Well said. I reacted when during the electoral district review in the spring, when Lethbridge East UCP MLA suggested eliminate Lethbridge West and East to put them in the 4 rural municipalities adjacent. Having lived in Lethbridge West, built 2 homes there. Started raising 2 sons there, the Only reason this view would be expressed is anti educated people as the U of Lethbridge is in Lethbridge West and education means non conformity to conservative traditional values and a more progressive voters, plus a generally younger population. Most rural folks have never heard the word gerrymandering but we will get a big dose of it next Monday. I have made an estimate of 60 UCP safe seats ( safe meaning mostly rural voters who never consider voting NDP) and 31 seats for NDP in Calgary and Edmonton. No Lethbridge, no Red Deer and likely no Banff. Criminals.
She really does believe we're that dumb. How sad. However, the creepy cackling and terrified face in that interview clip gave me some HOPE! She's so freakin scared
I knew they would do it when Erika Barootes told me. Well, told us. On the Discourse podcast, last spring, she cheerfully said “They should go for it!” But she didn’t say it in a manner to mean “this is justified,” but in a manner as if to say “let’s see if we can get away with THIS, because we’ve already gotten away with so much else.”
It's sad, but unsurprising really. Beyond the UCP's immediate problems — risking Canadian sovereignty to solidify a separatist base, wide-spread corruption, and an utter failure to address anything beyond placating the populist right-wing — they're also facing a losing war of shifting demographics.
Alberta continues to grow rapidly, and that growth is centred almost entirely in Edmonton and Calgary. This urban growth is diverse, younger, and educated — meaning the UCP would no longer be able to rely on the rural vote to win. Looking to sacrifice democracy by maximizing the voting power of rural Alberta is easiest, most direct route to power.
Yup, this is my fuse being ignited. It is the brute force, not the strong and free of a true democracy, but the abuse of power and an affront to democracy that I I live in SW AB where I saw the racism and totally misinformed vote for things they don't actually understand. This area which if full of racists, separatists, vaccine deniers, freedom convoyers and basically "where did you go to school, people" now voting with 1/4 of Lethbridge West that actually have informed voters that understand that this is fascism(mega) in full view. Dilute the informed. Nope the New Democrats need to take this one to court. ARGGG
Great essay. You are 100% on the money with the labelling of fundamental political weakness.
I thought Danni-mandering was the line she wouldn't cross. I was wrong. Smiths authoritarian instincts were clear by directing Evans and Martin to file an alternate report.
Their names will go down along with Smith's in provincial infamy. I am glad the NDP are launching a legal challenge. Its just one more low hanging fruit to throw at this execrable UCP regime.
Keep an eye on Shannon Phillips on twitter; she predicted this would happen and her own area of Lethbridge is being split up. https://x.com/SPhillipsAB
Yup, brute force is what gerrymandering is. But that’s Alberta for you.
Nearly everything is done by brute force here, either by government ramming something through on late Friday night, or interest groups trying to get something from the government. Government slamming health care and education, or health care workers and teachers trying to get wages or working conditions only to get slammed by government again. So, our services go down, our workers get discouraged, efficiency falls, cutbacks fall, support falls further etc etc etc. Alberta is a ghastly place, people pitted against people, each desperately in personal debt as the province pulls in oil revenue for itself and refuses to share and instead increases taxes and service charges as the wealthy get all the benefits. More public tax money spent on building new private charter schools than public schools and their upkeep. Someone has forgotten, we all have, that this place belongs to all of us Treaty people not just a few. This place does not belong to government. They are civil servants, each and every last one of them, Premier most of all. Yes. Civil servants. Think on those two words. Civil. Servants.
