Federal Health Minister Just Doesn't Get It

By R.B. (Bruce) Hutton

July 30, 2003

It is obvious federal politicians are so far out of touch with reality they can't make any common sense decisions.  They just don't get it.

In a fit of typical, to be anticipated, gross mismanagement and obvious stupidity, Justice Minister Anne McLellan said Canada needs a permanently staffed Western Prime Ministers Office in Edmonton or Calgary to help "… reduce western alienation."

Minister McLennan apparently doesn't realize we have got way too much government already.  Why would westerners want more? She states, "These ideas need to be carefully thought through.  I think one would not want to end up establishing these kinds of offices and then have them really merely as symbolic shells, because then I think that might make people more cynical, it might make them even angrier."  Do you think? 

We need less government - that would be a good start.  Unfortunately, federal politicians don't think or they wouldn't do the ridiculous things they do and initiate the ridiculous programs they initiate.  Like a western PMO.

We don't need a PMO in Edmonton or Calgary.  That office isn't going to change anything and it will mean more non-productive government employees that live off government revenue generated by taxing Canadians with real jobs, jobs that generate real income from the real world.

Under this current parliamentary system known as Canadian Confederation, there is no hope for Alberta.  No reform inside the current political system will stop the economic bleeding in Alberta.  The net cost for Alberta to be Canadian - 9.98 billion in 2002.  The current system keeps Albertans as "packers of water and hewers of wood" for central Canada.  Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec will never let Alberta, their "golden goose", become an equal partner in Confederation.  They want our wealth and excess revenues that are currently being generated from a non-renewable resource, oil and gas.

This system is totally unacceptable if Alberta is to have a future.  And rest assured, a western PMO isn't going to change a damn thing and is another dumb idea wasting more taxpayer's money.