In an recent interview with the Globe and Mail, Peter Lougheed showed a depth of thought and wisdom that Alberta PC administrations have sorely lacked since his retirement.

As Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, I sometimes wonder whatever happened to Alberta’s so-called Progressive Conservatives. Certainly the Stelmach administration fails to live up to either half of that party’s name; they’ve failed to manage development, failed to protect the environment, made a mockery of human rights and freedom of speech with Bill 44, and created the largest budget deficit in Alberta’s history. My party, on the other hand, preaches fiscal restraint and savings coupled with careful environmental stewardship and thoughtful economic planning, including a bitumen policy that will keep thousands of jobs and value-added economic spinoffs right here in Alberta.

We intend to work with the Alberta energy industry to maintain Alberta as a global player not just for the next ten years, but for the next century.  We understand that business cannot thrive in the climate of regulatory uncertainty created by the Stelmach administration.  We also understand that Alberta cannot thrive with growing environmental liability and uncertainty – we need to act now to protect Alberta’s water, air and soil.

Alberta will not thrive with a government that cannot plan past the next polling numbers and carefully monitor the plan for unexpected results.

37 years ago, Peter Lougheed became Premier of a less affluent and educated, and largely rural province.  Under his leadership it became a modern, highly educated society and emerging leader in the Canadian experience. Now the Stelmach administration’s lack of leadership has created the perception that we export dirty energy, sacrifice the environment and have limited the teaching of evolution in our schools, not to mention the serious financial mismanagement. 

Peter Lougheed would have never allowed this to happen. I sometimes wonder if he would feel more comfortable carrying an Alberta Liberal membership card instead of one for the party that he created…a party that no longer follows his principles.

David Swann

Leader of the Official Opposition

Calgary, Alberta

The Globe and Mail’s article here