10 ideas about NDP victory in Alberta

I'm a 36 year old Albertan and I've never experienced a change in provincial government... until last night.

The NDP led by Rachel Notley displaced a tired and corrupt 44 year old Progressive Conservative government.

Here are 10 ideas about the NDP victory in Alberta:

1. Change is healthy

44 years under the same government is a long time. Many of the newly elected NDP MLAs are inexperienced and that's ok. For too long MLAs have been doing things right without doing the right things.

2. Income Inequality Matters

We know that income inequality in Alberta is widening and the middle class is shrinking. When wealth is concentrated into fewer and fewer hands, politics becomes more and more polarized. Some equality is important because if inequality grows too wide, the poor come after the wealthy with pitchforks. 

3.  Everything is impossible until it happens

Nothing good comes from fatalism. Democracy is built on dissent and honest dialogue. Alberta does not belong to any single political party or ideology -- Alberta belongs to Albertans.

4.  Jim Prentice's true intentions revealed

Many said that Prentice only returned to use Alberta as a political stepping stone and his resignation as leader and MLA before the ballots were all counted proves them right. Now Albertans are stuck with the bill for another by-election.

5.  Hope-mongering > Fear-mongering

We are all better off voting for something we believe in rather than strategically voting in a way that blocks something we don't like. We are all better off when campaigns are run on hope rather than fear.

6. Elitism leads to disconnection

Entitlements and elitism blinded the PCs as they slowly became more and more disconnected and irrelevant to Albertans. After Prentice was serenaded and sold as the savour of the PC party, he hand-picked and anointed cabinet ministers and meddled in candidate nominations. It all looked good on paper but failed miserably where it mattered most.

7. Alberta isn't a business -- we are a democracy

The economy is important, no doubt about it. However, Alberta doesn't hire a CEO, we elect MLAs to represent us in the Legislature. Government needs to be for Main Street not Wall Street.

8. Politics done differently?

What if David Swann and Greg Clark were offered cabinet positions?

9. An education minister and health minister who knows something about education and health?

Albertans have had a revolving door for education minister for too long. It would be refreshing to see someone like Deron Bilous or Sarah Hoffman as education minister. What if the Alberta government stopped ignoring professional organizations like the Alberta Teachers' Association and Alberta Medical Association and collaborated with them?

10. Wildrose on the right, NDP on the left, Alberta Party in the middle?

Some Albertans may not feel comfortable with the Wildrose or the NDP. With the Liberals in steady decline and the PCs in purgatory, Greg Clark and the Alberta Party's momentum may pick up as more and more Albertans seek out a moderate alternative.

I am not fearful of all this change -- I find myself hopeful and optimistic.

Alberta's Education Minister skips education forum in his own riding

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark attended Calgary
Elbow's education Forum. Gordon Dirks
was a #PCnoShow. (Jeremy Nolais/Metro)

Albertans are used to Progressive Conservative candidates being no-shows at public events, debates and forums.

During last year's by-election, Jim Prentice was a no-show for an all-candidates forum.

In March, Gordon Dirks was a no-show for an Alberta Teachers' Association all-party forum on education.

Ten days ago, not one PC candidate from Red Deer North, Red Deer South or Innisfail-Sylvan Lake could be bothered to show up for an all-candidates education forum in Red Deer.

On Tuesday, April 28, PC candidate Gordon Dirks was another PC no-show for an all-party public education forum in Calgary. 

That's right, Alberta's Education Minister skipped an education forum in his own riding.

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark, who is leading Dirks in Calgary-Elbow, said, "The basic expectation for anyone who seeks elected office should be public accountability -- you should attend debates. The PCs had 71 other MLAs and they didn't send a representative. They're not interested in talking with teachers, they're not interested in engaging with parents. They're hiding."

For more details on the public events that PC candidates decline to attend, follow the Twitter hashtag #PCnoShow.

Alberta cannot afford PC's cuts to our schools

This post first appeared on the Red Deer Alberta Party blog here.

