Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper is disappointed with the perception that some Canadians outside Alberta have to be convinced to help residents of this province by telling them what's in it for them.
Cooper, the Wildrose Party's house leader, made those comments during an interview with the Gazette.
He noted last week, his Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean gave a speech to the C.D. Howe Institute saying that Ontarians benefit when Alberta's economy does well.
Jean said a strong Alberta economy creates jobs in Ontario as people invest in the oil industry, and equipment for that industry is manufactured in Ontario.
“I think it's important that we get the message out that all of Canada recognizes the importance of Alberta,” Cooper said.
“I do think it's disappointing from time to time, when other jurisdictions over long periods of time have received significant benefit in the form of transfer payments – particularly in the form of Quebec, but to a lesser degree Ontario – and then we need to go and essentially lobby on our behalf when times are tougher.
“So I would say it's disappointing that that is needed to be done. But at present, we don't have – in my opinion, we don't have strong leadership that is doing that on behalf of Albertans, and that's why I think it's good that Mr. Jean was out doing that.
“I think, at the end of the day, we all have an important role to play on the national stage, and I'm not sure that it serves all of our interest when that happens. So I think it's good to see Brian speaking positively about the role that we play in the country, and embracing that role.
“I think that at a time like this it's really important that we have our provincial leaders strongly defending Alberta's interests and ensuring that all of Canada knows that a strong Alberta means a strong Canada. And that's exactly the message that Brian Jean is out advocating on behalf of Albertans.”
He singled out the proposed Energy East pipeline as an example of a project that's important to the Alberta economy and could benefit all of Canada, creating jobs in various provinces.
Energy East would move crude oil from Alberta to Montreal and eventually the Maritimes so it could get to overseas markets.
"I think that at a time like this it's really important that we have our provincial leaders strongly defending Alberta's interests and ensuring that all of Canada knows that a strong Alberta means a strong Canada."NATHAN COOPER OLDS-DIDSBURY-THREE HILLS MLA
