It’s not uncommon in the aftermath of an election for a new government to embark on a dramatically different policy course while denouncing the previous approach as reckless and irresponsible. It’s quite uncommon, though, to see that from a re-elected government.

Yet, that was the takeaway from the premier’s address to Albertans last week. The pre-election budget loaded with record levels of spending topped off with a campaign tax cut promise is precisely the sort of approach that Alberta must now abandon. And we are to trust the government that succumbed to that temptation a year ago to be the guardians against such impulsive and imprudent behaviour in the future.

Albertans are right to be skeptical. It’s not the first time we’ve heard talk of getting off the royalty roller-coaster and we’d be foolish to assume it will be the last. The premier’s not wrong to lament the problem of Alberta governments wanting to have it both ways with low taxes and high levels of........

© Calgary Herald