Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman struck a victory for inclusion last week, when MLAs passed Bill 10, which made it mandatory for school boards to accept a gay-straight alliance in any school where students requested one.
Blakeman had originally put forth a bill that would have facilitated this, but the Progressive Conservative majority had fudged on the move, instead introducing a controversial bill that would have forced students to take their school boards to court if they were prohibited from creating a GSA. Public outcry forced them to backtrack to the point they accepted Blakeman’s points and passed Bill 10.
But Blakeman’s actions, and the fact that Prentice gave her thanks and credit for her work, carried a symbolic victory as well – the victory of democracy. Blakeman is one MLA in a party that has only five seats. But as she stood up and championed the rights of a minority, the province stood back and listened – and so did the government.
The Wildrose party has also had similar victories in the last three years, thanks in part to people like MLA Shayne Saskiw, who have worked hard to hold the government to account. While Saskiw has announced he is not re-running, those victories - like scrapping the redesign of Alberta license plates or the government selling its fleet of planes – remain a testament to the importance of opposition.
While the PC battle for the nomination in this riding is over with all four people running a good campaign and Darrell Younghans prevailing to win the nomination, there remains a war ahead, with a spring election all but guaranteed.
Conservatives, provincially and federally, have been such a dominant force in this province that their dominance can stifle dissent. Many is the time where we have heard someone say, “Oh, I wanted to say this but . . .” or “I wanted to like that comment but . . .” The “but” is followed by the expressed fear of angering the Conservatives, or possible personal attacks or loss of support.
Whether this fear is true or not, it certainly doesn’t come from nowhere. Who thinks that such fear is healthy? Who thinks it is fair?
The 2012 election left a bitter and acrid taste in many people’s mouths. People who once shared common visions and goals, who all voted under the PC banner, struck apart with a majority choosing to back Saskiw.
It was a pity that one of the cornerstones of democracy – competition, free speech and debate – dissolved into such acrimony during the past election.
We, as a collective, can do better, by recognizing that voices of all kinds and opinions – even if adversarial - are needed and should be welcomed to find the best courses of action and making this the greatest province it can be.
After all, if it weren’t for dissenting voices, we wouldn’t have a bill that tells all students they are welcome and free to be whomever they want to be and that our schools will support them, no matter what. That’s the importance of democracy.
