By Geoff Smith @smithco on Twitter

Jean talks economy, carbon tax during Lethbridge visit

Feb 12, 2017 | 7:14 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The leader of the opposition Wildrose Party says people want him to focus on policy, not on the distraction of efforts to unite the right-of-centre parties.

“I think that’s what we need to concentrate on,” Brian Jean said Saturday, Feb. 11, “is to show Albertans that we are the only logical choice in the next election. And if the PCs do decide to change their mind, and want to join us in the future, then we are certainly open to it.”

Jean reiterated that his proposal includes him stepping down to run as leader of a combined party, should the two reach an agreement.

But in the meantime, he told reporters at a meet-and-greet event at Coulee Brew Co. in Lethbridge that while the issue may be overshadowing policy in the headlines, Wildrose MLAs are devoted to a focus on issues such as the economy, and he belives voters will “reward” whichever party makes the issues important to them, such as the economy and jobs, a priority.

“Many people tell me that they’re having a hard time because they can’t get unemployment insurance, or their unemployment has run out and they’ve got no prospects for a job,” Jean said. “It’s surprising how many people I talk to now that have been unemployed for nine months or more. It just seems that people are looking as if they have no hope. And I want to reassure all the people in southern Alberta that there is hope.”

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Prior to the event, Jean attended a rally organized by off-highway vehicle users upset about a plan by the NDP government to ban the vehicles from trails in the Castle parks. He cited that as an important local issue, along with the forestry issue in that area. But he added the number one issue remains the carbon tax, saying he’s heard from people who saw 40 per cent increases in their heating bills.

“What we need to do is lower emissions, make sure that we walk in lockstep with the rest of the world, but also not make ourselves non-competitive. This carbon tax makes the U.S. much more competitive than we do on oil.”

Jean said priorities for him include reducing taxes to improve the economy and allow for better infrastructure, and individual freedoms.

“We like making sure we have a strong economy, and people have individual rights and the rule of law, and that they have religious liberty and civil liberty, and they of course do all this in the greatness of Alberta, because we do live in the greatest place in the world.”