Alberta Liberals Prepare for the Future

Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft spoke to more than 300 supporters in Edmonton at his leader’s dinner this evening.

His address to the crowd highlighted the Alberta Liberal action plan for health care, education, ethics and fiscal responsibility.  Taft vowed to persist in holding Ed Stelmach to account as the leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislature.

“Losing the election does not mean the Alberta Liberals are wrong about the issues.  We are right, and we need the courage and persistence to stay on those issues,” Taft said to applause.

“Our new and smaller caucus has important work to do, starting now, and we will apply our best efforts to getting that work done on behalf of Albertans.”

Taft thanked the Alberta Liberal candidates and supporters for their time and hard work during their recent spirited and principled provincial election campaign.

“I thank from the bottom of my heart all the Albertans who actually stood up and were counted Monday in Alberta.”

While the results were disappointing for the Alberta Liberals, Taft singled out the low participation rate in the election as something that needs to change.

“The biggest disappointment of all, from the perspective of democracy, was that only 42% of voters bothered to turn out.”

“When you work it through, Ed Stelmach and the Tories have formed a government with the support of about 23% of voters, getting 86% of the seats in the legislature and 100% of the power.”

“That is just wrong.  It needs to be fixed through electoral reform; and an Alberta Liberal government would be doing just that,” said Taft.

“Ed Stelmach is already being told by the media that he and the Tories are invincible.  Their sense of entitlement—already bloated out of proportion—will be greater than ever.”

“With this election, the Tories believe they have told us we don’t count.  Let me tell you, and let me tell Ed Stelmach and the Tories, and let me tell the world: the Alberta Liberals do count.”