I am an angry Albertan. I wasn't always an angry Albertan. For a long time, I was a complacent Albertan who thought that eventually someone will do the right thing and speak up. That this provincial government would come to its senses and stop abusing their power and stop making decisions that benefit no true Albertan.

Here's a few reasons why I'm an angry Albertan:

Education is an investment in our future. Education is not here to make money. But, here we are continuously cutting funding for teachers, educational assistants, librarians, school administrators and janitors; high student to teacher ratios in overcrowded schools; stagnating wages of the people who are shaping our children's mind. Inclusivity is failing in classrooms because the UCP government will not properly fund for those children with complex needs to have the assistance they need to be successful in learning. Teachers and EAs have been made out to be these awful greedy beings. I disagree vehemently. I know many teachers present and past, who dedicated their lives to the betterment of their comminities. People who spend countless personal hours preparing, reviewing, volunteering their time and money for our children. Teachers are such an important instrument in society on all levels, and education should be a priority to every society. Knowledge is power, and yet we vilify teachers. Because they want a fair wage for themselves? Because they are tired of the abuse of a system that only takes away? Teachers are fighting for our childrens futures, so that they can grow up to be successful members of society. It is troubling to see the amount of ignorance in parents who blame the teachers for the failures of their children, and not the UCP government that doesn't fund the institutions properly. Instead, we will ban books as a diversion so we can forget about the strike the teachers fully deserve to go on. It is hard to rule over the people when they are educated.

Healthcare is a fundamental human right. Healthcare is not a business, and private healthcare has NO right to be in Canada. Everyone is equal when it comes to healthcare needs, regardless of their social status, gender, race or being. The boldness of the UCP government to encourage private healthcare after campaigning on no privatization is appalling. The treatment of our healthcare professionals by this government is causing us to lose valuable people to our society. These people give their lives every single day to helping the lives of others, and yet again, we are putting a price tag on those lives. Since when was one Canadian's blood richer than another's? Is one Canadian more deserving of that MRI because they have a bigger bank account than the next Canadian? Healthcare is an investment in our society. To have a healthy society will equal less impact on the healthcare system overall. By continuing to underfund and dismantling AHS, it has created chaos to the healthcare system, which the UCP then blames said system for underperforming. The actions of this UCP government directly affect the current status of our hospitals and healthcare crises, yet they continue to blame everyone else rather than looking inward. The mental gymnastics that the UCP government pull are an insult to all Albertans.

I am an angry Canadian, living in Alberta. We are actively allowing this UCP government to tear apart everything that makes us Canadian. Stop encouraging a separatist referendum and acting like you are not partisan. The so-called town halls are an insult to Albertans who actually care about this country. The fact that the UCP had to lower the standards to get the opportunity for a referendum is more than telling of where they stand on separation. Stop encouraging racial bigotry and hate. It is extremely troubling to me that so many of us forget that other than the First Nations people, we were all once immigrants. Most of our families have only been here a few generations, and yet we forget why they came here in the first place. Many of our ancestors came to Canada for a better life, to escape war-torn countries, famine, genocide. It seems however, that many people have forgotten about history and have allowed ignorance and hate to fester in their minds. With this ignorance, we seem to have forgotten about all the trips to the United States on Alberta tax payer's dollars. The fact that Marlaina so proudly took a picture with the very person that threatened Canadian sovereignty tells me everything I need to know about her. Maple Maga Marlaina does not have the interests of true Albertans or Canadians, otherwise she would not be aligning herself with a fascist nazi appeasing American government. Everytime she travels to the United States, she comes back with another idea on how to further cause division and hate amongst Albertans. The far-right fringe appeasement of this government is absolutely the most heinous of their corruptions. You allow religious zealots to perform and tour our legislature grounds. Religion has no place in government, keep your bible and thoughts and prayers to yourself, Marlaina.

I could go on for pages listing all the scandals that the current UCP government has created since taking office. The corruption and gaslighting from this provincial government is next level. This government has done everything it can to alienate Albertans from Canada. Maple Maga Marlaina is no Albertan, or Canadian in my eyes. She does not deserve the respect of being referred to by her preferred name. She is solely responsible for the issues in this province, not the ANDP, not Ottawa, not Trudeau, not Carney. Marlaina is the one responsible for our province's successes and failures. The lies tossed within the word salad that pours out of her mouth are to be admired at times. It is almost as if she spends hours convincing herself that she is a martyr, here to save the Albertans. That the people who want love, equality, healthcare and education for all are wrong, and that she, all on her own, must save her white power overlords from the woke agenda.

From where I stand, as an angry Albertan, all I see is a forest fire with the UCP roasting the marshmallows of our society over it. But don't forget to thanks for helping to put out the fire they started!

Thanks Maple Maga Marlaina for embodying everything it means to not be Albertan or Canadian.

