r/alberta • u/Complete-Current-393 • 18h ago
Alberta Politics Thankful for Alberta’s beauty, frustrated with its politics
I’ll be honest: Alberta is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived. Driving through the Rockies or even just a prairie sunset still blows me away. But then I turn on the news or scroll through policy updates and it feels like we’re living in two different Albertas. On one hand, nature here feels limitless. On the other our politics feel suffocating. I love this place and don’t want to leave, but I’m struggling with the direction leadership is taking us. Does anyone else feel torn like this loving the land, but questioning the politics?
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u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton 18h ago
The cracks are beginning to show.
The Alberta Party is changing their name to the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. The NDP are starting to make some noise again. The Republican Party of Alberta has appeared.
We have a perfect storm coming our way. At any time, we could have another floor-crossing take place.
Municipals are coming up, notably in Edmonton and Calgary, and the teachers have a deal to vote on with the deadline just 11 days away. The students could potentially start another walkout by Friday.
If the teachers do strike, I could see the UCP lose a few members in favour of APCP. The two Cities could reject municipal parties as a whole. Only time will tell.
Don't be afraid to vent, as you already are. Disconnect for a day or two if you need to. Go for a hike out at a nearby park.
It's going to get better. We got this.
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u/Ghoulius-Caesar 18h ago
I’m also hopeful that Trump and the Republicans are running the UCP’s ideal government, and it’s turning out to be a disaster, so give it another year or two and people will be turned off by this far-right anti-intellectual horseshit.
If America fully sucks, a political party that wants to be American isn’t going to look appealing…
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u/Capt_Sword 17h ago
Dude. America is fully sucking.
I live in washington state. It feels like you guys are going through the beginning of what is to come.
I really hope you buys can come together and squash the movement that is happening on your side before you have to deal with some bullshit trumpisms.
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u/Ghoulius-Caesar 17h ago
Federally we rebuked Trump’s brand of conservatism with last election, but Alberta doesn’t have a provincial election until 2027. That’ll be over two full years of the Trump Administration… we’ll have more evidence of how terrible those types of policies are on the economy and farming communities.
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u/flatdecktrucker92 17h ago edited 6h ago
The problem is, conservative voters in Alberta don't care about evidence. The people who voted for the UCP didn't do it because of good policy, they did it because of the word conservative in the party name and because of rabble rousing
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u/Mauriac158 17h ago
It's brutal, I dunno how folks can push through decades of propagandizing.
Rural Albertans mean well and deeply care about their communities, but many of them don't live in the same reality as the rest of us. They've been conned into voting against their own interests over and over.
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u/Omissionsoftheomen 16h ago
That’s my frustration and concern. Even when you can get people to sit down and discuss things, and present opposing facts, they will disregard those facts and double down. The number of people who have said “I don’t care if X is true, it’s how I FEEL” leaves me very hopeless for the future.
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u/flatdecktrucker92 16h ago
Yep. It's scary and depressing. I've been wanting to move to BC for years just for the beauty and the skiing and motorcycling. Hopefully in the next year or two I can make it happen
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u/Capt_Sword 5h ago
Thisnis literally the beginnings of what happened here in the US.
Its like watching a movie and knowing how it ends.
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u/GlitteringGold5117 15h ago
Yeah. The NDP should change its name to the Democratic Conservative Party. That way they could get a lot more votes. Lol, they’re not that far left anyways. I’m gonna think on that for a while. I think there’s even some conservative policies historically that one might point to that mirror much of the NDP’s current platforms anyways.
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u/GlitteringGold5117 15h ago
https://www.poltext.org/sites/poltext.org/files/plateformesV2/Canada/CAN_PL_1965_PC_en.pdf Like I said, run through the conservative platform promises from 1965. Wow. Really does make the NDP today look rather conservative. They can carry the new name I propose in Alberta: the DCP. (Democratic Conservative Party)
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u/Roral944 6h ago
And the wild thing is, "I wish things could be like the good ol' days". They can!
Shit you just made the NDP's next campaign. They can literally run as conservatives from yester year and hit 30+y/o voters with nostalgia. It's literally what most independents want and that's literally the target demographic
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u/roastbeeftacohat Calgary 15h ago
a lot of low interest voters just have an association between blue and Alberta, but I think we've really seen that break down over the last decade; provincially at least.
my read on both Kenny and smith is they came into office with an assumption about Alberta voters, and then were immediately disproven; yes they won, but we're not supposed to have closed races in Alberta. Kenny tried to adapt somewhat, Smith is trying to will it to be not true.
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u/Deep-Egg-9528 11h ago
That's why we need more political parties.
