“We didn’t get everything right, but we governed with integrity, an ambitious agenda and an earnest desire to make life better for Albertans.”—Rachel Notley
The first time I met Rachel Notley was after she’d won the NDP leadership race. She was hosting a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop in Calgary. It was mid morning and the shop was practically deserted. Which was a good thing because it gave us time to talk.
I told her I had run for the Liberals in a recent by-election and was trounced, but the NDP candidate had done far worse. Would the NDP ever gain traction in Alberta’s true blue political landscape?
I asked for her opinion of the Alberta Party, would they peel off voters who might otherwise vote NDP?
Rachel didn’t mince words. The sun was setting on the provincial Liberals and the Alberta Party was a nonstarter. The only way to oust the PCs (now UCP) was to vote NDP.
History proved her right.
Since then I’ve been to many NDP events. The venues got bigger, the crowds got larger, but one thing never changed. Every time Rachel took the stage she electrified the audience with her intelligence, compassion and integrity. Every single time.
Sure, while in government she made some mistakes, but she never wavered in her belief that the government owed it to the people to deliver on its promises, to serve the people by strengthening public services (not tearing them down), to reduce emissions without crippling the economy, and to prepare for a future that addressed climate change.
She showed us that Alberta could thrive within Confederation, that we could challenge federal and provincial policies without throwing a tantrum every time they said something we didn’t like.
Notley was authentic. She didn’t have to drive around in a blue pickup truck pretending to be an Albertan. And she certainly didn’t have to put out YouTube videos espousing screwball theories to pander to looney-tune voters.
Notley was herself from Day One.
Thanks to Notley we now have an enduring two-party system. We have the largest Official Opposition in Alberta’s history. And after three more years of watching the UCP erode our public services and waste our tax dollars subsidizing the private sector, Albertans will be ready to vote in a new government. One that remembers that we’re here for each other, not just ourselves.
Thank you, Rachel. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
NOTE: You may have noticed it’s taking me longer to respond to comments than in the past. I’m working on a project that’s gobbling up my time. I’ll keep posting, just not as often.
Susan on the Soapbox 
I completely agree. Notley was, without doubt, the best Premier, this little patch of prairie has had to date. She’s right up there in the pantheon of Canadian political stars with Tommy Douglas!
Yes! And Rachel did it all with $40/barrel oil. Reduced child poverty significantly too. Still have great hope for the Alberta NDP next election.
Reynoldreimer and sherlyncampbell: I absolutely agree. When I think of all the years Notley has served the public, first in opposition, then in government, since 2008. Not once over that 16 year period did she have to explain, rationalize, or apologise for something stupid that she said. Contrast that to Danielle Smith, every week there’s a new dumpster fire. I can’t imagine Alberta political life without her. It will be interesting to see what she does next.
Hope we haven’t seen the last of her….we watched her field questions with very little vetting at a town hall about our pensions…and she was so on her game, so knowledgeable, and at times witty, that I almost ended up believing she wouldn’t go.
Hoping and praying that this country hasn’t seen the last of her.
Mary, I agree. I heard Kathleen Petty’s interview with Notley in which Petty asked whether there was any chance Notley would consider federal politics. Notley said not a chance. All she’s ever been interested in is provincial politics because that’s where the issues that matter to people (like public healthcare, public education and localized regional econ development) all reside.
Still I can’t imagine she’s going to be willing to sit on the sidelines for long. I suspect we’ll see her again. Which is fantastic!
I couldn’t agree more with your summation of Rachel Notley’s NDP career here in Alberta. I fear we have witnessed the last of the great trusted, genuine and authentic party leaders of generations gone by; when politicians seemed to genuine and cared about the people as a whole they served; held a VISION for a cooperative yet strong and independent Alberta by not enacting war and rhetoric on every federal decision. She is going to be DEEPLY MISSED.
Agreed Kimberlee: In Notley’s interview with Kathleen Petty she talked about the importance of being honest with the electorate when you’re campaigning for office. She said in the 2015 the discovered a significant error in their costed platform which made it inaccurate. Some of her advisors to her to ignore it, no one would notice, but Notley said no, she couldn’t present something going into the election that she knew not to be true. So they owned up to it and were elected anyway.
