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Notley attacks UCP in weekend speech

Jun 18, 2018 | 6:06 AM

CALGARY – In a campaign-style speech to party supporters, Premier Rachel Notley labelled the opposition United Conservatives a party of narrow self-interests determined to take the province backward.

Notley noted that UCP party members, at their recent founding convention, voted to expand private health care, scrap the progressive income tax and have parents told when their child joins a gay-straight alliance.

She also pointed out that the UCP caucus members walked out of the legislature chamber 13 times rather than vote on a bill to better protect women and staff from being harassed at abortion clinics.

Leader Jason Kenney has said his caucus refused to engage on the bill because it was divisive game-playing by Notley.

She also told the crowd that calls from the UCP to reduce the deficit will lead to mass layoffs for teachers and nurses and stated her government is making progress diversifying the economy, and reducing waste and high salaries in government agencies, boards and commissions.

Premier Notley will announce some changes to her cabinet today.

The premier will be at Government House in Edmonton where the new ministers will be sworn in.

Albertans go to the polls next spring in a general election.

(The Canadian Press)