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Danielle Smith: property rights are being stripped away by the government. ©Provost News Photo.
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‘Major Shake-up’ Occurring in Alberta Politics — Wildrose Leader
People Looking for ‘Options’
Leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party, Danielle Smith says that there is a “major shake-up” taking place in Alberta and adds in an interview at The Provost News office that “there isn’t a safe seat for the Progressive Conservative Party” referring to the next provincial election.
The 39 year old Calgary woman says that the PCs will have to fight for every seat in Alberta and predicts the days of the Progressive Conservatives winning 72 out of 83 seats are over. “People are looking for other options.”
The Wildrose Alliance Party plans to run candidates in what will be 87 ridings when the next election is held.
There was no candidate in this constituency for the upstart party during the last election but there will be one in place soon. In the 2008 election, the Wildrose Alliance Party ran candidates in 63 of the 83 constituencies.
Provost News: The last time you were here, in August 2009 you were hoping to lead the Wildrose Alliance Party and you’ve been leader now since Oct. 17, 2009. At that time your party reported that it had over 11,600 memberships. How many members do you have now?
Danielle Smith: There has been some attrition and rebuilding; approximately 12,258 members. Normally people buy memberships and after a leadership vote, the number falls off. We are finding people are continuing with us. We value a member driven party.
PN: What’s changed in Alberta since you’ve become leader?
DS: During the last election the government didn’t fear losing a majority of seats. That’s changed. There’s been a major shakeup in the political environment.
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PN: What should change in Alberta?
DS: Focussing on getting back to a balanced budget. We have to have rules about how we increase spending and what we do with a surplus—and get back to leading on fiscal discipline. The second thing we need to do is to trust local decision makers to make decisions at a local level. A variety of program decisions continue to be centralized in Edmonton and that means unnecessary red tape, delays and frustration. We’ve seen how badly health care is—now on the brink of collapse. I have that trust that local people can make better decisions. Thirdly, property rights are being stripped away and have been for the last two years without full compensation being made to the owners. Groups are sprouting up organizing against that erosion of property rights. Expropriation of property was done as recently as last night (Nov. 30). It’s one more example that whenever landowner rights get in the way, government extinguishes them to get rid of the problem. And four—democracy. Two MLAs were kicked out of their caucus for standing up for their constituents. We have free votes in our caucus and we also believe in fixed election dates.
PN: You plan to run where in the next provincial election?
DS: I’m moving to the riding of Highwood (south of Calgary which includes Okotoks and High River).
PN: When will the next election be?
DS: March of 2012 says the premier. But I’m suspicious it will be held early. The government is watching the polls. Watch for a bounce back (in government popularity) so they might be able to take advantage of it. We want a fixed date so this power can not be exploited for politicians to capitalize on the polls.
PN: The current MLA for this constituency, Doug Griffiths has been suggesting that the Province of Alberta look into the ramifications of a sales tax. Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the imposition of such a tax won’t happen while he’s premier. Would you consider a general sales tax in Alberta?
Complete story in December 8 edition of The Provost News.
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MADD Canada and Provost Group Launch Red Ribbon Campaign
Chris Ritchie of Provost, community leader for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is again campaigning for driving safety.
He reports that on average, four Canadians are killed and 207 are injured every day as a result of impaired driving. Effective 911 programs increase arrest rates for impaired driving by 30 percent on average. MADD thrives to lower those statistics.
Complete story in December 8 edition of The Provost News.
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Alberta Adding Electoral Divisions
Complete story in December 8 edition of The Provost News.
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Street Spokesman
This week we ask: "What Do You Enjoy Reading?"
. . . and we heard answers from Muriel Burwash, Lynanne Thunberg, Louise Schug and Josephine Sieben. Check out the December 8 edition of The Provost News for their answers.
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This, along with many other stories and pictures can be found in this week's edition of The Provost News.
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