Friday Focus:

The biggest story in Alberta politics this week is the “Her Vision Inspires” essay contest’s third place winner. It’s even created another internationally embarrassing headline for our province. Reading this essay makes it clear why it’s grabbing attention. 

One profoundly racist statement in it says:: 

"While it is sadly popular nowadays to think that the world would be better off without humans, or that Albertan children are unnecessary as we can import foreigners to replace ourselves, this is a sickly mentality that amounts to a drive for cultural suicide.

But the essay doesn’t stop at spreading white replacement theory baloney. It’s sexist too. In another section, it calls for women to focus less on breaking into male-dominated fields to instead have more children. 

This is extreme far-right ideology even by UCP standards. 

It is alarming that this essay was deemed not only appropriate but award-winning by the two MLAs involved in judging it. Even worse, those MLAs are the Associate Minister for the Status of Women Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk and her parliamentary secretary Jackie Lovely. Yes, you read that right.

Ideas and ideology matter. They shape policy and people’s lives. Unfortunately, members of the UCP government were comfortable enough with these regressive ideas to give them public recognition. 

Gender equality is a serious issue in Alberta. We have the highest pay gap in Canada. We have some of the least accessible abortion services. Racial inequality also remains a persistent issue. 

To address this situation, the UCP must:

• Demand the resignation of both MLAs from their cabinet positions. 
• State unequivocally, and with detail, that the UCP rejects the ideas in this essay.
• Make it clear that anyone who shares the repressive beliefs expressed in this essay is not welcome in the UCP. 

Sadly, the UCP is unlikely to do any of this. They are happy to court the votes of those who believe in the same unacceptable views of the essayist.

If you’re like me and want to stand against these offensive views, please continue supporting the Alberta Liberal Party. 

We stand for opportunity for all and will keep fighting for gender and racial equality. We will never accept any Albertan being thought of, seen as, or treated as less than every other Albertan.