Baby, just give me one reason
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It’s not me, it’s you
The Alberta NDP communications strategy is on many lips but not for the right reasons. In response, there is genuine (I think) confusion over why this matters at all when the alternative is so awful as to not require any effort from the party to encourage anyone to make the “right” choice.
We need to back up a bit, though.
In 2015, hell froze over and Alberta — widely considered Canada’s most reliably conservative stronghold — elected an NDP government.
While kudos have to be given to the NDP strategists for not scaring off voters — a la Danielle Smith 2012 — they didn’t win because Albertans had a collective epiphany about their political identity. Sorry, not sorry.
I cannot put nearly enough emphasis on the following, from an NDP organizer on the doors in Calgary during the 2015 campaign:
People said they would vote for whomever was most likely to beat the Progressive Conservative candiate, whether it was the NDP or the Wildrose.
2015 had one issue — get rid of the entitled party — and Rachel Notley owned that narrative with an easy confidence that mirrored the outcome a majority of Albertans wanted in that election; an end to the PC dynasty.
In 2019, facing a “united” conservative opposition, the NDP increased their total vote count but were unable to convince a majority of Albertans that Jason Kenney would be worse than a sustained drop in global oil prices.
Or whether the Alberta government controls global oil prices, for that matter.
Yet, once again, there seems to be far too much consideration being given to “principles” and not enough attention to what Albertans are saying: give me a reason to vote for a party that is — to a proud citizen in the most reliably conservative stronghold in Canada — contrary to everything I think I know about myself.
Every party wants to believe it is the epitome of ideological purity — and they can, if they want to be perpetually in opposition.
In 2015, the NDP stepped into the PC’s shoes and governed accordingly — and the purists hated every minute of it.
Welcome to the real world.
Either lean into the expectations of the voters — like Smith is doing with 2015 Notley-ease — or don’t; but if the NDP cannot secure the centre, it is unlikely they will be offered a third chance.
Just saying.
Speaking of an election…
Everyone expected the NDP to spend massively when they were elected — they believe government can be a force for good, after all.
It didn’t matter that they cut spending.
It didn’t matter that they were the government with a “conservative disposition”.
People couldn’t help but see orange.
Now, they see green — lots and lots of green.
Albertans like big spending governments who claim fiscal conservatism — it makes them feel good about lots of spending they don’t have to pay for.
Essentially, Albertans are closet liberals who prefer to be known as conservatives.
We like to believe that when we have to personally cut back to make ends meet, our government does, too; and we respect hard times for others that benefit us.
My apologies if I offended anyone.
How about Chinese?
For anyone who followed the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 American election, allegations of Chinese interference in the 2021 Canadian election should get our adrenaline going.
We are one of the very few countries globally who are still considered a full democracy.
Our elections are widely considered to be both free and fair.
If — as seems to be the case — anyone attempts to exert influence over Canadian institutions, it deserves the most intense scrutiny.
It doesn’t matter if it was successful or not — let’s give it a Canadian theme and call it the Raybould-Wilson (or Madu-Smith) rule — attempted influence is worth as much scrutiny as successful influence.
Unless you’re a partisan, of course.
Final thoughts
