Letter from Kevin Taft

Dear Alberta Liberal member:

Of all people, you know the importance of a healthy democracy.

We went into the last election with great candidates, the best policy, and a team that worked hard to present a choice to Albertans.

What we did not have was money. Our election warchest was, literally, empty.

That meant no polling or public opinion research, a very small campaign team, and almost no advertising to get our message out. It is no wonder many Albertans don’t see an alternative to this government, even though they want a change. And it is no wonder there was a record low voter turnout.

12 March 2008

Alberta Liberals Thank Volunteers

To all the volunteers, candidates, friends and supporters, thank you. To everyone who knocked on doors, put up signs, made phone calls, talked to friends, and did their best to make a difference, thank you. To everyone who gave freely of their time, money and passion because they believed in a better Alberta, thank you. To everyone who took the time to cast a ballot for their Alberta Liberal candidate, thank you.

We did make a difference, and we will continue to make a difference.

There is value in managing our province’s affairs in a way that will enable future generations to enjoy the same prosperity that we do. There is value in providing safety to the vulnerable. There is value in protecting our natural environment. There is value in the intangibles that make life beautiful.

6 March 2008

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.”

3 March 2008

Alberta Liberals Ready to Hold Tories Accountable

Speaking in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft thanked supporters across Alberta this evening after the election poll results showed that his party will continue to stand up for Albertans as the Official Opposition.

“We fought the best campaign we could fight, and achieved more than we see in these results,” said Taft. “We won’t know the true value of the work we’ve done for years, but it is real.”

“The Alberta Liberals will continue to fight. We’ll stand proud in the legislature, ready to hold this government to account. There will be no free ride.”

Taft congratulated the other leaders and thanked all the candidates and volunteers that supported them throughout the election campaign.

“I also thank the voters who came out on election day, in the belief that a single vote can make a difference,” said Taft. “I especially thank the voters of Edmonton-Riverview for electing me to a third term. It’s an honour to represent you.”

“We have made commitments to Albertans—on health care, on the environment, on education, on the economy—and I intend to push for each of them, with all my might.”

“Fortunately, I won’t be working alone. I’ve got a great team with me, and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work come tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you Alberta for your support – I look forward to standing up for the best interests and the priorities of Albertans as we move forward into the next Alberta.”

“We are the party that will bring vision and balance to Alberta’s future, and that’s worth fighting for,” said Taft.

2 March 2008

It’s time for a new government, Taft tells Edmonton rally

Edmontonians turned out on Saturday to hear Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft deliver one strong message: Alberta needs a new government.

“It’s time,” said Taft. “We’ve been saying it through this entire campaign, and on Monday—together—we will translate those words into action: It’s time for a new government.”

“Ed Stelmach expects Albertans to wait four years for the end of health care premiums. He expects Albertans to wait until 2050 before taking serious steps to address climate change. When it comes to affordable housing, he expects us to wait. When it comes to spiralling electricity and auto insurance rates, he expects us to wait. And when it comes to hospital emergency rooms and surgical procedures, he really expects us to wait.”

“Well, we’ve had enough waiting. We’ve had 37 years of waiting. We need a new government.”

“On Tuesday morning, we will wake up to the Next Alberta. We’ll wake up to a province where public health care is stronger than ever, where we lead the planet in protecting the environment, where we protect jobs and the economy, where we make our communities safer, and where we save and invest our money for the future.”

“We’ll wake up to a new government. An Alberta Liberal government.”

“Ed Stelmach himself was quoted yesterday saying that the Liberals will be successful. We agree.”

“We will be successful because of all the ways we’re different from the Tories. Alberta has changed. The world has changed, but Ed Stelmach and the Tory government have not. Like Rip Van Winkle, they’ve been asleep for decades. It’s time to move on, Alberta! We need a new government!”

Taft told the enthusiastic crowd that the Alberta Liberals are the only party in this election poised to form a new government that acts on Albertans’ needs and priorities.

“Our opponents know what the people and the experts have been saying,” said Taft. “The Alberta Liberals are the strongest on the environment, we’re the strongest on health care, we’re the strongest on education, we’re the strongest on jobs and the economy, we’re the strongest on saving for the future. Not the Greens, not the NDP.”

“Not the Conservatives.”

On top of that, Taft reminded the crowd of the Alberta Liberal commitment to Edmonton and Alberta.

Taft said the Alberta Liberals will:

Super-charge Edmonton’s post-secondary institutions, making them true, permanent world leaders.
Expand the Cross Cancer Institute and increase training spaces for health care professionals.
Strengthen arts and culture by tripling funding to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and establishing an Alberta arts festival.
Get the 23rd Avenue interchange built.
Create a new royalty regime that gives Albertans their fair share while also protecting jobs, the environment and the economy.
Place a three-year moratorium on school closures to review the flawed school closure process.
Enact a big cities charter, giving Edmonton the constitutional power it needs to chart its own course.

“Nothing changes unless we change government,” said Taft. “Albertans have a chance to change the future.”

“It’s time for the next Alberta – it’s time for a new government.”