Contrast this to Smith promising (1) not to touch CPP and (2) to drop the personal income tax rate to 8% for people earning less than $60,000. How can anyone in their right mind trust her?
Susan: Thanks for sharing another great blog. Rachel Notley will definitely be missed. She was the best premier Alberta had in a long time. She was parallel to Peter Lougheed in leadership style and ability. Under Danielle Smith and the UCP, we don’t have any leadership.There is only a myriad of very costly debacles, increased hardship for Albertans, and an utter disregard for democracy. I’ll share some more fitting music. This is from the British progressive rock band, Genesis. It is Follow You Follow Me. It was written by Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford. It was recorded and released in 1978. I have Genesis in my music collection. Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett were also in the band, before they left in the 1970s.
Dwayne, thanks for this poignant piece by Genesis. It expresses longing but also hope for the future. Perfect for the situation in which we find ourselves.
Susan: Here is my next song pick. This is an Eric Clapton composition, from his time with Derek and The Dominos, called Got To Get Better In A Little While. This was recorded in 1970, but was released in 2010, on the expanded version of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Another fitting song.
Dwayne, this was a very interesting piece and appropriate for the time we find ourselves in. I thought this was an intriguing line: “Please don’t hurt nobody, don’t knock them down. Give them a helping hand to get off the ground.” Seems to me that’s a huge part of our problem. Too many people focused on knocking other people down instead of working with them to raise them up.
Thanks!
I’ve never thanked you for your work Susan. I should have done so a long time ago. I really appreciate your ongoing efforts. Thanks.
Scottie Grinton: Thank you for this lovely comment. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Susan: Here is my final song pick. This is from The Yardbirds, and it was written by Graham Gouldman. The song is Heart Full Of Soul. It is from the Jeff Beck era of the group, and was recorded and released in 1965. It is the first foray of raga rock, by a rock band, and it preceded the Beatles doing it. Graham Gouldman was a prolific songwriter in the 1960s, and in the 1970s, he was in the group 10 CC, famous for the song, The Things We Do For Love. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page are the three greatest guitarists in the world, and were part of The Yardbirds. Paul Samwell-Smith, the bassist in the group, left in 1966, and became a famous record producer. He produced music by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), Carly Simon, and others. Chris Dreja, the rhythm guitarist, and later on the bassist in the group, became a well known professional photographer. He photographed the band photo for Led Zeppelin’s first album, that was recorded and released in 1969.
Dwayne, you bring so much depth to these songs with your description of the artists involved and what they’ve accomplished. I was talking to a woman today who had three sons in the music business. She said she was astounded on how programmed music is becoming, its use of algorithms and other ways to slot their music into the market place to make it a “winner.” Hopefully by doing that we don’t pound the creativity out of people like the artists you’ve described here.
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Rachel Notley since the 1990s, when she was a Labour Relations Officer with my union and I was on the Grievance Committee of my Local. She and I worked a number of files together in that time, and I was chuffed when she was first elected to the Legislature. I voted for her in the 2014 Leadership campaign, but never dreamed she’d end up becoming Premier.
Her time as Premier was clean, honest, ethical governance — not something we could have said about the 44 years of uninterrupted PC rule, and certainly not something you can say about the UCP’s time in office.
I personally feel her government was a bit timid and incremental on some files — for example, unlike our fellow Western provinces, we don’t have public auto insurance, and registry services remained privatized under her watch. They also severely botched the farm worker safety legislation known as Bill 6. On the other hand, they cautiously brought in more modern labour and employment standards legislation and Alberta’s first — and to date, only — climate action plan.
So, they weren’t perfect. Their win was a huge surprise, and their learning curve was really a steep cliff face to be ascended using ropes and pitons. But the UCP has been dismally bad, and is doomed to get worse, and the next NDP leader has a good shot at becoming Premier.
jerrymacgp: Oh how I envy you! I’ve always admired Rachel Notley’s wit, intelligence and character. I’m sure she would have been a delight to work with in her pre-politics days.
