The Engaged Citizen

Understanding the immigration questions

Are you having trouble making sense of the five immigration questions posed by the UCP government in the upcoming October 19 referendum? If you answered yes, you are not alone.

Collectively called the “immigration questions,” the first five questions on the ballot actually represent separate issues. The first question asks Albertans if the province should take more control over immigration. The next three ask for input into how non-permanent residents receive health, education and social services. The fifth question is not about immigration at all, but about the extent to which Albertans must go to prove their citizenship when voting in provincial elections.

Let’s consider each issue in turn.

Immigration is a constitutionally shared responsibility between provincial and federal governments. Alberta already has an important say in who it recruits and nominates for permanent residence through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.

Even now, economic immigration is prioritized, and the province chooses workers based on labour needs and shortages. Existing federal rules also require employers using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to demonstrate efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents before hiring a foreign worker. For most workers hired through this program, employers must first obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment demonstrating a genuine need for the worker and that Canadians or permanent residents are not available to fill the position.

“The majority of non-permanent residents in Alberta work, spend money locally and contribute to our economy. “

The next three referendum questions refer to services that non-permanent residents receive in Alberta. First, we need to understand that non-permanent residents include a variety of people who are here for different reasons: temporary foreign workers, international students, refugee claimants and visitors. Non-permanent residents make up about 5% of our province’s population, and their numbers are on the decline.

Alberta already has restrictions on services for non-permanent residents. For example, temporary foreign workers are only eligible for health care if they can establish Alberta residency, intend to remain for at least 12 months and have at least six months remaining on an eligible work permit. They are currently not eligible for most social and income-support programs.

The majority of non-permanent residents in Alberta work, spend money locally and contribute to our economy. Even though they are not eligible for all programs, the government collects taxes from them to fund the health care, education and social service systems that all of us in the province use.

We would do well to remember that temporary foreign workers have been invited to work in Alberta by our employers to support agriculture, tourism, food processing, construction and other industries with persistent or seasonal labour shortages. They produce our food, build our houses and care for our children and elderly. They are our co-workers, our neighbours and volunteers in our communities.

It is also important to note that international students pay substantially more toward their education—on average, more than four times the undergraduate tuition paid by Canadian students in Alberta—and their tuition has become an important source of revenue for post-secondary institutions.

When answering ballot Questions 2, 3 and 4, we can consider the people who work and study alongside us, pay taxes like the rest of us and help keep our schools, businesses and communities functioning. What access to services should reasonably accompany their contributions to Alberta?

The government argues that rapid population growth is putting pressure on public services and that Alberta taxpayers should not bear an unfair share of those costs. But Alberta lags behind the rest of the country in per capita school board expenditures ($11,464 vs. $13,692 per student) and in per capita health spending ($5,669 vs. approximately $6,850). Restricting services for a small group of residents will not solve our problems with health-care capacity, classroom size, housing supply and affordability. We have to call upon our elected officials to use the considerable resources of our province to invest in the lives of all Albertans. It is worth asking our MLA and our premier what concrete actions they are taking to produce more family doctors, more affordable homes or lower grocery and household costs.

Question 5 is not about immigration, but about requiring Albertans to show proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections. Elections Alberta’s records show an extremely small number of non-citizens voting in past elections. Ensuring that only citizens vote is a legitimate objective. The question is whether requiring every voter to produce documentary proof of citizenship is a proportionate response to the problem. What barriers might that requirement create for eligible citizens who do not have a passport, citizenship card or birth certificate readily available at the ballot box?

The referendum questions may be confusing, but three considerations can help guide us: Will the proposed policy improve everyday life for us? Does it treat the people who live and work here fairly? And does it strengthen or weaken our democracy? These are useful questions to carry with you into the voting booth.

Acts of Reconciliation: Big and Small

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation allows us to acknowledge the harms caused to Canada’s Indigenous peoples by the residential school system and to reflect on how we, as ordinary Canadians, can contribute to reconciliation.

In the early years of Confederation, Canadian government policy toward Indigenous peoples was characterized by land dispossession, suppression of language and culture, and forced assimilation. In more recent years, the federal government has made attempts to recalibrate the relationship by recognizing Indigenous rights, acknowledging the harms caused by colonization, and starting to make amends.

