As a long time Progressive Conservative M.L.A. and Cabinet Minister during Alberta’s Lougheed era, in 2015 I was an ardent advocate of electing an NDP government. The incumbent conservative government had grown out of touch, arrogant, and shoddy. #ableg #abpoli #abndp #abparty I hoped the Conservative Party would learn humility, choose a visionary, disciplined, & democracy inspired leader, & re-emerge as a party worthy of support. It certainly didn’t happen. Since 2019, Alberta has been governed by a Zombie party that doesn’t ‘t deserve a 2nd chance.

I am not an Ontarian, or a teacher, or an education assistant, but I have a perspective on the Ford government’s “Keeping Students in Schools Act”. I was Minister of Education in Alberta for 7 years, including the time the Charter was developed and enacted. #onted #onpoli I have wrestled with the issues Mr. Lecce wrestles with and I sat at both the Cabinet table and with the caucus when we had more than one animated conversation about the idea and the wording and the expected use of the ‘notwithstanding’ provision of Charter. #onted #onpoli

On Twitter, in response to the #Rally4Ed in Edmonton, Jim Simpson @EMJS10 asked - When people say, ‘save public education’, what do they mean? What needs saving? Who needs saving?
A vital question requires an answer. What sets public school education apart? #ABEd @SOSAlberta What characteristics & project makes public school education unique, vital, and attractive, compared to state-funded denominational education, charter and other private schools, or home schooling? Why does public school education have value worth defending? @schill_dawg #Ableg