Funding for students in Alberta schools have been cut over the last 5 years. In 2011-2012, school boards had $9,411 per student but funding in 2015-2016 is projected to drop to $9,166.

The PC cuts deepen when inflation is factored in. The gap widens from $8,997 in 2011-2012 down to $8,225 in 2015-2016 -- that’s almost $800 less per student.

“PC cuts to education over the years has forced school boards to nickel and dime families with fees. The Alberta Party would reverse the PC cuts to our schools and eliminate school fees,” said Red Deer South Alberta Party candidate Serge Gingras.

Student enrolment is projected to increase 19,000 kids this fall. That is 90,000 more kids in classrooms since 2008-2009.

“The PCs are not funding our schools to match the rate of inflation and population growth. Governments that cut education to save money are like farmers who sell their topsoil to pay the bills,” said Red Deer North Alberta Party candidate Krystal Kromm.

“Our kids’ education shouldn’t depend on the price of oil. The PCs got us into this situation and now they want students to pay for their mistakes,” said Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark.

The Alberta Party will fight to build schools, protect our teachers and reduce class sizes. Learn about the Alberta Party’s Better Way here.

Check out this powerful video from Support our Students Alberta.

What Education in Alberta looks like today from SOS Alberta on Vimeo.

Red Deer is ready for the Alberta Party

This post first appeared on the Red Deer Alberta Party blog here.

Red Deer, AB - Jim Prentice announced that Alberta will have an election on May 5. This election announcement comes one year before the PCs were supposed to call an election, according to their own fixed election law, and will cost Albertans an estimated $28 million.

“Jim Prentice raised taxes on hard-working Albertans but cut our children’s education and our family’s health care. These tax hikes and cuts in health and education will hurt Red Deer. The Alberta Party has a better way,” said Alberta Party Red Deer North candidate Krystal Kromm.

“For too long, the PC’s have done everything to maintain their own power. Alberta is ready for a government that represents the people. The Alberta Party is the new energy that Red Deer is desperate for,” said Alberta Party Red Deer South candidate Serge Gingras.

Both Serge Gingras and Krystal Kromm’s campaigns are up and running strong with a campaign office located in the heart of Red Deer’s downtown at 4824 Gaetz Avenue.

“Red Deer is ready for new energy. Red Deer is ready for the Alberta Party.”

The Alberta Party is proud to be hosting a Pints and Politics event Wednesday, April 8 at 7pm in Red Deer at Fionn MacCool’s where everyone is invited to talk with both Red Deer candidates Serge Gingras and Krystal Kromm and Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark.

You are invited to the Alberta Party's Pints and Politics in Red Deer

Are you frustrated with Alberta politics?

Are you looking for a political party that has new energy?

Come for an evening of Pints and Politics in Red Deer on April 8 where you will meet Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark, Red Deer South candidate Serge Gingras and Red Deer North candidate Krystal Kromm. 

WHEN:

April 8, 2015 at 7pm - 10pm

WHERE: 

Fionn McCools

1935 Gaetz Ave

Red Deer T4R1Z4

Canada

Check out this event's page on Facebook. 

If you are looking for more information on the Alberta Party, check out these links:

Alberta Party

Greg Clark - Alberta Party Leader

Krystal Kromm - Red Deer North

Serge Gingras - Red Deer South

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark plans to take centre stage in the next election

5 Reasons why I left the PCs for the Alberta Party

Albertans need to stop holding their noses to vote

PCs decline to attend Alberta Teachers' all-party forum

PCs decline to attend ATA forum

On Saturday, March 14, The Alberta Teachers' Association is hosting an all-party forum education. The Liberals, NDP and Wildrose are attending but the PCs declined.

Is it too much to ask the PCs to engage with teachers at an all-party forum on education with Alberta teachers?

Why is Education Minister Gordon Dirks not finding the time and making the effort to engage with Alberta teachers at such an important event?

If Gordon Dirks and the PCs can't be bothered to attend, then I suggest that their empty chair could be filled by the Alberta Party's Greg Clark who will already be in attendance.

Because the Alberta Party now has a sitting MLA in Laurie Blakeman, it makes sense that Greg Clark represent the Alberta Party at the ATA's forum.

