Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson threw down the gauntlet last week, challenging the Progressive Conservative government to a by-election showdown.
Anderson, one of two PC MLAs to leave the government and join the Wildrose Alliance earlier this year, said he's grown tired of the government's smear tactics.
"I find it funny that these people are calling me an opportunist," said Anderson. "When you leave a caucus with 67 MLAs to join a caucus of three, when you leave a government to join the third opposition party, you're taking a massive risk. How I can be seen as an opportunist is beyond me."
The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back came in the Legislature on March 17. While opposing the prospect of legislation enabling constituents to recall their MLA's, Alberta Solicitor General Frank Oberle took a swipe at Anderson.
"I just wonder: if we were to implement such a thing in Alberta, would that apply to members who – I don't know – cross the floor, for example?"
Anderson says if the government really thinks he is vulnerable, it should welcome a by-election. "If there was an election today, I have no doubt whatsoever what the outcome would be," said Anderson. "Of the people who helped me win the PC party nomination, virtually 100 per cent are still with me. Of the people on the board of PC constituency association who supported me in the general election, 80 per cent are still with me. "The bottom line is this: I didn’t leave the PC Party. The PC party left me. In fact, it left all Albertans." As part of his challenge to the government, Anderson pledged to resign and hold a by-election on three conditions: * The premier needs to announce the by-election will be held on the same day as this year’s municipal and school board elections, in order to save taxpayers’ money. If so, Anderson pledges to resign his seat one day prior to the premier dropping the election writ. * The government must pledge to hold a special election on the same day, allowing voters to choose a representative to fill the seat vacated when Senator Tommy Banks retires. * The Province pledges to fix an exact date for a general election in 2012. The provincial government has repeatedly rebuffed calls for fixed election dates or legislations allowing citizens to recall their MLA. The Wildrose Alliance party, on the other hand, supports fixed election dates, free votes within the legislature, recall and senate elections. To illustrate the type of smear tactics used against him, Anderson posed for a photo in front of a makeshift billboard planted along Highway 2 north of the city, which reads "Airdrie: Home of the PC traitor." Anderson says he’s no traitor, and if the government wants a fight, its got one. "Look, when I see something wrong, I’m not the type to sit on my butt, shut up and collect a taxpayer funded paycheque. In the last election Albertans, including me, were sold a fraudulent bill of goods," he said. "This premier didn’t run on centralizing health care. He didn’t say he would plunge us into deficit and begin debt financing again. He didn’t say he would give $15 billion in untendered power transmission contracts to the largest donors of the PC Party. He didn’t say he was going to hike royalties without consulting our most important industry. He didn’t say he was going to hike Cabinet and MLA pay behind closed doors. He didn’t campaign on any of this – if he had, I wouldn’t have run under his banner. "I am not going to sit idly by and watch this incompetent, inept and conservative-in-name-only government harm the province that I love and the future of my four kids that I love even more. I will not participate in that – and you know what – I’m positive that the majority of my constituents would be offended if I had not stood up against it."
