The NDP did not start our financial mess, as Tony Gull has stated – it inherited a broken system of false promises and corporate and big business privileges that benefited the wealthy and left the majority of Albertans fighting for what was left over. That is why the majority of Albertans voted for change, and change is what they got.
Given what it started with, the Notley government has worked very hard to bring about equalization and fairness for the people of Alberta – and yes, it has been at great cost.
Do we really want a return to the Klein years, which left behind a wake of social, health and education cuts that gutted supports, built a massive infrastructure deficit the province and municipalities struggle with year after year, sent desperate Albertans scrambling to non-profits for help and sent many others like teachers, nurses and doctors leaving this province looking for jobs?
Alberta has some significant financial and resource issues that started years ago, under governments more conservative in origin. At present, the current NDP government has been prudently reducing spending and shielding Albertans as best it can, while progressively working to diversify and get our products to market.
To say that the NDP is not working long term for the people of Alberta is not true. To suggest that Kenney will “get us out of this mess” is not at all realistic, since he refuses to table a shadow budget, ignores climate change, recruits candidates who boast of deep cuts and yells at our neighbours from behind cover.
We tell little kids in school to show their work and how they came to an answer. We should do the same to opposition leaders.
Betty Mackey, St. Albert