Well said. I reacted when during the electoral district review in the spring, when Lethbridge East UCP MLA suggested eliminate Lethbridge West and East to put them in the 4 rural municipalities adjacent. Having lived in Lethbridge West, built 2 homes there. Started raising 2 sons there, the Only reason this view would be expressed is anti educated people as the U of Lethbridge is in Lethbridge West and education means non conformity to conservative traditional values and a more progressive voters, plus a generally younger population. Most rural folks have never heard the word gerrymandering but we will get a big dose of it next Monday. I have made an estimate of 60 UCP safe seats ( safe meaning mostly rural voters who never consider voting NDP) and 31 seats for NDP in Calgary and Edmonton. No Lethbridge, no Red Deer and likely no Banff. Criminals.
I’m so angry right now I won’t post lest I say something I truly mean.
She really does believe we're that dumb. How sad. However, the creepy cackling and terrified face in that interview clip gave me some HOPE! She's so freakin scared
I just know there’s gonna be a lot of legal headaches in our future and that’s before we even cast a ballot
I knew they would do it when Erika Barootes told me. Well, told us. On the Discourse podcast, last spring, she cheerfully said “They should go for it!” But she didn’t say it in a manner to mean “this is justified,” but in a manner as if to say “let’s see if we can get away with THIS, because we’ve already gotten away with so much else.”
As if they’re entitled to it.
A party sure of it's vision and ability to persuade the voter would include details in it's platform and campaign honestly.
It's sad, but unsurprising really. Beyond the UCP's immediate problems — risking Canadian sovereignty to solidify a separatist base, wide-spread corruption, and an utter failure to address anything beyond placating the populist right-wing — they're also facing a losing war of shifting demographics.
Alberta continues to grow rapidly, and that growth is centred almost entirely in Edmonton and Calgary. This urban growth is diverse, younger, and educated — meaning the UCP would no longer be able to rely on the rural vote to win. Looking to sacrifice democracy by maximizing the voting power of rural Alberta is easiest, most direct route to power.
Yup, this is my fuse being ignited. It is the brute force, not the strong and free of a true democracy, but the abuse of power and an affront to democracy that I I live in SW AB where I saw the racism and totally misinformed vote for things they don't actually understand. This area which if full of racists, separatists, vaccine deniers, freedom convoyers and basically "where did you go to school, people" now voting with 1/4 of Lethbridge West that actually have informed voters that understand that this is fascism(mega) in full view. Dilute the informed. Nope the New Democrats need to take this one to court. ARGGG
Great essay. You are 100% on the money with the labelling of fundamental political weakness.
I thought Danni-mandering was the line she wouldn't cross. I was wrong. Smiths authoritarian instincts were clear by directing Evans and Martin to file an alternate report.
Their names will go down along with Smith's in provincial infamy. I am glad the NDP are launching a legal challenge. Its just one more low hanging fruit to throw at this execrable UCP regime.
Never forgive. Never forget.
Keep an eye on Shannon Phillips on twitter; she predicted this would happen and her own area of Lethbridge is being split up. https://x.com/SPhillipsAB
Also, the chair of the panel gets $5000 extra per month; and UCP won't say what it paid outside consultants.
https://x.com/TSHowell/status/2115524151297646603?s=20
Yup, brute force is what gerrymandering is. But that’s Alberta for you.
Nearly everything is done by brute force here, either by government ramming something through on late Friday night, or interest groups trying to get something from the government. Government slamming health care and education, or health care workers and teachers trying to get wages or working conditions only to get slammed by government again. So, our services go down, our workers get discouraged, efficiency falls, cutbacks fall, support falls further etc etc etc. Alberta is a ghastly place, people pitted against people, each desperately in personal debt as the province pulls in oil revenue for itself and refuses to share and instead increases taxes and service charges as the wealthy get all the benefits. More public tax money spent on building new private charter schools than public schools and their upkeep. Someone has forgotten, we all have, that this place belongs to all of us Treaty people not just a few. This place does not belong to government. They are civil servants, each and every last one of them, Premier most of all. Yes. Civil servants. Think on those two words. Civil. Servants.
Still waiting to see the final boundaries of Calgary Shaw - Okotoks - High River - Nanton - Claresholm -Ft Macleod - Kainai - Cardston. 😉