9 ways Jeff Johnson and his task force have failed Albertans

Dear Jim Prentice,

As you may know, there is a rumour going about that you may be interested in the leadership of Alberta's Progressive Conservatives.

While I'm sure there are a gazillion reasons why you should not pursue political suicide, here are 9 more that are specific to Jeff Johnson and his task force on teaching.

Johnson is reckless

Too often, Johnson tries to make change by imposing his will on those who have less power. First, he threw around the idea of merit pay (the bad idea that won't die).

He threatened to remove teachers' collective bargaining rights with legislation. Using the teachers' registrar certification contact list, he sent an e-mail to 30,000 teachers, and now is being investigated by the privacy commissioner.

He orchestrated an agreement with Alberta Teachers without including School Boards.

And now Johnson thinks that he can improve Alberta schools with his Orwellian Task Force that looks to take over punishing teachers. The Alberta Teachers' Association is raising serious concerns about direct ministerial interference in the work of the task force and have requested a FOIP request on Johnson's Task Force.

Johnson ignores teachers

The best decisions for the child are made by the child in collaboration with a safe and caring adult who actually spends time with them. Those adults are not bureaucrats or politicians -- they are the classroom teachers. Jeff Johnson continues to openly ignore teachers and their Alberta Teachers' Association. 

To create a task force on teacher excellence without actively collaborating with teachers is contrary to common sense, collaboration and transparency. 

There is a big difference between keeping teachers passively informed and encouraging them to actively participate in improving Alberta's schools.

Johnson confuses innovation with privatization

When asked about for-profit, online charter schools, Johnson says he's open to all options that create excellence and opportunities -- despite the evidence that for-profit, online charters offer children neither excellence or opportunities. 

Being open-minded is one thing but Johnson's response is growing old and tired. Every time someone asks him about a potential idea in education, regardless of its quality, he fires back with this hollow political boilerplate.

Albertans should be immensely proud of our world-class public education system -- simultaneously, Albertans should be appalled when our elected officials consider for-profit, private schools as a way of improving our education system. I've written a post here about why Cyber Charter schools are such a bad idea. 

It's one thing to suggest that students should be encouraged to become entrepreneurial but it is quite another to unleash entrepreneurs to profit off of children and public education. To be clear, this is not about pedagogy -- it's about privatizing public education which is ultimately wrong.

Johnson is entitled

After Alison Redford's gross misuse of taxpayer's dollars, The Alberta Party brought to light Jeff Johnson's entitlement: "Education minister Jeff Johnson’s expenses reveal double-billing, lost receipts, taxpayers billed for optional extras like seat selection and hotel movies, and include a backdated claim for an expensive hotel room during the Calgary Stampede."

Johnson votes against Gay-Straight Alliances that put children first

Johnson will wear a pink shirt on anti-bullying day, but he won't vote for legislation to help kids. 

Johnson was one of many PCs to ally with the Wildrose to reject supporting Gay-Straight Alliances in schools where children want them. 

This is yet another example where Johnson's walk lies in stark contrast to his talk of putting children first. 

Johnson says class size doesn't matter

If I was Jeff Johnson and the Alberta Government, I may want to distract the public from funding cuts in public education by creating a task force that focuses on teacher quality. For this school year, the Alberta Government cut school board budgets by $14.5 million even though 11,000 new students entered Alberta's schools.

This will lead to all sorts of problems for teachers' working conditions including larger class sizes. While it's true that reducing class sizes is not a sufficient move to improve an education system, it most certainly is necessary. Alberta Teachers' Association President Mark Ramsankar describes the problem aptly when he said, "a Ferrari still can't perform on a gravel road." Check out this video on the inequities in Calgary's schools.

A great teacher with 15-25 students in the classroom may be a mediocre or even poor teacher with 30+ students. When the government doesn't do their job of properly funding and supporting teachers, it makes it harder for teachers to do their job.

Ultimately, great teachers make great schools, but great teachers can’t do it alone – they require the support of an equitable society.

