Commentary
The United Conservative Party of Alberta is holding a leadership race to replace outgoing Premier Jason Kenney. Two former Wildrose Party leaders, Brian Jean and Danielle Smith, are neck-and-neck in opinion polls. While the GOTV (get out the vote) strategy of both candidates will obviously determine who wins on Oct. 6, other intangibles such as policy ideas will help move the political needle in one direction or the other.
Smith, who I’ve known for years and recently endorsed in my Troy Media syndicated column, is well ahead of Jean when it comes to matters of public policy. Her work experience with the Fraser Institute and Canadian Federation of Independent Business helped enhance her support for private enterprise, trade liberalization, and the free market economy. She’s an intelligent, thought-provoking candidate who has always been fascinated with the crafting of ideas, from properly utilizing Alberta’s oil industry to helping end Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal carbon tax….