It would be reassuring to think that the Canadian government, of its own accord, recognized that its earlier policies were wrong. In reality, much of the change in the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada came only after decades of advocacy by Indigenous leaders and communities, residential school and Sixties Scoop survivors, and repeated challenges through the courts. Even today, Indigenous peoples continue to fight governments for recognition of their land rights, adequate funding for their children’s care and education, and fair and equitable treatment.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its report after receiving more than six thousand statements from residential school survivors, family members, and others affected by the system. The report called for specific actions to address the ongoing effects of residential schools and colonialism through changes in areas such as child welfare, education, health, justice, and public understanding. More than a decade after the release of its 94 Calls to Action, only 14 have been completed, while 39—more than 40%—are either stalled or not yet started.

“We can make the effort to learn about the Indigenous peoples in our area, their history, their culture, and their contributions”

While many of the TRC’s Calls to Action are directed toward governments and other institutions, ordinary citizens like us need to take action too. Recent polling shows that a majority of Canadians believe individuals have a role to play in bringing about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

When it comes to personal actions, we may feel paralyzed—either because we do not know what to do or because we are afraid of making mistakes. We may also feel that residential schools and land dispossession were things that happened in the past and have nothing to do with us. Or, conversely, we may feel guilty that we continue to benefit from the dispossession of Indigenous peoples in our everyday lives—our houses stand on their ancestral lands, and we benefit from the extraction of resources such as oil and gas, lumber, and precious metals.

While these are understandable feelings, we must move beyond them by taking simple but concrete actions. We can make the effort to learn about the Indigenous peoples in our area, their history, their culture, and their contributions. We can learn about the treaty that, by virtue of living on treaty land, we are also party to, and what that treaty actually promised. We can read a book written by an Indigenous author or attend a talk given by an Indigenous Elder. We can buy from Indigenous businesses, support Indigenous art, or attend an Indigenous event that is open to the public.

To be good allies to Indigenous peoples, we need to listen to and learn from them and amplify their messages. We need to recognize that we do not know what is best for them and that our role is to support their work and follow their lead. We can challenge prejudice, stereotypes, misinformation, and discriminatory practices against Indigenous peoples when we encounter them in our workplaces, schools, or social lives.

Furthermore, we can support the efforts of Indigenous peoples to settle land claims and encourage governments to fulfill their duties to consult with Indigenous communities on land use and resource extraction. We can examine the colonial worldview of pursuing indefinite economic growth and seek to understand how that approach is not working for us or for our planet. We can learn about Indigenous worldviews that incorporate gratitude for what we have and an understanding of our interconnectedness with plants, animals, and the land.

Let’s not treat September 30 as simply another day off work. Let’s give it the consideration it deserves and reflect on the historical and contemporary injustices experienced by the original inhabitants of this land—and on what each of us can do to contribute to reconciliation.

Reconciliation is not about being passive. It is not about making empty apologies. It is not about feeling guilty. Reconciliation requires action.

It is our work to do.

Saving Alberta’s Healthcare System

Alberta’s healthcare system is heading down the slippery slope from universal access for all to priority access for those who can pay. Recent changes to the provincial healthcare system accelerated this process. On September 1st, Alberta’s new dual practice model came into effect allowing approved physicians to split their working time between seeing patients in the publicly funded system while also caring for patients who pay privately. And Bill 29 came into force earlier in the summer allowing Albertans to self-refer for MRI, CT, ultrasound and X-ray examinations if they were willing to pay for the tests.

There is no question that Alberta’s healthcare system needs resuscitation. There is hardly a person in this province who has not experienced some symptom of our ailing system: waiting weeks to see a family doctor—or not having one at all—sitting for hours in an overcrowded emergency department, waiting months for diagnostic imaging or years for a joint replacement.

This is why the UCP government’s recent changes are so disappointing. Rather than substantially expanding access for everyone, they are focusing on creating faster access for those who can pay. Studies show that introducing a parallel private-pay system has not reliably reduced wait times in the public system and, in some cases, increased them. Despite years of private clinics providing cataract surgery in Alberta, wait times remain long, with fewer than half of Albertans receiving surgery within the national benchmark of 16 weeks.

