Why bother having an Alberta Next panel since one of Premier Danielle Smith’s preambles states the panel would “discuss credible policy options that would increase Alberta’s sovereignty (within or without Canada). So, the panel is a ruse (a smoke screen) because it supports sovereignty.
Many Albertans have already rejected her proposed Alberta Pension Plan, her provincial police force (she has gone ahead anyway) and her introduction of partisan politics into municipal governments. Her panel is a “diversion” from the many problems facing Albertans.
Instead of supporting a unified front with the other provinces and the federal government against Trumps’s trade war, she defers to separatists by giving us Alberta Next.
Question: Did she get an offer from Trump to undermine a unified front against him by offering her the governorship of the 51st state if and when Canada falls apart?
Instead of discussing why she took away some photo radar enforcement from Calgary and Edmonton police departments (thus forcing both municipal governments to pass the costs of policing city highways to the taxpayers), she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of providing more facilities for the victims of domestic violence, she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of attacking the growing problems associated with human trafficking, she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of providing more support for “public” doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters, emergency responders, pubic education, social services, etc., she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of going after landlords and real estate developers for “jacking-up” rental fees, she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of tackling the growing problem of people falling victims to the measles epidemic, she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of negotiating new formulas for equalization and transfer payments with the other provinces and with the federal government, she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of working with the federal government in providing federal assistance to local governments (such as for infrastructure), she gives us the Provincial Priorities Act (PPA) and Alberta Next.
Instead of providing more open information (transparency) concerning the budget (for example: how much did the proposed high speed rail line cost; how much did her trips to Washington, DC and Florida to see Trump cost; how much money actually goes to provide schools, etc.), she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of tackling the ever increasing costs for food, housing, transportation, etc, she gives us Alberta Next.
Questions: Why bother having elected politicians who spend “tons” of time and money on talking instead of solving problems? All talk and no show.
Instead of listening to Albertans who opposed the expansion of coal mining operations on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, who opposed partisan politics in local governments, who opposed the hunting of endangered species, who opposed the privatization of our public health-care system, who opposed funding for private schools, who opposed the relaxation of vaccinations requirements (we see the rise of childhood diseases in North America), who opposed the lowering of academic standards for our students and who oppose “kowtowing”/appeasing to a narcissistic, racist, misogynist, she gives us Alberta Next.
Instead of forcing energy companies to pay for taxes owed to municipal governments, she gives us Alberta Next.
Albertans should not allow a minority (extremists) to determine the future of Alberta and the future of Canada. Look at what has happened to the U.S. after the John Birchers, the Tea Party, the Proud Boys, Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Anne Coulter, Trump and white Christian nationalists determined the narrative (the destiny) for America.
Is that what we want for us and our children? A divided country? American gun values? America’s private health care? America’s weak educational system? Corrupt politics?
So, repeat after me: Canada is not for sale. Canada: strong and free. Elbows up. Love it or leave it. CINOs: Canadians in Name Only. If some folks think the grass is greener south of the border, they should move there.
George Thatcher,
Olds
