Have we lost the ability to talk to each other without talking about each other?
Whether it's health care wait times, rising education costs, immigration pressures, or even the growing chatter about Alberta’s separation from Canada, it seems every serious issue is now immediately filtered through a partisan lens. Bring up education reform and someone accuses you of hating teachers or being in the pocket of unions. Express concern about immigration policy and you’re suddenly either a bleeding heart or a bigot. Say anything about health care and within ten seconds someone says “Trudeau” or “Smith,” as though a real conversation is impossible without naming a politician to either praise or blame.
What happened to us?
Too many of us have traded curiosity for identity. We don't discuss issues anymore—we just pick a team and start swinging. We treat politics like sports, and loyalty to a party like religion. And here in Alberta, that tribalism is boiling over into something bigger: talk of separation.
Now there's a conversation that deserves some honesty.
Before anyone starts slapping a YES or NO sticker on their truck, let’s ask: why are some even talking about leaving? Is it about equalization? Energy policy? A cultural rift between the West and Ottawa? Do we feel ignored? Dismissed? Do we believe Alberta could govern itself more fairly, more freely, without the tangle of federal strings?
These are legitimate questions. But if we can’t discuss them without the usual partisan battle cries—without blaming that leader or defending our guy—then we’re not solving anything. We’re just yelling louder.
The irony? Most of the people having these arguments agree on more than they think. We all want a strong Alberta. We all want good jobs, a fair system, safe streets, and a future our kids can afford to live in. But we’re so wrapped up in who said what that we stop listening to what’s actually being said.
Try this: Talk about carbon taxes, or resource development, or food prices, or health care wait times, or school curriculum—without invoking a single political name. Can you do it? Can you challenge yourself to understand the policy, not just the party?
This isn’t about being “moderate” or sitting on the fence. It’s about maturing politically. It’s about refusing to let party war rooms, Twitter bots, or talk show pundits decide what we think. We need to start leading our own conversations again—especially in Alberta, where we’ve never waited politely for someone else to speak first.
So, here’s the challenge: have your next argument about Alberta’s future without picking up the partisan flag. Talk about ideas, values, and results, and seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Challenge yourself, and challenge others. And if you find someone who can hold that conversation with humility and respect? Buy them a beer. That’s the kind of person who might just help build the Alberta we keep talking about.
By the way, I drink Guinness!