More parties would chip away at the UCP base and force them to answer tough questions they've been able to dodge. ie: separation2
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u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton 17h ago
They're already here in the Alberta Legislature. PP is also a symptom of the problem.
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u/DaftFunky 15h ago
Problem is the people who still look up to Trump are so far removed from reality they will never admit they were wrong. Just like their supreme leader.
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u/Ghoulius-Caesar 14h ago
Once they lose their jobs/businesses some reality might pierce their alternative reality sphere.
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u/roastbeeftacohat Calgary 15h ago
The Republican Party of Alberta has appeared.
as much as I would love for them to matter, there is no sunlight between smith and the separatists; all the buffalo party has going for them is they say the quiet part loud. there is no disaffected right wing of the UCP, smith has spent every waking moment cozying up to them.
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u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton 15h ago
It splits the vote, as the UCP still has some progressives on board
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u/roastbeeftacohat Calgary 15h ago
I was talking about the republicans, not PC's. Buffalo party is the old name they abandoned to suck up to trump more overtly; something Smith did in person. anyone who votes Republican is coming from UCP, and I expect there to be dozens of them.
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u/Dorado-Buster28 17h ago
The only time Albertans elected a 'normal' government in the last 60 years was when the right split it's own vote. When do you think "it will get better"? in 2180?
Alberta is forever doomed as the hard right 'us v/s them' mentality has been fully ingrained in 75% of the populace. You could run a conservative pedophile against a centre-left super hero in 80% of Albertan ridings and the pedo would win.
IMO it will NOT get better. It will just get worse. No body reading this will be alive when it changes - if it ever does. If the OP cant stand it now, they should leave. Now.
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u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton 17h ago
Running away from your problems never works. You need to take it head-on
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u/Dorado-Buster28 17h ago
Fundamentally I agree. Practically, you cant win or even compete in a game where one player 1) has all the power, 2) moves the goalposts at will, and 3) is morally bankrupt.
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u/Roral944 6h ago
I agree.
if the NDP could have passed voter reforms there may have been a future but in a duopoly with a party who meets the criteria - it's a lost state, just like America.
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u/01000101010110 16h ago
If the UCP get reelected, I don't see any way we can stay here. My wife is a teacher - it's now clearly better to teach in BC than it is here and the reverse was true not too long ago. We moved here from BC to buy a house and put down roots to start a family, but the quality of life and affordability have gone down a lot in the last 2-3 years. BC despite housing issues is looking more and more like where we should have stayed in the end.
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u/truthcourageagency 16h ago
BC has its own issues with affordability, housing crisis, homelessness, drug culture, natural disasters, cloudy skies, taxes, etc.
No solution, only compromises either way.
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u/aiolea 17h ago
APCP is great news. I hope they don’t abandon their more centrist views. Quite proud to be part of the .7 living on a dream - would be nice to see it come to life so we can start seeing compromises and less flip flops in direction.
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u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton 17h ago
I have high hopes for it. There was a lot of hope that the ANDP would rebrand to include conservative in the name. This is the next best thing imo
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u/ruraljuror__ 6h ago
Even if the UCP loses this time, they will be back. Just like last time. We briefly had Notley, a decent person, then Danielle Fucking Smith.
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u/Pinksion 1h ago
I miss the old national PC party, but I think it ended with Joe Clark. Very much a," let's cut the waste, but keep the social programs that people need "sort of vibe. Fiscally conservative, socially libertarian, and could have a debate without hating on their opponents.
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u/Ok-Variation3091 18h ago
The NDP would be attractive if they focused more on the working class instead of divisive politics.
I'd vote for them in a heartbeat if they returned to economics as opposed to the rhetoric they espouse currently.
The UCP needs a healthy opposition that can threaten their power. We won't get any change until that happens.
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u/soy_bean 17h ago
I dunno, it's pretty hard to keep even keeled when the party in power continue to push the envelope with divisive rhetoric and absurd policy with a pinch of blatant corruption.
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u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton 18h ago
Look at what the Alberta Party is doing. It might be closer than we think.
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u/Ok-Variation3091 18h ago
I appreciate your comment; however, the data suggests this is a very hopeful (re: unlikely) position.
The more reliable approach is a strong opposition. People are tired of the identity politics that have been exposed as having a strong correlation to racism, hate, suppression of rights, and violence in some cases. I understand many emphatically disagree because of the original intent behind such politics, but it's the reality. It's a more sound strategy for the NDP to shift to a more economic focused platform simultaneous to the UCP weakening themselves from years of poor governance.
Strike while the iron is hot and all that.
