Let the Games Begin

Smoky Lake Signal Article No. 208 (February 15, 2012)

Whispering in the Wind

Let the Games Begin!

On Tuesday of last week Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor delivered a Speech from the Throne that clearly reflected Premier Redford’s vision of “change” and a new approach toward governance in Alberta. Two days later that same vision was translated into a budget statement and tabled in Alberta’s Legislative Assembly for debate and public scrutiny. With an election expected in early, mid-April, the vision statement and the budget have become the Alberta PC party’s platform statement and an interesting “kickoff” for the 2012 election campaign – so let the games begin and may the best “person” win in each of Alberta’s 87 constituencies.

Vision Statement –
With all the pomp and ceremony attached to the Throne Speech and the resulting budget statement it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the wheat from the chaff. In my view, Lieutenant Governor Donald Ethell voiced four particularly important initiatives that Alison Redford’s government wants to achieve:
First, a new approach to budgeting: “that emphasizes results for Albertans and fiscal discipline for government.” Included in this new budgeting approach, is the implementation of a “predictable” 3 year budget cycle for education, advanced education and municipal financing.
Second, a new approach in healthcare delivery with the establishment of community based healthcare clinics, starting with three pilot projects, to be implemented in the spring of 2012. Included in the government’s vision statement on healthcare; the establishment of more effective Local Health Advisory Councils that will have a greater role in decision making.
Third, implement a comprehensive Northern Alberta development strategy.
Fourth, work with other provinces and the federal government to develop a Canadian Energy Strategy.
If I were to draw one conclusion from the Throne Speech, it is that Albertans are going to experience “change” under a Redford government, something she promised last year, during her leadership campaign.

The Budget –
Possibly the biggest surprise in last Thursday’s budget presentation was that the budget did not include any tax increases for Albertans – that’s pretty good news for Albertans and for those campaigning under the Alberta PC banner. I personally hope to study the budget in more detail and will write about it in future columns – my first impression (and from what I have read) the government’s operating component of the budget is expected to be balanced by the revenues collected, it is the capital component that is expected to record an expenditure deficit and that capital deficit will be covered by dipping into Alberta’s Sustainability Fund – after all that what the Sustainability Fund is for. All in all, the budget appears to be well balanced and promises a new way of pre / post evaluation and auditing.