There is a relatively true myth (sic) that Alberta sustains a one-party state politically for decades and then, seemingly, overnight changes its mind and goes with an entirely new set of politicians and a new government.
From some new research we have done at Cambridge Strategies, it appears that Alberta is on the verge of another a dramatic political shift. For sure the ground is moving. Not sure yet if the seismic indications are strong enough to have another political earthquake. There will be more details on the survey findings in my blog posts over the next few weeks. I suggest you subscribe or follow this blog to ensure you get notice of those posts when they happen.
The other macro-variable is to consider if the values and attitudes of the Alberta population of today is akin to those of the past. It is a lot more urban, educated, wealthy and secure these days. Not sure we can rely on history to repeat itself with how different Alberta is today form the past.
There is a sense of a social shift that is happening now that has some similarities to the revolutionary attitudes and hunger for change from the 60's. That enabled Peter Lougheed to take the Progressive Conservative Party from nowhere to the overwhelmingly popular choice to replace the old, tired and out-of-touch Social Credit government.
What the conventional wisdom is the lack of a viable political alternative. Kevin Libin did an interesting piece in the National Post looks at the Alberta Liberal party in this context. He could do the same kind of analysis of the NDP and even the Wildrose Alliance. Neither one has been able to capture the angst or the aspirations of the next Alberta. There is a yearning, longing and hunger for a new narrative for the next Alberta that is just as strong as the anger and frustration with the current state of politics and governance in the province.
The rise of the Wildrose Alliance is an indication of some of the unrest and moving political ground in the province. It is far from the mainstream values or majority point of view of everyday Albertans. There are many more conversations happening around the province these days about what kind of place and people we are and want to become.
The sentiment that is emerging in the conversations I am involved with and monitoring is not about Alberta being the best place in the world but about the potential and promise of Alberta to be the best is can be for the world. That is a much more generative and engaging mindset than the banal boosterism we get from so many sectors in Alberta these days.
Reboot 3.0 is in the early planning stages and will happen in Edmonton this fall. It will be focused on what it will take to get a more comprehensive and integrated progressive set of values in Alberta's political culture. It will be a focused conversation about how to use the aggregate political power of progressive thinking Albertans to Press for Change in the politics and governance of our province. Stay tuned. There is going to be a lot of changes in Alberta politics between now and the next election - I can assure you.
"...not about Alberta being the best place in the world but about the potential and promise of Alberta to be the best is can be for the world."
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it, Ken! Bold and underline FOR the world.
Thank you.
What makes me mad is when one of our politicians runs under a party banner and then does something completely different. Like James Rajotte - going against the own government where he was elected from. We need to Reboote Rajotte.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post at an interesting time. Having lived in Alberta for a couple of years, I've never been interested in the politics of the place. This is mostly because I've never felt that it mattered - one party has dominated for so long.
ReplyDeleteNow that change seems to be afoot (most notably evident with the rise of the Wildrose), I'm extremely interested to see in which direction things head.
I feel that there is a silent and rather large group of Albertans that have been built up during the boom years and who share my feelings of apathy.
Personally, I'm curious to see if the new Ablerta party and the reboot AB movement share my values.
Anon at 1:28 - Gosh I must be missing something. I did not know the Harper government elected Rajotte. I thought his constituents elected HIM! Surely the grassroots mantra of the Reform past of Harper has not been lost to that degree as the leader dictates to his caucus and the masses what they are supposed to think.
ReplyDelete1:28 has a point. Rajotte was elected as part of a political party. Everyone knows the political party and the leader have the largest amount of influence when somenone decides to vote. The individual MP matters very little in that decision (look at how Rob Anders keeps getting elected).
ReplyDeleteRajotte should stay true to his party and those who elected him, or sit as an independent and run that way in the next election.
Sadly "Anon 10:19" has a point. It is all too often labels that get MPs and MLAs elected. It ought not to be, but I can't disagree with the point. James Rajotte, however, seems to believe otherwise and is doing what he thinks is right... and that is how I believe representative democracy works best: elect an individual you trust to do what she/he thinks is right and then let them do that... and judge whether it was what you wanted at election time.
ReplyDeleteI applaud Mr. Rajotte for standing up for what's right... and not blindly supporting his party. More representatives like Mr. Rajotte is what our failing democracy needs... not fewer.
I agree with your sentiments about the growing desire for some political change but I don't sense any catalyst for it. If an election were held soon, the PC's would likely be returned with the most embarrassingly small majority in their history and the "big change" would simply be in the leader as the party would surely dump Honest Ed. I agree whole-heartedly that Albertans share a feeling that they are making-do with mediocre when their natural abilities and fantastic resource wealth make us capable of achieving so much for the world. Where is the leader who will articulate this desire?
ReplyDeleteA quote from the US Declaration of Independence.
