Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft travelled to a livestock auction market in Ponoka to unveil his rural agenda Thursday, with campaign promises to protect fresh water supplies and ensure landowners are not unfairly affected by oil and gas development on their property.
'When the business of agriculture takes a hit, rural Alberta feels it most of all.'— Liberal Leader Kevin Taft
"For over 100 years, farmers and ranchers have stoked the economic engine of the province," Taft said. "When the business of agriculture takes a hit, rural Alberta feels it most of all."
Taft, campaigning for the March 3 Alberta election, said a Liberal government would make sure rural communities continue to have a good supply of fresh water by phasing out the practice of pumping fresh water down oil wells to increase production. The Liberals would also restrict inter-basin water transfers and set up a public process to resolve competing claims, Taft said.
The Liberal leader also promised to bring in new measures to ensure government agencies are held accountable to the public.
"Spying on Albertans is not consultation," Taft said, referring to a scandal in 2007 over the provincial Energy and Utilities Board's hiring of investigators to spy on landowners involved in one of its hearings.
Taft also repeated his party's promise to reintroduce regulation of electricity prices to control cost hikes, and increased funding to municipalities for policing.
Thursday morning in Edmonton, Taft promised to cap greenhouse gas emissions in five years if he's elected premier.
"Climate change is real, and it is bearing down on Alberta like a locomotive, said the Liberal leader. "We must act and we must act urgently."
Taft also promised to bring in a comprehensive climate change plan and promote clean energy sources such as wind and solar power.
Mason also campaigning in Edmonton
NDP Leader Brian Mason was also campaigning in Edmonton Thursday, proposing to cap monthly drug costs for seniors at $25 per month.
Mason also called for the establishment of a new government agency that would purchase drugs in bulk and use inexpensive generic options to save both families and the government money.
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Alberta Votes 2008 »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
