Wildrose Alliance will move quickly to restore property rights for all Albertans and roll back what the leader calls government interference in those rights if that electorate decides to change provincial governments.
Danielle Smith, in an interview prior to mounting the steps to the party float for the Picture Butte Jamboree Days parade Aug. 21 under light showers, said there are too many places she visits where landowners are upset and feel powerless to fight the march of new power transmission lines as the province stretches to meet perceived growing electricity needs.
She also vowed to continue to accept private, not-for-profit medical clincs she says offer quicker health care for Albertans while opening up jobs for more doctors and nurses and giving more of them full-time employment.
Wildrose will open the next sitting of the legislature with three MLAs, to be boosted by one when former Conservative cabinet minister Guy Boutillier crosses the floor as it gears up for the next provincial election that “can come anytime but can go until March 2013.”
She opened some ridings for nominations, and knows incumbents are already to sign up. She reports 56 requests for nomination papers, “a good sign so early in the process.”
Smith, on a province-wide tour to assess citizen demands and suggestions, made her first stop in Picture Butte.
She said many issues are common to all areas in the province.
A debate is being waged between landowners in the Coaldale area and proponents of a merchant power line Montana Alberta Tie Line to link Lethbridge and Great Falls, and Smith said it smacks of similar problems with other power transmission lines.
Provincial legislation has removed the need for meaningful consultation with landowners that could determine the public need and public good for each line. She said such consultation is essential if landowner operations are to be disrupted by power transmission lines on their lands.
Smith will also put more emphasis on alternate energy sources, many of them likely located closer to large population centres that will reduce significantly the need for massive construction of new power transmission lines.
Smith said major changes are needed to the health system, changes she feels will reduce the need for Alberta to import doctors and nurses while providing incentives for Alberta men and women to consider those career choice because jobs will be waiting for them in Alberta.
That will be done when Wildrose has the power to restore decentralized government in Alberta. School boards and hospital boards should be run by people who know the needs in their local communities, she said. And they should be able to operate without having to worry about a centralized budget system that could leave them scrambling for money.
“A provincial government should get out of people’s lives,” said Smith. “That includes things like property rights.”