There has been a recent takeover of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta by the former Federal HarperCon Cabinet Minister, Jason Kenney and his social conservative base. This has to be the final wake-up call for Alberta progressives.
The rise of an American-style Alt-Right and old-style Social Conservative political culture is now well established in Alberta with the Jason Kenney leadership of the PC Party. What will the remaining progressives in the PCAA do now with the loss of the Lougheed heritage from their party?
We progressives are the largest block of voter values in Alberta. We have taken a lot for granted. We have been complacent, comfortable, and even compliant, to the threats from an obvious authoritarian and growing conservative political movement in Alberta.
Up to now, Alberta progressives have been a laid-back bunch politically. We have been dozing passively to these emerging authoritarian conservative changes, living in denial that they are a real threat. With each alarm bell, we have repeatedly pressed the snooze bar, rolled over and went back to sleep, blithely presuming Alberta will continue to be the dynamic progressive society we have known.
The "Unite the Right" conservative political movement has been instigated by the HarperCons Republican-lite acolytes, Jason Kenney and Brian Jean. They both have the single-minded goal of coalescing Alberta conservatives to beat Rachel Notley and her "socialist" government.
These Unite the Right leaders have offered very few specifics or policy ideas about how they would govern, should they form a government. They have generally articulated classic conservative bromides of reduced taxes, reduced government, reduced regulation, expanded individualism, deny climate change, privatize health care, public education and deference to market forces and competition as the only way to solve complex social problems.
There are some efforts afoot to enable progressives to respond to these threats to a dynamic, inclusive, caring, responsible and resilient Alberta. The reality is Alberta progressives have to get active in the political culture of the province...or suffer the consequences of political omission.
The present progressive political options to influence the future of Alberta are very fragmented and, so far, ineffectual. To change this Alberta progressives can make a big difference by joining a progressive party and donate to that party of your choice. The options are the Alberta Party, the Alberta Liberals, the NDP or the Alberta Greens.
There are a few progressives still in the Kenney PC Party who believe they can convince him to move from the far right, where he has been all his life, towards the political centre. I don't see any evidence he intends to do anything meaningful to those ends. Consequently, I would not recommend Alberta progressives join the PCAA as a means to make a difference.
If you can't bring yourself to join a political party, you can effectively engage as a progressive citizen through activism within your memberships in community, social, professional and other networks. There are progressive Alberta-based organizations focused on influencing politics and public policy. Alberta progressives should also consider joining and donating to organizations like Progress Alberta and Public Interest Alberta to make a difference.
It is time for Alberta progressives to wake-up, stand-up and step-up for the greater good and the betterment of our province. More to come from me in this space, but now is the time for action people.