“We need to build more capacity within our healthcare system instead of dividing what exists into two systems.”

Bill 29 allows self-referral for what the government calls “preventative health testing”. But testing is not necessarily prevention. Evidence-based cancer screening does not consist of periodically scanning healthy people’s bodies looking for something that might be wrong. Screening programs target particular diseases in particular people, at particular ages and levels of risk, using tests whose benefits outweigh potential harms like radiation or false positive findings.

Bill 29 does not improve access to many of the evidence-based preventive interventions Albertans actually need. It does not make colon cancer tests or PAP tests for cervical cancer more accessible and Alberta already has a breast-cancer screening program through which eligible women can self-refer for mammography for free. Nor do these changes provide better access to assessment for cardiovascular risk, hypertension or diabetes – common conditions that need early diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications.

Rather than making primary care reliably available to all Albertans, our government is creating a system in which consumers are invited to shop for medical tests and then navigate the healthcare landscape without professional guidance. Self-referral cannot replace conversations with family physicians who can help patients choose the right test, understand the benefits and harms of diagnostic tests, and arrange follow-up treatment.

We need to build more capacity within our healthcare system instead of dividing what exists into two systems. Our government needs to address the underlying shortage of infrastructure, equipment and healthcare professionals. This means large investments in primary care access, acute care beds, supportive living, long-term care and public health. Today, we have far fewer hospital beds than fifty years ago, despite our population having roughly tripled. Alberta’s supply of long-term-care beds has also failed to keep pace with its rapidly aging population, and hundreds of patients are waiting in hospital for continuing-care placements.

But the most limiting resource is not infrastructure; it is people. Alberta struggles to fill thousands of nursing positions and several hundred thousand Albertans do not have a family doctor. Creating a parallel private system does not create another pool of healthcare professionals—it just spreads them thinner.

In the context of a worldwide shortage of healthcare professionals, we have to become self-sufficient in creating our own healthcare workforce. Alberta needs to ramp up training programs in the most needed skilled healthcare jobs. The large volume of applicants turned away every year from Alberta medical and nursing schools speaks to the lack of training spaces despite high interest among our youth.

Albertans do not have to accept the steady erosion of universal healthcare as inevitable. We should be asking our provincial representatives for improved outcomes: more Albertans with family doctors, shorter surgical and diagnostic waits, adequate hospital and continuing-care beds, and enough trained health professionals to provide us with care.

We should also ask our federal Members of Parliament to ensure that the Canada Health Act continues to protect access based on medical need rather than ability to pay. We can write to or meet with our elected representative and ask them what measurable improvements they will deliver, how they will increase the healthcare workforce, and how they will protect universal access.

Our healthcare system belongs to all of us, and we need to insist that governments strengthen rather than divide it.

Reclaiming Our Rights and Freedoms

Albertans are proud, pragmatic, and fiercely independent. We believe in the freedom to live according to our values, the right to make personal decisions, and in parents’ responsibility to guide their children. We also believe that the best decisions are often made close to home by people who know their neighbours and communities.

Yet legislation passed or proposed by the provincial government over the past three years has slowly eroded what it means to be Albertan. One after another, our choices, freedoms, and rights are being restricted. We are seeing the provincial government replacing individual freedom with state control over important parts of our lives: school, work, health care, and community life.

At school, the government has inserted itself into decisions that were previously handled by students, families, teachers, and school boards. It has imposed restrictions on what names and pronouns young people may use, what students may learn about sexuality and gender, and what books are available in school libraries. Youth are losing autonomy over core elements of their identity, and teachers are no longer trusted to help students become informed and caring citizens.

“We need not agree with every choice our neighbours make but we need to protect the rights of all Albertans because one day our own choices may depend on the same protection.”

The long arm of government also reaches into hospitals and clinics, traditionally spaces where patients make deeply personal decisions with trusted healthcare providers. Bill 26, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, limits some young people in the medical care they can access with their families through their doctors. And if Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, is proclaimed into law, Albertans will have fewer choices to alleviate suffering at the end of life than other Canadians with access to medical assistance in dying.

