EDMONTON, AB: The NDP’s Throne Speech revealed a desperate government running out of ideas. From taking action on the NDP Government of British Columbia’s illegal attempts at obstructing the Trans Mountain pipeline to rural crime, the big items in today’s speech were a homage to ideas consistently advocated by Jason Kenney and the United Conservatives.
Jason Kenney has been clear and consistent from the start:
“If the B.C. government, through dilatory measures, stands in the way of the construction of the approved expansion of Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain, then there will be consequences. We need a premier who will make that clear to B.C. and Ottawa, like Peter Lougheed did in the early 1980s. The Mayor of Vancouver says he wants a carbon free economy by 2040. Maybe we should help give him a carbon free Vancouver by 2020.” (Leadership debate, Sept. 20, 2017)
“If the B.C. government makes good on its threats to use dilatory means to block the construction of that approved pipeline, and in doing so violate the rule of law in Canada’s economic union, I would make it clear that there would be consequences that we would consider… in 1982, Peter Lougheed stopped permitting the shipment of gas to Sarnia to bring the federal government to the table on the National Energy Program. We might have to consider a similar approach if the B.C. government stands in the way of this wealth and job creating national infrastructure project.” Jason Kenney (CBC, Oct. 27, 2017).
But until recently, the out-of-touch NDP government delayed action and mocked calls for consequences:
“I think some of the suggestions that have come from Mr. Kenney are starting to look a lot like the suggestions that come from President Trump, south of the border, quite honestly. He’s approaching and recommending a very isolationist view of how Alberta should engage with the rest of the country.” Rachel Notley (CTV, Dec. 3, 2017).
While United Conservatives have been clearly calling for action on the severe increase in crime across rural Alberta for months, the NDP previously dismissed concerns – including denying an emergency debate in the Legislature last November.
Other than that, the rest of the Speech from the Throne revealed an NDP that is deeply detached from the concerns of everyday Albertans.
“We are at a perilous time for our province. We face an Alberta government working hand-in-glove with the hostile Trudeau Liberals in Ottawa. Albertans know what is possible in our province. They remember better days and are dismayed that this ideological NDP is seemingly doing everything possible to hold our province back with their harmful, failed policies,” said Kenney. “Alberta can again be the beacon of economic opportunity, but we need a government that understands the common sense policies that can unleash our potential.”
Stay tuned for more imitation-as-flattery with Monday’s Legislative Assembly discussion on the NDP’s Trans Mountain motion – a United Conservative idea the NDP rejected just last month.
When it comes to taking action on the issues that matter to Albertans, only the United Conservatives have been clear and consistent.