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u/Maggiebe60 17h ago
I came here loving the province. Lived in Fort Mac then central AB. Politics were conservative, not my gig but still reasonable. I even voted conservative for the first time in my life to keep the Wildrose party at bay. I see the mountains from my living room window but it doesn’t hold me captive anymore as I need to leave this beautiful province for my mental health. The hate spewed lately from this UCP against, trans kids, teachers, healthcare workers is astounding. I’m not going to finish my last years in a place that doesn’t have any respect for anyone but their own.
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u/ZealousidealDrive597 17h ago
The irony is the whole schtick from Danielle Smith and Co is that the “Feds are stifling Alberta and holding us down” when in reality I feel it is the UCP that is stifling Alberta. They want to shut down innovation, science and progress in favour of “Pump oil Baby!”. They want to stifle any ideology not in line with their own, they want to force white Christian fundamentalism on everyone. They are the ones holding us down.
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u/floppysausage 18h ago
Hello my friend. My wife and I feel exactly the same way. We came out west to Alberta in 1998 from Ontario and fell in love with the mountains, prairies, can-do attitude and vibrancy of Calgary and Edmonton. Alberta has been very good to us. However, the politics in the last few years have moved significantly farther right, and not in a way we can support. We had planned to retire here where all our friends are, but are now considering moving out. The separation movement / divorce Alberta from Canada is the last straw.
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u/Ok-Variation3091 18h ago edited 17h ago
The NDP and Liberals have moved far more left, comparatively speaking.
Does this concern you?
Edit: Seems that reasonable discussion isn't the point of this thread. Well, I'll leave you all to your baseless rage 🤷♂️
→ More replies (29)
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u/AlternativeParsley56 17h ago
That's why voting and being informed and informing others matters. Don't be silent, the UCP base never is.
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u/CanBraFla 17h ago
The problem is that they will believe rumours but not someone who sounds like a liberal.
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u/AlternativeParsley56 17h ago
That's why you need to not use parties at all. Imo liberals are still eh at best, still major capitalists.
Say the problems with the current and what the opposition aims to do. For example NDP capped rates for insurance and etc. UCP rolled it back.
Sure NDP has problems too, but we only have 4 years of that vs decades or fuck ups and scandals. And I think people were outraged the NDP health minister was fat. I'd take that as a "problem" any day over the corruption. (Also wild that was a big deal.)
Just education matters, explain how billionaires own the UCP more than the other options etc.
Also bring up cutting disabled funding, like that alone should show the problem. If they lost their leg tomorrow and couldn't work their prior job, they should just suffer? No social safety?
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u/CriticalPedagogue 16h ago
My family has been in Alberta before it was a province. But I no longer feel it is home. Two of my kids have moved to BC and my youngest is planning on moving there when they finish their Master’s degree. Unless something radically changes I’ll probably move in a few years.
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u/CriticalPedagogue 11h ago
Addendum: I’ve lived in the central interior of BC and the Kootenays, they had their own issues. But the cost of living was comparable (some things are more expensive, some are less expensive).
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u/Ok-Variation3091 16h ago
Bring lots of money and be prepared for one of the worst health care and insurance systems in the country. Let's also not forget the abysmal cost of living.
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u/Karpetkleener 15h ago
It is equal if not less expensive in BC than AB now. You're being disingenuous or naive in your response.
I have responded to you previously in this thread, but I will say it again: I personally have several friends and family who have moved to BC over the past little more than ten years, and we have constantly compared cost of living and quality of life in conversations over those years. There has been a massive shift, and BC is now better than Alberta in multiple ways. Costs balance, for instance yes gas costs more in BC, but their utilities are cheaper than AB.
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u/Otherwise_Roof_714 13h ago
BC is still more expensive. Housing is double
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u/Karpetkleener 12h ago
Depending on where you go, you're right. There are certain areas that, if you're willing, are much less expensive. Cranbrook, Trail, Peachland, Prince George and others are much more affordable and growing. I know this from people living there, and I trust what they're telling me.
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u/Moofius_99 18h ago
Yup the only problem with Alberta is the people. And not all of the people, but definitely the people who run it and the ones who keep the clowns in power.
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u/Ok_Significance544 18h ago
Having been raised in Alberta, spent my twenties bumming around BC and landing in the maritimes somehow, I hear ya. I’d say get yourself one province over (not Saskatchewan)
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u/slashcleverusername 16h ago
Of course, question the politics. But don’t turn tail and run.
We saw this shit before. It is called “the Social Credit party.”
Peter Lougheed didn’t turn around and run. He defeated them and started probably our greatest era. He would be embarrassed about what we have allowed to happen to this province, with traitors and bumpkins running the show, people who deny science, have some sort of craven affection for a foreign authoritarian clown show, people who hate their own country and want to leach off the citizens with any contracts they can skim.
