Thank you, thank you, thank you for the opportunity to have someone listen to how I feel about the recent Alberta Budget.
I was appalled at the cuts and the deficit. Most particularly appalling for me is the action about generic drug prices. I have relied so much on advice from my pharmacists over the past years that I would hate to see things change where they have to cut staff or simply don't have the time anymore to talk to us or maybe have to move out of the province.
So let me take you back a bit. We recently lost one of the greatest premiers Canada will ever have, Mr. Ralph Klein. In 2004, Alberta was debt free, the only debt free province in the country. When Mr. Klein resigned, in the following election, unfortunately, Albertans didn't have their thinking caps on and due to a split vote, the only person qualified to become premier, Mr. Jim Dinning, lost out to Mr. Ed Stelmach.
Mr. Dinning had been minister of education and provincial treasurer and was amply qualified to be premier. One of Mr. Stelmach's party's most memorable acts was to give themselves a 30 per cent pay increase. This was as the world was edging into a recession.
At this time I believe we had legislation on the books that the government was prohibited from running a deficit. By 2009 we had a $1 billion deficit.
In 2011, oil prices tripled. Where did our money go? Someone got it, including bonuses, but it wasn't me. Was it the big companies that contribute to the governing party? I think we made a mistake in the last election, however I personally don't think Danielle Smith and her party had the experience to take over at that time. There was no one else.
If only we could have Mr. Dinning back in politics and running for the leadership of the PC party again. I doubt very much that would happen. He is now the chancellor of the University of Calgary. Shame on us, that is the pathetic 50 per cent of us that got out to vote.
Thank you for your time,
Ida L. Wright
Bonnyville
