Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
This is something Peter Lougheed talked about while Premiere and continued to talk about up to his death:
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It saddens me that more people didn't listen to Lougheed in his autumn years. He represented a more rational, far-sighted, nuanced approach to Conservatism than the populists and ideologues who took over the party in his wake. I've had public policy debates where the people opposing me accused me of being a liberal, and I've had to explain that I was quoting arguments made by Peter Lougheed almost verbatim.
Lougheed saw the oil industry as the main pillar of our economy, but also as a powerful political lobby that had to be watched closely and restrained when necessary. But sometime around 1994, the Alberta political class basically capitulated to the energy industry. I've sometimes thought we could save a lot of money and hassle by doing away with the provincial government altogether and let the province be run by a board appointed by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Maybe throw in a rancher or two. Have them meet twice a year at a fishing lodge and hash things out. Turn the legislature into a provincial museum.