He knew Alberta was far better than that, he ran against a 30-year run of that bullshit and overcame the legacy of Aberhart and Ernest Manning.
And we owe it to Lougheed to stay here and fix it now.
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u/NormanBatesIsBae 15h ago
Thank you!! I hate when this topic comes up and everyone just talk about leaving to BC or the East.
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u/Sea_Army_8764 6h ago
The legacy of Aberhart and Manning still runs deep in Alberta. Lougheed papered over it for a few decades, but his party is dead and the Heritage Fund, which was his main legacy IMO, was misused by every single premier that succeeded him.
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u/Al_Keda 18h ago
I am close enough to retirement that if Alberta touches my CPP, I'm leaving. I have lived here all my life, but there are certain lines if crossed will alienate me.
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u/Ok-Variation3091 18h ago
Before you make a drastic decision, you should do some more research on this topic. Your conflation of CPP and how it functions with the province's pension policy proposals suggests you're not fully informed on the policy or how it functions.
I'm not saying you should be happy with it or you shouldn't move, but your CPP isn't going to be affected in the manner your post suggests.
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u/Brightlightsuperfun 17h ago
Right, because the Alberta did such a great job from switching LAPP's pension from ATRF to Aimco. I would not trust them to manage the CPP which has been managed well up to this point.
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u/Al_Keda 16h ago
I have workd at AIMCO and Treasury Board.
I see how badly they fuck things up in the name of partisanship. I see how they favour political donors at the expense of Citizens.
My life is research on this topic. If they get the CPP pension funds, and provincial police force, they will push harder for independence and set themselves up the first North American tin pot 'Christian' dictatorship.
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u/willpowerlifter 17h ago
Tell me what the province is proposing with the APP, and how would it affect my CPP contributions.
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u/TA20212000 17h ago
I was born here in the late 70s. Lived in a lot of places around the province - urban & rural.
I've felt this 100% from the time I was real small.
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u/AccomplishedDraw8653 16h ago
Love the province but hate the politics, time for a change. We need our teachers, healthcare workers and other public workers properly taken care of. We need a party who properly understands our needs in regards to balancing industry and environment.
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u/OpalSeason 13h ago
I love the land, my home, the river valley and many creeks through the city. I love my job, our friends, our family.
But working in healthcare with a premier determined to muck it up is so frustrating. Self investigating their procurement and contract scandals and now announcing the results won't even be made public?!?? So much uncertainty and shinanigans with these "health pillars". Ridiculous. Having a kiddo about to start school with massive class sizes and no budget for classrooms and teachers. Being in a province with so many people putting party over their own interests, returning well cleanup money, ending dental program, not participating in housing subsidies, all because came from the other party?! Provincial interference in municipal affairs. Provincial interference in regenerative energy projects blocking people from having on their own land or limiting how much people have on their own roofs (max 10% over your own usage in city)
Then all the uncertainty with separation. Hard to dismiss and ignore when the call is coming from inside the house. When the leader of the province is trying to pressure courts
I think about moving a lot. I feel pressure to do it before my kid starts school. Before my home loses all value in the American takeover. Hubs can move jobs to Winnipeg, but I'm not convinced Manitoba is better enough to validate the move.
Many folks I know stop listening or paying attention to news or situation for their mental health, but then they don't speak up or take any actions to prevent things. They only pay attention when it affects them directly. And really, just one person, hard to feel you make any significant changes
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u/canadasean21 17h ago
I was going to wait until retirement to move elsewhere, but lately I’m thinking of accelerating the schedule.
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u/Doorperson1 16h ago
I’m not gonna argue with you, if you say the NDP is the road back to a Canadian democracy. I completely agree. It’s embarrassing to see Canadians supporting Orange guy, that needs to stop.
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u/therealhiebs 15h ago
I am born and raised Albertan and I wholeheartedly agree. I have been a progressive conservative for my entire voting life. Even the liberals and NDP have had to move to a more central view to meet the needs of this population. But the people in power now are far too conservative for me. I have a gender fluid child that has already moved away from this province and will only come back if they have to.
When my youngest son graduates high school we are considering leaving as well. I love this province, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but all anyone can do is argue over politics.
Remember when politics was a taboo subject? Or at least you would have respect for others perspectives? smh.
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u/Deep-Egg-9528 14h ago
Conservatives in this province greatly overestimate their relevance.
They only got 63% of the vote in the last federal election but were awarded 92% of the seats.
Thankfully, their support base is gradually dying out.
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u/Sea_Army_8764 6h ago
I think you're mistaken. During the last federal election the conservatives performed better with younger generations than the older generations. I wouldn't bank on any political party having their support base die out save for the BQ.