ReplyDelete"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Alberta has patiently played the part of financier for Canada, without complaint, as some other provinces have consistently done. We have given far beyond any measure of what we could expect to receive in this union. The transgressions of Canadian government weigh greatly upon our people, and the federal union to which we are so loosely associated has become a proverbial chain around our necks. I believe that every Albertan, whether or not he is so bold as to proclaim it, longs for the same freedoms that were delievered to the American people in 1776. And why should they not have them? We have the ability, under the Clarity Act, to secede from the union, and to declare Alberta a sovereign nation. Why should men two thousand miles away tell us how to govern our province, when we have consistently shown that we are capable of doing it ourselves? Our only failures have come in the form of our faith in long established government, a government that has been "pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them". It is time for that to change. It is... our duty.
People in Alberta are no different than people across the country. We are apathetic because of the quality of representation we get(or fail to get)You can paint the pony Wild Rose Pink if you want but they are still politicians trying to get elected. They will say what it takes and do what ever they find to be expedient later. What happened to integrity
ReplyDeleteRay Wilk
ReplyDeleteI stopped voting for the conservatives when Ralph Klein belittled homeless people in a drunken stupor, deregulated the power industry and then gave $400 dollars to every Albertan instead of building infrastructure. I got politically active when Mr. Stelmach gave himself and his cronies huge raises just a few months after being elected (never mentioned his intentions during the campaign). Stelmach did this while seniors on fixed incomes where being forced to move because of the increases in rental rates due to an out of control economy making room for transients who treat our cities and towns like crap. My angst goes deeper, bill44 shoved down our throats, single parents being labeled as inadequate by Ms. Evans (My daughter starts U of A in September I must have got lucky), hospitals five years overdue and over budget with three fake grand openings (Maznkowski's Heart Institute), no land plan, no plan whatsoever, no vision the list goes on and on I have taken up enough room here. 34 years of the same party breed’s arrogance, cronyism and a Province being mismanaged and left behind what its real potential could be. Having said all this we the people need to get involved a 3000 sq ft home and a bunch of toys does not make a successful society.
Rajotte should resign immediately. This is not the type of representative we need.
ReplyDeleteVictor Marciano would be a good MP for Edmonton-Leduc.
I believe there is political unrest in the province but who will get the support from this unrest.
ReplyDeleteThe liberals haven't identified themselves. The leader is obviously bright but can't mobilize his party or the electorate.
The NDP is a good opposition but are only seen as an opposition.
The WR has a good leader but it will have trouble appealing to the masses because I don't believe Albertans are as socially conservative as the public perceive many members of the WR party.
The PC's are tired and don't deserve to be elected again.
Result: more apathy
Rather than focus on when and how the next seismic shift between parties might occur, I think it would be healthier to promote a true seismic shift to a viable multi-party democracy. Nothing keeps politicians responsive to the broad electorate like the real possiblity of being replaced. The blind adherence to a single powerful party is an open invitation to arrogance and the abuse of power. So the real question is how do we strengthen all parties so voters feel they have real choice when they go the ballot box or seek a voice for their concerns.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Quote the American Declaration of Independence... and then espouse Albertan Independence.
ReplyDeleteI suggest that if you want the "rights and freedoms" guaranteed to every American... you apply for a Green Card and go.
You separating from Canada is a lot less a problem than Alberta separating from Canada... and would cause much less division among Albertans... 'cause I don't buy (actually laugh at) the idea that a majority of us want not to remain Canadians.
Excellent piece of writing Ken! I will share this message with all who will listen.
ReplyDeleteIt is up to Albertan's to decide who is going win the next election , but must stress to the people DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN POLITICAL B.S. Make sure that the party you vote is in YOUR best interest not in the interest of CORPORATE funding. A party should be wanting to be voted in on the grounds of supporting the People of Alberta, as they come first and their future is foremost. Alberta as a whole, the management of our resources and sustainability comes second. The protection and security of the Alberta as a whole, for future generations should be set up as to keep our basic services water, heating, power should be in the hands of Albertan's to protect us from Corporate greed, too insure we will be able to put food on our tables, roofs over our heads for the security of future Albertan's born and here or from other locations from Canada and around the world.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that, even though Alberta is the most vocal supporter in Canada for gun rights, the Wildrose Alliance no longer supports the issue.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that the Wildrose Alliance is going to become more accomodating to left-wingers, because the Progressive Conservatives are digging in their heels, and disgruntled Liberals are going to be joining the Wildrose in the hopes that they will bring down the Progressive Conservatives.
I personally am now looking more to the centrist parties of Alberta (the Social Credit Party and the Alberta Party).
Wow! Ken, seems you have poked a bee's nest here. Leadership, vision, democracy, dialogue... the cynicism and arrogance that is an almost a natural result of 37 years of incumbency will only be shifted by the people. Good for you for working to get the talk going to get the action going. I am staying tuned...
ReplyDeleteBerry, please study the history and wording of the Declaration of Independence. With Hammurabi's Code and The Magna Carta, The Declaration of Independence is a monumental achievement to be celebrated by free peoples the world over.
ReplyDeleteGet past your anti-Americanism and read it with clear eyes and thank God for it.
Full Disclosure: I love Canada and I also love America and Americans.
I didn't like the $400 cheques. But I did like when Klein went and told the homeless guy to get a job. I also liked Bill 44, but it didn't go far enough. So where do I go now?
ReplyDelete