On the campaign trail
Posted Apr 9, 2012 11:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Party leaders are back at it following the Easter long weekend.
The Wildrose Party is promising free votes in the legislature on all bills and a steep rollback in cabinet salaries if it becomes government in the April 23 election.
Leader Danielle Smith says cabinet salaries will be reduced 30 per cent, wiping out the hike the Progressive Conservative cabinet gave itself after the 2008 election.
“After forty years in power, Alison Redford’s PC Party has succumbed to a culture of corruption and entitlement,” said Smith. “The fifth component of our Wildrose Pledge to Albertans, the Alberta Accountability Act, will restore democracy, ethics, and accountability to government.”
The PCs are promising to strengthen those living in rural parts of the province, calling the initiative “A Plan for Rural Alberta”.
“Within a short time, only six countries in the world will produce more food than they consume. Canada will be one of them, and Alberta is central to that achievement. That means that our agricultural industry is more important than ever. We need policies that will continue to make rural communities vibrant and prosperous. And Albertans need us to provide focused investment, effective supports, and leadership so that they can do this where they live,” said party leader Alison Redford.
Liberal leader Raj Sherman announced the City of Calgary Act and the City of Edmonton Act. He says if elected, the acts would give power to the cities to help manage challenges.
“The PCs have bullied local officials and treated our municipal partners like children for years,” said Sherman. “This needs to stop. Alberta Liberals will modernize relations with municipalities – and this new relationship will be built on a foundation of respect and a recognition that our municipal partners need stable, reliable funding.”
He also pledged to create a new Municipal Heritage Fund.
NDP Leader Brian Mason is asking Albertans to not vote for two tier health care.
Making that statement at the South Calgary Health Campus, Mason says the Wildrose and PC’s are on the wrong track.
“I’m standing at the site where plans for two-tiered care were announced this election. I’m here to rally Albertans against two-tiered care – care that would give wealthy Albertans the best and leaves us with the rest,”Mason said. “At least the Wildrose chose to be honest about embracing two-tiered, American-style healthcare. The Conservatives hide their plans until after elections.”
Meanwhile, the Alberta party leader will be campaigning in Calgary on Wednesday and Thursday. Glen Taylor thinks as many as six Alberta party members could be elected on April 23rd.