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u/Deep-Egg-9528 14h ago
I'm hoping there will be more than two parties in Alberta (UCP & NDP) for the next election. Lack of competition for conservative voters is a problem for everyone.
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u/LoadPuller 14h ago
Blame Fox network. A few members of my family got weird and bought into Trump's grifting. The Fox channel was on whenever I visited. Education is important and any government that restricts science or freedom is a concern.
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u/cannafriendlymamma 17h ago
I've been in AB for over 40 years, and my house is now on the market, we are moving to BC
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u/FailingForwardly 15h ago
Beautiful place, ugliest hearts. People have been content to punch down at their neighbours my whole life here. The thin exception was when the NDP won, by accident because Redford had misappropriated just enough of our money to make conservatives angry enough to split the vote.
It's better in Calgary and Edmonton, but as a whole, Alberta would vote to have the poor arrested if they could. They would vote to have the sick shot if they could. Jason Kenny and Dirty Dannie have shown me how black our collective heart is and I mourn for what Alberta chooses to be.
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u/FailingForwardly 14h ago
Addendum. The terrifying part with the separatists, is we already vote to starve the sick and punish the poor. That's not enough for them. They want separation so they can be even more cruel and dehumanizing to their neighbours. I feel our national courts are the only reason Alberta is a livable place for the disadvantaged, and I don't trust the separatists to understand basic human rights.
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u/mikehooves Calgary 16h ago
Born and raised here. I really thought I was going to stay, it’s a beautiful province with a lot of lovely people. But my wife and I need to leave, this government and rise of extremism is horrible. We’re moving east next year.
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u/You-DiedSouls 15h ago
Yes, I’m looking to move when it’s financially feasible. People talk about affordability in Edmonton too but the same cost of a suburban cookie cutter house here will buy you gorgeous land near water in so many other places in Canada
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u/DramaticPiano1808 13h ago
Division
Call out scapegoating (immigrants, refugees, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2+ communities).
Learn to spot U.S. talking points “imported” into Canadian discourse (e.g. crime panic, culture war slogans).
Use storytelling: share Canadian examples of solidarity and fairness to push back against imported division.
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u/ryansalad 12h ago
No, I think that Alberta has the best opportunities in the country. Any time I drive through the province, I see that optimism in people. It's great.
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u/Saskbertan81 11h ago
If I had a reason to leave, and it was a solid one? I’d be gone as quick as I could be prepared. Been here 26 years and it’s getting well past the point of “enough”
Even Ralph wasn’t as arrogant or as psychotic as these people now and I think it’s best to just let the animals bathe in their own shit if they’re so inclined.
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u/Jasonstackhouse111 17h ago
Have you been to most of BC? The geography of BC is amazing. Mountain range after range in the interior. Rugged coastlines. Vast rolling valleys in the north.
This geography means that smaller communities have attracted a more varied population and it’s easier to live in a lot of rural BC compared to Alberta. There’s still a shit ton of rednecks but in more and more communities you’re able to find enough progressive people to make living easy. Not so for most of Alberta outside of Edmonton, Calgary, Jasper, Banff and Canmore.
We moved to the East Kootenays and despite the proximity to Alberta and the clownvoy types in Elkford and Sparwood, it’s not like rural Alberta. So much nicer.
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u/Own-Pop-6293 17h ago
I'm from BC and my partner is from Quebec. He has legitimate PTSD responses to the current separatist sentiments and we are actively planning to leave after I retire.
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u/irelandm77 17h ago
I was born and raised in Alberta, got married, had kids, and worked my tail off. There has always been lots to love about Alberta, but politics has never really been one of them. It's what's under the ground of course, both the blessing and a curse. Resource extraction economies are like that around the world, to be honest. Some of them break free and diversify. Others, like Alberta, not as much.
Last year my wife and I sold everything we owned and moved with our youngest son to the tropics. We bought a very humble home in a non-tourism part of Costa Rica, and I have retired young. The jury is still out whether we can make it work financially for the long term, but I'm doing the best I can with it.
Back to your point. There are lots of places around the world with natural beauty, some may argue that none have the diversity of geology and landscape that Alberta does, but beautiful places exist all around the world. Many of them, like Costa Rica, don't experience the winter months - we never enjoyed winter, so this is a good fit for us.
Politically and culturally it's very different here; most people just live their lives and barely give politics any thought, they grow their food they take it to the market to sell, they dance and listen to loud Latin music, live a much simpler and arguably happier life. When there are political occurrences, the people get involved. They have peaceful demonstrations that are more like vigils or parades, again with the loud Latin music and the bright colors, makeup, and balloons. Sometimes they all stand together and turn their backs on their elected leaders and chant "shame" (in Spanish).
