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Tonight may well have been a watershed moment for the Alberta PC Party. One of their strongest constituencies, and without a doubt one of their strongest MLA's, came under attack. Dave Hancock had the guts to stand in front of hundreds of unhappy constituents on the topic of healthcare.

This was not his event, and nor is healthcare his portfolio, but they are his constituents. Like he always has, he chose to take his lumps and be there to answer to many of those who voted for him. Something tells me that he does so out of obligation to the constituency and not necasarily out of obligation to his party. As you can tell, I have a lot of respect for Dave Hancock, but in politics that may not matter.

But, from what I can see, the people of Edmonton Whitemud are probably not looking even further right for the answers. Edmonton Whitemud has always been about as close to the political center as you can envision. So then what's next for Edmonton Whitemud, and Alberta for that matter?

This is where I think the answer is not yet in front of us. There are two very interesting things happening in Alberta that are non-partisan in nature. They deserve our attention. Both of them are very telling of the dissatisfaction many Albertans have with existing parties.

1. Reboot Alberta, a Progressive think-tank that has inspired many moderate Albertans, is gathering much momentum and hosting their second event in Kananaskis. This non-partisan community has quickly come together online and offline. The first Reboot had four groups within it, and one of them were many who think we could use a new moderate party. All of Alberta, urban, rural, young and old, the business person and the everyman, were in attendance at the first Reboot. 
2. Also of interest, and a first for the acclaimed Manning Center for Democracy, is a weekend long conference on Alberta's Future. The Manning Center has not yet been involved in Provincial politics, and something tells me that its namesake, a trusted conservative statesman, is unhappy with where things are heading in Alberta as well. Manning as of late has shifted his position to a "Green Conservatism".

I continue to feel that we need something NEW. Someone said this to me last weekend, about the existing party choices, and I tend to agree:

The Wildrose Alliance are unhappy with government and seem to want to go back to the days of the parochial Social Credit Party of the 50's.

The Liberal Party has been unable to inspire Alberta on a platform with solutions. they have not been able to get past the distrust of the NEP, and seem to have responded with only criticisms, and are light on solutions. Even more light on leadership.

Sadly, and I say sadly because they own the political spectrum that most of us resonate with, the PC Party has stopped innovating democracy, and seem only interested in holding onto power

So, and again this is my opinion, it just FEELS like the solution for the next government of this Province is not yet in front of us. I am ok with that, and I am starting to see the value in the discussion that is happening amongst us.

I plan to attend both the Manning event and the next version of Reboot Alberta. I suspect that even after these events, I will not see a mainstream party today that can satisfy me. But I am becoming more and more confident that I will be surrounded by Albertans who are starting to ask what that might look like.

As many of you are very well aware, I have increased much of my blogging around Provincial political discussion. It probably takes up well over half of my posts, and obviously that is because I am impassioned on the future of this province, and my city.

But, I am not a politician, I am not a paid journalist, nor am I even 100% convicted in my opinions. I am a regular family man, business owner and citizen. The more I look inward to my own thoughts, beliefs and opinions, the more complicated I find the discussion around what makes for good government. Don't even get me started about politics, which clearly has very little to do with government.

What I do know however is that the far end of the political spectrums are the playgrounds of the ideologue. Because free speech is something that cements our very societal foundation, it would be ridiculous to criticize their right to say what they do. Because also, you can't influence the opinion of a close-minded ideologue, it would be a waste of energy to even try. Trust me on this one, I have wasted a lot of my energy falling for the trap of debating them, only to find that the joke was on me.

But what we can do and we should do, at least when it comes to politics, is to shift our glance to whom the ideologues' are supporting politically. We should ask why that party accepts them, even if they have to plug their noses doing so, to gain the votes of their followers.

Next to Grassroots, I think the term Big-Tent is one of the worst metaphors used in politics. If you are a party, or a party leader who professes to be a "Big-Tent" party, then that should mean you want people with all types of beliefs to be a member of your party, AND be able to express them freely in your party. In my opinion, a true big tent party would actually have policies and tools which create an environment that fosters this type of open-thinking. Not only that, and perhaps more importantly, the party would have leadership that actually disapproves of ideological close-mindedness, speaking out against it, to help the discussion along. As a business owner, and leader, I do know that it is my responsibility to foster an environment that is healthy and respectful for all of my employees. A parties leader should do the same for all of the residents of their "big-tent".

I have always thought this would actually be good politics. Don't even get me started on how this would be great for good governance.

Today's politics, which are based on gaining power then sharing it back to the interests that help you get elected, are perpetuating the problem. In my opinion however, and many of my good friends believe I am being naive, I think that the world is changing. I think that transparency of information, the ability for nearly anybody to publish their opinions, and the highly increased ability for people to come together (first on electronic social networks, but then together in person), makes it more and more difficult for politicians to maintain exclusivity on the distribution of power. We have more power today, and it's time we started using it.

