Thread by @AndrewKnack

Today all Albertans will have an opportunity to decide who they would like to serve them for the next four years.

This decision should not be taken lightly. The people we elect to serve us will send a clear message to others what our collective priorities are. #abvote #abpoli

For many, the primary issue will be the economy. I can’t fault someone for prioritizing that. There are some communities that have been hit harder than others and addressing that concern may be the most important and immediate issue for them.

I completely understand why someone would focus on the economy because for most of my life, I have put the economy above any other issue.

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog that mentioned each of us can only have one top priority. For me, I spent most of my life prioritizing the economy over areas like integrity & ethics. That doesn’t mean I didn’t care about those areas but I now realize they were lower on my list.

This is the first election that I can say I am prioritizing integrity, ethics, and morals above all else. #abvote #abpoli #ableg #ChooseYourAlberta

The economy is high on my list of critical issues. I’m concerned the rest of the world will pass us by while we focus the majority of our time & effort on a resource instead of preparing for a knowledge-based economy. I want Alberta to be prepared for life after oil & gas.

That’s not to say that we should ignore oil & gas but that we should plan and budget for a new economy. One that no longer relies on royalty revenues to balance our budget and pay for our necessities.

And if we are fortunate enough to see those royalty revenues go up one more time, I hope we use that funding to invest in actually diversifying our economy.

There is no downside in getting our Province ready for this new world as soon as possible. The worst that would happen is we are already working towards developing new skills and industries while we benefit from additional revenue in our existing resource-based economy.

But before I think about the economy, I want to be absolutely certain that those who have put their names forward to serve are going to hold themselves to the high ethical standards and serve with integrity.

I want to be confident that the people serving us will make evidence-based decisions and be open to other perspectives that don’t always align with their own. If the people serving us are doing what’s listed above, I know we can be successful long into the future.

I encourage everyone to reflect on what your top priority is. Once you have done that please go vote. Not voting means you are letting others decide the future of Alberta. This is one of the most important decisions you will ever make - don’t miss this opportunity. #abvote