The Eagle caught up with Banff-Cochrane MLA Ron Casey, to get his thoughts on moving forward under Prentice’s leadership in the wake of a changing economy.
Last week, Alberta MLAs voted unanimously in favour of following suit with Prentice’s announcement of a five percent salary cut for himself and fellow cabinet ministers.
According to the premier, this would result in a savings of $600,000, effective Feb. 1.
“I think it’s important to lead by example — and if we’re asking others, as well as government, to hold the line we need to do that, as well,” said Casey, adding that Prentice is the right leader to steer Alberta into a more fiscally accountable future.
“It’s not a matter of cutting everything,” he said, adding that it’s the right cuts that need to be made. “We need to continue to build infrastructure so Alberta moves ahead.”
Casey announced Jan. 19 his intentions to run for the PC nomination, with hopes to serve a second term as the local MLA.
The former two-term Canmore mayor was elected as MLA in April 2012 and said that one term ‘is barely enough to get your feet wet’.
While noting that this term has been filled with ‘surprise and turmoil’, he believes budgeting and diversifying resource streams will be the key to moving forward — to move past the reliance on oil and gas revenues and look toward a ‘less volatile model’ that will benefit Albertans in the long run.
Finding resolution to the transportation issues facing Banff and Cochrane is high on Casey’s priority list. He also said that major issues such as seniors housing, namely assisted living and long-term care, cannot continue to be pushed aside as more people enter this stage of life.
Seeing the follow-through for flood mitigation issues in Bragg Creek, Canmore and Exshaw will also remain on the MLA’s radar.
The reduction translates to a $10,888 cut to Prentice’s annual salary, $10,050 to cabinet ministers and $6,700 to MLAs.
