Are Albertans Regretting Their Decision?

Jason Kenney and his UCP  won a convincing victory in Alberta's April election, winning 55 percent of the popular vote, impressive in a country where 40 percent often gains a party a majority government. Yet in only eight months, Albertans seemed to have reversed their opinion. A ThinkHQ poll found that 53 percent now disapprove of the government's performance with only 44 per cent approving. Two other polls, by DART and Angus Reid, confirmed the reversal and showed the premier's approval also slipping.

ThinkHQ suggests this is a result of growing concerns about jobs, the economy and the new government's budget-tightening. Concern about jobs was up 14 points since October and only 39 percent of Albertans approve of the government's handling of health care. However, the belt-tightening shouldn't have surprised anyone, even when it was accomplished by combining a generous tax cut to corporations with the shrinking of public services. The UCP is a conservative party after all. Perhaps some conservatives naively thought everyone would share in the tightening.

Other possibilities include the shenanigans that went on during Kenney's campaign for leader of his party. This might have put a bad taste in some conservatives' mouths. And the government firing the guy who was investigating the scandal may have offended those who respect the rule of law.

Then there's Kenney's combative nature which leads him to lavish millions on various paranoid pursuits of "enemies." Although no doubt many conservatives support these follies, others may think the money could be better spent elsewhere ... say, on health care and education.

And is it possible that the premier's cavalier attitude toward global warming is causing unease at least among those conservatives who recognize the gravity of the crisis? Nah, now I'm clutching at straws.