Dear Editor,
I read with interest last week’s editorial and letters.
“It will be particularly interesting to have these two very capable ladies battling it out” states N. Worthington. I would hope that with all the global, national and provincial issues facing us, residents of Highwood would have nobler aspirations for our political leaders than ‘a chick fight in the Legislature’.
While the prospect of Danielle Smith in government may seem interesting to some, I have grave concerns for the consequences of her election in Highwood. It would be fair to say that only the most wild-eyed Wildrose partisan would envision a Wildrose government in power after the next Alberta provincial election. Make no mistake, Danielle Smith and the Wildrose have made a mark on Alberta politics already. Most folks would credit them as the catalyst behind the resignation of a very unpopular premier and the reversal of some unpopular energy royalty decisions. The ironic result has been the selection of a premier whose centrist philosophies make her representative of a greater number of Albertans than will be attracted by Ms. Smith’s rightist positions. I have already spoken to a number of self-proclaimed ‘fence-sitters’ who have professed support for the PCs now that Alison Redford is the premier. A Redford government seems certain after the next election.
A Smith victory would see our local residents being represented by a member of the opposition for perhaps the first time in the history of Highwood. For many years, Alberta demanded “The West Wants In” when the best we could achieve was opposition status in a federal Liberal majority government. A Smith victory in Highwood would achieve the same thing for our local residents. Would an opposition member, adversarial to government and its ministries, be able to lobby effectively for the sports facilities, roads and water infrastructure so needed by Highwood residents? I fear not.
The editorial speculates on future Progressive Conservative candidates in Highwood. I would suggest the ‘lack of expressed public interest’ is out of respect for our current MLA, George Groeneveld, who has not yet announced his future intentions. The future will unfold all in good time, sirs. At the appropriate time, you can bet the party will find a suitable local candidate with the breadth of experience to carry the PC banner to victory without resorting to parachute candidates.
“Albertans Deserve Better” proclaims the Wildrose website. I would suggest “Highwood Deserves Better” than a neophyte politician with only a superficial understanding of critical local issues.
Ed Sands
Okotoks