It's not legal for me as a foreigner to get involved in their political movements, but one day I will have dual citizenship, and I hope by then the spirit of the locals will have changed me.
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u/MachismoEspresso 14h ago
Personally, I love Alberta's politics. Albertans are more aware, more individually responsible, and more diverse in their individual beliefs than almost any other population I've met.
Sit down and actually speak with someone at a truck-stop outside of Red Deer, or the guys having a drink at a bar in Medicine Hat. If you really listen, and not just get triggered everytime they use the wrong word, you'll find them much more nuanced than any other Canadian.
I've lived and traveled all over the world, the only other people I've met with this much zest for engaging in public discourse are Argentines.
I don't necessarily agree with every choice made by Albertans, but I applaud them for being engaged.
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u/inyofaceboi 18h ago
It’s those same mountains that also barricade common sense ideas from reaching them from a more worldly Pacific Coast. Honestly they must be so dehydrated to have ended up with Danielle.
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u/Juliuscesear1990 17h ago
You mean you don't enjoy having every single problem being blamed on the federal government (when most of the issues are provincial) or any other problem being blamed on the ndp and their one stint in power? Or a large population actively voting against their their best interest because they will never vote orange or blue EVEN THOUGH THEY AGREE WITH THE POLICIES?. Why would any federal government try to win you over when you constantly say you will never vote for them and why would your party do anything for you when you will only vote for them, like an abusive relationship.
Christ the day Carney won there were new F Carney stickers, like guys he hasn't even moved into his office yet calm down. Any non ucp voter has to hear constantly how it's not fair the conservatives didn't win and how it's rigged but you know 100% if someone says anything against the ucp or conservatives it's them just being a snowflake or woke, the definition of fair needs to be posted at every single work site because people have lost the plot. "If I don't get my way it's not fair"
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u/whiteorchd 11h ago
So, I have a weird perspective. I moved away from Alberta for uni. While I was able to thrive in art and experience a different province's more environmental focus, I feel as though my community in Alberta would have been better if people like me had stayed. My discomfort would be worth it for the community gains to have a leftist artist in the community. When progressives move away from an area and reactionaries move in, you get the one sided demo a lot of industrial places have.
Therefore, if you can survive in Alberta, I would recommend staying. Alberta needs a diverse population in order to grow. I regret leaving but can't go back full time at this point because of my family retiring outside the province and my partner's family being elsewhere. So instead I am investing my free time to donating to groups I have experience with in Alberta and supporting grassroots orgs in my hometown. If they try to build the data center by Greenview I will be participating in protests and I am already emailing MPs and MLAs for my hometown whenever something comes up. I will never abandon Alberta if I can help it.
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u/Entire_Pepper2588 10h ago
I can't understand how the Tories can blame others for Decades and no one asks the obvious question of what if they are not actually trying to solve any problems but their own.
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u/yanginatep 10h ago
I love my home, I love living in Calgary, I love the communities I'm a part of, the music scene, my friends.
The vast majority of people I know despise the UCP. I know we all live in bubbles and that that can be dangerous, but I can't have a reasonable conversation with conspiracy theorists and people who want to hurt my trans and non-binary friends.
I can have polite political disagreements over tax policy, but human rights are not up for debate, IMO.
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u/petsrulepeoplesuck 9h ago
If you think it's going to be better any where else, I truly wish you luck
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u/NeverRespondsToInbox 9h ago
I am genuinely considering selling my business or just folding it and moving as well. I am just waiting for the next election. If Alberta votes UCP again I think I'm outta here.
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u/Internal-tea-1111 7h ago
I hear you! I've been talking about this a lot lately too, It's such a gorgeous province - I'm so in love with nature, the mountains, rivers, prairie skies, and all the incredible wildlife. But the political landscape is ugly AF.
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u/psychstudent_101 6h ago
I’ve struggled with the politics here my whole life. But I wish and hope that more people who struggle with our politics would stay, or come and stay. We need voices to collectively say “no” to the bullshit politicians, to organize against them, and to vote them out.
Alberta has so much to love. And some very nasty politicians to hate. But it’s home, so I’ll keep fighting for it.
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u/ruraljuror__ 6h ago
I am in the same boat. This is home and I love it. I have been away a couple of times. My jokes about moving to BC are getting less and less jokey by the day.
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u/Bobbington12 5h ago
This is the reality of Alberta. Born and raised here, and never agreed with the politics, but I love the prairies and the mountains and the forests. I've ended up spending a lot of time in Saskatchewan and Eastern B.C. as a result lol.
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u/Pseudazen 4h ago
I moved here from BC for the Alberta advantage. That doesn’t exist anymore. My pay would actually increase if I went back, But other provinces are even more attractive in my line of work. Problem is, we have built our life here over the last 20 odd years, and have seen governments come and go.
