Re. Ed Tartarnic’s excellent letter concerning Albertans voting like sheep for the Conservatives:
I agree, but there may be more here than we think!
Remember when we first heard of Bill 11?
I phoned Ralph Klein’s office to voice my disapproval of it. His secretary said, “Bill 11 has nothing to do with private health care!”
When Klein forced Bill 11 through the legislature at 1:30 a.m., we told him he would never get elected again! The next election he got a huge majority.
Have you any idea how much the insurance companies stood to gain by Bill 11? I am convinced that more than a third of Albertan were furious with Klein! So how did he get that huge majority? Some people may have been confused!
However, locking the legislature doors after pushing protesting Albertans out and then forcing Bill 11 through the legislature at 1:30 a.m. — after some members had gone home — this was a kick in the face of democracy!
Anyone with any regard for democracy would have voted against Klein.
I will never believe that election was fair and honest!
That bill opened the floodgates to private health care.
People opened private, for-profit nursing homes; doctors opened private surgical clinics.
The Holy Cross Hospital was renovated, then sold to four doctors for less than the cost of the renovations. Wonder where our money went?
Before that, you didn’t see insurance companies selling health-care insurance as they are now.
This last election was also critical. Does anyone believe it was honest and above board?
When voters are turned away from voting twice, I imagine some of them just went home.
Even the solicitor general criticized it for the fact so many loyal Conservatives were in key positions.
Before we have another election in Alberta, I want a team of British or Americans to oversee every bit of it!
Hazel McBride
Red Deer