News

Alberta is suffering from a lack of leadership it can trust. Transparency is key to building trust. The Alberta Party supports calls for Dr. Hinshaw’s recommendations to Tyler Shandro and Cabinet to be released. Albertans deserve to know the views of our health experts, and how they are being balanced against the needs of our economy. However, Cabinet discussions should be kept confidential. As should the conversations our civil cervants have as recommendations are formed. Confidentiality is crucial to allowing all options and perspectives to be considered.

The Alberta Party commends Premier Kenney on his media availability yesterday.

Like all Albertans, we don't have the data needed to weigh his announcements for ourselves. However, we recognize the difficult task Cabinet faces in protecting the health of Albertans while also minimizing economic harm.

The Alberta Party calls on the government to remove troubling sections of Bill 48. In its current form, the bill reduces some red tape at the expense of the freedom of municipal leaders to build their communities. 

 Bill 48 has elements that the Alberta Party supports, primarily the liberalization of labour mobility. However, in the interests of open and transparent government, and in direct contradiction of democratic principles, this bill takes away the power of municipal leaders to make decisions and provide services that their constituents ask of them.

A novel way to fund infrastructure in La Crete shows the opportunities available to communities if new and unique abilities are granted by the provincial government. 

Last week, the government announced a toll would be charged to help pay for a new bridge across the Peace River. The plan to replace the seasonal ferry was developed by those who needed the crossing. Local farmers have faced a long drive and increased costs to get their product to market. This is a win-win and is a good example of finding unique funding models to build our communities and shows what we can do when we all collaborate.

The Auditor General’s recent Consolidated Financial Statements of the Province of Alberta 2019-2020 report of more than $1.7B in accounting errors highlights the fact that the UCP government has retained the entitlement mentality of previous conservative governments, disdaining accountability in spending, and using sole source contracts to limit transparency. 

The Canadian Energy Centre, also known as the “Energy War Room”, has spent millions with no oversight or accountability to taxpayers. All with no discernable outcomes in achieving vague and undefined goals. 

Handing out sole source contracts, delaying reporting for AISH, spending without limits and canceling contracts with huge penalties were common knowledge, but the impact was underestimated. 

“Jason Kenney promised Albertans that the books would be put back in order - that cannot be done without transparency and honesty. Good governance includes being transparent with contract sourcing, being accountable for your decisions and responsible with taxpayer dollars.  These are core principles of the Alberta Party, but they should be core for all parties, especially the one with the provincial chequebook.” said Acting Leader Jacquie Fenske

The Alberta Party calls on UCP MLA’s to step forward and hold their own Cabinet to account for the missteps and deliberate obstruction of responsible processes and financial practices.

“UCP MLAs wouldn’t accept this kind of governance from another party, they shouldn’t accept it from their own,” Fenske added.