The province’s fearless leader spoke to Albertans Oct. 18, and Premier Rachel Notley confirmed two facts in her televised presentation: she’s probably the most uninspiring leader this province has ever had (which is saying something when you’ve had Ed Stelmach and Alison Redford in charge) and her NDP government continues to sail in the wrong societal direction, and is taking the rest of Alberta along for the ride.
Besides giving first responders in the Fort Mac area well-deserved pat on the back, Notley said nothing new in her presentation to Albertans; she continued to blame the previous Progressive Conservative government for any problems in Alberta right now, reaffirmed her dedication to organized labour and contracts that benefit unions over Albertans and touted superfluous, unnecessary agreements like the one recently made with Alberta doctors.
Notley made a big deal in her presentation out of the doctor’s agreement, but doctors aren’t the problem, Alberta Health Services addiction to spending money and its inability to control waste are; it’s been mentioned in this space before that a recent paper revealed over 50 Covenant Health nurses in Edmonton are raking in six figures salaries…what exactly dozens of nurses with six figure salaries can do for Albertans is unclear. That’s just Covenant Health, by the way. But seniority is likely involved and Notley won’t expect her traditional allies in organized labour to make sacrifices. Apparently, that’s the doctor’s job.
Recent negotiations in Alberta have again included talk of unbelievably high salary hikes in labour agreements. Unions continue to approach negotiations with ideas hatched by lunatics; raises in the area of 15 per cent when most Albertans have trouble getting a three per cent increase, if they get anything at all.
Alberta’s fearless leader didn’t mention her insane obsession with increasing minimum wage; obviously it’s a waste of time trying to explain to Notley an NDP government meddling in the free market with price controls won’t help the economy, it will create inflation, as prices and costs react to interference from people who, judging by what the NDP has done since 2015, couldn’t win a game of Monopoly much less run Alberta’s economy. Notley’s claim the NDP cut small business tax by a third conveniently leaves out the minimum wage hike, which places the cost right back on, and then some.
A logical, rational human being knows education is the road to better income and a better life. Rachel Notley wants Albertans to be making more money, but why not forget waitressing and convenience store jobs, and make college and university more attractive to the average Albertan? Advanced education has failed Alberta for over two decades as many Albertans have been, in effect, discouraged to educate themselves because of escalating post-secondary costs.
Why not introduce better subsidies than the current student loan program, or, even more forward-thinking, make college and university education free of charge? Graduates find better, higher-paying jobs and by default pay more tax than someone making minimum wage. If you were Rachel Notley, why would you do this, when you can encourage Albertans to aspire to employment at a car wash?
Lastly, Notley, during her televised appearance, had trouble reading the speechwriter’s work. She stuttered, she repeated herself, she sounded unsure and weak.
Not inspiring. A bad performance riddled with inconsistencies and excuses. If the appearance was intended to inspire confidence, Albertans might want to consider moving to Nunavut.