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Speaking of irritating and hypocritical comments from Alberta’s opposition parties as they campaign openly for the re-election of Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party of Canada, there was Wildrose Leader Brian Jean’s news release yesterday condemning Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson for campaigning in British Columbia Monday for a federal NDP candidate.
“The summer vacation is over, Albertans need leaders who are focused on jobs and growth,” Jean huffed self-righteously, throwing in a complaint about the NDP royalty review that, as noted elsewhere today, may earn him a cranky call from CAPP.
Meanwhile, Jean has been out on the road himself, touring the province and, according to his frequent news releases, meeting with Albertans and talking about their concerns.
But, um, by the sound of local press reports from the hinterland, which as the leader of a rural-based party Jean may assume city slickers never read, he’s also been doing no little campaigning for you-know who. “We have a big job there,” Jean told residents of Pincher Creek according to the Pincher Creek Echo, “and Stephen Harper is the only one capable of doing it.”
Meanwhile, down the road in Lethbridge, the touring former Conservative MP told folks how he’s been hearing support for the federal Conservatives wherever he goes, stating, “Stephen Harper is the best prime minister we’ve ever had.”
And while Jean blames the NDP for many of the fiscal problems now bedevilling Alberta, despite their having been in power for less than four months, he’s happy to deny Canada is in recession, also by way of supporting Harper.
“The official Opposition party leader touched on Albertan politics and supported Prime Minister Stephen Harper,” reported the Drayton Valley Western Review of Jean’s visit to that community.
“He didn’t agree the country is in a recession and supported Harper for the upcoming federal election,” the Review went on, quoting Jean explaining, “I am hoping that he (Harper) gets to continue on because we have a very fragile global economy and we need a steady hand.”
Surely what’s good for the goose is good for the gander! Shouldn’t Jean be sticking to his knitting as Alberta’s Opposition leader and be focusing on jobs and growth, instead of stumping for politician whose risky neoliberal ideological experiments have already hurt the Canadian economy?
Just asking.
This post also appears on David Climenhaga’s blog, AlbertaPolitics.ca.
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