I’ve heard a few interviews in which she’s asked about how she feels about her record as premier. One interviewer asked her about Bill 6 (farm safety) and whether that cost them rural votes they would never regain. She admitted they could have listened more. I also think they failed to anticipate how the PC/WR MLAs were going to turn this into a “red scare” issue (first they’re telling you how to pay your workers, next they’re going to unionize farms and after that they’ll confiscate them). Notley said politics moves quickly and people forget, she also said the NDP increased its vote share in all but two or three rural ridings. I hope she’s right, but from what I’ve seen of people who believe conspiracy theories (be they about climate change or the NDP are closet commies) they’re pretty hard to shake.
Having said all that I 100% agree with you. They did a terrific job for the very reasons you give in your comment. I also share your believe that the next NDP leader has a good shot at becoming Premier.
Postscript: yesterday I was shown a news story from an outlet with which I’m not familiar called the Western Wheel, that documents that in 2023, Alberta Health Services Emergency Department “service disruptions” — i.e. closures — totalled 38,000 hors — equivalent to 4.3 years: https://www.westernwheel.ca/local-news/service-disruptions-at-alberta-emergency-deaprtments-tally-38000-hours-in-2023-8147802.
The brunt of these ED closures was borne by rural Alberta, the UCP’s heartland. Why rural Albertans continue to vote so religiously for conservatives, despite their being screwed over time after time after time, boggles the mind.
jerrymacgp: 4.3 years of “service disruptions”? And yet the UCP continue to get elected by rural voters. Boggles the mind indeed.
Considering the huge pile of horse pucks that were left for the NDP to clean up, Notley did a very good job. However, she could have done a lot more. Bill 6 put them on their back foot and they were fairly timid after that. Half measures were the order of the day after Bill 6. Trust Alberta to fly into a spittle flecked rage at the thought of protecting farm workers. Did Albertans consider those working at those massive slaughter houses in Southern Alberta less than human, undeserving to be protected by employment standards? How else do you explain the outrage?
Apropos of nothing, we always hear of the 44 years of single party rule in Alberta. I would argue that the Social Credit Party of Bible Bill, first elected in 1935, was no different than the PC’s that replaced it. To put that in perspective, until 2015, Alberta had one party rule for 80 years(1935 to 2015). Fidel Castro and his brother Raol ruled Cuba from 1959 to 2018, which is a mere 59 years. We felt bad for the Cubans. They should have felt bad for the Albertans.
Well said , many Albertans still think they are frontiersmen and don’t need good government. Why does this province vote against its own self interest?
Jaundiced Eye: I agree. Sadly the horse pucks they had to clean up in 2015 will be nothing compared to what’s going to be waiting for them in 2027. Health care and public education; support for seniors and other marginalized groups, all on shaky foundations, then add to that the increase of nutbars who are thrilled that Tucker Carlson is here to “liberate” Canada. It simply boggles the mind.
Brent: you asked why Albertans vote against their own interests. I think they’re deluding themselves into thinking that when the conservatives promise them a free ride they mean it (you’d think they would have learned by now that nothing trickles down after the guys at the top take their cut, nothing).
I fully agree with your comments Susan and I am very sorry to see Rachel go but considering what is like to be in politics these days and of course having to live in this province when the crazy took over the asylum is not an easy task.
I wish her the best and I thank her for having given me 4 years of calm steady government with integrity and the best Green Program in the country.
The only negative to me is that the NDP did not take a rare opportunity to change the voting system to give them not just better future opportunities but also strengthen democratic values.
As Jerrymacgp mentioned she could have changed private intrusion in our public affairs way more than what they did. The problem to me is that I did not feel that the NDP was behind our commons believes as much as I expected. In other words the NDP adapted to a more neo-liberal thinking because of fear of not being electable in the future. This was a crucial mistake.
Raising just a little bit the taxes from 10% to 12% was an intelligent move but certainly very short from what I think they should be paying especially when you realize that royalties on our oil are a joke and we have now to clean up the whole mess that the Oil companies are living behind as well as pay for the carbon capture infrastructure which in my view will be useless because the technology, if successful will cut back on carbon here but it will not where the oil is going to be burned.
