EDMONTON – The Alberta legislature’s fall sitting began Monday. A lot has unfolded since the last time the legislature sat – most notably the southern Alberta floods. And that means there’s plenty to do and plenty to criticize. But on the first day, all sides of the house spent time taking aim at each other rather than the issues.
“No doubt their characterization of me will be worse than anything you’ll see on your doorsteps this Halloween on Thursday,” Premier Alison Redford said about the Official Opposition.
It’s an approach Wildrose leader Danielle Smith calls “interesting,” especially after such a busy summer.
“The premier should be spending a lot more time focusing on her own agenda,” she said. “Makes no sense. She promised there’d be no debt. There’s now massive debt.”
Brian Mason believes the government needs a target.
“I think if you look at the recent polls, they’re in minority government territory. They’re not a popular government. She’s not a popular leader.”
The premier will be facing a mandatory leadership review immediately after this session ends.
Her government hasn’t discussed in detail what its legislation or priorities will be for the fall sitting, except to promise new rules stemming from the summer floods.
The government has, instead, put out a video that reminds citizens it will continue to quote “Build Alberta.”
Opponents say no advance notice and no throne speech have become the way business is conducted under Redford.
They say under Redford, the legislature sits for fewer days each year and passes fewer bills. And they say the bills that do pass routinely contain only empty motherhood statements, allowing the actual rules to be decided by government behind closed doors.
Liberal house leader Laurie Blakeman says it’s the first rule of cynical politics — if you don’t tell anyone what you’re doing, they can’t hold you responsible for the outcome.
With files from Fletcher Kent, Global News
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