Let me share with you my personal thoughts and experiences on the recent "re-launch" of The Alberta Party. These are not official thoughts of the Party but of one person who has chosen to participate in, and support it.
I have been a member of the Alberta Party Board of Directors now for over a month. I joined the Party and the Board, in advance of the recently announced "merger" with the Renew Alberta movement; although I certainly supported the idea if it was done with some conditions. I say movement because Renew was not and never has been a registered party. That said, the people behind it are a passionate and sophisticated bunch, who have expressed the same concerns I have about the way politics and power have interfered with good governance. I like that they don't talk in the old partisan language of left vs right. I like that they seem to see a more complicated World, where simple "pick a side" mentality gets us no where.
I joined the Alberta Party for one reason, it was an opportunity to help be part of something truly different. I met and talked with each of the Board members over the last few months, and was very comfortable that they represent what I would call average Albertans; who cared. Contrary to the typical uneducated first-response to what people THINK the party is about, I found a group of people who are actually quite reasonable and non-agendized, but simply concerned with the future of Governance and Democracy in Alberta. They reaffirmed that by being open to working with the Renew Alberta movement since it had much of the same goals. Of course everyone had their own special reason for why they were involved, but it was important to everyone that the party would feel comfortable to all Albertans. At least those who are open-minded, tolerant and cared about democracy.
You will hear from those who don't actually know this group, that the Alberta Party is a right-wing fringe party, which doesn't align with a more moderate political spectrum. That is simply not the case. In fact, if you know the unique and interesting history of this very small group of people, they have actually resisted time and again the "right-wing factions" that have tried to merge with them. The current Wildrose Alliance Party (called the Alliance Party at the time) being one of them.
But let me also be clear, I am "right-wing" on some things, and more centrist on others. Old style labels don't fit me anymore. And I will be careful not to apply them too broadly here. But a parties actions and it's policies will have to be what defines them.
The other major misconception in the early days of this announcement, has been that the Alberta Party has thrown out it's policies, and by doing so has shown disrespect to the long-standing party members who helped develop them. Again this is simply not true, and typical of an opposition that must find something bad about it's competitors instead of recognizing this for what it really is.
The real truth is that the Alberta Party Board (not Renew Alberta) unanimously accepted a resolution to suspend the existing policies, while the party engages in a very sincere and grassroots campaign to engage as many Albertans as possible in what is being labeled The Big Listen. The Board actually showed great vision and humility, and agreed that the small set of policies that they had in place, were the ideas of a very small group of Albertans developed over the last 25 years, and may not actually reflect what so many more Albertans would want to see in a party that really listens to it's constituents. They also showed openness and humility in accepting that perhaps Alberta has changed as well. Within the resolution, the policies that were suspended will be reintroduced at a policy convention in the future, and considered again with all of the policies that will percolate from the Big Listen campaign. They smartly recognized that Renew Alberta has the passion and ideas to run this campaign successfully, with the support of and under the guidance of a new and bigger, more diverse board.
The great thing about The Big Listen, is that you don't have to be a party member to say your piece. You will be asked what concerns you, your family or your community about government today. It is recognized that 60% of Albertans chose not to vote last election, and less than 95% of Albertans choose not to join a political party. These folks still have concerns, hopes, and a vision for Alberta, and they should have a say in how our government functions.
Every other political party has a completely different model, and one that creates distrust and barriers for the disengaged to participate. Here is what you hear time and again from existing parties; "If you want to change our policies, join our party and contribute your ideas. Submit a policy resolution into our process and good luck convincing the established biases, power centres and special interests which have already formed within our party" (Cynicism added where I think it is often applied by people like me).
Thanks, but that doesn't get me too excited. Especially since my personal experience, at least with the PC Party, is that this process sounds good on paper, but it hits a brick wall if the idea is contrary to the existing power structures holding onto self-serving power or influence. (Bill 44 was my personal example).
So, for me personally, this Alberta Party has at least provided a place where I can try to improve my Province, and feel that I can actually make a difference. Of course I am not naive and will be wary of the same command and control power struggles developing within it. However, since at least this Party is approaching politics from a bottom up perspective, I have that much more confidence that me and the rest of the people who are willing to participate in The Big Listen and eventually in policy development, will be able to bake-in some real and lasting cultural, policy and technical differences that can change the way the game is played.
Finally, there are those who will argue that this will actually harm the process by vote splitting or distracting the electorate with too many choices. I am sorry, but in my personal opinion, these folks are stuck in the old mindset of winning is everything, even if it means accepting something we are unhappy with. I couldn't disagree any more. I'd rather be part of something that I believe in.
Winning an election is less important to me than changing the way we govern and allow our citizens to participate in democracy. But of course, if the latter is done properly, the former should take care of itself.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 12:45PM 
