There is a change in the air in Northern Alberta, and it isn't the transformation to spring, though that too is a welcomed sight! In the riding of Fort McMurray - Athabasca, a by-election will soon be called by the Conservative Harper government. Much like the 2011 federal general election, people are starting to talk about the potential for change in the riding. Not only is there talk in this particular riding, that same conversation is occurring across our vast country! So what is driving Canadians to demand change? If you are a Canadian who doesn't support the current federal government you know very well why people are demanding change in the upcoming by-elections and in the general election of 2015. Short answer? The Harper government is allowing itself to be guided by their ideology when trying to shape the future of our country. With lack of consultation with Canadians it has paved the unsettling route that is increasingly steering us away from our former democratic selves. This blog though is not about wasting time criticizing the Harper government or poking fun at the Prime Minister of Canada. This blog will be about the alternatives, and will not hide the fact that Canadians have wasted far too much time on the topic of coalitions and or how one person can secure positive change over another. This blog will be as much about the Northern Alberta riding of Fort McMurray-Athabasca as it will be about the rest of Canada.
There has already been increased interest with Fort McMurray which seems to favour Lori McDaniel of the NDP. I'm very curious to know why Lori appears to be drawing the attention of even the national media. This week alone, Global News in Toronto, through reporter Laura Stone, and Huffington Post, through reporter Althia Raj, both contacted Lori McDaniel to get her opinion on the very location in which she has employment. I'm not sure what their intentions were when interviewing her, but in both circumstances the papers published their articles online addressing the change in opinion of Trinity-Spadina potential candidate Joe Cressy. What may have normally resulted in a heated discussion about how a party, the NDP, in this case, has differing opinions on such a controversial topic failed to occur. Instead something extraordinary occurred. The people who took the time to comment in fact appreciated the fact that the NDP had two candidates in two separate locations of the country who did not share the same opinion. Most were open to and acknowledged the fact that a political party could and in fact should have a consortium of opinions on topics such as the oil sands. You can follow that very discussion by visiting & viewing both articles online at: This NDP Hopeful Loves The Oilsands and Toronto NDP candidate backs down on anti-oilsands rhetoric. So what is going on? Why are people suddenly more open to the opinion of NDP candidates? More specifically, why is the national media already taking notice of Lori McDaniel, the NDP candidate in Fort McMurray-Athabasca of all places? I personally can't recall the last time this has happened. Maybe someone can enlighten me.
Don't worry, the two reporters from the national media were not the first to notice Lori McDaniel. Her name has been spreading throughout her riding since she was nominated in early March. Local newspapers have continued to contact her & have published her interviews on several occasions. Her latest local interview appeared in the Tuesday, April 1st 2014 Athabasca Advocate, after she spoke with reporter Vanessa Annand. This was published just one day before the national media contacted her. I guess she's really turning heads! That only means good news for the people of Fort McMurray - Athabasca! Especially when this candidate hasn't even won the election yet. The local article can be found here: NDP Candidate Fears Region is Vulnerable to Industry Bust I have also heard from people that they have approached Lori on a few occasions, in restaurants for example, to discuss politics & her position or her party's position on various topics. Their impressions of her have been positive and is clearly bringing hope to the communities. That's always a good thing to hear!
It's always hard to draw attention to local issues, just ask the predecessor MP Brian Jean. Some within the Liberal party in the riding have already chastised him for not doing enough for the riding. The question should really have been, what did you do to help the residents of the riding!? Not, why didn't you do more or why weren't you doing anything? A lot of the time candidates get caught up in the moment and believe they can simply do better and don't give the previous MP credit for some of their efforts, whether successful or not. I know if I was running for office, the last thing I would want to do is alienate myself for being highly critical of the MP that just resigned. Maybe that MP resigned because he/she did feel inadequate and he/she did feel as though they failed the communities to which he/she represented. They may not always admit it, to save face, but does one have to point out every little failed effort he/she attempted to make? Don't get me wrong, I am no way defending former MP Brian Jean, I am just pointing out that we do not know what efforts he may have made behind the scenes. All candidates should be aware of this before being publicly critical of an MP who resigned. To that point, I suggest that all candidates running in this riding focus on their party's history & what they have delivered to Canadians in the past, good or bad, and not what the most recent candidate failed to do. Mr. Jean still did a service to the community. While running, put yourself in his shoes, will you be successful in ushering change where he had failed? Don't be so sure of your answer! Be careful of what you promise! If you can't deliver you may be in that position of being scorned. When I have the opportunity, I'll write a little more about the other candidates in this race.
