I
t’s certainly been a week of political change in these parts; both positive and negative.
Political decisions have been made, discarded, changed, altered.
The biggest change, of course, was Alison Redford’s being elevated into the big chair vacated by outgoing Premier Ed Stelmach.
Pundits and others claim Redford, the first woman and possibly the most liberal of Conservative premiers, was a long shot, that her new status was a call for change in the old boys’ Conservative club, or that she was simply not long-time PC Gary Mar.
No doubt the reason she is now premier is a blend of all those guesses. No doubt also, she has a battle on her hands to instill her will on her party as little support was shown during the premier race by the men and women among the party faithful.
We prefer to think that Redford’s getting the nod as premier was not only a message to the old boys’ club, we think her nomination as premier may have simply been the result of her engaging voters and listening to what voters want; a new concept for a party which has been in power for decades with no threat of being ousted.
The race for the premier’s seat may have come down to Redford’s apparent unwillingess to see education and health care crumbling down around her party. Redford, possibly, unlike those before her, actually took to heart the fact that when Albertans state they want more than minimal health care and education, they actually mean it.
At any rate, a bilingual female human rights lawyer is quite a change on the Conservative landscape (how far left can you wander among the political right and still be considered ‘right’?).
The fact that Redford has already backpedalled on a campaign promise to hold a fall election is a concern, though. Although Albertans are sick and tired of elections, it’s pretty early days to flipflop on a promise.
On the other hand, provincial governance now won’t be on hold pending an election.
And, on the up side for parents upset by budget cuts in the Canadian Rockies Public School system, keeping her party at work in Edmonton may be what’s necessary for Redford to carry out another critical campaign promise -– to reverse $100 million in education cuts within 10 days. A tall order.
It’s not often valley citizens lash out at their forever provincial government by writing letters to RMO slamming a government decision, but the idea of CRPS cutbacks resulting in bigger classes and dirty schools prompted a quick batch of letters; not to mention a letter writing campaign to authorities.
We’d like to think voters speaking out had something to do with Redford’s promise to reverse the education cutback decision.
Federally as well, it’s unfortunate that right at the time Parks Canada and CP Rail are finally – finally – putting their heads together in Banff to actually do something about bear and wildlife mortality on the national rail giant’s tracks through our valley, millions in funding to reduce wildlife deaths on Highway 93 through Kootenay Park has been pulled back.
Supposedly, the dollars aren’t gone for good, it’s merely a fiscal tightening of the federal belt, but even delays in the installation of wildlife fencing and construction of underpasses will likely have a deleterious effect down the road.
Bears stuff here
