, the introduction of a lobbyist registry and all-party committees, a new secretariat to end homelessness in 10 years, increased funding to municipalities and a new royalty framework.
Horner alluded to the National Energy Program instituted by the Trudeau government to hammer home his point that the new royalty scheme is balanced.
"Those of us who remember what happened in the ’80s, when radical measures were taken, the damage that can be done to our economy. People’s jobs and livelihoods from all walks of life are at stake," he said.
Horner listed the designation of Ray Gibbon Drive as Highway 2 as one of his accomplishments as an MLA during the last term.
Flaherty attacked this claim, saying the government has only paid 13 per cent of the road’s cost so far.
"I’m sorry Doug but paying 13 per cent isn’t picking up the tab, it’s covering the tip and it’s a chinzy tip at that," Flaherty said, reading from his prepared speech.
Flaherty promised a Liberal government would pay to make the road a provincial highway.
The premier announced last fall that the road would get highway designation and the province would pay the costs of making it a highway. So far no financial details have been finalized.
Flaherty also said the government "sat on their butt" while St. Albert residents fought to re-align Anthony Henday Drive, whose original route drew outcries for being too close to some St. Albert homes.
Flaherty and Boudreau both promoted their party’s promise to re-regulate the electricity market and review regionalization in the health care system.
Allred stressed his strengths as a planner, especially with land and financial issues. He said he’s running because he likes Stelmach’s analytical style.
He strayed slightly from the party line by calling for more disciplined saving.
"I will work hard to ensure that a minimum of 30 per cent of resource revenues is channelled toward the Heritage fund," he said. "With resource revenues flowing back into the Heritage fund, things are changing but it’s not enough."
The PC government’s policy has been to save one-third of unbudgeted surpluses.
Allred and Horner both praised the premier for his ability to calmly review an issue and come up with a pragmatic plan that achieves results.
Against big business
NDP candidates Katy Campbell and Peter Cross both painted their party as the clear choice for middle class Albertans. They called for more investment in green energy and an end to corporate and union donations in Alberta politics. The overall message was that the Tories don’t listen and can’t change.
"Every few years they make a few popular promises for change during the election and return to their old ways once the votes have been counted," Campbell said.
St. Albert Green candidate Ross Vincent tried to dispel some common misconceptions that members of his party are all "tree-huggers" and only concerned about the environment.
He said the Green party believes in education, public transit, refining health care, diversifying the economy, the right of recall and fixed election dates.
"More than any other party, the Greens represent progress," he said.
Allan West, the Green candidate for Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert, promoted a simpler way of life that includes smaller communities and less driving.
A self-proclaimed "hippie from the ’70s," West suggested the oilsands be developed over hundreds of years, not 30, and that the province adopt a responsible, sustainable economy.
"We have control here in Alberta. We can say to the rest of the world, hey, we’re going to get responsible, you guys get responsible too," he said.
Horner and Allred stood alone in saying that rent controls aren’t a good idea because the government will concentrate on increasing the supply of affordable housing. |
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