Thank you Lisa. Your insight has been refreshing. As a life time Albertan, I was really concerned about this election. But after last night's results, I'm somewhat more relaxed because of the gains by the NDP. I know the next 4 years won't be a walk in the park, but I see some hope on the horizon. I'm disappointed that the inactive well fiasco in the oil and gas sector didn't become an election issue. Once rural landowners wake up to the financial threat to their land values, and the risk to their health, caused by no oversight of the AER by former Conservative governments, I'm hopeful that they will start to realize they've been backing the wrong horse. My guess is that within the next decade, as we see more and more oil and gas bankruptcies, the cleanup of Alberta's oil and gas sector will no longer be ignored, simply because it will become a crises.
As a new Albertan (formerly QC, BC and ON), I’m still adjusting to the politics of the province and trying to identify folks who won’t recoil if I inadvertently express feminist views in public. I really appreciate your analysis and insight.
During the next four years (if they make it that long), we have to be 'In Opposition, WITH Rachel' and her members. When the UCP mess up, write letters, email, phone and just generally let them know we are watching and listening. Also, I think this life is going to get a lot harder for a lot of people...so be active in your community, take care of your neighbours who are struggling...be kind.
Kathy McMullin: The UCP won't listen to your concerns, no matter how much you write them, phone them, or e-mail them. They have a dictatorship. That's what it is. The UCP knows this.
Thank you Lisa for your efforts to date, and for choosing to continue the What Now newsletter. Perhaps one day the more rural sections of the province will wake up and realize it's not 1981 anymore, and no matter how much the UCP talks, they're not going to take us back there. Although it may seem that way when they resume their assault on health care and education, no matter how they try to disguise it as "moving forward."
The chart shows the gerrymandering that helps perpetuate the conservative movement. Rural AB has close to half the seats but only 1/3 of the population. Conservatives have used a 100 year old playbook in which Ottawa liberals are blamed for everything.
Perhaps .. What the Hell Now ... better reflects my emotions this morning. Thanks for this insightful newsletter. Always a joy to receive and digest. Greetings from Lethbridge.
Appreciate your candor as always Lisa. Thank you for sharing your insights and and perspectives. This was not the outcome I was hoping for, and it's tempting to spiral into fury and vitriol. Instead (and possibly only for today?) I'm going to t-r-y to be open to more conversations that unite rather than divide. I'm grateful to be an Albertan.
What now? Good question, Lisa. I think the UCP win gives Take Back Alberta new definition--we're going back to the future. I'll be watching closely for signs/signals that Danielle Smith's deepest desire is to be the first governing autocrat in Canadian politics. Up next, Pierre Poillievre. I hope we'll all work together for the next four nears to ensure that doesn't happen.
I did read your analysis on this latest provincial election. There was so much going on. I have my opinions as to what made this election outcome happen. For starters, we have columnists in newspapers who wear the name UCP/Conservative on their shirt, in big, bright blue, upper case letters. There are a few that I can list. Licia Corbella, Lorne Gunter, and David Staples. With Licia Corbella, it was perfectly timed before the last provincial election. Nothing she said in her columns about Rachel Notley and the NDP were factual. People believed her fabricatons and took it as the gospel truth. Nobody was able to counter what she said. When you look at Postmedia newspapers, the letters to the editors are in support of the Conservatives. In the provincial election debate, Danielle Smith was able to tell lie, after lie, after lie. Again, there were people who believed what she said. Another contributing factor was voter apathy. It was a poor voter turnout, which doesn't surprise me, because Alberta has often had the lowest percentage of voter turnout in all of Canada. In addition, it's blind loyalty to the Conservative brand by many Albertans. However, what they believe to be Conservatives, aren't that at all. There are Conservatives from the Peter Lougheed era, and from other prior Conservative governments, who know the UCP aren't Conservative. It's going to be a rough ride. With the oil prices stagnating, and potentially slumping, the UCP's quite costly shenanigans, and voter buying trickery, is going to come with a cost, and many will be paying for it dearly. It's also a sure bet that a recession is looming. There will be cuts. It's quite appalling how anyone can defend this. It really is.
You could change the name to Now What?!?
