A second Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful came to town as Calgary-Hays MLA Ric McIver visited Olds on June 11.McIver, a former cabinet minister who held infrastructure and transportation portfolios, strolled down 50 Avenue greeting businesses' owners and gathering input on what they'd like to see if he becomes premier.Throughout his campaign, McIver has referred to Albertans as his “bosses.”Along the way, he also handed out party membership cards, available for $10, which would allow people to vote for him during the party's leadership convention in September. This year, members can vote electronically or over the phone.The former three-term Calgary alderman is one of three candidates running for PC Party leadership. The other two include Edmonton-Castle Downs MLA and former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk along with former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice, considered to be the current frontrunner.McIver said there's still time to make the race interesting, emphasizing fiscal prudence as a selling point.“If I become premier, I can assure you that I'll make sure that all government members' expense accounts are boring. There's some exciting things that government can and should do. Their expense accounts should not be amongst the exciting things,” McIver said.“We'll lead by example and we'll live amongst the constraints that ordinary Albertans have to live amongst and since they're the boss in any government that I lead, I think they'll appreciate that.”A significant theme of the race has been regaining the trust of Albertans and McIver said he also plans to make registered lobbyists and senior members of his campaign ineligible for government contracts.With about two years left in the current government's mandate, McIver points to Alberta's quality of life as a reason for future voters to stick with the PCs.“Low unemployment, high standard of living, low taxes, really terrific opportunities for our children and grandchildren and that's exactly why I'm running,” he said. “I want to make sure my kids and grandkids have the same great opportunities here in Alberta that I've enjoyed in the 33 years I've lived here.”[email protected]
