Alberta has
a long history of stable government, from the social Credit of Aberhart to the
41 years of Progressive Conservatives (PC) that followed them. Now, Alberta is
poised to go to the polls on April 23rd with the likelihood of a change. It’s
generating election excitement—unusual for Alberta!
The PCs long
tenure has made them feel invincible, and their latest leader and premier
Alison Redford feels she can take the party anywhere with impunity. In fact,
her sharp turn left has angered her traditional base who feel abandoned.
This sharp
change provoked the comment the PCs going red, redder and Redford. Furthermore,
it has left a huge hole on the political right. It recalls the federal PCs moving
left, which gave rise to the Reform and Alliance parties that eventually became
the Conservative party of Canada.
Apart from a
government that now flourishes a deficit after Ralph Klein made Alberta debt
free, Redford presides over a party that awards MLAs high salaries, huge
severance packages, and monthly payments to committee members that never sit.
But all this
pales in the light of legislation to force all schools—including religious schools
and home schooling mothers—to teach as normal, sexual practices they disagree
with. Offenders will risk charges by the infamous, kangaroo courts of the Human
Rights Commission, widely known for their injustice.
Fortunately,
this act died on the order paper when the election was called. Many, like me,
know that if the PCs are elected again, this will be seen as a mandate to make
this act law, and are sufficiently provoked to vote elsewhere.
As
many conservative Albertans have become disaffected by the PC’s autocratic
rule, the Wild Rose (WR) party has been gaining in momentum for several years,
and is now a genuine challenge to the PCs. As the PCs have forsaken the values
of their supporters, the WR is gaining this support in large numbers.
Danielle
Smith, the leader of the WR, is a formidable and articulate young woman, and so
this election is being primarily fought between women leaders of the two viable
parties. So much for a red-neck male dominated province!
Interest in
the outcome of this election is high. Will voter participation be as high?
