PC delegates urged to secure Alberta’s future
Shelley Svidal
A Grade 4 student nearly upstaged Premier Ed Stelmach at the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta’s annual convention in Edmonton on May 4–5.
Taylor Markland, a product of Edmonton Public School District’s public speaking program, was assigned the ordinarily daunting task of introducing Stelmach to the 1,500 delegates assembled for the convention. She carried out her assignment with charm, poise and clarity, to the delight of delegates and the premier himself.
Stelmach definitely had a tough act to follow when he took to the stage for his address, but he pulled it off with aplomb. "After the tough years of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Alberta is back—prosperous, growing and debt free," he exclaimed to enthusiastic applause.
Describing the province as an economic powerhouse with strengths in agriculture, tourism and forestry, Stelmach told delegates that Albertans have the chance to build a province in which prosperity goes hand in hand with opportunity and a world-class quality of life. The Progressive Conservatives are up to the challenge, he said.
Paying tribute to his predecessors, former premiers Peter Lougheed, Don Getty and Ralph Klein, Stelmach said his party has succeeded because it has remained in tune with Albertans’ values, dreams and priorities; has been open and willing to tackle tough issues; has the courage of its convictions; believes in and practises democracy; and has delivered for Albertans and will keep on delivering. "We have new leadership, new energy and a plan to secure Alberta’s future," he said, "and at the heart of that plan is a deep respect for what Albertans have built over our province’s first century—our prosperity, our quality of life and our unique culture."
The premier told delegates that, because Albertans are proud of their contributions to Canada, he has little patience with those who say the province does not share or who complain about how it manages development of its resources. He pointed out that Canada’s prosperity rest on Albertans’ resources and energy.
Stelmach promised his government would not ride the wave of the party’s success. Describing governing as a privilege, not a right, he said that the secret of the Progressive Conservatives’ success lies in constant renewal. "Openness and a willingness to listen will be the hallmarks of my leadership, and I promise you that," he said. "I believe Albertans want ethical government that responds to issues with rational, principled action. They want their MLAs to get results."
Noting that over 200,000 party memberships had been sold in 2006 in the lead-up to the party’s selection of a new leader, Stelmach expressed confidence that the energy and ideas of the leadership campaign would be the foundation of another Progressive Conservative majority. He urged delegates to join him in securing Alberta’s future. "Together, we can do great things for our party, for each other and most important of all for our great province," he said.
In a question-and-answer session with delegates, Stelmach reiterated his leadership campaign call for an Alberta Pension Plan as a supplement to the Canada Pension Plan. He described the provincial plan as a way to invest Alberta’s wealth within the province.
One delegate asked Stelmach whether the government would eliminate the education property tax for seniors, noting that some seniors were working in Tim Hortons to make ends meet. Stelmach replied that approximately one-third of Canadians have savings and/or a pension, one-third have to work past retirement age to make ends meet and one-third have no savings or pension. He noted that, while Alberta has the best seniors’ programs in Canada, if there is a way of tweaking those programs, the government would look at it.
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