Leadership hopeful for the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party Jim Prentice was through Drumheller Tuesday afternoon, May 27, to meet with residents and hear about their priorities.
The Party is searching for a leader after former Premier Alison Redford stepped down amid controversy last March. His priority is restoring trust in the government.
“As I crisscross the province talking to Albertans, and speaking with Albertans through the media, I get really strong feedback that I am on the right track and this is what Albertans wants to see. They want strong government, leadership, they want a sense of discipline and focus around the government, and they are frustrated they have not had that,” Prentice told the Mail.
Part of changing this culture is setting an example.
“It starts with my own reputation and personal ethic, I think Albertans know me,” he said. “People know my commitment to honesty and integrity in government. I was a federal minister for six years and I never carried a Government of Canada credit card.
“These entitlements that have damaged the relationship between the voters of Alberta and their government, I don’t want truck or trade with that.”
Prentice is one of three vying for the leadership, along with Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk. Of the three, Prentice is the only one who has not served as an MLA, however he has served as an MP from 2004-2010 in the Stephen Harper Government. He was Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Minister of Industry and Minister of Environment.
Outside the party, he would like to build bridges in the legislature.
“We need a little less vitriol and a little more focus on what is best for Albertans. I intend to lower the temperature between the Conservative Party and the Wildrose,” he said. “I heard here in Drumheller that people are tired of the bitter partisanship, what they want is a focused government that delivers on their needs. Albertans are pretty shrewd, they know what they want and they will get it.”
Property rights play an important part of his government moving forward.
“I think we need to be vigilant about protecting private property rights in this province,” he said. “If I’m elected I would introduce a bill in the legislature to make the primacy of property rights in our province abundantly clear,” he said.
The first vote of the leadership race is set for September 6, 2014.
