Letter to the Editor

Scared for Alberta

To the Editor;

I am scared for my province, and I will not be silent. The following is my response to an unsolicited email I received from MLA de Jonge. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

To MLA Chantelle de Jonge,

I received your yearly update for 2025 on Christmas Eve. To be honest, I do not consider this any type of Christmas present. I am attaching my response (follows). I am unsure as to whether you will read this, and do not really expect a response from you – given you have still not responded to an email I sent you months ago, outlining my concerns.

Nevertheless, I feel it is important for you to know who this is coming from. I am 71 years old, and married (48 years). I was born in Montreal, joined the RCMP in 1974 at the age of 19 and came to Alberta in 1976 as a result of being transferred from Ottawa. I was stationed in Cardston, Sherwood Park, Fairview and Calgary (where I was in charge of the Calgary area traffic unit). During my service, I was hospitalized a few times from injuries received in the performance of my duties and investigated the most minor of offences to the most serious (murder). After 29 years, I retired, moved from Airdrie to Strathmore and opened a small coffee shop. After selling it, I went into municipal politics and was a town councillor for 14 years. I chose not to run for a fifth term. Throughout my time in Alberta, I have volunteered for a significant number of organizations and causes – and continue to do that today. My wife, who is also retired, was a registered nurse who provided medical care to people of all ages in numerous medical and health-related settings throughout Alberta for 45 years. She also continues to do volunteer work. I have two children living in Strathmore – one, a wonderful mom and successful entrepreneur, while the other is a firefighter. My other child was killed in a motor vehicle collision in 2016 when a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road collided with his car on Highway 9. I’m sharing this with you for two reasons. One is to be very clear on the fact that I am invested in this province. The other is to hopefully demonstrate that I am not any type of a radical individual. Politically, I do not affiliate with any party… I vote for any person or party that I believe will benefit my town, my province or my country. Respectfully, I do not believe that you, or your government, is listening to the average, common-sense Albertan. What follows is my response to your email to me.

“My Christmas present from our local MLA came in the form of an email on Christmas Eve. I’m still trying to figure out how she got my email address. But I digress. MLA de Jonge showcased the ‘milestones and accomplishments we’ve achieved together this year’ for her Chestermere-Strathmore riding. She highlights the fact that there are six new doctors in our region – suggesting this is a personal accomplishment. I know Strathmore town council and their administration did lots of work to attract doctors (and were successful) – but I’m not sure what our MLA did to support this effort! How I would have liked to have seen a financial commitment for a (not-for-profit) seniors lodge/hospice in Strathmore in this newsletter. This is a much needed and shovel-ready project that would make a huge difference in how our ever-growing group of seniors live out their days. Please don’t confuse this with the yet-to-be-built Shasta Project – which is a privately (for profit) owned and government-sponsored long-term care/advanced supportive care facility for seniors with moderate to high complex needs.

Also included in the email was a list of her government’s list of accomplishments – 14 new laws, a great agreement with Ottawa, permitting doctors to work in both private and public health systems, deciding to order the RCMP not to enforce certain laws and the infamous Education Amendment Act. Yay.

So, no comment on all those dollars saved on the AISH recipient claw back? Nothing on the government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage on one hand, but raising MLA’s salaries on the other? Nothing on the government’s questionable use of the Notwithstanding Clause by forcing teachers back to work during a legal strike and by passing three bills aimed at transgender youth concerning schools, sex education, sports and access to healthcare? Or how about the failure of the government to call a public inquiry in regard to the AHS scandal allegations? Nothing on the anticipated return to a $6+ billion-dollar deficit – despite high revenue?

Nothing on how our health system continues to be inadequate and the UCP’s failure to keep pace with rapid population growth? How about the complete failure to do anything that would reduce inflation and the rising cost of living in our province? Or the fact that a third of our premier’s caucus (and the premier herself) are facing recall petitions? How about all of the money and time being spent on developing a path to separate from Canada? Or what about the decision to charge people $100 to get a COVID shot and restrict flu vaccine rollout (against the advice of public health)? How about the actions of the executive director of the premier – Bruce McAllister – who effectively turned the Alberta Next Panel’s hearing into a farce by restricting the voices that did not agree with the pre-determined path, while insulting and demeaning those same individuals?

Should there not have been some comment on the money this government has wasted since they took power (Acetaminophen purchase, transitioning blood testing services from the failed privatization to Dynalife, lawsuits settlement to coal companies, financial support for private schools, private nursing and surgical contracts, War Room expenses and millions on wasted Covid-19 vaccines)? And how about the nearly half a million Albertans who signed a petition stating they want to remain in Canada? There are so many more issues I would have liked to have seen on that list – because you just can’t “cherry-pick” a few “wins” (which there are not, in my opinion). This is not a good report card!

There are many, many concerns about the scary path this government is on right now. Of course, right at the top of the list is the Big 3 – separatism, CPP and RCMP.

And with that in mind, how about the latest Leger360 poll which show 61 per cent of Albertans believe “things in Alberta are not going in the right direction?”

Bob Sobol,

Strathmore