Johnson and Big Oil

Suncor, Syncrude, Cenovus and other big oil corporations are enlisted by Johnson as partners in the current curriculum development. Other tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Pearson and SMART have also been signed up. 

Albertan's are rightfully concerned about the exploitation of students in the name of corporate profits.

Johnson wants to punish teachers

Are there some bad teachers in Alberta?

You bet there are, but there are also bad accountants, doctors, mechanics, columnists and politicians.

There are incompetent professionals in all professions.

The most successful education nations don't test and punish their teachers -- they diagnose and support them. The best education systems in the world worry less about firing bad teachers, and more about creating and supporting great teachers.

We don't have a teacher quality problem -- we treat them so badly, they leave.

The Alberta Teachers' Association's Research tells us that one of the major causes of early-career teacher attrition is inadequate pre-service preparation (which traditionally has been a greater concern in the US than in Canada) and difficult working conditions (particularly in under resourced schools) and professional isolation.

Alberta doesn't have a teacher quality problem -- we have a teacher leakage problem. Because of systemic problems, anywhere between 25-50% of teachers leave inside of before five years on the job.

Johnson's Orwellian Teacher Task Force will kill Inspiring Education

Jeff Johnson needs to stop borrowing America's
failed Education Reforms.

Johnson's Inspiring Education is about control and compliance via mistrust, manipulation and competition. Johnson sees himself as the change agent that will disrupt the system. Rather than work with teachers, he merely does things to them.

He uses Inspiring Education and his Excellence in Teaching Task Force to create the impression that he is collaborating while he pursues his political agenda.

Rather than address the growing inequities students are experiencing as a result of his government's broken promises (poverty reduction, full day kindergarten) he trots out the Task Force for Teaching Excellence and continues to distract public attention away from classrooms that are growing in size and complexity by cherry-picking data from international studies, claiming that class size does not matter and chasing American-style market based reforms such as merit pay.

***

As you know, Mr. Prentice, the PCs in 2014 have no shortage of enemies, and adding teachers to the list makes as much sense as running for the leadership.

Alberta Party supports gay-straight alliances

This was written by Greg Clark who is the leader of the Alberta Party. This post first appeared here.

by Greg Clark

The headlines ricochet around the world.

“Alberta MLAs vote against gay-straight alliance bill for schools”

“Gay-straight alliance bill for schools voted down in Alberta”

“Alberta Conservatives join Wildrose to defeat bill in 31-19 vote allowing gay-straight alliances in high schools”

These headlines, and the close-minded thinking that spawned them, are hurtful to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) teens in Alberta. They also perpetuate the outdated and flat-out wrong stereotype of Alberta as an intolerant place where only those who conform to some archaic notion of morality are considered acceptable.

The Alberta I know and love is a place not simply of tolerance, but a place of respect. Respect for all people irrespective of where they come from, the colour of their skin or who they love.

This reflects my Alberta, and I believe reflects the views of the vast majority of Albertans. It is also the right thing to do.

But there are still pockets of intolerance in the province and that’s why Motion 503 is so important. There should never be a barrier when students, in any school, of any faith, anywhere in the province, want to create a group proven to reduce bullying and promote inclusion. Gay-straight alliances are a powerful tool that provide a supportive environment for LGBTQ youth and their straight allies.

By rejecting Motion 503 the PC and Wildrose MLAs who voted against it (and the 36 MLAs –over 40% of the Legislature– who gave their tacit approval by choosing to be absent for the vote) sent a damaging message to LGBTQ teens, but also to the rest of the world about Alberta. An Alberta that desperately needs to attract people from around the world to drive our growing economy.

Defeating Motion 503 not only hurts LGBTQ teens. It might just hurt Alberta’s prosperity.

On the record, once and for all, the Alberta Party strongly supports GSA’s. It is completely consistent with our core values of inclusiveness, caring for one another and ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable, among which LGBTQ teens must be included. We believe that GSAs in school will actually save lives.

We have to ask, is there any reason that we would not want our children to feel safer in schools?

The Alberta Party represents an Alberta that is welcoming to all. It's the politicians that need to catch up.

