There have been a lot of politicians with shovels in their hands in the last few weeks in the foothills and it begs the question are they just hardworking or are they trying to dig themselves out of a hole.
The Highwood has seen almost $8.5 million in funding announcements from the provincial government in less than two weeks, everything from a hockey arena to a courthouse to a senior’s care facility.
The Tories have done a good job of addressing long standing issues in the foothills all conveniently tied up in a neat bow only days before a provincial election was called.
These announcements have put a smile on a lot of faces, but it is doubtful anyone is fooled, although it could be confusing to Albertans who are not used to seeing so many goodies fall in their laps all at one time.
The 40-year-reigning Tories rarely have a reason to sweat prior to an election. During the last campaign all eyes were on Ed Stelmach, who ended up winning in a landslide, despite questions about his leadership abilities. However the Tory gaze is now securely locked on voters, who have for the first time an option they may consider viable in the Wild Rose Party.
And with their leader Danielle Smith running right here in the Highwood the Tories are shoveling like mad.
Smith has said she would look at disallowing such funding announcements a month prior to an election being called.
People’s memory is not that short. Funding announcements should be cut off three to six months prior to an election to prevent this type of electioneering with tax-payers dollars.
This premise also hinges on fixed election, which is something Alison Redford promised during her leadership campaign. Later Redford changed it to a three-month election period. Whoever is elected Alberta’s leader at the end of April needs to make good on Redford’s promise to fix the election date and thereby solidify a cut-off for funding announcements.
If there is one thing Albertans can learn from the pre-election campaigning in the Highwood it is that competition can be a good thing.
