We’re getting the impression of a provincial government that is leery about spending money. That’s good as far as it goes. Getting costs under control is at least part of what the UCP campaigned on and must be part of the reason people voted for them.

The other big reason is the pledge to improve the economy. More business being conducted and more jobs created, leading neatly to higher tax revenues. That’s the theory, and it could work. Or it could partly work, but not without a lot of uncomfortable waiting, while things continue to fall apart.

A lot of people are saying the highways around here have never been worse. That’s not good timing for a penny-pinching provincial government to arrive on the scene. Word is they don’t have any more money to spend on highway repairs this year. Also grants are on hold for other things, due to being under review.

In this sort of scenario, those lobbying for flood (or other) relief might be wasting their time. Then again, like all politicians, the ones in power have at least one eye on getting re-elected, as far off as that is.

Austerity is all well and good – until you hit a pothole at 110 kilometres an hour. It might be a good idea to slow down while our new government figures out what it is going to do about it.