A couple of weeks ago, I had to renew my driver’s license, which meant a trip to the AMA (Alberta Motor Association) office.
A trip to the AMA is the quintessential middle-class Alberta experience. Thanks to Ralph Klein’s privatization of registry services back in the 90s, it’s possible to top up the air in your tires, renew your driver’s license and pick up a brochure for an all-inclusive resort vacation all in one trip.
For me, a visit to this north Calgary AMA office is a reminder of many of life’s important moments. Back when the location was practically at the edge of the city, I went there to get a marriage license, and then to register the births of my kids and get their adorable shreddable paper health cards. A few years later, we were back for driver’s lessons and tests. (My fondness for the place might be less if I was the one who had to demonstrate the ability to parallel park. But I digress…)
On this visit to the AMA, things were a bit different. Front and center, there was a desk devoted to Alberta Affordability Payments, complete with the government branding we see on the many, many television and social media ads.
Before I was directed to the back corner to renew my license, I felt the warm embrace of the Alberta state. One arm was draped over my shoulders, whispering “Look! We’re taking care of kids and seniors. And running a surplus too.” The other arm, of course, was holding off Ottawa, intent on ruining our comfortable moment.
You know who else was with me at the north Calgary suburban AMA? The folks Abacus pollster David Coletto calls “reluctant UCP” voters. Back in December, Coletto had this to say about these voters:
Finally, you’re probably wondering who are these reluctant UCP voters?
They are more likely to be female than male (62% vs. 38%). They are evenly distributed across age groups. They are more concentrated in Calgary and in other communities across the province and less likely to be living in Edmonton. 88% of them voted Conservative in the last federal election.
Perhaps the best way to describe them is they are traditional PC voters. Think those who felt comfortable voting for Alison Redford, Jim Prentice, or Ed Stelmach. These are likely the same voters who also cast ballots for Nenshi or Gondek in Calgary.
They are pro-growth, pro-energy in their outlook, but are looking for sensible, responsible government. They don’t want drama, they want a policy focus on things that matter to them – a strong economy, good public services, and stability.
Yesterday, he tweeted:
Just finished a new #abpoli / #ableg survey of 1,000 Albertans. There has been a big shift in vote intentions and attitudes toward ABDanielleSmith and the UCP government. It's all about those Reluctant UCPers Stay tuned for the results later this week.
I’m on the edge of my seat.
It’s possible that controversy over interference in prosecutions and appointing Preston Manning to head a COVID panel has been the final straw for some of those reluctant UCP voters and dislike of Smith has hardened. But I can’t help but wonder whether the warm embrace of the Alberta state has helped them overcome suspicion of Smith as they plan that trip to Mexico to spend their Dani-bucks.
What surplus do we have in Alberta? Quite frankly, there is none. There happens to be a major war going on with Russia and Ukraine, which caused a spike in oil prices. The UCP shouldn't be boasting about this. It's almost like it's blood money.
Also, it's like a sleight of hand, or a shell game. When the Auditor General slams the UCP for money that went unaccounted for, or is lost, not long after that happens, the UCP claim they have a surplus.
Regardless, there is no actual surplus, because the UCP have done so many of the worst boondoggles, that have cost us billions and billions of dollars, and our debt is an astonishing $137 billion. Actually, it's far more than that. Ralph Klein was a slacker with regulating oil company activities in Alberta, and we have an astoshing cost of $260 billion to cleanup the abandoned oil wells in the province. There is still a sizeable infrastructure debt, which could be running as much as $30-$40 billion. Another less than fine remnant of the Ralph Klein cutbacks.
Helping seniors and children? The UCP are doing that to these groups, and others, such as those who receive Assured Income For The Severely Handicapped (AISH), just perfectly timed before the provincial election in Alberta. The people in these demographics were the unfortunate victims of the UCP's brutal cuts. Those in the public healthcare and public education system in Alberta were too. To save face, the UCP acts like they are helping them. Also, these people suffered from Ralph Klein's cutbacks too. Ralph Klein also did the worst boondoggles, which cost us a fortune, and did foolish deregulation and privatization, which didn't cut costs, or improve things.
Why are we gluttons for punishment?
Hearken back to 1971 to 1985 in this province. Look at the contrast between how Peter Lougheed was managing things, and what happened after. Two different Conservatives. Good, and then bad. Actually three. The UCP are even worse.