Budget votes are confidence matters that can bring down a government. Approval is compulsory for ministers and MLAs

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A northern MLA named Scott Sinclair has launched an open revolt against the new UCP budget.

He’s risking his political career with an unprecedented public blast against his government’s plans.

Sinclair, 39, is an Indigenous businessman and former hockey player who is, or was, widely regarded as an up-and-comer headed for cabinet.

He says the budget does nothing for rural Alberta, slavishly favours the big cities, and amounts to provincial-style “equalization.”

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In a Facebook post Saturday, the angry MLA for Lesser Save Lake wrote:

“I’m furious at the amount of money being funnelled into Edmonton and Calgary (as usual) while Northern Alberta and our riding are largely ignored.

“The continuous flow of our GDP to urban centers while rural Alberta — the backbone of this province — gets left behind is appalling.

“It feels like we’re dealing with a provincial version of federal equalization payments, with rural communities footing the bill for the big cities.

“This budget is indefensible for the Lesser Slave Lake Constituency, and I will not support or vote for it ‘as is’ without significant changes.

“I’ll have more to say in the coming days,” he wrote.

This happens as Premier Danielle Smith tries to sell a big deficit and