With the 2019 provincial election race nearing the homestretch, parties on all sides have been making campaign promises on everything from health care to education, from taxes to social programs.
As in past campaigns, each party is trying to convince voters that a promise made during the campaign will translate into concrete action once MLAs again get down to business.
Which party will come out on top, and therefore be able to put its campaign promises into effect, remains anyone’s guess.
What is known is that regardless of which party or parties forms the next government, the real work of living up to the expectations of residents will remain.
The Rural Municipalities of Alberta Association has identified a number of key issues that it hopes the new government will address over the next four years.
One of those issues, and probably among the most important, is the need for adequate and stable infrastructure funding in rural Alberta.
“We only have 10 per cent of the tax base and upwards of 50 of the infrastructure,” said RMA president and Mountain View County councillor Al Kemmere. “We have to make sure we have the tools in place to look at good long-term capital and operation management.
“Our road and bridge networks need to be maintained and improved to keep up with needs. They need to be funded appropriately.”
Rural Alberta may not have the largest population in the province, but the bridge and road infrastructure in the country communities are absolutely vital to the province’s economic well-being. Anyone who thinks otherwise should think again.
Campaign promises made during the 2019 election race are all well and good. Politicians have always made promises and this campaign is nothing new in that regard.
However, what rural communities need and will expect from the new government is concrete action on key issues.
Those issues aren’t about promises made in exchange for votes – they are about keeping rural Alberta sustainable and able to fulfil its potential in moving the province forward.
Dan Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor.