Of course only people that believe the Earth is flat can support that kind of technology.
We already have geothermal. solar and wind so invest that money there instead of a moratorium to just send more money to the Oil companies for which the UCP works for. The UCP will never be a good government because they only see themselves as worthy of going to heaven. The rest of us are to be used and bullied to submission because we do not know any better. The same concept Trump calls the shit holes.
With the possible win of Trump in the US and Pierre Poilievre in Canada we will soon not be able to find a safe place in Canada or in the world. Americans seem to be ready to give themselves the last stab on their decline.
Carlos, you’ve raised many good points. I have to agree with you that there is an awful lot looming on the horizon that does not inspire confidence in the future. Often I wonder how our younger people cope with this stress. If I worry about it (and I won’t be around when a lot of this hits) surely they must be worried sick.
In an interview with CBC the other day, Rachel was asked to describe Alberta’s character (I think the interviewer was hoping she’d say something negative) and she said that Albertans were adventurous, open, welcoming people (or words to that effect). When she was asked about whether she’s optimistic about the future of Canada, she said she couldn’t have stayed in politics for as long as she did if she didn’t “mostly work from a position of optimism.” I was struck by how different her message for the future is compared to that of Smith and Poilievre.
Susan just a short comment on what you said about Rachel’s Notley optimism. I have no doubts that Rachel feels that way but I question the whole principle behind the false optimism that reigned supreme in the 1990s. The look at the mirror and say that you are happy and the glass half full and many more.
I personally think that was one of the reasons we ended up where are are right now. In times when all these crisis were building up people that like myself prefer to face reality head on, were called tree huggers and left wing terrorists and other worse names. Never mind being laughed at for being vegetarian not just for a healthier life style but also as a personal way of not participating in the way we have commodified to extremes how animals are treated and disposed of as lifeless beings. Visit a slaughter house once and you will see what reality is like. In the meantime all that it was avoided is now here and at the same time.
Continuing to avoid it will take us to unknown territory where we clearly seem to be already. Taking positive steps is one thing, dreaming in 3D is another one.
I agree with many people that Rachel Notley was without any doubt the best politician since I have lived in Alberta but I am frustrated that a lot more could have been done on the road to a more sane future to all Albertans. Like I have said ad nauseum, is that they seriously underestimated the power of much more balanced democratic system. To my surprise, after talking to a couple of them, it was not even an after thought in the party. The nurture of our political system was not even debatable. This to me shows clearly how we just do not care about the political infrastructure that is one of the the back bone of our well being. Again too much focus on neo-liberal economics rather a much broader set of indicators that give us a broader set of values as a social democracy.
Danielle Smith cuddly attitude with people like Tucker Carlson reflect very well where our values are at right now.
4000 people were in that conference. Scary.
The interesting thing about this is that she claims that she talks to everyone and she does not agree with all of it, and that is fine, but she does not even shake hands with the Federal minister of the Environment, much less have a decent discussion with him. So just like everything she says all empty balloons.
Carlos: the cynic in me thinks that Notley was optimistic in that CBC interview because she wanted to avoid saying anything the UCP could use in the next election (for example, the NDP are elitist and think you’re a bunch of stupid rednecks).
With respect to Smith, I was talking to someone today who represents the nonprofit sector, she said the UCP under Smith are way more accessible than they were under Kenney, however even though Smith circulates at these meetings and shakes everyone’s hand at the end of the day, they leave those meetings empty handed.
Smith does a good job at making the little people think she’s listening, but when you look at the effort she’s putting into creating APP, RStar, etc, it’s pretty clear where her allegiances lie.
I agree Susan – Rachel Notley is what I call a good politician but these days good means bad. If You do not lie, do not believe in conspiracy, you are not arrogant or rude then you are useless. Even corruption is growing and I personally do not believe anything this government says because I simple do not trust them. But they are the stars of today. I mean can you imagine a Premier cuddling up with Tucker Carlson a con, and Conrad Black just ten years ago? Two cons and god knows what Jordan Peterson is – maybe a cross between a snake and a pretentious person like Pierre Poilievre.
