March 31, 2006

Liberals poised to make gains in province

Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today March 29, 2006

Fort McMurray has been seeing an awful lot of the provincial Liberals lately.

Labour critic Dan Backs and Transport critic Harry Chase were here in January, speaking to residents about infrastructure problems. Leader Kevin Taft was here just over a month ago, drumming up support for his party and speaking of the lack of planning the government has for the region.

And the caucus was back this week for a fundraising dinner. Beforehand, the Grits were pressing the flesh down Franklin Avenue and met with Today's editorial board, where Taft spoke of the need for "good, old-fashioned political hard work" if his party is to make gains.

If there were ever a time the Liberals needed some good, hard work, it's now, with the Tories currently focused on a drawn-out leadership transition. Assuming Premier Ralph Klein passes his leadership review this weekend, the Tory leader plans to stay on until 2008. Lyle Oberg, until recently the Infrastructure Minister, doesn't think that stringing out the transfer will be good for the party. For his (admittedly poorly worded) comments, he's been turfed.

McMurrayites are growing increasingly frustrated with a seeming lack of support from the government with regards to the strain our rapidly growing city is experiencing. Councillors are seriously pondering putting stricter restrictions on future oilsands projects, to address needs in health care and education.

This riding was, not all that long ago, a Liberal one. With the strain on the city only expected to worsen, the Liberals might find people here willing to listen to what they have to say.

© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.

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