The Alberta Next Panel, which Danielle Smith toured across the province last week, faced significant criticism upon its conclusion. The panel, initially presented as an opportunity to engage with Albertans and gather public input, is now perceived by many as serving primarily to advance United Conservative Party interests rather than to facilitate genuine and constructive dialogue among provincial residents.
When facing a question about the Alberta teachers, a young Albertan had his mic cut off and then the moderator told him that he would be better served by his parents turning him over their knee.
The Corus of boos and jeers amongst the crowd was loud and reverberated throughout the auditorium. As even those who were vigorously standing and cheering the panel at the start of the event discovered just what the Alberta Next Panels were truly about. It wasn't about listening to Albertans; it was just a mere summer-long propaganda circus to try and fix a ship that's sinking faster than the Titanic.
The Smith Government is falling apart. The once Queen of shock radio in Alberta now looks the fool because she has been caught in a downfall that even her political spin doctors cannot retrieve her from.
Smith, who previously promoted Alberta's strength and prosperity, now leads a province currently experiencing the highest youth unemployment rate. Combined with having the lowest minimum wage in the country, this situation has positioned NDP leader Nenshi as a prominent challenger to the premier in the upcoming election.
Albertans are beginning to see that all the UCP talked about in the last Provincial Election was just that. With a compulsion to drag one's feet in the sand on challenging economic issues, Smith has relied on being able to focus her blame squarely on the feet of the Federal Government, and I feel certain that had the conservatives won the election, this would not have changed.
Observers have noted that the UCP has faced criticism regarding its approach to policy and primary legislation, with some suggesting that there is hesitation to implement significant changes. Recent years under the UCP Government have been described by critics as lacking in policy direction. Many Albertans have expressed concerns about the government’s objectives, citing a perception of division within the province and uncertainty about the party's goals.
Regardless of the circumstances, Danielle Smith appears to have exhausted her alternatives. As public disapproval grows more pronounced, her current rhetoric may prove insufficient to reverse her prospects at the polls in the upcoming election.
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