Turning the ship around…

I spent 2 days at the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta’s annual conference last weekend. It was a fascinating learning experience and I left with two words dominating my thinking. Opportunity. Dignity.

Every child enters this world under very different circumstances, with distinct heritage, parentage, genetic makeup and areas of potential. But with a common yearning – to find their role within society. Through the processes of nurturing, socialization and education every child ought to be able to reach their potential and find their place in the world. Yet on any measure, Albertan children are not all getting to where they could go – doors are shut through poverty, dysfunctional parenting, developmental challenges or physical or mental illness, failure to learn or have access to an environment in which they can.

None of the answers to changing their story are easy, or solely the responsibility of government. But they are largely understood, much studied and possible to address. The research base is there. The returns on investment in our most valuable resource are clear to any economist or humanist. That is, if we value the concepts of collective and individual opportunity and dignity for our citizens.

I have advocated for and been involved with the fields of education and social services for the past 9 years. Many positive policy initiatives have been proposed, debated, and some championed, funded and implemented with limited success. But many others have been cast aside as too costly, not politically important or have been ideologically hijacked during the process of implementation. And that is why I am going to Reboot Alberta. Our political system is failing a fair number of our children, not to mention other marginalized populations.

I wish I knew what the solution is. I don’t. I have read many other blogs suggesting possible solutions. The one I tend towards is the need to engage the silent majority of Albertans in a discussion about our political system – it is overwhelming to me that the majority of Albertans simply don’t vote, nonsensical that political parties expend so much energy and dollars on getting out their apparently committed voters, the opposition once elected is constantly marginalized, the roles of local politicians (councillors and trustees) are not recognized, respected or valued, and finally, having a political discussion at the dinner table is simply not the norm here.

Coming from a country where voting is compulsory, has a preferential voting system, where governments change on a regular if not frequent basis, and political happenings are grist for the mill at many social occasions, Alberta is a democratic dinosaur. Yet it has all the elements required to be something so very different and better– an underlying commitment to public education and healthcare, a potential revenue base that many small nations would envy, and a rich and diverse physical and intellectual landscape.

Its time to turn the ship around – the icebergs are now within view. The concept of, and enthusiasm surrounding Reboot Alberta from players across the ideological spectrum has already sounded the alarm in political circles – our current course is leading us into dangerous waters. Hopefully Reboot Alberta will play a part in plotting a new course.