Finance minister shouldn't try to bully elected officials

Dear Editor, On Jan. 25, Premier Alison Redford and six cabinet ministers visited Airdrie’s City council. It was a great opportunity for them to learn about the issues Airdrie faces.

However, after Premier Redford departed, council continued to meet with several ministers. I was asked to address the ministers on some issues, as were my council colleagues. My area of discussion was the repealing of Bills 19, 24, 36 and 50. During my explanation of the issues, I was interrupted by Minister of Finance Ron Liepert, who started swearing at me and disrupting the entire dinner meeting. He did not offer any facts or useful information to the issue, just a rude and bullying expletive.

In Airdrie we are not tolerant of bullying in the schoolyard, the streets, in council chambers or places of business. The citizens of Airdrie have every right to expect nothing less from senior ministers of the Alberta government. I believe that tactics such as those displayed by Minister Liepert call for not only an apology to our council and citizens, but that this minister should be asked to resign from his position of trust and integrity.

As the premier has pledged not to be a part of the problems that have plagued past governments, this should be a fairly easy task to accomplish.

It is time to send a message across the province, party lines and media outlets that the government will not tolerate such behaviour. Filthy language has to be removed from the public process if our citizens are ever to receive a restored sense of respect, tolerance and decorum that has been a hallmark of past governments.

Allan Hunter, Airdrie Alderman