Dear Editor,
Ninety-four years ago this month at Vimy Ridge in France, Canadian troops produced their first of many victories to help the Allies liberate France and Belgium from German invaders. Liberty and self-determination were restored, but at a cost of 60,000 of Canada’s citizen army who lie buried in Europe.
Most people, except those doing the controlling, abhor centralized control. We see this playing out in Libya. The failed communist regimes of Eastern Europe prove that centralization doesn’t work.
Yet the Alberta Tory governance model is moving in this direction.
More recently, the Western Wheel reported that the centralization of 911 services produced much longer ambulance response times for MD residents. This is comforting.
The province’s use of financial levers to push the MD into signing onto the Calgary Regional Partnership is another example. Instead of planning decisions being driven by locally elected officials, the province wants control to be in Calgary and also the provincial cabinet room.
The regional plans are another example of unprecedented central control over individual rights. The previous system worked fine, but the provincial Conservatives want more control and restrictions on the rule of law. A unique first in Canada.
Our soldiers gave of themselves so Europe could be free. Europeans respect this sacrifice and look up to our individual property rights, freedoms and respect for the rule of law. Let’s not lose this.
George Groeneveld should retire and allow Danielle Smith and the Alliance party the opportunity to set things right.
Ken Miklos
Millarville
