Wild Rose MP Blake Richards says while he is pleased Liberal energy critic David McGuinty – who last week called on Alberta MPs to “go back to Alberta” – has resigned his critic's portfolio, he believes the Liberal party needs a “change in attitude” when it comes to Alberta's energy industry.“Obviously him accepting the fact that what he said was inappropriate was a good thing,” Richards told the Gazette. “He really put a slight on all Alberta members of Parliament.“It is really indicative of the Liberal party's attitude towards Alberta, to disparage our energy industry. It really troubles me that that is the attitude they take towards an industry that provides hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country, producing significant benefits to our economy.“The Liberal party needs to take a lot more seriously the jobs and prosperity that this industry brings to this country. It would be nice to see a change in attitude from the Liberal party.”On Nov. 20 MP McGuinty told a reporter that Conservative MPs backing Alberta's energy sector, the oilsands in particular, “really should go back to Alberta” and that “the prime minister is shilling (Canadian Oxford Dictionary: “To promote a cause, especially with feigned disinterest) for one industrial sector.”In response to McGuinty's comments, MP Richards told the House of Commons that the remarks were an insult to Wild Rose constituents and to other Albertans.“These comments are simply outrageous,” said Richards. “I am proud to stand here and voice the interests of my constituents.“The Liberals fail to acknowledge that Alberta's energy industry is creating jobs and prosperity right across this country. My constituents remember all too well Pierre Trudeau's failed National Energy Program that devastated the economy and cost Albertans billions of dollars.”Shortly after Richards' comments in the House, the Liberals announced that McGuinty had given up his energy critic's portfolio.
