St. Albert’s MLAs served three premiers, weathered political attacks, changed positions in cabinet and ended up welcoming many Opposition MLAs into their ranks in 2014.
“I’m keenly aware that 2014 is the kind of year that historians probably end up writing some books about, and I’m also keenly aware that there isn’t a lot of historical precedent for what happened in 2014 or the rate things happened,” said St. Albert MLA Stephen Khan, adding that it’s a unique year where he’s served under three different premiers – Alison Redford, Dave Hancock and Jim Prentice.
Both Khan and Spruce Grove-St. Albert MLA found themselves surprised back in March when Redford resigned amongst a storm of controversy over use of government planes.
There was speculation Horner would join the PC leadership race, having run for the spot before, but he threw his support behind Prentice, as did Khan.
Horner began 2014 ushering in a budget as finance minister.
“The budget was a good budget, we balanced the books, we brought the finances back into the black,” he said, though he noted it appears 2015 will be a very different year.
While he was shuffled out of cabinet when Prentice took over as premier, Horner now has a role as a special adviser to Prentice on internal trade and federal and provincial relations, a new role he’s embraced.
“This is a hoot, I mean, I have the ability to create some change,” Horner said. He’s able to work on things like the economy, investment and securities, he said, “the things that matter to Albertans, I get an opportunity to work on without having to deal with the opposition … though that seems to have disappeared now that they want to come over and join us.”
The opposition parties had targeted Horner earlier this year, calling for his resignation because his wife taken the government aircraft several times to accompany him on official trips, like meeting the Earl of Wessex.
Now several months later, Horner noted there’s a short memory in politics.
“The reality is the commentary they were giving us at the time was unfounded … there was never anything that I had done anyway that was against the rules of law or even against my integrity,” Horner said. But it was tough to take, he said, and to have his family have to watch it.
Heading into 2015, Horner says there’s a number of positive things that moved forward in 2014 he can look back at.
But the falling price of oil could mean a tough year for Albertans.
“We’re going to have to buckle down and there’s going to have to be some structural change,” Horner said.
Mostly, he’s hoping 2015 can be about the important issues, like the economy and infrastructure, and get away from the “ups and downs of political machinations” that marked 2014.
Khan started the year as a backbencher and is ending 2014 as the Service Alberta minister, a return to cabinet after being booted out as enterprise minister in 2013.
“From my perspective within the ministry, we’ve been able to get Bill 9 our condo act through legislation which received unanimous consent in the house. It’s a cornerstone piece of legislation that’s going to have some really positive impacts for a number of Albertans,” Khan said.
While it’s been a tumultuous year, Khan thinks “we’ve landed in a very good spot” under Prentice’s leadership.
“We’re in a time where we have a leader of the province who has a vision, who’s a man of integrity who I think Albertans can rally behind and trust,” Khan said.
He’s ending 2014 in a hopeful frame of mind.
“I’ll be frank, there’s been some painful moments along the way, but I think if anything we’ve sort of stayed the course and we’ve gone through some challenging times,” Khan said, praising the productivity of the Prentice government in its first 100 days.
The MLAs have been able to deliver news of new schools and school modernizations in St. Albert this year.
“I’m proud of the fact that we’ve been able to deliver on commitments to make those things happen,” Khan said. “First and foremost it’s always about St. Albert.”
Like Horner, he warned of challenges to be faced in 2015 over the oil prices, but was positive about the possibilities for the next provincial budget.
“I think we’re uniquely situated to get some fundamental things done with this budget that are going to maintain Alberta’s position in the world,” Khan said.