An excellent homage to Rachel Notley, Susan. She will be missed & I can but hope the NDP’s next leader has even half her moxie. I still recall with delight the moment when the NDP won in Alberta – the sheer stunned disbelief on the faces of those covering the event on the news & how finally one female political pundit made the call. Then the moment when the late Jim Prentice showed just why the former PC government was being voted out – despite having just been elected to his riding, he promptly resigned because he wasn’t going to be Premier.
I’d add that it was the NDP during their term who finally fulfilled the promise made by previous PC governments by granting self governance to the Local Authorities Pension Plan. During the Klein era the PC’s had made a deal – LAPP would get self governance in return for relinquishing any & all support by taxpayers for any pension plan shortfalls. Said shortfalls would rely on pension plan members funding them from then on in. Legislation passed & the Alberta taxpayer was ‘off the hook’, although I’m sure many would argue that as all Alberta municipalities employees are LAPP members that ‘the public’ is still paying for the plan given who the employers are. Regardless, the deal was struck & then the PC’s refused to hand off the reins to the plan membership. Because money – LAPP is billions of dollars that the PC government wanted to keep control of & not because they had the members best interests in mind. God bless Notley & crew – they finally gave LAPP self governance. The UCP’s practically made it their first order of business to insist that LAPP & other public plans for teachers etc. be forced to use AimCo in perpetuity regardless of performance – they actually passed legislation enforcing this, AFTER AimCo blew $2 Billion with a ‘B’ of Heritage Trust Fund money in an ill advised bet on the markets. Anywhere else, head would have rolled. Instead, AimCo got job security rewarded to them via said legislation. The UCP has also directed AimCo in how to invest the funds they are managing in O&G projects, such as the Kitimat LNG facility in B.C. So much for ‘arm’s length’, let alone keeping the plan members best interests in mind.
I voted NDP when they won. I voted NDP last election. I will likely vote NDP next election, unless the party goes in a direction I can’t support. Best wishes to Rachel Notley in her future endeavors.
Linda, thank you for this excellent review of the history of LAPP under the PCs, the NDP, and the UCP. As I read it I thought it was an excellent reminder that the conservatives never change…promise made, promise NOT kept. In perpetuity it seems.
I read with horror yesterday an article on BNN where the CEO of AimCo – the entity that manages Alberta public pension plans – announced that AimCo would be ‘interested’ in purchasing the Trans Mountain Pipeline from the federal government once it is built. Using our pension funds for said purchase. Given the enormous cost over runs for building said pipeline, can’t imagine the federal government will sell it back to Alberta without trying to recoup at least some of those cost over runs in the sales price. The only ray of hope is that I’ve also read that various indigenous groups want to purchase said pipeline as well, so perhaps AimCo won’t get to ‘invest’ our pension fund $ in that staggering white elephant of a pipeline.
So much good in your comment Linda,
“….although I’m sure many would argue that as all Alberta municipalities employees are LAPP members that ‘the public’ is still paying for the plan given who the employers are…”
This is an excellent observation, and one that really bugs me when that ‘many’ bring it up as if they own the earnings and lives of publicly paid employees, after the fact.
It’s beyond reason how some folk don’t get that people who work for and are paid by the public fulfill their end of a contract when they perform their duties or provide their product, exactly like in the private sector.
That is: they generally earn it, just like everybody else. Public employees are made up of individuals who fulfill their obligations, so they ought to be entitled to control the fruits of their labour, exactly like a private contractor.
Eg. I’ve never met a tow-truck driver getting paid by the city seeing their earnings as anything but THEIRS once the job is done.
So the UCP and their ilk claiming that ‘the pensions of public workers should be a slush fund for the UCP’ is blatant propaganda employed to cover an actual, culpable, theft.
Thanks Susan, for an excellent post on Rachel Notley. She will go down in Albertan and Canadian history as one of our (few) ethical, honest, forward thinking and compassionate politicians. As mentioned in another post, her leadership was very reminiscent of Peter Lougheed. I have to remain hopeful that the tide will turn again and community minded citizens will vote for the greater good of our province and our country .