Thank you Lisa. Your insight has been refreshing. As a life time Albertan, I was really concerned about this election. But after last night's results, I'm somewhat more relaxed because of the gains by the NDP. I know the next 4 years won't be a walk in the park, but I see some hope on the horizon. I'm disappointed that the inactive well fiasco in the oil and gas sector didn't become an election issue. Once rural landowners wake up to the financial threat to their land values, and the risk to their health, caused by no oversight of the AER by former Conservative governments, I'm hopeful that they will start to realize they've been backing the wrong horse. My guess is that within the next decade, as we see more and more oil and gas bankruptcies, the cleanup of Alberta's oil and gas sector will no longer be ignored, simply because it will become a crises.
As a new Albertan (formerly QC, BC and ON), I’m still adjusting to the politics of the province and trying to identify folks who won’t recoil if I inadvertently express feminist views in public. I really appreciate your analysis and insight.
During the next four years (if they make it that long), we have to be 'In Opposition, WITH Rachel' and her members. When the UCP mess up, write letters, email, phone and just generally let them know we are watching and listening. Also, I think this life is going to get a lot harder for a lot of people...so be active in your community, take care of your neighbours who are struggling...be kind.
Lisa, I appreciate your punctuation!
Kathy McMullin: The UCP won't listen to your concerns, no matter how much you write them, phone them, or e-mail them. They have a dictatorship. That's what it is. The UCP knows this.
Thank you Lisa for your efforts to date, and for choosing to continue the What Now newsletter. Perhaps one day the more rural sections of the province will wake up and realize it's not 1981 anymore, and no matter how much the UCP talks, they're not going to take us back there. Although it may seem that way when they resume their assault on health care and education, no matter how they try to disguise it as "moving forward."
Thank you for making sense of this crazy time in Alberta.
The chart shows the gerrymandering that helps perpetuate the conservative movement. Rural AB has close to half the seats but only 1/3 of the population. Conservatives have used a 100 year old playbook in which Ottawa liberals are blamed for everything.
Perhaps .. What the Hell Now ... better reflects my emotions this morning. Thanks for this insightful newsletter. Always a joy to receive and digest. Greetings from Lethbridge.
Great piece Lisa - spot on. Thank you for your resolve to continue the work - you’ll have lots of grist to mill in the coming years!
Hi Lisa. I read to the end and will keep reading if you keep writing. Cheers, Jacquie
Thanks Lisa for sane, insightful analysis and commentary through the chaos and confusion
Appreciate your candor as always Lisa. Thank you for sharing your insights and and perspectives. This was not the outcome I was hoping for, and it's tempting to spiral into fury and vitriol. Instead (and possibly only for today?) I'm going to t-r-y to be open to more conversations that unite rather than divide. I'm grateful to be an Albertan.
Good for you, Lisa! There will still be lots to write about in the next few years!
What now? Good question, Lisa. I think the UCP win gives Take Back Alberta new definition--we're going back to the future. I'll be watching closely for signs/signals that Danielle Smith's deepest desire is to be the first governing autocrat in Canadian politics. Up next, Pierre Poillievre. I hope we'll all work together for the next four nears to ensure that doesn't happen.
Thanks Dr. Young for this newsletter. I don’t always agree but I always learn something. Glad to see it’s here to stay.
I did read your analysis on this latest provincial election. There was so much going on. I have my opinions as to what made this election outcome happen. For starters, we have columnists in newspapers who wear the name UCP/Conservative on their shirt, in big, bright blue, upper case letters. There are a few that I can list. Licia Corbella, Lorne Gunter, and David Staples. With Licia Corbella, it was perfectly timed before the last provincial election. Nothing she said in her columns about Rachel Notley and the NDP were factual. People believed her fabricatons and took it as the gospel truth. Nobody was able to counter what she said. When you look at Postmedia newspapers, the letters to the editors are in support of the Conservatives. In the provincial election debate, Danielle Smith was able to tell lie, after lie, after lie. Again, there were people who believed what she said. Another contributing factor was voter apathy. It was a poor voter turnout, which doesn't surprise me, because Alberta has often had the lowest percentage of voter turnout in all of Canada. In addition, it's blind loyalty to the Conservative brand by many Albertans. However, what they believe to be Conservatives, aren't that at all. There are Conservatives from the Peter Lougheed era, and from other prior Conservative governments, who know the UCP aren't Conservative. It's going to be a rough ride. With the oil prices stagnating, and potentially slumping, the UCP's quite costly shenanigans, and voter buying trickery, is going to come with a cost, and many will be paying for it dearly. It's also a sure bet that a recession is looming. There will be cuts. It's quite appalling how anyone can defend this. It really is.