A controversial licence plate contest, an ongoing province-wide teacher strike and the recent layoff of Alberta Health Services workers – the Alberta UCP government seems to be knee-deep in chaos, while healthcare, education and the high cost of living is at the top of Albertans’ priorities.
Those are the thoughts of NDP Lethbridge-West MLA Rob Miyashiro, who believes the whole idea of introducing a new licence plate is all a bit ludicrous. “It’s a deflection and really a distraction about what’s important to people.”
No one asked for new licence plates, Miyashiro adds. “They just pulled this out of their hat just to deflect.”
According to Miyashiro, the Alberta NDP Caucus spent the summer travelling around the province and talking to Albertans about what’s important to them.
“People told us they want a fully functioning healthcare system. They want a fully functioning public education system that supports teachers, staff and students. People talk to us about affordability issues when rents are going up and people can’t afford housing and food, and they have to make choices between housing and food sometimes,” Miyashiro notes. “Those are the important things happening in our province right now. There’s zero people talking about wanting a new licence plate.”
Miyashiro says those are the things the Alberta NDP Caucus is focused on because that’s what Albertans’ priorities are. “And those are the things we’re going to fight for.”
“The UCP has created the problems. Just look at the teacher strike. The UCP could have solved this at the beginning of the summer, but they chose not to. They want this fight. It’s almost like they’re trying to break the Alberta Teachers’ Association.”
So again, Miyashiro adds, they’re picking the wrong priorities. “They’re just showing that with all the decisions they’re making. They’re trying to distract from what the real issues are for Albertans.”
There’s a lot of talk about back-to-work legislation for the teachers on strike that might come next week, Miyashiro explains. “The Alberta NDP Caucus fully opposes any back-to-work legislation for the teachers. It’s imperative the government gets back to the bargaining table and listens to what the issues are and really tries to find a solution.”
“We will fight against any back-to-work legislation that might come up next week.”