The party that finds a new way to govern within this new reality, will be the one that wins the votes of the masses. In my opinion, no party in Alberta today does this. I'm not prepared to accept that it's not possible to blend good government and good politics. But right now, as I see it, that will take a new party, using new techniques.

p.s. If you visit the link above, you will see that Reboot Alberta is rapidly becoming the place where like-minded Alberta citizens can challenge a new way of thinking for democracy in Alberta. I was at the first event and it was attended by a perfect balance of rural, urban, young and old. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the the home for anyone who would subscribe to old terms like Liberal or Conservative. That's why I love it, and you should spend some time on the site reading about the movement. I have no doubts that the next political party that I support in this Province will get it's start from this movement. Their next event is at the end of February in Kananaskis, and if you would like to discuss how democracy can be practiced in the 21st century, then I would suggest you come along.

The best leaders have one thing in common. They make everyone feel like they are part of something, even if they shouldn't normally feel like they belong. The disadvantaged and disenfranchised included. Which of our leaders have this ability?

If the provincial election happened today, Danielle Smith of the Wildrose Alliance Party would win the election and become our new Premier.

She would win deservedly also. She controls the imagination of Albertans. As a woman, who is intelligent and interesting, we all would want to give her a shot at running things. I think it is long overdue that we have a woman challenge the position of leader in this province, and frankly Smith seems to be able to do it with her intelligence, age and enthusiasm. Her problem might be timing and her party. Her party does not control the ideological space most Albertans are most comfortable voting into.

Ed Stelmach would lose, and mostly in spite of everything his party helps him with. The PC party control the power, money, ideological spectrum, and historical ethos of the electorate. He can not get himself re-elected because of his lack-lustre ability to inspire Albertans. Ed seems a normal Joe, which can be a great thing in Alberta, but he lacks the ability to speak with the folksy charm, AND authority that endears Albertans. He has also lost touch with those same people by relying on and delegating his leadership position to those around him.

David Swann is in a real tough spot. His party carries the name most every Albertans can't vote for. He irritates that with a bland personality (at least publicy), and a party that reeks of defeatist mentality. His party is the logical benefactor of the right-wing split that is happening today, but yet he has not been able to connect his Liberals with the "everyman" voter.

Brian Mason is a non-factor. Interestingly, he has a great personality for "roll-your-sleeve" up politics, but he is captain of the good ship crazy. He has perpetuated the brand of the NDP's as a party that hates everything business, entreprenuer, and low-taxes. A toxic recipe in Alberta.

The yet to be named leader of the yet to be named Renew Alberta party is not worth talking about.

So, all that said, we must assume that if no leadership changes are made in the Province between now and the far-out 2012 election, we must assume that Danielle Smith and the Wildrose Alliance Party will be elected.

In my opinion, the only thing that changes that, would be a new leader of the PC Party, Alberta Liberals, or a new moderate alternative Renew Alberta party. Bring a game-changer to the table, and of course then the game is changed.

If not, Smith is our next Premier. I'd be fine with that if she can convince me her party can represent the wishes and dreams of ALL Albertans. What say you Danielle? Can you speak on behalf of our impoverished, indigenous, outcast and indifferent? Are you comfortable trying to win the hearts of those who can't sponsor you, financially support you, or bring droves of fundamental voters? Because in my opinion, that's what leadership is all about.

Can you make people who don't feel like they belong, feel like they belong?

Today's news of two MLA's crossing the floor from the PC Party to the Wildrose Alliance Party will get a tonne of press and from what I have seen, there is very little that should surprise us. Basically these are two MLA's who probably didn't fit in the PC Party as well as they might in a more right-wing Wildrose.

What I really think was lost in this opportunity, was the chance for the Wildrose Alliance to demonstrate real leadership on the issues of MLA Accountability and Democratic Reform. Here's what could have happened:

• The two MLA's express thier discontent with the PC Party (and they had some good points) and announce that they are choosing to sit as independents
• They express their interest in running as candidates of the Wildrose Alliance in the next election
• The Alliance thanks them for their words of support and reminds Albertans that they could have added them to ther caucus, bringing them official party status, but they want to EARN the votes of the good people of Airdrie-Chestermere and Calgary Fish-Creek

Of course this hasn't happened, and so many people will look at this as simple opportunism. I think the people of Alberta are looking for something different. REAL reform and REAL accountability from our MLA's and party leadership.

When you see the information coming from the party, they proudly profess that they are adding two ELECTED MLA's to their party. Of course it goes without saying that these two individuals were in fact elected, but elected by their constituents As PC Party MLA's.

So, it just seems to me as much of the same old politics.