Albertans value the teachers, doctors, and librarians who live in and serve our communities. But the provincial government is becoming increasingly coercive toward these trusted community members, forcing teachers to act against their students’ best interests and compelling doctors to go against their professional obligation to offer patients the full range of legally available medical options at the end of life.

In workplaces, the government has shown it is prepared to override collective bargaining, impose a contract rejected by an overwhelming majority of teachers, and shield itself from legal action. Whether or not one agreed with the teachers’ strike, every Albertan should be concerned about the unwarranted use of the notwithstanding clause to prevent workers from relying on human rights protections guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In our communities, the province is seeking more control over public libraries. Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, limits how Albertans can use community libraries by restricting access to information and compromising privacy around book choice. Bill 28 effectively says parents can no longer be trusted to guide their own children’s reading, and librarians and community library boards can no longer be allowed to make decisions for their own communities.

Albertans may have different views on any particular issue, but we should all be worried about the pattern of governance. We need not agree with every choice our neighbours make but we need to protect the rights of all Albertans because one day our own choices may depend on the same protection. We should be concerned when decisions move away from local people toward cabinet ministers exercising control from afar without knowledge of our communities.

Albertans cannot stand idly by as the very things that make us Albertan are taken from us. It is up to all of us to protect what we value, and that begins with conversations around kitchen tables, in coffee shops, at community meetings, and with our neighbours. Together, we need to exercise, defend, and renew our rights and freedoms through citizen action.

We can attend municipal and library-board meetings, support local councillors and library board members, and speak up when local institutions are threatened. We have to write to or meet with our MLA and ask pointed questions: Will you support access to lawful health care and end-of-life choice? Will you defend workers’ right to collective bargaining? Will you protect local library governance and privacy? Will you oppose the use of the notwithstanding clause except in truly exceptional circumstances?

Finally, we need to vote, organize, and recruit credible candidates. Through voting, political donations, and involvement in constituency associations, we can strengthen democracy and make it politically costly for any Alberta government, now or in the future, to casually override our rights, weaken our institutions, and centralize power in the hands of the political elite.

Albertans should reject paternalist overreach by governments of any stripe. Instead, we must hold our elected politicians accountable for the job they were elected to do: make life better by focusing on the foundations of our prosperity — quality education, decent jobs, accessible health care, and affordable housing. Government is expected to serve, not control us.

Albertans Are Proud Canadians

Wheat from our fields. Energy from our land. Athletes on podiums. Every day, Alberta and Albertans make Canada proud — feeding the country, fueling the economy, and bringing home hard-won medals. We strengthen this nation. We are essential to its prosperity. We are fiercely Albertan and proudly Canadian.

Alberta’s influence in Canada is considerable and hard-earned. An economic engine, we contribute billions in revenue and help set the direction of national energy and agricultural policy. Our Members of Parliament represent us with meaningful authority. Whether serving in government or in opposition, they work to strengthen Alberta’s position — advancing our interests, shaping legislation, and holding Ottawa accountable for treating Albertans fairly.

At times, it can feel as though we are not being heard. The federal government has made its share of mistakes, and that frustration is real. But in Alberta, we value relationships and community. We don’t walk away when things get difficult — we sit down for hard conversations and work things out. Walking away from Canada would not just redraw lines on a map; it would separate families, divide business interests, and strain relationships with the First Nations communities with whom we share this land. Our instinct has always been to build, not to break, and Albertans believe in repair over rupture.

“The rest of Canada is Alberta’s largest and most reliable customer.”

Within Canada, Albertans benefit from stability and predictability — and in a strong economy, stability matters. We understand that uncertainty drives up risk, and risk costs money. Canada’s AAA credit rating and strong national institutions help keep borrowing costs lower for farmers buying equipment, companies investing in energy projects, and municipalities building infrastructure. We share a stable currency trusted around the world, and a banking system that proved its resilience when much of the global financial system faltered in 2008. With dependable crop insurance and national disaster relief, we know that when drought, floods, or wildfire threaten our livelihoods, we are not standing alone. Our country stands with us.

