On Tuesday, Premier Notley announced the government of Alberta had signed contracts with both Canadian National Rail and Canadian Pacific Rail to lease over 4,000 rail cars over three years to carry bitumen to markets. The cost would be $3.7 billion with an estimated net profit of $2.2 billion. 

Opposition Leader Jason Kenney believes he will form the next government and that the current government should cease all manner of governance responsibility immediately, call the election, and lose said election; which is within his right to openly opine. His supporters agree. 

Those who are not yet ready to hop onto Kenney’s bandwagon have suggested the government postpone calling the election until the investigations into alleged voter fraud and expense fraud, as well as other allegations that have yet to be allowed into the news cycle, are complete. Still others who have no intention of joining Kenney’s parade are anxiously awaiting the formation of yet another conservative Party. 

Opposition parties often do their best to undermine the government but has Kenney crossed a line by contacting businesses and threatening to cancel their contracts? 

In the lead up to the 2012 election, the Wildrose was projected to win a majority government. That didn’t happen.

When the 2015 election was called, Albertans, and Albertan businesses were still likely under the impression the Progressive Conservative Party would remain government. They were wrong. 

Threatening businesses who sign contracts with the Alberta government may turn out to be a winning strategy for regaining investor confidence. It’s also entirely possible that this display is simply a virtue of “free enterprise”. In what world, I have absolutely no idea. 

This post contains both fact and opinion. 

Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean

[email protected]

@Mitchell_AB @thisweekinAB