It looks like we know where Alberta is headed in the foreseeable future.
Prentice served his apprenticeship under the current robber barons in Ottawa. Remember the fellows who built fake lakes for the media to relax between photo ops? Remember the bunch that called McKay's multi-million dollar fishing trip a “military training session” that was so secret the military didn't even know about it. Remember the border-crossing gazebo in a Conservative riding hundreds of miles from the border? Remember the absolutely amazing expense accounts in a time of “fiscal restraint” for the rest of the population?
Yes. Mr. Prentice was a member of a group well schooled in the climate of entitlement. The federal expenditures make Ms. Redford's horror story of greed almost picayune in comparison.
Add the idea of entitlement to the extreme secrecy and arrogant disregard of the electorate of the current government, from which Mr. Prentice only recently resigned, and we can get some idea of what life in Alberta will be like under his leadership. Remember when Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed non-elected persons to cabinet posts? Prentice learned well. He has appointed a mayor to a cabinet post – a no-experience-required job? Wow! At that salary, one should have some experience in provincial governing.
Who did he appoint? The fellow who closed schools, raised classroom size to 50 or so students, let schools deteriorate to the point where they are unsafe all because he needed to build a playpen for a Forbes’ list billionaire and his million-dollar playmates. They will be able to play hockey (and make money for the team) at taxpayers’ expense even though most of those taxpayers can't afford tickets to the games.
So, now we know where we stand with the "new" Conservative party. Right behind the eight-ball where we were with the last one.
Joan Rea, St. Albert