Amy, I agree. I’m beginning to think people need to be reminded of how important “community” (in the sense of all of us pitching in to provide public healthcare, education, and other social services) really is. Sometimes these things don’t register with people until the lack of such public services impacts them directly.
Thank you both. Rachel and Susan for your relentless speaking truth to power. You both are inspirational leaders in your own way. We have a lot to continue to work on so the grandchildren can live in a safe nurturing place with healthy communities working together.
Papajaxn. thank you for that. As you point out, it’s not enough that we take care of ourselves, we have future generations to consider.
I could not agree more but seriously what do we expect from people after at least 3 decades of ‘GREED IS GOOD’, ‘GOVERNMENT IS BAD’ , ‘PUBLIC SERVICES is a waste of tax dollars’ and a especially bad one ‘The government steals from us’. They just love their slogans but I have no doubts that after 30 years of this imprint the Conservatives got what they wanted. Along with the other slogans of ‘Invisible hand’ and the best ever ‘We have no choice, it is inevitable’ referring of course to market forces.
Well said Susan. Now to find someone to fill those big shoes being left behind.
Robert: big shoes indeed. I’m looking forward to seeing how the leadership race plays out. If it’s anything like the last one it will be respectful and illuminating.
All true, but the NDP blew their last election campaign big-time. They didn’t listen to people like Brian Mason, who told them they had to stop attacking Smith and focus on what they would do for Alberta. Mason predicted a year ago that if they didn’t changed course in their campaigning, they would lose the election. They didn’t listen, and he was 100% right.
Does anyone know if the individuals responsible for the NDP campaign strategy of, “Danielle is a crazy lady, vote for us” have been benched, put on the waiver wire or released outright? I wonder if Brian Mason grew tired of the NDP’s half measures and not punching back was the reason he chose not to run again.
Jaundiced Eye: The UCP can’t get into power, or pursue any itinerary they have, without cheating, or without being dishonest. That’s how they are.
Naomi Lakritz: That isn’t what happened. The media didn’t come after Danielle Smith and the UCP for their dishonesty, and the very costly mistakes they did. Instead, the media was propping up the UCP, and campaigning for them.
I fully agree – the NDP campaign was very weak especially when the UCP was in full propaganda mode
Naomi: the complaint I heard (with alarming frequency) was that NDP strategists from outside the province had too much influence over campaign strategy; consequently Notley’s message about what an NDP government to bring about a bright future for Albertans was lost in the incessant drumbeat of “don’t vote for scary Danielle.”
Add this to Dwayne’s point, that the media wasn’t on Notley’s side, and you can see how the campaign suffered.
Kudos Susan for reminding us that Rachel Notley was true to the foundational democratic values most Albertans cherish. Excellent post!
Judy J Johnson, thank you. In my opinion Notley found a way to balance all the things flying at her, both from the PC/UCP and members of her own party. I can’t wait to see what she is going to do next.
With the New Democrats Alberta had the most accomplished (on behalf of Albertans, anyway) gov’t and premier in my lifetime, so naturally Rachel Notley has been underrated by almost everyone, villified in the private media, and flat out demonized by the easily duped right wing putty-men.
I first met Ms.Notley when volunteering with the Jack Layton federal campaign in 2011; she was very busy and I had to hustle to keep up… it was a good year.
I’m going to miss Rachel in our provincial politics, and I wish her a happy, well earned rest. Shannon Phillips is a name I would like to drop into that subject.
On another note, guess who’s in CowTown and sharing the stage with Alberta’s premier today: the foreign agent Tucker Carlson! putin will be so proud…
GoinFawr – we should not worry about IDIOT #1 Tucker Carlson. He is here to save Canada from our dictatorship and be more in Sync with the wonderful American Democracy.
Danielle Smith has been salivating about this one for months – finally some relief of her happy anxiety.
GoinFawr and Carlos: Just one thought about Tucker Carlson. The man is a huckster and Smith can’t figure out whether she’s the premier or an entertainer half the time, throw in Jordan Petersen, Conrad Black, and Brett Wilson and I’d be surprised if anyone in the audience had one functioning brain cell left by the time the show was over.
Brett Wilson that day, dressing his shoe-size not his age,
“You don’t have to like Tucker on every level.”