The rest of Canada is Alberta’s largest and most reliable customer. As part of our federal system, we enjoy barrier-free access to these essential markets. A significant share of our beef, grain, canola, and pork is sold across provincial lines. Our energy moves east and west with minimal hindrance, powering homes and industries nationwide. And when we reach beyond our borders to global markets, we do so with the negotiating strength and credibility of a G7 nation — with far more leverage than Alberta would carry alone.

Businesses considering Alberta look for stability, clear rules, and long-term predictability. When separation is on the table and the political future is in question, investors hesitate. Companies may choose to expand elsewhere, and skilled workers — the engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators we rely on — may build their futures in more secure provinces.

Albertans value reliable, well-established programs like the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and Employment Insurance. These are not handouts — they are earned benefits, built on decades of hard work and steady contributions. We deserve the peace of mind of knowing that what we have paid into will be there when we need it. Our federal income supports are not perfect, but they are proven and dependable. Improving what works makes far more sense than tearing it down and starting from scratch.

At a time when real priorities demand our attention, separation is a distraction Alberta cannot afford. We want better access to health care, less crowded classrooms, and meaningful investment in roads, water systems, and local infrastructure. Money wasted on referendums, lawsuits, and political posturing is money not spent improving everyday life for Albertans. Our time, talent, and resources are too valuable to be diverted from the work that truly matters.

We are also living in a more uncertain world — one where size and strength matter. Global tensions, fragile supply chains, and shifting geopolitical power make smaller jurisdictions more exposed to risk. As part of a G7 nation and a NATO member, Alberta benefits from economic clout, trade leverage, and collective security that it could not replicate alone.

If we value our freedom and prosperity, we should not weaken the foundation that protects them. The call to Albertans is not to walk away, but to stand firm — to engage, not withdraw; to demand fairness, yes, but to do so with the confidence of a province that knows its worth.

We can defend our industries, strengthen our communities, and insist on respect within Confederation without tearing it apart. Alberta has always met challenges with grit, independence of spirit, and a willingness to lead. Now is the time to bring that same resolve to Canada — to shape it, strengthen it, and ensure it works for future generations. Canada is stronger because of Alberta, and Alberta is stronger and freer within Canada.

Living and Dying with Dignity

Nothing in life is more certain than death, yet many of us are reluctant to talk about it. Now is not the time to avoid this conversation. A significant change to end-of-life care is being proposed in Alberta, and it deserves careful public attention.

Since 2016, Canada’s federal framework for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) has allowed eligible adults to seek medical assistance to end their lives when facing a serious and incurable condition that causes enduring, intolerable suffering. Updates in 2021 refined the rules, but the core principle remained: individuals, in consultation with their health-care providers, can decide how they live their final days.

Now, Alberta’s proposed Bill 18 would introduce new restrictions on access to MAID within the province. One of the most significant changes is a requirement that a person must be expected to die within 12 months to qualify. For some Albertans—particularly those living with degenerative diseases or organ failure without a clear timeline—this could mean losing access to an option that is currently available.

The bill would also prevent health-care professionals from raising MAID in discussions unless the patient brings it up first. This raises important questions about informed consent. In most areas of medicine, patients rely on their providers to explain all legally available options, along with their risks and benefits. Limiting these conversations may leave some individuals without a full understanding of their choices.

“If Bill 18 passes, Albertans could face some of the most restricted access to MAID in the country.”

The potential consequences of these changes—both intended and unintended—deserve careful consideration. Some patients who are currently eligible, but do not meet the proposed timeline, may feel pressured to make decisions earlier than they otherwise would, out of concern that their options will be restricted once Bill 18 becomes law.

The proposed legislation also includes mandatory sanctions for providers who do not comply. This places physicians and nurse practitioners in a difficult position, especially when their professional and ethical obligations require full disclosure of all care options. Some practitioners may choose to step back from providing MAID services rather than risk penalties. Others may leave Alberta altogether. In a health-care system already under strain, even small changes can have widespread effects—especially in rural areas, where access is already limited.

