Well, this is certain something. Alberta's unelected premier, Jim Prentice, better learn to bite his tongue.
Prentice has sparked a bit of a furor by blaming his constituents for the mess the province now finds itself in.
Premier Jim Prentice is facing a social media backlash after telling Albertans to "look in the mirror" to find who is responsible for the province's current financial woes.
Speaking on CBC's Alberta@Noon Wednesday, Premier Jim Prentice told host Donna McElligott that "in terms of who is responsible, we need only look in the mirror. Basically, all of us have had the best of everything and have not had to pay for what it costs."
Well, sure Jim, that's right - in part at least but only in part. It was your own government that allowed the Big Energy gorilla to ass rape the province. And it was your own government that decided it was a fine idea to depend on petro-royalties to fund its budget outlays.
Your government didn't do those things because they were good for the province or for the people of Alberta, current and future. Your government squandered your energy revenues like a piss-drunk sailor in order to buy your way through election after election with faux prosperity for - well, forever.
You knew better. The last sentient premier that despoiled province had warned you. Peter Lougheed drew you a map through the energy minefield, showing you how to use it as a bounty, not a curse. Peter Lougheed was not only the last intelligent premier, he was also the last honest premier Alberta has known. And, by trying to shirk the blame for your government's own policies, you're showing that its business as usual under your management.
Well yes, but Albertans keep voting for this nonsense by landslides, so in a way, he's kind of right.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but I didn't hear Prentice say, "Smarten up and stop voting for us. When we tell you everything's great, realize we're lying our asses off, suckers."
ReplyDeleteNo, that's true, he didnt. I'm always amazed at voters abilities to utterly disregard all past performance and fall for election lies, though.
ReplyDeleteKaren, if they couldn't lie to us they would probably have to find a way to abolish elections.
ReplyDeleteJP is on record saying: 'All cards are on the table EXCEPT oil royalties and corporate taxes.'
ReplyDeleteGet ready for your public services to be 'right sized' by the Right Alberta.
"Basically, all of us have had the best of everything and have not had to pay for what it costs"
ReplyDeleteWow, who knew Albertans had the best of everything.
No wonder I despise them.
"Basically, all of us have had the best of everything and have not had to pay for what it costs"
ReplyDeleteSince there are no free lunches in this world, the above statement by Prentice may tell us who has really been paying for Albertans' "best of everything".
I suggest it is the $34B annual fossil fuel subsidy that the IMF had said the rest of Canada had been paying that had allowed Albertan oil companies to escape paying appropriate royalties, and thus indirectly benefitting all Albertans too.