Hell hath frozen over. Today this scribbler, a proud lifelong Grit, will sing the praises of Premier Jason Kenney.
Unless you have been living under a frozen rock somewhere in the Antarctica, you no doubt heard and read the shrills from many folks on social media who are mad as hell with the federal election result.
The current storm also includes over-the-top screeching about separation. Yup, the pipe dream that still lives on with scattered rump groups who have never considered the dire economic consequences of such folly, especially the big geographical problem that Alberta is indeed a land-locked jurisdiction with colossal legal hoops to hurdle. It's also reasonable to assume that many of the disgruntled have never fully accepted that one word that in today's world best sums up the utter foolishness of even considering separation: Brexit.
Fortunately, it appears Kenney understands all the above and much more.
"While I understand why many might feel that (anger) way, I think there's a better case for a stronger Alberta in Canada," said Kenney on Twitter.
Kenney's immediate reaction to the federal election result and the public fallout is now vitally important. There has never been any doubt about the quality of his enviable intellect and his political savvy but now is the time for him to prove his leadership skills to turn down the overheated temperature of a loud but overwhelming minority of volatile Albertans.
However, the premier also has a duty to protect the interests of Albertans and he has rightly called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to "unequivocally" commit his new government to the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. The scribbler is totally in alignment with this but to a large degree the issue is now out of Trudeau's hands and before the courts again, and sadly, maybe yet again and again.
Sure, blame Trudeau when it's warranted but when it's not it is far more productive, not to mention fair, to put it where it belongs. A big one not accepted by many is the expectations and sense of entitlement too many angry Albertans still hold onto.
It was almost four and a half years ago when the late Premier Jim Prentice told Albertans that the oil and gas gravy train was coming to the end of the line, that hard times were ahead. Prentice went on to say, and he was vilified for this, that Albertans ought to look in the mirror. He was right all along.
In the meantime, today's premier has so far made the right moves to push ahead for Alberta to find a solution and not another problem, and to cool down the hotter heads.
That is good, very good Mr. Premier.
This scribbler won't ever vote for you or your party but today a tip of the hat to you is well earned.
- Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.
