A UCP MLA is blasting his colleague Drew Barnes’ call for government bureaucrats and provincial politicians to take a 20% wage roll back to show solidarity with Albertans suffering from COVID-19 pandemic economic woes..Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie said Barnes’ plan is nothing but “self-interest” and will cause “divisiveness..“All MLAs and all political staff understand the current situation and the Alberta government have worked hard to control operational spending, however, the pandemic has made the situation challenging,” said Guthrie in an interview with CochraneNow..“A cut to the extent of 20 per cent for all bureaucrats, including those in health care, social services, and education, would cause serious issues in retaining quality staff at a time when we need them most. So, in the midst of a pandemic, making a move like this would jeopardize the province’s ability to address ongoing and pressing issues..“To me, MLA Barnes is demonstrating a pattern of behaviour which undermines government efforts and consists mainly of self-interest and divisiveness..“I would encourage MLA Barnes to offer more reasonable solutions to Albertans to help us get through the pandemic,” he told CochraneNow.. Mossleigh pub briefly opens before authorities move in .Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, is set to take his proposal to a caucus call on Monday..He has called for all Alberta politicians – municipal, provincial and federal – to take a 20 per cent roll back. Barnes also called on bureaucrats who make the same or more as MLAs ($145,000) to take a cut..UCP MLAs and Premier Jason Kenney have already taken a pay cut – when they first came to power. In addition, UCP political staff took a seven per cent rollback earlier this year..Barnes has been a constant thorn in Kenney’s side, publicly disagreeing with government policy on numerous occasions..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
