Groeneveld deserved a better fate

20 January 2010 by John Barlow - Editor No Comments 1,619 views

Premier Ed Stelmach proved loyalty means nothing in politics.

Last week Stelmach shuffled his cabinet and one of his most appalling moves was pushing Highwood MLA George Groeneveld from cabinet and into the backbenches.

Groeneveld was named Minister of Agriculture in 2006 and manned the post until he was unceremoniously dumped last week. Not only was he stripped of his Agriculture portfolio he was not given another post on cabinet at all.

It was a slap in the face to an MLA who has been a staunch supporter of Stelmach despite the premier’s precipitous drop in the polls. A December Angus Reid poll had the Wildrose Alliance surging past the Tories with 39 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for the Wildrose Alliance in the next provincial election while the Conservatives and Liberals tied for second with 25 per cent.

During the Conservative leadership campaign to replace Ralph Klein in 2006 the vast majority of sitting Tory MLAs were steadfastly behind Jim Dinning. However, Groeneveld was one of just nine MLAs who stepped out from the herd and made the risky decision to support Stelmach who was a longshot. Stelmach did the impossible, overtaking Dinning and Foothills-Rockyview MLA Ted Morton to win the leadership. It is unlikely he could have achieved such a monumental upset without the steadfast support of the likes of Groeneveld who lobbied tirelessly for Stelmach.

Had Stelmach lost, Groeneveld would have signed his political warrant to the Tory backbench.

Ironically, that is exactly where he finds himself now.

Perhaps Groeneveld is being made an example of because the Wildrose Alliance is boasting its biggest constituency association is in Highwood where it claims to have 400 members.

If that is the case, Groeneveld is being made the fall guy for Stelmach’s failures – not his own. It is unlikely conservatives are abandoning the Tories because of Groeneveld’s record.

The Blackie-area rancher, who has remained the good soldier despite being excused from cabinet, has achieved more in his five years in office than arguably any politician in Highwood’s history.

For example, Groeneveld secured funding for the long-awaited Aldersyde overpass which would have been more than enough to endear him to Foothills residents who waited years to have that dangerous intersection addressed. In Okotoks alone he helped procure funds for a second bridge over the Sheep River and build Seaman Stadium, the Foothills Centennial Centre and Centennial Arena.

Groeneveld, who has hinted he will not run again, deserved a much better swan song than what was bestowed upon him by the premier.

It would have been one thing if Groeneveld was negligent, but it is clear in the Highwood constituency he was doing his job and doing it well.

If Stelmach was concerned about the growth of the Wildrose in Highwood his mishandling of Groeneveld will, if anything, hasten the hemorrhaging of Conservative support in this constituency.

Premier Ed Stelmach proved loyalty means nothing in politics.

Last week Stelmach shuffled his cabinet and one of his most appalling moves was pushing Highwood MLA George Groeneveld from cabinet and into the backbenches.

Groeneveld was named Minister of Agriculture in 2006 and manned the post until he was unceremoniously dumped last week. Not only was he stripped of his Agriculture portfolio he was not given another post on cabinet at all.

It was a slap in the face to an MLA who has been a staunch supporter of Stelmach despite the premier’s precipitous drop in the polls. A December Angus Reid poll had the Wildrose Alliance surging past the Tories with 39 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for the Wildrose Alliance in the next provincial election while the Conservatives and Liberals tied for second with 25 per cent.

During the Conservative leadership campaign to replace Ralph Klein in 2006 the vast majority of sitting Tory MLAs were steadfastly behind Jim Dinning. However, Groeneveld was one of just nine MLAs who stepped out from the herd and made the risky decision to support Stelmach who was a longshot. Stelmach did the impossible, overtaking Dinning and Foothills-Rockyview MLA Ted Morton to win the leadership. It is unlikely he could have achieved such a monumental upset without the steadfast support of the likes of Groeneveld who lobbied tirelessly for Stelmach.

Had Stelmach lost, Groeneveld would have signed his political warrant to the Tory backbench.

Ironically, that is exactly where he finds himself now.

Perhaps Groeneveld is being made an example of because the Wildrose Alliance is boasting its biggest constituency association is in Highwood where it claims to have 400 members.

If that is the case, Groeneveld is being made the fall guy for Stelmach’s failures – not his own. It is unlikely conservatives are abandoning the Tories because of Groeneveld’s record.

The Blackie-area rancher, who has remained the good soldier despite being excused from cabinet, has achieved more in his five years in office than arguably any politician in Highwood’s history.

For example, Groeneveld secured funding for the long-awaited Aldersyde overpass which would have been more than enough to endear him to Foothills residents who waited years to have that dangerous intersection addressed. In Okotoks alone he helped procure funds for a second bridge over the Sheep River and build Seaman Stadium, the Foothills Centennial Centre and Centennial Arena.

Groeneveld, who has hinted he will not run again, deserved a much better swan song than what was bestowed upon him by the premier.

It would have been one thing if Groeneveld was negligent, but it is clear in the Highwood constituency he was doing his job and doing it well.

If Stelmach was concerned about the growth of the Wildrose in Highwood his mishandling of Groeneveld will, if anything, hasten the hemorrhaging of Conservative support in this constituency.

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