What's the point of the cabinet tour?

I think its great that our elected officials are getting out and meeting the people - face to face contact is always the best way to put your finger on the pulse of the province. But only when its done with genuine intentions.

I can't help but wonder if there's much genuine intention left with the PC government anymore. Or rather, if they know how to turn genuine intention into genuine action.

I can't say I know him well, but I still believe Ed Stelmach is a good and decent man who means well. Some of his cabinet and caucus share those traits, too. But I get the impression that the people who really run the show in the Legislature - who have been doing business the same way since Lougheed left office (save the first few years of Ralph Klein) - know only how to be reactive rather than proactive. This has been evident in the way the PCs have responded to opposition heat on a couple of important committees (Public Accounts and Members Services).

The cabinet tour is no different. The PCs would have us believe that this series of mini-junkets across the province stems from genuine will to get out and hear what people have to say so they can form some policies going forward. Doubtful - they rarely even listen to their own party members. Rather, I suspect the cabinet tour is a carefully crafted response to rightly sagging poll numbers. Kind of like a big, multi-national summit, the press releases announcing the good work that has been done on the tour was most likely written weeks ago as they were putting the final touches on the Government jets' flying schedule. What's more offensive is that all this was probably being prepared while the PCs were acting as though they had every intention of being in the Legislature right up until the scheduled adjournment date of June 3rd.

I'd like to have some faith in my government and their ability to properly connect with Albertans rather than tell us what they've decided and why its good for us. But actions speak louder than words, and the action I see coming from downtown Edmonton is none too reassuring.

Time for a civilized coup.

We like democracy, right up until it poses a threat

Read Don Braid's latest.

I'm not sure what's worse: the fact that the PCs seem to have learned nothing from the Public Accounts mess last week, or the fact that Kowalski (the "non-partisan" Speaker and Chair of Members Services) seems to be running in lock-step with the Tories on this?

If King Ken doesn't lose his seat next time, it will be a lot of fun watching him squirm powerless on the opposition bench.