Alberta’s NDP government is fast learning that it’s easier to oppose than to govern, and now is finding itself in the line of fire after being among the ones shooting volleys at the PCs for the past four decades.
Among those critics is Conservative leader Stephen Harper. Wisely or not for a federal leader to criticize his provincial partners, Harper has lambasted the NDP government for destroying the economy of the province, despite the fact the NDP can’t be held responsible for the global slump in oil prices or the economic stewardship of the Conservative government before them.
One could argue that talk of corporate tax increases, changes to the royalty rate and minimum wage increases could worsen the already fragile economic environment, while others could argue that these are necessary measures to steer the economy to a healthier shape. Time will tell on this score.
But harder to justify is an NDP-led decision to approve a 7.25 per cent raise for Alberta’s auditor general, child and youth advocate, ethics commissioner and legislative officers. While many Albertans are without jobs or struggling from paycheck to paycheck right now, the optics on approving such a raise for people who are already earning between $148,000 and $273,000 a year are terrible, as was the decision from the five NDP members on the same standing committee of legislative offices to send themselves to a conference on ethics in Boston this December. At least after public outrage, the NDP chair of the committee has said the committee will revisit the issue of the pay raises.
Government MLAs need to set an example, to make decisions that show they understand and want to help the everyday Albertans that elected to them power in the first place. These types of decisions do not show such wisdom.
Hopefully, we continue to see a strong opposition voice that will see the new NDP government pass through the childhood and adolescence stage quickly, and grow up, instead of making the same mistakes and shows of arrogance that had the PCs before them tossed out.
