smith speech

8/8/2019 Smith speech

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Speaking Notes – October 13, 2010

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, andfellow Wildrose supporters – it’s great tobe back here in Okotoks to share thisevening with you.

I’ d like to particularly thank Lenard

Biscope, Dean Leask, Harold Davenportand the other hardworking members of our Wildrose constituency association fortaking the time to introduce me to theirfriends and neighbours over the pastyear, and for helping to build our party in

this constituency from the grassroots up.Your support means a lot to me.

It has been almost a year since I waselected Leader of the Wildrose party, andwhat an amazing year it has been.

I’ve been to every corner of this province,and I’ve met with Albertans from allwalks of life.



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It has given me an extraordinaryperspective on exactly where we are as aprovince and where I think we can go.

Albertans are an inspiring people whoseize opportunity and forge ahead, oftenin the face of long odds, to make ourprovince stronger, safer and more

prosperous.

Since our days as the pioneering westernfrontier, Albertans have led the way inbuilding a province that rewards hardwork, encourages individual responsibility

and creates prosperity for its citizens.

We have been and ought to be the envyof Canada.

But something has changed in Albertaover the last few years.



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Albertans are increasingly concernedabout the direction the province isheading.

The PC government once enjoyed thesupport of many of the people I have metin the past year.

Like me, they supported the governmentwhen it stuck to controlled spending, lowtaxes and balanced budgets – things thatAlbertans have come to value andrecognize as their own.

But it has become more and moreevident that this government no longerholds to those values.

It has abandoned what Alberta has cometo stand for and that’s been reinforced to

me everywhere I go.

We have begun a steady decline intomediocrity.



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What we need is a confident surge backto excellence.

We in the Wildrose understand that soundfiscal management is something allAlbertans expect from their government.We have put forward a realistic andachievable plan to restore Alberta to

balanced budgets in half the time the PCgovernment has proposed.

We also understand that Albertans expecttheir government to listen, not justduring elections but in the four years in

between.

But under the PCs, consultation is treatedmore as a PR exercise than a worthwhileopportunity to hear what people have tosay.



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From Bill 50 to carbon capture andstorage to the disastrous health caresuperboard, there are far too manyexamples of this government missing themark on what truly matters to Albertans.

I’m also always amazed when I meet withtown and county councils about how

frustrated they have become in trying toget their issues and priorities heard bythe provincial government.

It seems like such a simple relationship – if you want to represent people, you take

the time to listen to them. Obviously, thisis something the PCs have forgotten.

As a province, we have a lot to be proudof – and Okotoks-High River is a primeexample. This constituency is a perfectsnapshot of Alberta life.



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Situated on Calgary’s southern doorstep,it is a unique rural-urban mix that reflectsmany of the issues our province faces.

Our two biggest industries – agricultureand energy – are the lifeblood of the localeconomy.

Okotoks is one of the fastest growingurban communities in Alberta. As anincreasingly popular home for Calgarycommuters, it’s dealing with growthissues such as transportation access andcrime.

At the same time, the constituency ishome to some of the richest agriculturalland in Alberta.

Hard-working farmers, ranchers andlandowners must deal with a governmentthat has shown a disturbing lack of respect for property rights, furthercomplicating an already difficult living.



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These are important issues that theresidents of Okotoks-High River live withevery day. They demand attention, andthey demand action.

With that in mind, it is my pleasuretonight to make two announcements.

First, for all of the reasons I’ve just listed,my husband David and I are choosing tomake this constituency our home.

And second, that at the first available

opportunity, I will be running to representthe people of Okotoks-High River as theirWildrose MLA in the Alberta Legislature.

Something exciting is happening inAlberta, and our party has caught theimagination of people who are looking forchange.



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Across Alberta, thousands of people have joined our party, and hundreds haveexpressed their desire to run ascandidates in the next election.

We are emerging as a competent,credible and conservative government-in-waiting, and every day more and more

people are signing up to be part of it.

But make no mistake – this will be atough battle.

We are up against an entrenched political

dynasty that has come to value powerabove all else.

They aren’t going to let it go without a

fight.



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Our opponents enjoy all of theadvantages of an incumbent government,including a $40 billion treasury that theyaren’t afraid to use to curry favour withAlbertans.

They will use every lever of power to tryand trip us up.

That’s why I’m announcing my own

candidacy now so we have the time tobring our message to the people of Okotoks-High River and all of Alberta.

We’ve already rolled out some of ourcaucus policy statements on education,the environment, and advancededucation.



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Over the next few months, we’ll be

bringing forward clear and sensiblepolicies on key issues like municipalfinancing, infrastructure, democraticaccountability, property rights, energy,and health care.

We expect our opponents to attack and

distort these ideas, a reflexive reactionfrom a government without any ideas of its own.

But we believe that Albertans will seethrough their antics. Albertans deserve to

know exactly where we stand on theimportant issues facing our provincebefore the next election.

In that election, the choice couldn’t beclearer.



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It’s the choice between a party on the

cutting edge of issues – with realsolutions and a clear vision – and a partyrunning on empty – bereft of ideas andbankrupt on principles.

It’s the choice between respect for thetaxpayer and abuse of the taxpayer.

It’s the choice between a government

with the courage to lead and agovernment that’s failed to lead.

The people of Alberta deserve to have

that choice, and the Wildrose party willmake sure they have it.

I’d like to thank all of you for coming outthis evening and for your continuedsupport of the Wildrose.

Unlike our opponents, we are a member-based party that functions on the ideasand energy of the grassroots.



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As Leader, and as your local candidate – Iintend to keep meeting with you,listening to your ideas and concerns, andworking to put forward policy solutionswhich meet the needs of everydayAlbertans.

Together, we can bring Alberta the

change it needs and the leadership itdeserves – it’s time for a Wildrose

government!

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