The Bow Valley’s member of the provincial legislative assembly, Ron Casey, said he was disappointed to see Premier Alison Redford resign her position last week.
Redford stepped down as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party last Wednesday (March 19) amidst controversy over travelling expenses and her use of the government’s fleet of private jets.
“I think it is really unfortunate what has happened,” Casey said. “I think we lost one of the most insightful and thoughtful leaders we ever could have hoped to have.
“I think if you take away all the press and all the hoopla of the last few months, the truth is she had a very clear vision of where she was taking Alberta and Alberta was well on that road.”
MLA for Banff-Cochrane, Casey pointed to the fact the economy has turned around in recent years under Redford’s leadership and “it is hard to find a bad stat when it comes to Alberta.” He said it takes a strong leader to do that and Redford was also building bridges federally and internationally for the province.
“I am sad we have lost that because I think it takes a certain personality and a certain type of person to work at that level – we never had it before in Alberta. The truth is, it is Albertans that lost,” Casey said. “I don’t think you ever heard the premier speak where she didn’t emphasize she was a progressive conservative, so the best I think we can hope for is we are able to find another leader, not just in words, but in actions as well, that is truly a progressive conservative.
“That is clearly what Albertans want – I don’t think Albertans are looking for hard line right-wing conservative politics.”