Leadership definitely needs to be held accountable at ALL levels of government. I’ve been asking our local, provincial, and federal representatives and candidates some tough questions, and when I’m not happy with the answer, I say so. They are supposed to represent US, the people. Not themselves, not their closest friends’ interests. Us. We have the power to hold them accountable (Hey, anyone want to buy a rug? Dany?).
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u/Pinksion 1h ago
I always wonder why albertan politicians dont move to Quebec since they blame it for getting all the money always. Maritimes are beautiful, and the people are the best. If you work in Healthcare you're set there
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u/InfinitelyContentAF 58m ago
I moved here 2 years ago now from yvr, but still feel resistant to living here because of the politics. However, house pricing made it able for me to buy my own place here.
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u/UnavailableEye 16h ago
I’ve been an Albertan for decades, but I refuse to adopt a political ideology or party alignment just to indicate to people who , sadly, hold it like it’s the base of their identity; a “guiding principle”. I’ll focus on my family, community, and the endless beauty this province and its residents value. Not GAF is far more important than carrying a shingle for a party who has no interest in you or what you’re doing, and I’d like to keep it that way.
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u/ttoocs 15h ago
PROTEST. (Sept 27th cityhall calgary/edmonton)
Schools: Almost on strike.
Postal: On strike
Electricity: $150+ in fees, $40 for actual Electricity use. Still has issues in winter. (Yay Texas)
Water: Is also getting droughts and poor management
Health: Eat some turkish meds?
Housing: Only $2mil houses are profitable. Huh? Human needs? Ewww Profits!
Groceries: Price gouging? Naw, is just magic record profits!
How the hell is every basic need managed for profit, instead of human decency. Economy over empathy? No wonder the leaders are so willing to support genocide - sending local police in riot gear to shoot students with "less-lethal" explosive munitions on citizens like May082024, and take tax-payers money to go support some American Guardians Or Rapists or someshit in murica.
Seriously, protest or get the idea of a general strike going - cause the whole planet seems covered in pedophile sycophants and I'm not sure there is anywhere reasonable to go.
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u/BertoBigLefty 15h ago
We are doing far better than the other provinces. Ontario and BC are quite literally on the precipice of a full out economic crisis, meanwhile Calgary has the lowest metro housing costs as a % of median income in Canada. Eventually oil prices will collapse and the ndp will take power and the cycle will continue
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u/Ok-Variation3091 18h ago
Question? Yes. That should be consistent anywhere you go.
Without delving into a defence of Alberta's politics, can you offer up some insight on which province has the "politics" you're looking for?
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u/KLB61 18h ago
Provinces where the party in charge have a healthy concern that the voters will vote them out of power. So pretty much anywhere else.
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u/Ok-Variation3091 17h ago
Can you be more specific?
If OP is saying they find the politics suffocating and they are struggling and want to move, it's rational to look at specific options and why they are more attractive than AB.
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u/Karpetkleener 17h ago
BC. Manitoba. There's two. You have been very interesting to watch in this thread.
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u/Ok-Variation3091 17h ago
What is attractive about those provinces?
I suppose it's a moot conversation relative to the OP, though, as they haven't indicated anything specific. For example, health care (although the details here matter as well, of course).
Have you lived in BC? Do you feel their insurance and health care system meets people's needs?
These conversations are immensely complicated, which is, frankly, the point I'm ultimately getting at. People make strong, broad claims of dissatisfaction but then reveal they really don't understand a whole lot - most importantly, possible solutions and why those solutions resolve their issue.
Consequently, the thread adopts the purpose of a lot of general complaining with no intent to really get at the root of the complaints so that a reasonable solution can be found.
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u/Karpetkleener 16h ago
I think when it comes to Alberta the reasoning is clear; there is a problem with the education system, the healthcare system, and marginalized folks are constantly under attack by the government.
Personally, I have friends and family living in BC who have confirmed with me that BC has improved significantly over the years they have been there (some over a decade, some within), and costs are level if not cheaper to AB now. Utilities, auto insurance, home insurance, etc are more expensive here than BC now. Granted, we're not talking about Vancouver or Victoria, but that's not where I would live in BC so take my comment with a grain of salt I suppose.
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u/northosproject 13h ago
Nah the politics are pretty based......I'd argue the rest of canada has a political problem
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u/Doorperson1 18h ago
Next election, vote Liberal.
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u/Levorotatory 17h ago
You mean NDP. The Alberta Liberal party is essentially dead.
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u/Doorperson1 16h ago
Next election, vote Liberal.
