MLA report Oct 22

A big hello to all my constituents! We hope you have enjoyed the beautiful fall weather and the changing colours. I would like to congratulate all the winning candidates in the Federal Election and express my sincere thanks to all who put their energy, vision, and desire to improve our lives into running for office.
Our premier recently turned what should have been a non-partisan speech on the economy to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce into a campaign endorsement for her federal counterparts. The silence from her audience spoke volumes. Now perhaps her government will get down to doing their job and present a rational and prudent budget. We are faced with a government bound and determined to spend borrowed money without consideration, collaboration, or realization of the consequences to the future fiscal health of the province. Why do they want to steal the worst policies of the previous government, who couldn’t balance a budget with $100 oil? A recent Fraser Institute report demonstrated that had the government kept spending in line with population growth and inflation we would have a budget surplus of over 4 billion dollars even with the collapse in oil prices. If they had kept it in line with GDP growth the current surplus would have approached two billion dollars. When the government spends more per capita than any other large province yet gets worse results it is clear we don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending and management problem. We cannot borrow our way to prosperity. Albert Einstein famously observed that insanity consists of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. It is simplistic and disingenuous to use oil prices as an excuse to raise taxes without taking a hard look at government spending. Ask yourself: “Shouldn’t the government show us where our money is going before they ask for more? Shouldn’t they be looking at cutting waste?” That’s Wildrose policy and it should be government policy. Sadly this isn’t what we’re seeing. We will be presenting positive alternatives when the Legislature reconvenes. Remember that nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. Please give us yours. We are here to listen and advocate for you.
Our hearts were broken when we heard about the tragedy near Withrow.  We send our heartfelt condolences to Roger and Bonita Bott for their loss of their precious girls Catie, 13, Dara, 11, and twin Jana. Loss of any child is a tragedy to us all.