Guest Column by Doug Griffiths, MLA Battle-River Wainwright

This was something that Doug sent to me the other day. I think it sums up what everybody around Alberta is, nay should, be thinking...

In the previous federal election Ralph Klein was berated for his comments about healthcare and the changes that were coming. In truth, Ralph said the same thing everyday for months . . . that the changes Alberta was bringing forward on an assigned date would be a ‘third way’ that would revolutionize healthcare for the better. The Alberta media reported it day in and day out and announced that Albertans should pay attention on that day because good or bad, the changes would be interesting. No fear mongering, and no affect on federal politics occurred, until . . . .

The day of the announcement, scheduled months before any election call, happened to be only a few days before the culmination of the federal election. A week before the announcement Ralph said the same thing he said for months in preparation for the big day . . . be ready, the changes will be interesting and may even contravene the Canada Health Act. However, on that particular day, would be Prime Minister Paul Martin jumped on the remarks and said that Ralph was in league with Mr. Harper to destroy Healthcare in Canada. Some people blamed the Premier outright for the federal Conservatives loss and wanted to see Ralph leave.

But you know what, if Ralph had said, “In the interest of the upcoming federal election I will not talk about what we are going to do,” or “No comment,” the headlines would have said, “Ralph keeps health changes secret.” Paul Martin would have still jumped on it saying, “See, Ralph and Steven are in league together. The Premier won’t comment because he knows it will hurt Steven since they have the same plans to destroy healthcare in this country.” The Premier was damned if he did, and damned if he didn’t. Paul Martin would have used it against conservatives either way.

So last week the Premier is around the country talking about how Alberta’s prosperity is good for the nation and it should not be raided. He was trying to build allegiances with the other provinces against the feds to ensure there was no such thing as another National Energy Program in any form. In one interview the Premier was asked what he thought the results of the federal election would be. His comments were . . . well, you know I don’t like it but I would likely bet on a Liberal minority, which is really unfortunate because Steven Harper is obviously an intelligent and thoughtful man, but you know, for some reason Ontario is still buying into the idea that Steven and the conservatives are too right wing, which just isn’t true. BUT, the headlines said, ‘Ralph bets on Liberals – Harper too far right’. I agree it would have been better not to comment, but every one of us knows how the federal LIBERAL media takes things out of proportion and twists words to make problems. Whatever the Premier said would have been twisted to look bad for conservatives in general. Don’t believe me? Did anyone else notice that every single one of the commentators for the CBC covering the non-confidence motion was wearing a red tie (Liberal color)! Ralph’s words were true and honest, and NOT what the media made them out to be.

Keep this in mind . . . the Federal Liberals have one election strategy that they have used effectively for 30 years – Divide and Conquer. They divide the natives against the white man, the French against the English, and the West against the East. They have done it time and time again, year after year, election after election. These days however they have a new target – conservatives. If the Liberals can successfully divide the federal conservatives against the provincial conservatives they will win again. And you must know, this election will be about attacking Alberta, our policies, our wealth, our values and our Premier . . . anything to make Ontario mad at conservatives in general in order to cause a conservative loss federally.

If we give in to that and act as the Liberals want we will get one result; the end of conservatism. We will look like we can’t lead and we won’t win the next election (yes, I said WE because I am a federal conservative and got my start in politics serving as a federal constituency president). It could also lead to further division of the right within this province, which could lead to a Liberal government here too! How would that make things better for any of us? I know we have improvements to make in this province to . . . we always will be improving . . . and I am working on it getting it done sooner than later.

I don’t normally get so political, but I want a federal conservative government and a conservative provincial government. I want everyone to know the Liberal tactics in doing this, and I want us to unite to eliminate the real bad guys.

Doug Griffiths