A brief back-and-forth over social media with someone last week got me thinking— in fact, it almost made me change my mind about what I do here. Almost. I don’t just ask other people to think— I am more than willing to do it myself.
The initial comment was, “Love the critique of the UCP, keep waiting for acknowledgement of the strengths of the NDP.”
I tried to explain why I don’t support political parties, but it didn’t really take. They continued with very good points:
The NDP has a history in governing Alberta, brief but a history, and many of the same MLAs as in 2015-19, there is a coherent and consistent response to what the UCP is doing, it isn't just a group of individuals, going right back to the 1960s.
The Alberta NDP isn't some conservative rag tag off shoot formed 5 years ago, its roots go back to the 1930s and what it stands for is pretty much what it has stood for from the start.
It’s a shame you haven’t been given the time of day. I don't know what didn't grab you, the personalities of the MLAs? What they were most committed to? Most of them didn't cut and run after losing after one term, they have stuck around in opposition. And what a hellish, toxic workplace that is, being in Opposition to the UCP government, yet they continue to fight for us, Albertans, against all the corruption and damage to health care and everything else. I see them as a very principled group of MLAs.
They have no idea if they will ever form government again but they've stuck around to make a difference for Albertans like us. I have great admiration for that. They aren't a bunch of opportunists. The NDP ground it out for decades on principles, Grant Notley almost alone.
If they seem standoffish and hostile, it is probably a legacy of all those years in this difficult political environment in Alberta. I see great consistency in what the NDP stands for and fights for. Things that matter vitally to me.
And did it ever matter more than now that a party fights for the environment, public health care, public education, against racism, for the unhoused, lower income people, people forced onto ADAP and on and on. Against separation from Canada!
In my view, you are a credible voice with real insight into conservative politics in Alberta but a little cynical, at a time when people are so bloody cynical already about politics and politicians. This feeds into continuing UCP control of this province, sadly.
I’ve tried to explain my positioning before— and every new subscriber receives a long-winded disclaimer as a “thank you” lol— but I took this conversation in and thought about it; not for the first time.
I had this conversation during the election in 2023 with friends as well. That was also not the first time I had to think about what weight I give my words or my work.
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