A bullying approach in negotiating with provinces such as B.C. will be counterproductive for Alberta, said the Alberta Party candidate for the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre riding.
“It makes you sound tough, but it doesn’t get anything done,” said Joe Anglin.
The former Wildrose-turned-Independent MLA for the riding said Alberta is facing serious issues, and that the government cannot afford to waste time playing silly, politically nefarious games.
Threats issued to B.C. by UCP Leader Jason Kenney will not help resolve any of the problems Alberta faces, he said, adding there are more issues than just building pipelines.
“We need more access to the coast. No one’s arguing that. But that’s not a cure-all,” he said, adding the price of oil is what really hampers the province more than anything else.
With a persistently low price of oil on the international market, Anglin said Alberta is a price taker that can’t depend on a boom to restore the economy. But he suggested there are other ways to fuel a recovery.
Among them are to relieve the burden on small and mid-sized businesses to ensure they’re not being hampered from contributing to the provincial economy. Furthermore, the key, he argues, is listening to what businesses need to attract investors.
Vague promises from parties claiming they will diversify the economy are make-believe, he said, adding the reality is that government policy alone sets the stage for people and businesses to generate economic growth.
The property rights advocate who said he’s built a reputation for challenging bureaucratic overreach added that people who think they’re getting “hosed” by the carbon tax should be more concerned about the regulatory cost of electricity, which since deregulation has “skyrocketed” and been passed on to the public and businesses.
