Alberta government ramping up prior to expected election

You can practically hear the wheels of government churning in Edmonton these days.

The amount of ink and well-used phrases being kicked out ofAlberta government communications officesin the past two weeks has reached a crescendo,with the final chord, likely in a minor key, coming with this week's budget, and likely followed by a highly-anticipated election call.

Through it all theres been one refrain: the government is fiscally restrained in a very significant way.

The recent flurry of government announcements appears crafted to appeal to a broad range of voters:seniors, students, public sector employees and aboriginal people and focused mainly on big spending areas likehealth and education.

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And just in case anyone was forgotten in the flurry, and in case regular Albertans forgot the impact of low oil prices,Prentice will take to the airwaves Tuesday and talk for 24 minutes about the financial difficulties facing the province and all of us, as hes fond of saying.

But some observers think this might not be the premier'sbest move.

I think the timing is really bad, said Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.

Bratt said television addresses are certainly warranted and welcomed by the public, the last being thebitumen bubble update from former Premier Alison Redford in January 2013.

But not two days before a budget and a week before an expected election call," Bratt said. "It is no wonder the opposition parties are apoplectic about essentially going on the public airwaves on public dollar for party advertising."

Indeed, the Wildrose Party went on the attack Friday after learning Prentice's speech will cost taxpayers around $75,000.

This is way for the government to use taxpayer dollars right before an election and use every lever of power they have to get re-elected, Wildrose MLA, Shane Saskiw said,adding that he was uncomfortable takingPrentice up on anoffer to respond to the addressduring the same broadcast.

If in fact Tuesday nightsaddress is a chat with Albertans about theprovinces finances, there will no doubt be a recap of what the government has accomplished since Prentice took office in September.

What's behind the flurry of activity?

Last weeks announcements, although plentiful, arent as substantive as they first appear.

For example, the plan to establish eight to 10 operational districts to improve access to health care in rural Alberta is short on details, namely where the districts will be and exactly how many will be created.

While full of details on the different stages of school construction, theupdate provided by Infrastructure MinisterManmeet Bhullar earlier this monthfailed to mention that many of the schools are not actually under construction, but remain empty fields.

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Other moves announced by the government mandating gay-straight alliances inschools where students want them,shifting the weight of diploma exams, revoking Bill 45, the unproclaimed legislation deemed 'odious' by one labour leader are essentially low hanging fruit, said Bratt. Headdsthat Prentice, in this spring sitting, has continued what he started in hisfirst 100 days aspremierreversing decisions made by his predecessor, Alison Redford.

Bratt is quick to point out that Prentice is fond of announcements. He says by being aggressive with his messages the premier is trying to distance himself from Redford's legacy and theeffects of the precipitous drop in oil prices.

Those twin challenges have forced the flurry of activity," he said. "I dont think its all election-driven but were about to have an election. Ithink its the twin impact of those two on a relatively new government why so much action has taken place."

But is it action or thinly-disguised campaigning meant to rally the troops and attract new ones, like Rick Hanson, who was appointed thePC candidatein Calgary-Cross the day after he left his position as chief of the Calgary Police Service.

Either way, Prentice is making sure his message is availableto those inclined to read through the sheaf of news releases orflick on the television Tuesday night.