Thread by @DrJaredWesley

Someone asked me today: what went wrong with Alberta's system of government that led to this catastrophe?

My answer: all democratic institutions rely on elected leaders to identify, agree upon, and pursue the common good. #ableg (Thread/rant)

We live in a Canada's richest province. A province where a majority of MLAs believe it is both politically expedient and in the public interest to allow dozens of citizens to die daily without any meaningful action.

We also live in a province where a majority of voters - and a plurality in more than half of our constituencies - chose to elect those representatives to office. This is the Alberta government we chose. Overwhelmingly. This is our government. And we can't look away.

Elections have consequences. In this case, life and death consequences.

Where does that leave us? Without the government bringing its own recall legislation into force (which is pretty cowardly), there is no direct path to removing MLAs. No mulligans. No do-overs. But we can send a clear message in other ways.

Protests have worked many times in the past. Albertans are understandably tired, however. So a General Strike will be challenging to organize and implement.

A modest first step: Albertans can reject the premise of this fall's equalization referendum question and make it a referendum on the Kenney government. They can use their "no" votes to put their anger with this government on the public record.

Such a "no" vote would deny the premier and his ministers a free pass out of the province to stump for some nebulous "fair deal" by crisscrossing Canada. It would force them to face accountability for their catastrophic handling of the pandemic here in Alberta.

It would also put a proper frame on the UCP leadership review in April.

A lot of us are tired. Exhausted. Exasperated. Worried that "this Alberta" is not the one we want to live in. Or to raise our kids in.

But "this Alberta" does not define our future. "This Alberta" is how a majority of MLAs think it should be. If you disagree, call your MLA. Don't use a form letter or email. Call their office.

And tell your neighbors to, too. Don't let them tell you "but my MLA is on the government side, so they won't respond." They might not. But they listen if there's volume.

And if your MLA is in opposition, call or email them, too. And copy the health minister and premier when you do.

At a bare minimum, show up at next month's municipal elections. Do your homework. Choose councilors, reeves, mayors, trustees, and Senate nominees who share your values and vision for Alberta's future.

As we've seen, local representatives have a lot of influence over the lives and livelihoods of all of us, including our kids.

By casting ballots next month, you can send a clear message to this provincial government and the MLAs that hold it accountable. Staying home or going along with their referendum antics sends an equally strong message that you're okay with the status quo.

This is about more than you. If this thread has inspired you to write an email, make a call, or cast some ballots, that's fine. But it's not enough.

Find five Albertans to do the same, and challenge then to find five more. Hold them accountable by asking whT they've done to stop this ongoing public health emergency.

I've been researching Alberta public opinion and political culture for 2 decades. I can tell you: what you're seeing play out right now is most certainly *not* what the vast majority of Albertans want. We can change it. But we need to act. Now.