Recently, Official Opposition education critic Bruce McAllister delivered a timely member’s statement in the Alberta legislature on the abuse of taxpayer dollars by the Progressive Conservative government.
The premier cynically used Alberta school children as political props in a highly partisan attack on the Official Opposition in what was supposed to be a taxpayer-funded government announcement for new schools.
By taking her partisan attacks into the classroom, Premier Alison Redford has reached an all-time low of political gamesmanship. As taxpayer dollars belong to all Albertans, I would like to share McAllister’s statement with my local constituency:
“Last week should have been a great week for this government. They travelled around Alberta announcing badly needed new schools for Alberta students. We support these new school announcements wholeheartedly, although an Official Opposition government would have built them without going into debt, and would have published a prioritized list of all schools requested throughout Alberta so those who didn’t make the cut this time will know how long they will be waiting and why.
“You see, somebody in PC land thought it would be a good idea to gather children around for a photo opp and then launch into a completely unfounded diatribe against the Official Opposition. The premier warned the little ones against the evil Official Opposition, and said that they wouldn’t have built these schools and if they were in charge they wouldn’t have built anything at all. I guess when Alberta adults stop believing you, the only ones left are children.
“Obviously, this was in very poor taste, and what should have been a good news announcement turned into yet another communications embarrassment for this government. You know, it’s funny, this government has the largest number of communications and public relations staff in provincial history. There are a lot of people on the public payroll over there. Perhaps somebody should have figured out that using kids as political pawns is not just inappropriate, but downright pathetic.
“You would think somebody would be fired for this colossal gaffe. My guess though is we’re going to have to wait until 2016 for that.”
As MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake constituency, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this matter or anything else of your concern. Feel free to contact my office.
Kerry Towle, MLA
Innisfail-Sylvan Lake