So which of the litany of nasty, backsliding, anti-Canadian ‘levels’ that comprise the Tuckems ethos is it that Brett likes?
I can understand Ms. Notley’s reasons for stepping down … but wish she had not, at least until after the results of the next election.
This last election was really much closer than the UCP wants to admit. Look up the margin of victory for the Calgary ridings – if I remember correctly, at least 6 seats the UCP won were by less than 1500 votes. That number, 6, is the margin of majority Smith has. Not a strong mandate.
As for Alberta now having an enduring 2 party system, we only need to look south to see how that can go bad. The term “2 party doom loop” neatly summarizes how hyper partisanship can become a political cancer. Having more choice is the chemotherapy.
Arguably, the NDP win in 2015 was in the context of a viable 3 party system – as is our current federal landscape. I argue that 3 to 5 viable political parties is probably best for the body politic. I think Alberta would be far better off if the Frankenparty UCP fractured.
Hi Gerald – I agree with you. Two party system is only good in the US where democracy is dying by the day.
Proportional Representation with more than 2 parties is way more effective.
Gerald, you raise a very good point. Many American political writers have said the two-party system fails the people and a three or four party system is preferable. For one thing a multi-party system encourages all parties to be more reasonable because even if one party “won” they usually don’t have enough seats to form a majority government. So cooperation (not division) is built into the system.
I know most of the people who read this blog also know David Climenhaga but just in case you care about sane articles
https://albertapolitics.ca/2024/01/danielle-smith-busy-with-tucker-carlson-and-lesser-far-right-bloviators-has-no-time-to-comment-on-edmonton-city-hall-shooting/
Carlos: thanks for attaching David Climenhaga’s article. David makes a very serious point that in the aftermath of an active shooter loose in the Legislative building with Council in session and a group of grade 1 students being there on tour, Smith was no where to be seen. Was she simply too busy to tweet out her thoughts and prayers, or was she afraid that any condemnation of the shooter would cross thread her with her loony “right to arms” supporters. It really is shameful.
Just heartless people with one objective – to dominate citizens with lies and appalling behaviour like we have seen in this case. It is disgusting that we have to live like this and now seeing Danielle Smith mingling with cons like Tucker Carlson and that nut case Jordan Peterson never mind who I believe is also a con Conrad Black. I mean this is like ‘God Please Save Alberta’
Tucker Carlson of course showed clearly how much he cares about facts by asking how we expect to use solar in a place like Alberta. He could have checked that we actually get more sunlight here than Americans get in Miami for example.
Carlos, I’ve talked to university educated Americans who didn’t know WW2 started in 1939 because unless America was leading the charge, it didn’t count. The lack of understanding (and curiosity) some of them have about anything outside their borders is absolutely astounding.
Susan when a society has that lack of understanding and specially a lack of curiosity then the decline has started. They are not the only ones, we are also in a profound decline and at all levels including morally, ethically and it is not surprising. The economic squeeze along with a sense of being lost in a crisis that threatens or own existence, it is quite heavy on all of us. The world feels unhappy and insecure.
Thank you for your comment
For most anyone who comments here (and is somehow able to be in Ottawa too): I just came across a job posting from Senator Paula Simons…
https://mstdn.social/@Paulatics@mstdn.ca/111818763392159549
“Interested in joining the Senate – but not quite august enough to be a Senator? I’m saying goodbye to a very talented staffer, who’s leaving #yow to be closer to family. I’m looking for a quick-witted candidate who is willing to live in Ottawa area, who (ideally) knows something about communications law/policy or information/privacy/digital tech policy, and is able to put up/keep up with me. Ability to speak French an nice asset. Some knowledge of Alberta a bonus feature.”
just fyi.
Thanks GoinFawr: Senator Paula Simons would be great to work for.
What kind of so called democratic government preys on its own people in order to open businesses in health care to their friends?
Well we have one now and it is interesting to see how this is going to end.
https://albertapolitics.ca/2024/01/it-turns-out-shoppers-drug-mart-clinic-plan-does-nothing-to-improve-access-to-primary-health-care-in-alberta/
So the UCP are going to make Albertans pay 77 million in public money to privatize their healthcare, how overtly fascist is that?
