Dawn of a new era for Alberta?
Tory mood buoyant as Hancock becomes province’s 15th premier
‘We know we made mistakes and we will learn from those.’
ALBERTA PREMIER DAVE HANC OCK
Amid cheers and broad smiles, Premier Dave Hancock was sworn in Sunday promising to carry on with government business so “the province won’t miss a step” in the six months that he will serve.
More than 30 Progressive Conservative MLAs and cabinet ministers rallied around the 15th premier and 40-year party loyalist after he took the oath of office at the ceremony at Government House presided over by Chief Justice Catherine Fraser.
While some of the cabinet ministers cheering the new premier will soon be leaving to run for the party leadership, Hancock said he’s determined the business of government will not slow down while the race is underway for a vote expected in September.
“We will continue to implement the agenda for change that people voted for. Alberta will not miss a step in the transition,” said Hancock, also advanced education minister.
That agenda includes carrying on with former premier Alison Redford’s longpromised family-care clinics, building 50 schools and standing by the contentious labour Bills 45 and 46 that shut down collective bargaining with civil servants and imposed a wage settlement, said Hancock.
Chosen by caucus last week, Hancock takes over a Tory government unsettled and divided by the sudden departure of Redford and sitting at a record-low, 20-per-cent standing in the polls. He’s also head of a party unable to raise much cash.
But he says he remains optimistic and “humbled by the responsibility” of his new job.
The province will continue to be “stewards for future generations,” said Hancock, adding he will continue to work to “break the poverty cycle.”
“We also know we made mistakes and we will learn from those,” he added.
His biggest challenge will be to pass the budget and “cram all that agenda” into six months and “we’ve got to get on with that,” he said to robust cheers from the caucus looking to turn over a new leaf after two contentious Redford years.
Potential leadership candidates Finance Minister Doug Horner, Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and Energy Minister Diana McQueen cheered the new premier, though they may soon step down to run for the leadership. Municipal Affairs Minister Ken Hughes is also a possible candidate.
In his speech, Hancock also paid tribute to Redford who resigned amid controversy over travel expenses and who faced a revolt from unhappy caucus members who felt they were not consulted on policy issues.
“I have worked with five premiers and each had leadership for their time,” said Hancock, who was first elected in 1997 during the Ralph Klein era but joined the party backrooms in the early 1970s under Peter Lougheed.
Hancock praised Redford for her work on the “building Alberta plan that invested in Alberta families” and her “tireless work to promote international markets and our place in Canada.”
Former premier Ed Stelmach and his wife Marie attended the ceremony.
Party whip George VanderBurg presented a letter of resignation from Redford to Fraser who then asked for a new leader. Fraser also paid tribute to Hancock’s skills as a leader who, as a cabinet minister, has provided “fair well reasoned and effective government.”