Are we a political match?

The Alberta Party has launched a campaign called Political Match, a website designed to communicate Alberta Party values and to allow Albertans to determine if their values are a match for the Alberta Party.

“We have seen significant interest in the Alberta Party in the past several months and it’s ramped up since the resignation of Premier Redford,” said Alberta Party leader Greg Clark. “The goal of this campaign is to let Albertans looking for a political home that there is a moderate option that fits with their core values.”

The site is available at www.politicalmatch.ca and is loosely based on CBC’s VoteCompass. It asks 26 questions and asks if the values expressed in each statement are shared by the respondent, then identifies whether the Alberta Party might be a good fit for them.

Clark says the questions are designed to be clear and unequivocal about Alberta Party values. “Because we don’t stick to rigid notions of ‘left’ and ‘right’ on the political spectrum, like most political parties, the Alberta Party needs to find innovative ways to communicate what we’re all about. That’s what PoliticalMatch.ca is intended to do.”

“Some of the questions are provocative, but we want to show Albertans we won’t back down from tough topics,” said Clark.

Alberta needs to be healthy and wealthy

I attended a Wildrose meet and greet event in Red Deer where leader of the Wildrose Danielle Smith gave a talk and took questions. I went because I wanted to see and hear what the Wildrose are doing and what the people who would attend a Wildrose event are saying and thinking.

I was there to learn.

Danielle Smith talked about the ridiculous wages that some government administrators make like the head of Alberta Health Services or Redford's chief of staff.

Talking about income inequality is often a great way to get labelled a communist or a socialist, but when Danielle Smith and the Wildrose talk about government employees who make a ridiculous salary, they get head nods and hell-yeahs from Wildrose and NDP alike. 

Albertans who don't make six figures have a problem with public-sector employees who do.

Danielle Smith elicited gasps from the crowd when she said that the Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) reported that many of their frontline members don't make $45,000 in an entire year -- which happens to be the cost of Alison Redford's flights to Nelson Mandela's funeral.

This hit home big time amongst the room of people in Red Deer -- I saw heads nodding everywhere. The tension in the room was escalating. If Smith was trying to elicit an emotional response, she hit everyone, including me, between the eyes.

Smith also talked about making Alberta's Heritage Fund a priority and pointed to Norway's Oil Savings Fund that now sits at over $900 Billion, compared to Alberta's $17 Billion.

That's some of what Danielle Smith and the Wildrose talk about.

Here's some of what Danielle Smith and the Wildrose don't talk about.

Like Smith and the Wildrose, I too am interested in what Alberta can learn from Norway. It turns out that Norway does a better job of saving money in the bank and keeping kids off the street. Smith and the Wildrose make a point to be envious over Norway's bank account, while ignoring their superior skills in keeping children out of poverty. I think Albertans care about both, and so should any political party worthy of governance.

The whole point of being fiscally responsible is born out of the idea that responsible adults don't run up a tab and then throw the bill at our next generation of children. If this matters, and it really does, then so does ensuring that our present generation of children don't live in poverty.

It is disingenuous to talk about government cronyism and then ignore Alberta's growing income gap and children living in poverty. (Did you know that the top Canadian CEOs earn average workers' salary in a day and a half?)

Anyone who wants to talk about fiscal responsibility or education without talking about reducing poverty has an agenda and should be challenged, and anyone who talks about social responsibility and reducing poverty without talking about balancing the books is irresponsible and should be challenged.

If we care about children, then we need to talk about fiscal and social responsibilities. For too long, Alberta political parties have been marinated in ideology that prioritizes one at the expense of the other. The ancient tug o' war between left and right over fiscal and social responsibilities is an old and tired political model that have many people angry, cynical or apathetic.

If you are a fiscally responsible and socially conscious Albertan who is looking for a different way of doing politics, then I invite you to check out Greg Clark and the Alberta Party.

Greg Clark and the Alberta Party believes, "we can have a strong economy. We can have a strong commitment to the environment. A strong balance sheet and a strong social conscience."

