Election update: What does it all mean?
Recapping the issues of importance to pundits and politicos - colour, makeup, body language - you know, the critical things
As a descendant of Scottish settlers, my family arrived on the east coast in the 1800’s and was a part of a genocidal colonization that I know was terribly wrong. I know I have benefited as a result. I moved west with my family in the 1970’s and am grateful to be here, producing this newsletter in Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. I understand that this territory is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. I recognize that the land I now work and live on was stolen from these nations (truth) and I have been afforded these privileges as a result. I support giving the land back as an act of reconciliation.
It’s been a few days since the leader’s debate in Alberta between the NDP’s Rachel Notley and the UCP’s Danielle Smith, and a quick scan of the media/social media landscape is enough to make a person give up hope completely.
If you’ve ever wondered whether folks are actually paying attention to the issues, the policies, and the actual words out of the politicians’ own mouths, these last few days should answer that question pretty definitively.
NO.
Based on the commentary I’ve seen or read, the biggest issues for Albertans are:
The colour of the outfits worn by both leaders. Both blue, what does it mean?!>!
Whether Danielle Smith slipped up on her makeup application. Is that a line on her nose, I can’t concentrate!?*%
The facial expressions of the two women. Why is she staring straight ahead?&$! I don’t like that look on her face.
Their body language, including any hand signals or gestures. She signalled and the moderator responded, it’s a conspiracy!?*&!
Their notetaking ability, including how they handled their paper. She had to refer to her notes occassionally- what a travesty!&+? Tearing off that sheet of paper was a sign of immaturity (snort!).
If it wasn’t such a rolling catastrophe in the province right now, this might be a semi-hilarious SNL skit. But it’s not and Alberta is in deep trouble.
I question the seriousness of anyone who was spending time on these conversations. There is so much at stake.
Even the pundits have completely lost the plot. The biggest takeaway from them after the debate was essentially, “at least Smith didn’t whip out a bottle of hydroxychloroquine or repeat her comment about calling vaccinated Albertans equivalent to Nazi sympathizers.”
“So we think that was a win for her. “
There were a lot of comments about Smith’s ability to appear composed in front of the camera. As a former broadcaster, she has plenty of practice in front of a camera, that is probably the least important qualification for a person to be Premier.
One podcast participant complained that he longed for the good old days, when politicians were experienced, older “businessmen” who were close to retirement, giving back by doing their public duty. Um, no thanks. These dinosaurs are why we are in the mess we are in right now.
He thought Smith did a good job, but admitted he doesn’t really care who is leader because they “don’t matter.” He said the MLA’s will ultimately run the province. Apparently, he dozed off during the last four years where the UCP leader whipped his caucus into compliance at every painful step.
Another comment about her from some political strategists was “as the sitting Premier” this is her election to lose. No, she was never elected, wasn’t even a factor in the last election, so her role as Premier should be considered a last minute substitution at best. Let’s not award her that incumbent status without mentioning the disclaimer.
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With the province awash in cash right now - mostly due to the war in Ukraine driving up the price of oil - whoever wins the next election will absolutely set the stage for Alberta to survive the coming climate crisis. If that money is squandered on vanity projects (Carbon Capture anyone?), given away to large corporations (and their billionaire executives), and our essential public services are privatized (health and education would just be the beginning), it will be disastrous.
Danielle Smith will most certainly do the above.
If the money is reinvested in public services, used to incentivize renewable energy and attract new investment to Alberta, and transition plans are implemented for workers in the fossil fuel industry, we might have a fighting chance.
If Danielle Smith is elected, we have her promise that none of the things I just mentioned in the previous paragraph will happen on her watch.
It doesn’t matter though because if she wins, she’ll be pushed out in no time if/when she doesn’t placate the Art Pawlowski gang of religious bigots and extremists. Pawlowski’s Solidarity Party is just one of the farm teams for Take Back Alberta, which holds most of the power in the UCP.
And then there’s the Pro-Life party, the third largest political fundraiser in Alberta after the NDP and UCP. They don’t really have any serious candidates, so we can guess who their cash is supporting.
This coalition of right wing extremists won’t hesitate to ditch the leader. They’ve done it once with Jason Kenney, and they will do it again if they don’t get their way.
If Rachel Notley wins, there’s a small chance the NDP might move Alberta ever so slightly in the right direction. But not without a lot of pressure from progressives and a majority win. She’ll need to get off the carbon capture bandwagon and focus on real, practical solutions.
What we need is an actual progressive party in Alberta that is organized, and can win at least one seat to start. The Green Party has some good people but they need more support. Another party providing pressure on the left could push the NDP to take further necessary actions.
We will need some new radically new ideas to get us through this next phase of the climate transition, but I doubt this election is going to bring anything new. The work will begin sometime after May 29, likely with a minority government.
I expect we won’t make it another four years either. We will be forced into an early election. Troubling times are ahead.