As his Alberta NDP opponent in the 2023 provincial election, I commend MLA Guthrie for calling out the lack of fiscal discipline, non-transparency, and corruption in the UCP government.
His disclosure and tough questions to the Premier in the Legislature over the AHS procurement scandal, as well as adding his voice to the call by the Opposition for a truly independent public inquiry, has enhanced democratic accountability over that issue.
In addition to fiscal incompetence, I would point out that the UCP government under Danielle Smith has also pushed and implemented socially regressive and discriminatory policies that have harmed vulnerable and already-marginalized individuals and groups in our communities. Fast growing municipalities like Cochrane continue to struggle with woefully inadequate provincial funding, schools are at or over capacity, and access to healthcare remains challenging.
Meanwhile, the UCP government spends time and a lot of taxpayer money pursuing Alberta ‘sovereignty’ policies without a mandate from Albertans. It is clearly time for change. However, I disagree with MLA Guthrie’s view that politics in Alberta is broken or has somehow lost its way. The 2023 election produced a slim majority government for the UCP.
Alberta now has a functional two-party democracy for the first time in decades. Alberta’s politics have arguably never been stronger. Nothing ensures a responsible and accountable government more than a real threat of losing the next election.
Shaun Fluker
Cochrane, AB