The bill would also require a family member to be present as a witness. However, not every Albertan has family nearby, and not every family member is able—emotionally or otherwise—to take on that role. These are not abstract policy questions; they are practical realities that will affect people at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

MAID is governed federally, but provinces play a significant role in how services are delivered. If Bill 18 passes, Albertans could face some of the most restricted access to MAID in the country. We may have fewer end-of-life options than other Canadians facing similar medical circumstances. For people already coping with serious illness, the idea that geography could determine the scope of their choices can be difficult to accept. Differences in provincial health policy are not new, but when they affect personal decisions at the end of life, they can be especially distressing.

At the same time, many Albertans agree that end-of-life care should be approached with compassion and strong safeguards. Concerns about protecting vulnerable individuals, and ensuring that no one chooses MAID due to a lack of support, are valid and deserve thoughtful consideration. Expanding access to palliative care, pain management, and disability supports is an essential part of this conversation.

Decisions about how we live and how we die are deeply personal. Albertans deserve control over what happens in their lives and the right to make their own medical decisions in consultation with trusted health-care providers. Just as we expect our doctors to explain all options for treating cancer—whether it be surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy—we are right to expect the same openness in end-of-life care. We would not accept politicians limiting cancer treatment options, nor allow them to force doctors not to tell us about certain therapies unless we ask.

No public consultation on Bill 18 has been announced, but elected officials need to hear from the public. Albertans should have the freedom to choose how we live—and how we die. This requires honest conversations with local representatives and clear communication with provincial leaders, including the Premier and the Minister of Justice.

If Danielle Smith and her government truly want to “give people hope” in Alberta, there are many other urgent priorities to address. Guaranteeing access to primary care, providing affordable housing, and ensuring that no Albertan lives in poverty would be a meaningful start.

A New Year’s Resolution for Public Service Over Politics

January is the season of resolutions – as individuals, we resolve to eat better, exercise more and generally do better in our lives. What if governments also saw the birth of a new year as a way to renew their commitment to better serve the public? After a year marked by controversy, conflict, and costly mistakes, Albertans are entitled to ask if our provincial government plans to do anything differently in 2026.

Resolving to respect democratic processes would be a good place to start. During the fall 2025 legislative session, the UCP government used the non-withstanding clause multiple times to curtail Charter rights: first to force teacher’s back to work, and then to protect a set of three laws impacting transgender youth and adults from legal challenges.

The notwithstanding clause was never meant to be a routine governing tool. It exists as a constitutional last resort—used sparingly, after courts have ruled, and with full acknowledgement that fundamental rights are being overridden in the public interest. Its legitimacy depends on restraint, transparency, and democratic accountability.

“Doctors are being told they cannot always provide evidence-based care that aligns with patient best interests and accepted medical standards.”

A commitment to respecting and retaining the best professionals to serve the educational and healthcare needs of Albertans will also be a welcome change in 2026. The government’s decision to curtail teachers’ right to strike through legislative action resolved an immediate disruption, but at the cost of long-term trust. Respecting collective bargaining rights while working together with teachers to ensure stable classrooms would signal a commitment to education as a public good rather than a political battleground.

Similarly, the government removed professional autonomy from physicians in providing healthcare for transgender youth and children. Doctors are being told they cannot always provide evidence-based care that aligns with patient best interests and accepted medical standards. When governments override rights in healthcare, they constrain patients’ choices and undermine the ability of health professionals to practice medicine ethically, independently, and in accordance with their training.

Rather than interfering with clinical care, the government would do well to apply itself earnestly to health system issues that are within its purview. Staffing shortages, long waits for surgery, and strained emergency departments affect rural and urban communities across the province. These pressures have been compounded by a series of procurement decisions that raised concerns about oversight and value for money. From failed outsourcing of laboratory services, to costly pain medication purchases that never reached patients, Albertans have been left wondering whether public dollars are being spent with sufficient care. A resolution to strengthen transparency, improve procurement oversight, and prioritize patient outcomes over ideology will go a long way to rebuild public confidence.

Alberta’s relationship with the federal government has often been contentious. Provincial advocacy is necessary, but constant confrontation risks failing to deliver results that matter to communities. A New Year’s resolution worth keeping would be for the government to prioritize collaboration with Ottawa in 2026, working constructively to achieve real outcomes for Albertans.

