Mason: put an end to patronage appointments
Alberta’s New Democrat leader Brian Mason is calling on all parties to commit before election day to a transparent public process for all government appointments.
“Under the Conservatives, public appointments have become political rewards,” Mason says. “Let’s start to put an end to pork-barrel politics by putting the public back in public appointments.”
The Conservatives have yet to proclaim the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act, passed in 2009 amid public outcry about the partisan nature of appointments. It would force appointments to be based on merit.
“Conservatives chose not to put this law into effect because they’re quite happy with the current process – all done behind cabinet doors. It let Alison Redford appoint her leadership rival Gary Mar to his plum, $200,000 plus post in Asia without vetting of any sort,” Mason says. “Ken Hughes, another political appointee to the Alberta Health Services bo |
A family feud that doesn’t concern your family
Alberta’s New Democrat leader Brian Mason says the only families that matter this election are ordinary families – not the conservative family feud that’s spilled into the public eye.
“The conservative family – the same one that’s run this province for 40 years - is feuding this election, and Albertans shouldn’t be confused by their public spat,” says Mason. “Let’s focus on the families that matter – ordinary Alberta families who are just trying to get their kids educated, pay the bills, and keep healthy.
“The conservative parties have turned to nasty personal attacks because on the big issues like oilsands prosperity, power bills, health, environment and education, they can’t criticize each other without mocking their own platform.
“Voting for either party will give them a mandate to follow the same path the Conservative party has followed for 40 years. A vote for either party is an endorse |
The choice: public or private health care
Alberta’s New Democrat leader Brian Mason says that tomorrow, Albertans will choose between two conservative visions for private healthcare, and a New Democrat pledge to stand up for public health care.
“New Democrats will fight this private health clinic and any other the Conservatives and Wildrose plan to introduce. These are clinics that drain doctors from our public health system and give preferential access to wealthy Albertans. We’ll fight for public healthcare against parties that want to violate the principles of fairness in our health system,” says Mason.
At the Copeman clinic, families can spend $8,200 for a year of preferential access to doctors and health technicians. The clinic is partly funded through tax dollars from the Conservative government. The Wildrose plan for healthcare depends on such “independent clinics” to shorten wait times.
“Private clinics pop up when the public system isn’t given the right resou |
Marking Earth Day with a promise of action
EDMONTON – Alberta’s New Democrat leader Brian Mason is marking Earth Day with a pledge to clean up the oilsands and green our cities.
“New Democrats believe in taking care of the environment just as carefully as we take care of our energy prosperity,” says Mason. “Compare that to the Conservative record that’s left Alberta embarrassed around the world. And unlike the Wildrose, we actually believe in science and climate change.
“Today we celebrate Alberta’s environment. Tomorrow, Albertans can vote New Democrat to save it.”
The New Democrat plan would clean up the oilsands by aggressively working to eliminate tailings ponds, putting hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions, setting aside more sensitive habitat for preservation and significantly improving environmental monitoring.
New Democrats would also help families do their part by offering $5,000 interest-free loans for energy efficient home retrofits, and by boost |
