Alberta鈥檚 next premier, Rachel Notley, has a steep learning curve ahead of her as she puts together a government with her host of inexperienced MLAs.
When she gets that stuff sorted out, there are a few things she should know about sa国际传媒, her province鈥檚 most important partner in Confederation.
Notley, the Alberta NDP leader who swept into power with 54 seats and a huge majority Tuesday, is no stranger to sa国际传媒 鈥� she worked with the sa国际传媒 NDP government under Mike Harcourt.
But in case some details have slipped her mind, here are a few things she should know, in no particular order of importance.
鈥� British Columbians are not fond of pipelines, and it doesn鈥檛 do any good to say that the federal government has final jurisdiction over those pipelines. Pipelines are to sa国际传媒 what the National Energy Policy was to Albertans, an attempt to force a federal scheme onto one particular region, with little in the way of benefits accruing to that region.
Not that we are too concerned 鈥� you made it clear during your campaign where you stood on the Northern Gateway pipeline: 鈥淚 think Gateway is not the right decision. I think that there鈥檚 just too much environmental sensitivity there and I think there鈥檚 a genuine concern by the indigenous communities.鈥�
鈥� When you visit sa国际传媒, forget that dangerous Prairie habit of pulling over onto the shoulder of the highway to let vehicles pass from behind, even if the driver behind you is flashing his or her headlights impatiently.
Unless, of course, you are hogging the left lane on a four-lane highway while faster traffic approaches from behind. In that case, you should move to the right.
That might seem a little odd, given that you have just shifted a whole province to the left, but it鈥檚 what the sa国际传媒 government wants.
Speeding and pot-smoking are minor things compared to impeding fast drivers in the left lane.
Besides, the impatient driver flashing his lights behind you could very well be sa国际传媒鈥檚 transportation minister.
鈥� Lougheed is a name found in both of our provinces, but pronunciation depends on geography.
In Alberta, where things are named after the former premier whose dynasty you toppled, the name is pronounced LAW-heed.
sa国际传媒鈥檚 Lougheed Highway, however, is pronounced LOW-heed, and is so designated in honour of Nelson Seymour Lougheed, who served as minister of public works in the 1920s.
鈥� Don鈥檛 worry that Premier Christy Clark appears to be on the other side of the political fence. When it comes to relations with Alberta premiers, she has shown herself to be more flexible than an Olympic gymnast. Clark鈥檚 relationship with Alison Redford had its frosty moments (remember that strange occasion when Clark showed up at the Alberta legislature unannounced in hopes of talking to Redford?), but they became BFF, at least until Redford took that last bus ride to oblivion.
Never mind that Clark then heartily endorsed Jim Prentice during the election campaign and said there hasn鈥檛 been an Alberta premier in her lifetime who understands sa国际传媒 like Prentice. That friendship is so-o-o-o last month.
Clark, too, could learn lessons from a neighbouring province, particularly the one about what happens to a party that gets so entrenched in power and entitlement that it loses touch with the electorate.
鈥� Finally, we hope you distinguish yourself in your service to Alberta, but when you are done being premier and are looking for a pleasant place to retire, consider coming to Vancouver Island, as countless other prominent Albertans (and even a former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador) have done.