Our leaders would do well to remember that Albertans are proud Canadians who contribute more than our share of energy, food, and innovation to the country’s prosperity, while benefiting from a federation that provides shared infrastructure, disaster response, and social programs. Recognizing this interdependence doesn’t weaken provincial pride—it strengthens it.

Underlying all of this is a deeper issue: listening to Albertans. A clear sign that the government has been out of step with its citizens is the unprecedented number of recall petitions launched against UCP MLAs in 2025. When citizens take the extraordinary step of trying to remove elected officials before the end of their term, it is a signal that voices are not being heard and concerns are not being addressed.

In 2026, the government needs to move from performative consultations and curated town halls to genuine engagement with workers, communities, and citizens who live with the consequences of policy decisions. A government that truly listens would take these petitions not as political inconvenience, but as a call to reassess priorities, engage more meaningfully with constituents, and act in the public interest.

New Year’s resolutions are not about perfection. They are about direction. Albertans understand that governing is complex and mistakes happen. What we ask in return is humility, accountability, and a willingness to learn.

Those would be resolutions worth keeping.

Standing up for public education

Universal access to publicly-funded healthcare is a source of national pride and a social policy that Canadians are willing to go to great lengths to defend. But are we equally prepared to stand up for our public education system? Recent events in Alberta put that question to the test. Last month, Danielle Smith’s UCP government invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order teachers back to work and impose on them a contract rejected by nearly 90% of Alberta teachers.

The Back to School Act is a direct assault on our fundamental rights and on the foundations of our democracy. The UCP hijacked the democratic process and forced the legislation through without any real debate. This kind of authoritarian behaviour is uncannily similar to how politics are currently being done in the United States

Alberta’s Back to School Act violates teachers’ rights to freedom of association and expression and jeopardizes the rights of all workers to collective bargaining. The UCP champions “freedom” when it suits their political narrative but strips it away from Alberta’s teachers without hesitation. An attack on teachers’ constitutional rights is an attack on the rights of every Albertan.

Alberta is a rich province, but we operate on a model of scarcity both in healthcare and in education. Over the past several years, provincial funding for schools has not kept pace with inflation or population growth. The results are poor learning environments for our children due to crowded classrooms, not enough teachers and inadequate infrastructure.

“Education is the great equalizer, reducing income inequities and breaking the cycle of poverty for the most disadvantaged.”

Alberta has the lowest funding rate for public school students among the provinces, yet subsidizes private schools with the highest funding rate – 70% of the amount for public school students. Increases in funding for private schools has outstripped increases to public school budgets, leading to tax dollars being diverted at the expense of public education. Ontario, by contrast, provides no public funding to private schools.

A single well-funded public system will do far more to support all children in Alberta, and families would not be forced to turn away from their neighbourhood school to seek out different learning environments for their children. Education like health is a public good. Free market theory with its emphasis on choice and competition cannot be applied to education any more than it can be to health. Providing public funding for charter and private schools to compete with public schools only undermines the efficiencies of a single high-performing system.

Public schools are an effective means of delivering education. Research from the United States shows that public schools outperform private schools when adjusted for socioeconomic status. Finland has the highest-ranking education system in the world and all schools in the country are publicly funded. Finnish schools are encouraged to co-operate and innovate together rather than compete with one another, leading to world class results.

Public schools recognize every child’s right to education and welcome every child. By accepting and valuing children from all backgrounds, public schools embrace and celebrate diversity. Students are best prepared for the real world by public school because we live in a world where businesses thrive on employee diversity, and where complex political and social problems are solved by considering diverse perspectives in decision-making.

Public schools are a powerful way to reduce avoidable and unfair inequities in society. Being free and accessible to all, public schools reach and benefit everyone regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status. Education is the great equalizer, reducing income inequities and breaking the cycle of poverty for the most disadvantaged. Decreasing inequity benefits rich and poor alike: more equal societies have less mental illness, fewer crimes, less substance use and more trust among strangers.

Albertans can act to defend this essential public institution. A Calgary teacher has applied to Elections Alberta to launch the Alberta Funds Public Schools petition, which needs 177,732 signatures by February 11, 2026, to trigger a referendum on ending public funding for private schools.