The Alberta Party understands that it is easier and cheaper to build strong children than to repair broken people. Their social policies reflect an understanding for the idea that an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.

The Alberta Party is a breath of fresh air that Alberta desperately needs.

Winston Churchill once said:

Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains.

While I give Churchill full credit for being pithy, this kind of black and white thinking holds us back. If Alberta is going to be healthy and wealthy, we have to stop choosing between having a brain or a heart.

Alberta needs both.

Alberta needs the Alberta Party.

5 reasons why I left the PCs for the Alberta Party

I am a fifth generation Albertan whose family has farmed in the Red Deer area for over 100 years.

In 1907, my great-great grandfather James Bower purchased the first International Harvester gasoline tractor in western Canada and in 1909 he became the first president of the United Farmers' Association.

While my family has an appreciation for tradition we have also thrived as pioneers with an entrepreneurial and humanitarian spirit.
My father and I are both x-Progressive Conservative Association Presidents. We are both long-time supporters of the Progressive Conservatives.

And I am breaking up with the PCs.

I'm done.

No, really. I'm done with the PCs.

Not just a little bit done. But a lot done.

I would say to the PCs "it's not you, it's me." Except it's you.

I would suspect that many Albertans are searching for a new political home. In 2012, too many Albertans voted Wildrose because they hated the PC's, and too many voted PC only because they were scared of the Wildrose. In 2012, too many Albertans voted for the lesser of two evils and then in 2014 wonder why we still ended up with nothing we wanted.

Holding your nose and voting for the PC's or the Wildrose out of fear of the other one won't change a damn thing in this province.

If you are like me, you are an Albertan looking for an authentic alternative to the Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose.

Well, I've got good news.

I found the Alberta Party and their leader Greg Clark.

I got to spend some time getting to know Greg, and he's the kind of principled leader that I can get behind.

I was very impressed.

Here's my top 5 reasons why I left the PCs to vote for the Alberta Party.

1. I don't want to vote against a party -- I want to vote for a party that I believe in. I refuse to "waste my vote" by wasting my vote on the PCs out of fear of the Wildrose. Voting strategically for the PCs to block the Wildrose is not the same as voting for someone or something. Friends don't let friends waste their votes strategically.

2. I want a government that represents me, not their party. The Alberta Party wants to reverse the role of the MLA from being a spokesperson for their party to their constituents, to being a true representative of their constituents in the legislature. I want my MLA to speak for me not at me. MLAs should be citizens' voice to government, not government's voice to us.

3. Greg Clark. I had the pleasure of meeting Greg in Red Deer yesterday and he is the kind of principled leader that I can get behind. When Greg listens, he doesn't just wait for his turn to talk -- he really listens and engages. He's experienced, genuine and thoughtful.

4. As long as Albertans continue to vote the way they have always voted, Albertans will continue to get what they have always gotten. The world is changing around us; politics and policy need to change with it. The PCs are being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, and the Wildrose are enamoured with a last out of the past mentality -- the Alberta Party is the breath of fresh air that Albertans are desperate for.

5. Healthcare and Education funding shouldn't rely on the price of a barrel of oil. While The Alberta Party understands that oil and gas are one of Alberta's greatest economic natural resources, they also understand the need to broaden our economic base by investing in Alberta's other most important natural resource -- our people. Couple the need for softening the effects of our boom and bust cycles with their vision of a fiscally responsible government (with balanced books) and I think the Alberta Party is on to something.

All change is impossible until it happens. Since Redford resigned, the Alberta Party has gathered an incredible amount of attention. Main stream and social media have taken notice of the Alberta Party as the authentic alternative to a legacy of PC cronyism, Wildrose antics and an opposition mired in loser brands.

The Alberta Party is positioning itself to play a role in bringing sanity to Alberta's next government.

And you can buy your membership the same place I bought mine. Right here.

An Alternative History of Alberta, 2004-2013

During Alberta's 2012 Provincial election, I became interested in the Alberta Party. I wrote about them here, here, here and here. Even though the Alberta Party won exactly zero seats, what interested me then still interests me now. 