Effectively, if you lived in Alberta all your life all the billions of dollars you and the rest of Albertans (and Canadians, for that matter) spent building public healthcare infrastructure in the province is in the process of being sold off for pennies on the dollar, and what’s more the only thing left in it for you is a BILL, not a bonus.
Where do the UCP and their supporters go for their healthcare anyway, Montana? I mean, I understand the premier and/or those supported by foriegn and/or lots of money can fly to see a Dr. anywhere, but what about the regular folk in Alberta who actually voted for her, does a UCP membership secretly include a voucher for the Copeman clinic?
No doubt the UCP’s vital partners in private insurance are all laughing their way to the banque, regardless of how miserably their spouse’s showing was in last May’s election.
So the UCP are ‘refocusing’ healthcare all right, on privatization. It seems the UCP plan to get out of their ‘guarantee’ that no-Albertan-will-ever-have-to-get-out-their-credit-card-to-see-a-doctor is to simply purge all the publicly funded doctors and replace them with privately operated clinics that only have privately employed nurses and pharmacists who will be more than happy to accept your credit cards.
No doctors available to hand your credit card to? Hah, GOTCHA again Alberta!
“No doubt the UCP’s vital partners in private insurance are all laughing their way to the banque, regardless of how miserably their spouse’s showing was in last May’s election.’
No. Doubt. (cough)
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VHI.TO/chart
Again and not surprisingly, David Climenhaga writes another great article about our UCP disgrace. Alberta is facing all kinds of very significant crisis and here we are bullying transgenders and ignoring any professionals that do not pay tribute to our mighty Emperor David Parker. Daniele Smith became a puppet of these lunatics that more or less reflect a Taliban ideology on the Christian side, if that really exists.
Furthermore 8 thousand Edmontonian gave a standing ovation to a man that preaches a lot of garbage but especially that Canada should be invaded by the US to free us from the horrible dictatorship we live under. It was sold out.
Really? WOW I have no words to express what I feel about this. Better I have words but I cannot write them here because I respect all of you.
We have a long way to go. By the way prepare for the barrage of UCPers blaming Justin Trudeau for the coming Summer that could be fascinating. Just send an email to David Parker Jesus so he can bring some rain.
https://albertapolitics.ca/2024/02/welcome-to-dry-february-dont-worry-about-dry-2024-though-the-ucp-has-a-drought-command-team-for-that/
Well said Susan! Your post is written with the expertise of a lawyer exposing the limitations of Danielle Smith’s moral/ethical capacity. If she isn’t an authoritarian dictator at heart she’s a puppet for those on her Board of Directors who’ve publicly shown they are, in which case she’ll do anything to maintain power. I imagine the Take Back Alberta thugs are rubbing their hands in glee as they plan their next ultimatum–one that’s so outrageous she won’t agree to. One that will, in the narrow minds of TBA, justify a leadership review. We all know where that will go. Thanks for your brilliant post.
I don’t think much can be said about Notley that hasn’t already been. I do think her greatest legacy may be ending the long period of one party rule in Alberta and making Alberta a competitive two party system and restoring democracy.
I feel she was one of the NDP’s greatest assets, but during her time in power she accumulated some baggage fairly or not. I wonder where the party will go after her. She had left it in a fairly good position and in good shape. So, as always it will be up to the party to pick who they feel is best to try continue and build upon the past work.
Alberta has some history of oppositions rising and almost overcoming the overwhelming established conservative force and then gradually fading back. However the NDP does have some advantages currently. First of all, the party and some of the leadership candidates do have experience in government which both make it more credible and temper more extreme positions. Secondly, there is no real alternative for progressive voters now as no other party on the center left has any MLA’s or really much support in the polls. Third, if the Conservatives win Federally in the next election, I expect a lot of the anti Ottawa hostility that motivates some conservative voters will dissipate so they will start to examine the actions of Smith and the UCP more critically.
Whoever wins is well positioned and it will be up to them to continue Notley’s legacy. It is an appealing position to be in, but there are also big shoes to fill.