Teachers are standing up—for children, for fairness, and for the future of public education. We should stand with them. Albertans need to act: sign petitions and contact their MLAs to vigorously defend our public institutions and our democratic rights. Our government must hear clearly that we value every child’s right to quality public education and every person’s freedom and constitutional rights.

If we do not act now, we risk losing the very foundations of the Albertan way of life.

Choose wisely in municipal elections

Municipal elections are upon us, and with them comes another opportunity to exercise our democratic right to vote. Elections remind us that we live in a society governed by the people. This is not something we can afford to take for granted. Having the power to choose leaders who will represent our communities—and holding them accountable for their decisions—is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Of the three levels of government in Canada, the municipal level is the closest to our daily lives. Municipalities are responsible for many essential services: clean drinking water, garbage collection, public transit, libraries, recreation facilities, and fire response. They maintain the roads we drive on, the parks where our kids play, and the arenas where our communities gather. These are the services that shape the texture of daily life.

Municipal leaders are also the most accessible politicians we have. They live in the same neighbourhoods, shop at the same grocery stores, and send their children to the same schools. They know our communities intimately. Perhaps that is why national polling consistently shows that Canadians trust their municipal governments more than provincial or federal governments to improve quality of life in their communities.

But here is a peculiarity of Canadian politics: incumbents almost always win. Across the country, candidates seeking re-election at the municipal level are successful 80 to 90 percent of the time. Sometimes this reflects genuine satisfaction with past performance, but often it’s a product of name recognition or the assumption that if someone already holds office, they must be doing something right. In smaller towns, incumbents sometimes don’t face any challengers at all and are simply acclaimed to another term.

This pattern is troubling. A healthy democracy depends on competition of ideas, not automatic re-endorsement of the familiar. When incumbents are returned to office by default, we risk stifling new perspectives and fresh solutions.

That’s why it is so important for voters to put in the effort to get to know all the candidates. A strong field of contenders signals civic vitality, but a level playing field depends on voters looking beyond name recognition. Most municipalities now provide candidate lists online with biographies or links to campaign websites. Many candidates post their platforms online or distribute them in print. Debates and community forums provide a chance to compare visions directly.

“Be cautious of candidates who promise quick fixes that push problems into the future, or who offer easy answers without addressing root causes.”

As voters, we should use these tools. Don’t stop at skimming flyers. Read platforms carefully. Review incumbents’ voting records on issues that matter to you. Attend debates or watch recordings if you can’t be there in person. These events reveal how candidates think on their feet and whether they understand the issues in depth.

What should we be looking for? Leaders with the skills, background, and judgment to handle the complexities of municipal government. People who can think critically, listen well, and make decisions with long-term economic, environmental, and social sustainability in mind.

Equally important is knowing what to avoid. Be cautious of candidates who promise quick fixes that push problems into the future, or who offer easy answers without addressing root causes. Be wary of those who dodge tough questions, give vague promises, or pass the buck to other levels of government when municipal leadership is required. Data gathering and public consultations are key elements of solving complex problems, but watch out for candidates who use these strategies to avoid or delay addressing established problems.

Voters themselves have a role to play in raising the quality of local democracy. We can’t wait for candidates to tell us what matters—we can set the agenda by asking the right questions. What will they do to make housing more affordable? How will they prepare our communities for the impacts of climate change? What is their concrete plan for supporting progress, not just offering promises?

There are many ways to press for answers. Email candidates directly. Attend debates and ask pointed questions. Stop to engage when they knock on your door. Tell them what matters to you and make your voice impossible to ignore. When voters are engaged, candidates take notice, and our collective priorities shape the conversation.

Municipal elections may not get the same attention as provincial or federal campaigns, but their impact on our lives is profound. This is our chance to choose leaders who will shape the future of our neighbourhoods, our services, and our communities. It’s not enough to vote out of habit, or to simply reward incumbents for name recognition. We owe it to ourselves, and to our communities, to choose wisely.

This is your moment. Do more than cast a ballot—cast an informed one. Ask hard questions. Demand real answers. Hold candidates to account. Your voice, your vote, and your choices will determine the direction of your community for years to come. Democracy works best when we all take it seriously. Let’s not waste the chance to shape the future right where we live.

Your Vote, Your Power!

Be an Informed Voter – Shape the Future!