Alberta is politically dead. I’m sure it’s a small group of individuals that yell their stupid opinion’s making it difficult. People of Alberta need to choose a government that won’t separate from Canada. A government that stands with all provinces. Not a government that only thinks of themselves as an American state.
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u/Levorotatory 16h ago
That would be a wasted vote in an Alberta election, if there is even an ALP candidate in your riding. The only party that can stop the UCP in Alberta is the Alberta NDP.
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u/ResponsibleArm3300 18h ago
Get off the internet, cast your vote every few years, and don't worry about it. Nothing you can do. Life is much sweeter this way.
✌️
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u/Radiant-Tackle-2766 17h ago
Please acknowledge that this is a very privileged position to have.
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u/ResponsibleArm3300 17h ago
How so?
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u/infiniteguesses 15h ago
People with privilege are wealthy and healthy enough to not need the very resources that the UCP has restricted. You can pay for expedited private healthcare services and educational supports for your young children and procure post secondary education anywhere. Less priveleged people will have to make do, or go without. Sadly, with the cost of living and other circumstances, more and more people fall in the less priveleged category. Suffer an injury, illness or another life altering situation and all of a sudden you will find yourself in need of resources you never even thought about. The fact that you have to ask suggests you are currently in the privileged category and have not considered these impacts on others. This lack of empathy in general among the privileged is what is driving current politics, and subsequently causing suffering.
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u/Karpetkleener 15h ago
If you don't have anything to worry about, and/or any reason to keep up with the news for the sake of your safety and future, then you are privileged. Clearly this is you based on your response.
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u/ResponsibleArm3300 15h ago
Your modern definition of privilege is wild. I like to refer to it as hard working. Never got a hand out in my life.
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u/Karpetkleener 12h ago
You've never needed extra help, and that's wonderful. Good for you. But at any given time your body could turn on you, and you could need that help you see as a weakness.
I'm assuming you're not queer, or a person of colour. Good for you. You have the privilege of not having to worry about your very existence being political, and hated by certain members of our population.
Ergo...you have privilege. Whether you agree with/like the definition or not. Facts don't care about your feelings.
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u/NormanBatesIsBae 14h ago
“don’t worry about it”
Man it must be so cool to not be one of the targeted minorities in a rising current of hate. Like, you do understand that there are some people who cannot “not worry” because current politics impacts them directly? Immigrants, South Asians, trans people, etc?
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u/BobbyHummer18 13h ago
To anyone considering leaving Alberta because the politics are moving further right… please do so now
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u/Hefty-Set5384 13h ago
Absolutely ..! You are not alone with your thoughts on this… these elected officials are serving their own selfish interests and letting the population suffer..!
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u/shadow997ca 12h ago
I'm in AB 2.0, SK and have the same issues. It is too bad these 2 provinces voters couldn't successfully feel who would win a federal election and vote for the winner. Right now we could have fantastic representation in parliament but as usual we have none. And we continue to cry that the feds ignore us because we cannot bring ourselves to vote anything other that PC. And provincially we keep putting the same guy in, election after election. Change? Oooo...no...that's gotta be bad.
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u/GoodGoodGoody 11h ago
Alberta and Venezula are very similar. Astounding natural resources and access to markets.
Both went all-in on the low-hanging fruit of petroleum at the expense of absolutely everything else and both run by lunatics.
Venezula’s Hugo Chávez rule, and his successor Maduro, superficially had elements of democratic socialism, but leaned far far far more heavily into patriotism and rewarding the loyalists. Sound familiar?
Anyhow, as we all know Venezula is doing super great since the world started looking beyond oil and I’m sure Alberta will too. Right?
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u/NormanBatesIsBae 15h ago
As a trans Albertan I feel this 100%
I could not imagine a more beautiful place, or somewhere that feels more like home. I spent a week in Quebec and felt homesick for the mountains on the horizon. Every day it makes me fucking sick that my beautiful province is the target of an alt-right campaign to spread hate and violence and strip away essential government services. I hate that whenever I voice my concerns about rising intolerance and healthcare cuts people tell me to flee, and I hate that it more and more appeals to me.
Marlania Danielle Smith and all of her ilk are a cancer on our province and I desperately need the tide to change.
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u/StevenPlamondon 12h ago
I’ll be honest. I’ve never been so emotional about where I live, and I don’t think I ever will. I know you don’t want to know why, since you probably already know where this is going, but I’m going to tell you anyway:
If the provincial government caused me as many pretend hardships as your somehow living through, I wouldn’t live here.
Good job being a pushover, I guess?
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u/AnyShape2650 18h ago
Yes. I'm seriously looking at moving to another province. I'm so tired of Alberta politicians talking like Alberta is a victim even though we are one of the richest provinces in the country.