PCs fail to show accountability on their platform
One of the biggest issues in the Alberta election has been government accountability. But, despite earlier actions to increase that accountability, the Progressive Conservatives haven’t made that issue a major part of their campaign – drawing criticism from the NDP.
According to the CBC Vote Compass, accountability has been the top issue of concern among Albertans. A recent poll for the CBC News polling firm Return on Insight has shown accountability is the number one reason for decided voters to back the NDP and the Wildrose.
“Accountability and transparency are not a priority for this government. For far too long the PCs have been making back room secret deals and asking Alberta families to pay the price for the party’s mistakes,”
– NDP communications officer Cheryl Oates
In an interview with the Calgary Journal, Mount Royal University public policy professor Lori Williams agreed that issue, along with transparency, has become “tremendously important” on the campaign trail. That’s because of a long history of questionable decisions by the ruling Progressive Conservatives – many of which have nothing to do with leader Jim Prentice.
Nevertheless, the Progressive Conservative platform doesn’t even mention the words transparency or accountability. By comparison, the NDP and Wildrose platforms have whole sections dedicated to restoring trust in government.
Premier Jim Prentice promised a new beginning for Alberta after being elected leader of the PCs. He said he would hold accountability with no excuses.
Photo: Premier Jim Prentice speaks at the World Heavy Oil Congress in Edmonton Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Courtesy of Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta
Asked about that absence of such a section in the Tory platform, NDP communications officer Cheryl Oates said, “Accountability and transparency are not a priority for this government. For far too long the PCs have been making back room secret deals and asking Alberta families to pay the price for the party’s mistakes.”
“Jim Prentice refuses to accept accountability for the PC government’s record, telling Albertans to ‘look in the mirror’ to understand its poor management and bad decisions,” said Oates.
“For far too long the PCs have been making back room secret deals and asking Alberta families to pay the price for the party’s mistakes.” According to the NDP the measures taken by Prentice to restore accountability are nothing more than “shiny announcements,” and the PCs has done “very little to restore accountability and transparency.”
The Progressive Conservative Party and Wildrose Party weren’t available to provide comment.
drodriguez@cjournal.ca
@dl_rod
Thumbnail courtesy of Dave Cournoyer/Flickr