Politics

Well the Alberta election results are in. Although the Conservative party retained their majority, as I reviewed the polls they just squeaked by the extreme right-wing Wildrose Party in most rural ridings. Many people voted PC to stop the homophobic, anti-environment, privatizing mantra of the Wildrose, which gained 17 seats and will form the official opposition.

A week ago, the Harper government closed the Public Health Agency of Canada office in Alberta, with many friends and colleagues losing jobs. I hear the CBC is on the chopping block as are thousands of positions and programs. And now I can’t retire until I’m 67!

I’ve been feeling like someone who leaves their community to find it's been devastated by some natural disaster leaving nothing to return to. My values of equity and empowerment and social justice don’t align with Harper or the provincial conservatives, who may have stayed centrist with a Liberal or NDP opposition, but will now need to pander to a 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps', libertarian agenda.

So do I stay here? Australia moved from a socialist to a capitalist model in the 90’s, about 10 years ahead of Canada, and the outcome is an underbelly of poverty and a culture of disillusionment.

This is not the way we want to go.

I will come home but may need to find work in social democratic provinces like Manitoba or Quebec. At least we still have some pockets of progressiveness!