FENCES TO MEND

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley was free with advice last week for the man or woman who will replace Brad Wall as premier of Saskatchewan. “The advice that I would give to the new premier is to look at the facts, look at the data, look at the reporting on economic activity and reconsider the approach they’ve taken up ’til now,” Notley told reporters in Calgary.

“Because one province is making its way out of the recession, and one is not ... I suggest they should look at the data and start drawing some different conclusions.” Wall quickly blasted back at Notley. “I also have some ‘pointed’ advice for the next Saskatchewan premier: Maybe don’t listen to an NDP Premier who imposed a carbon tax on her oil dependent economy and is presiding over an annual $10 billion deficit,” he said.

Voters of both provinces should have advice for both premiers: Stop this indulgent hostility.

With all the shared interest between Saskatchewan and Alberta, this nastiness has been all about personal issues and not about putting the needs of the citizens they were elected to serve first.

The history between the pair is sordid, with Wall raising ire by wanting to woo companies from Alberta, and Notley happily dumping all over Sask. Party budget cuts and policies.

At last, and only when faced with a potential $5 million fine, did the Wall government back off on a move banning vehicles with Alberta plates from government construction sites.

This demand was ill-advised and there was never any solid evidence that Alberta had done anything to prompt this move. It also clearly was in contravention, at very least in spirit, of the New West Partnership Agreement signed by Saskatchewan, Albert and British Columbia.

The Edmonton Journal reported the two governments even had trouble deciding where to meet for talks on the licence plate issue.

Saskatchewan, by getting a new leader this weekend at the Sask. Party convention, has a chance for a fresh beginning on this relationship. Even though leadership candidates Scott Moe, Ken Cheveldayoff, Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Gord Wyant and Alanna Koch all have allegiance to Wall, putting an olive branch out to our neighbours to the west would be a wise and easy way for them to distinguish themselves from their predecessor.

Alberta, meanwhile, will have to depend on Notley moving past her petty concerns and being willing to create a respectful atmosphere of co-operation.