Like many others, I have been completely captivated by Rachel Notley and the NDP, and their message of hope and transformation during this provincial election. Finally having a credible and progressive alternative to the dubious 'Tory dynasty' led me to volunteer with the local NDP campaign and become much more involved in provincial politics than I ever would have imagined.
Talking to my fellow St. Albert residents on their doorsteps about the issues they care about has been eye-opening. It's been uplifting to be a part of this newfound political engagement in a province that has for too long been apathetic.
Perhaps naively, I was unprepared for how ugly things can become in politics, but I suppose this is inevitable with such a nail-biting race for the Alberta legislature – one that has captured the attention of the Canadian public.
One of these ugly moves was the cheap shot levelled during a recent forum by the St. Albert PC candidate at the NDP candidate for living just outside of the St. Albert border in Castle Downs. Fortunately, I think most voters understand how deeply embedded Ms. Renaud is in the St. Albert community, having been the executive director of LoSeCa for more than a decade and a true champion for the rights of people with disabilities in this city. While some of the other candidates grandstanded at the forums about being “born and raised in St. Albert" (as if this was an actual policy platform), it was so refreshing to see Ms. Renaud up there talking about real contributions she has made to bettering the lives of vulnerable St. Albertans. Hopefully people recognized quality over geography in this instance and saw a political cheap shot for what it was.
The second bout of ugliness I witnessed was in the form of a personal interaction with a Wildrose candidate at a local meet-and-greet. Noticing my orange-coloured badge, the candidate called me over and proceeded to interrogate me about my interest in the NDP, challenging me on whether I actually live in St. Albert and whether I am truly an unpaid volunteer. When I shared how I identify with the NDP's progressive ideas and explained how people from my family are supporting the NDP because of concerns over health care and education cuts, the candidate said that anyone who votes NDP is "jumping off of a bridge." As if the use of a suicide metaphor for describing someone's democratic right wasn't enough, the candidate then jokingly asked me if "I liked communism" in response to my belief that responsible governments should ensure a safety net for those in need.
The whole five-minute conversation left me feeling dispirited that an aspiring political representative did not have the capacity to respectfully discuss an alternate viewpoint to their own. I am hoping that the true engagement that Albertans have shown in this election will help to combat this sort of narrow-mindedness and lead to the better and fairer Alberta that we all want.
Jason LaChappelle, St. Albert