I'm not naive enough to think that the Alberta Party will be governing this province anytime soon, but I am optimistic enough to believe that the Alberta Party can have some influence on those who do govern. I believe this because I think there are enough Albertans who are tired of plugging their nose and voting for the PCs or the Wildrose. 

While The Alberta Party understands that oil and gas are one of Alberta's greatest economic natural resources, they also understand the need to broaden our economic base by investing in Alberta's other most important natural resource --our people. I think there are enough Albertans who are tired of our volatile budgets that stakes our health and education on the price of a barrel of oil.

I think there are enough Albertans who are tired of politicians being the voice of government to the people when they should be the voice of the people to government. 

This was written by the Alberta Party's new leader, Greg Clark who tweets here. This post was originally found here.

by Greg Clark

It's October 2nd, 2013. Our strong energy sector has been the envy of the world ever since Greenpeace used our province as an example of responsible resource development because we've reduced our net carbon emissions every year since 2010, in spite of increased production from our oilsands. The Keystone XL pipeline is nearing completion and the Enbridge / First Nations Pipeline Corp. joint venture to build a bitumen pipeline that terminates at an upgrader on the BC coast is expected to start construction next summer.

There's a hard cap of 30 kids per class in high school, 25 in junior high and 20 in elementary school, although most schools are well under those numbers. Our healthcare system is the envy of the rest of Canada and is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Social indicators like child poverty and suicide rates are dropping. Our universities and colleges turn out graduates ready to participate in the workforce and make a difference in a changing world.

Things aren't perfect of course. Prices for natural gas are lower than we'd like as a result of the rapid rise of shale gas, but they're higher than they would have been had we not started our transition from coal-fired power to natural gas and renewables 10 years ago. And there's reason for even more optimism; we're only a year away from the completion of a 2 BCF (billion cubic feet) pipeline to BC's new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, with plans to twin the pipe in the next five years. The pipelines are being built by private industry but they are economic at this scale because of royalty incentives provided by the Alberta Government to create new markets and increase demand for Alberta's most abundant hydrocarbon, which happens to be the transition fuel to a low carbon future. Our government worked hard to make this happen. Everyone agrees that starting with the goal of creating a "win-win-win" for first nations, BC and Alberta was the key to our success.

Oh, and Albertans pay half the income tax we did a decade ago and we're on our way to zero. That's because we've been able to fund a significant portion of government operations from the interest generated by investments in the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, something we started taking seriously right after we paid off the debt in 2004. In addition to having more money in our pockets, Alberta's business community is more diversified than it's been in recent memory due to the attractive investment climate and prudent investments in clean energy technologies and energy services innovation, which are funded by Alberta's carbon tax. Alberta's success led the Economist magazine to call our province the "Silicon Valley of Energy".

The path to get here wasn't easy; it took a lot of political will, a long-term view, a lot of listening and some brave moves by the government of the day. First, it was decided that we would keep our progressive income tax rather than moving to a flat tax, but the government heeded Albertans' calls to stay away from a sales tax. We also kept the healthcare premium, although it was indexed to income to make it more fair. Alberta kept a lid on expenses by building a relationship of trust and respect between the government and public servants of all kinds; teachers, nurses and doctors included. Although it cost some support at the ballot box, the government resisted the temptation to ramp up spending in an election year just to win votes, but benefitted our key systems and the people who work in them by not cutting spending immediately after the election. Stable funding has led to much better services and outcomes across the board, which means the people working in those systems are proud of their work and feel their pay is fair.

Of course most of this is fantasy, but it's the kind of Alberta we could be living in if successive PC governments had the vision and guts to make it happen. It's not too late, but we need to start making these changes today. We need politicians who are willing to lay out a bold agenda and replace short term vote-seeking with a long term plan.

And that's why I joined the Alberta Party. We're a party with a vision for long term prosperity in our province. We're willing to invest today to build for tomorrow. We're willing to take a stand even when it's not politically expedient. It's what everyone who has come to our province for over 100 years has done. It's in our DNA and it's the right thing to do.

Now, we just need a government willing to do it.