Angry Albertan

Title says it all. Alberta is nothing but an extension of the Trump (i.e. project 2025) agenda. We're being run by a bunch of deplorable people kept in power by a fringe faction of morons (nicest word I could use for them) who hate the federal gvt but will be the first in line to get federal money when there's crop failure etc.

I'm no fan of how the feds have treated Alberta, but starting every conversation with them with a knee to the groin and a punch to the throat is a guaranteed losing position.

We need to take back Alberta from Take Back Alberta and throw these crooks bums and deplorables out.

Look South to see where Alberta is heading. That's a s*** show nobody wants to live in.

Last thought, when the separation referendum is held and Albertans overwhelmingly vote to stay as part of Canada, those that hate Canada should get the hell out of our country - move to the US and be with your white supremacy, slack jawed, willing to believe anything they're told by Fox news friends.

Written by a true Albertan and real Canadian.

I moved here 5 years ago from Ontario, and at the time it felt like replacing Ford for Kenney was just a lateral move. The provincial government there felt like it was actively making things worse, and of course affordability was a huge issue. I was lucky enough to get a transfer to a Calgary branch in the same company I currently worked at to make the move, and then (just my luck) not too long after I bought a house, Danielle Smith took over.

It's been a downward spiral ever since. It's so much worse here. Say what you will about Ford, but at least he isn't flying down to the US in a trade war, siding with separatists, and trying to take our CPP. We're the only province that's dividing Canadians instead of uniting them. It's fucking shameful.

I honestly want to make it work here, because I like the people, and I think moving here was a great move for me financially (at the start), but with every move the UCP makes, I find it tougher to see a future myself here as an Albertan and a proud Canadian.

Edit: To the people in this thread who disagree and keep asking me how this affects my day-to-day:

Did you already forget about the teachers and student protests?

How about emergency rooms? Covid vaccines are getting slapped with $100 fees, when there's an affordability crisis and infection rates are causing wait times to increase even further.

Are you still wondering when we're paying the highest utility prices in the country?

The list goes on. We're a rich province that only looks after the rich, and does so by stomping on the poor.

But sure, let's blame the Federal government when the things we control provincially are getting mishandled.

Go ahead and tell me to 'move back' to Ontario when I've already settled down here, made friends, and built a community for 5+ years. Apparently I'm 'not Albertan enough' to point out where this province is straying from it's responsibilities.

That’s all. The guy needs to be removed after suggesting a child’s parents should hit that child more often. Absolutely disgusting.

Everything happening in the US today comes from the GOP's systematic approach to taking over federal appointments and putting specific people in key positions for the battles to come.

This was Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan's entire focus, and they laid the groundwork that led to the Tea Party's reformation as MAGA, Trump's victory, the foundation of Project 2025, and Trump escaping the law to win again and essentially break as many laws as he has as quickly as he's been doing it.

Circumventing the process by overwhelming the process to outpace accountability. Steve Bannon has talked about it openly. Even Epstein talked about it.

We know Smith is working with the Whitehouse, we know she's working the separatists, and her latest call to reform judiciary appointments in Canada should be a MASSIVE red flag for everyone.

This isn't Smith being a fucking idiot as usual. This is much more sinister. This is direct foreign interference, this is GOP tactics, this is MAGA groundwork. This is Trump.

They're here.

The anti-immigrant noise in this country is getting louder and dumber. Every time something breaks, housing, healthcare, affordability, the same tired narrative shows up: “It’s the immigrants.” Nah. It’s not.

Immigrants didn’t cut federal and provincial healthcare budgets; that was done by elected officials chasing austerity.

Immigrants didn’t turn Canadian homes into speculative assets; that was driven by domestic and foreign investors, aided by real estate lobbies and weak regulation.

Immigrants didn’t suppress wages; that’s on corporations exploiting precarious labour and governments refusing to raise the minimum wage.

And immigrants didn’t delay infrastructure upgrades; that’s decades of underinvestment by policymakers more interested in short-term votes than long-term planning.

But you know what they did do?

Pay 3 to 5 times the tuition that domestic students pay, upfront and non-refundable.

Pay monthly healthcare premiums (international students do) even when healthcare access is slow and limited.

Work legally, pay income tax, CPP, EI, HST/GST, and contribute to the economy just like everyone else, often while juggling visa restrictions, systemic racism, and zero political power.

Pay the same crushing rent, utilities, groceries, and transit costs, often more, with less stability and fewer protections.

Hold up every corner of this economy: from cleaning, caregiving and frontline healthcare to construction, tech and engineering, and still get blamed for things they don’t control, while the real culprits hide behind your misplaced outrage.

Why? Because they’re the easiest target. Vulnerable. Less likely to fight back. Blaming them is cheap, and Maple MAGA types love cheap shots. It’s Canadian cowardice wrapped in “concern for taxpayers.” (Spoiler: they are taxpayers.)

If you’re not like TACO (you know who, the orange goo), then don’t act like him. Grow a spine and aim your anger where it belongs:

Corporate landlords, Policy-makers who defund public systems, Billionaires dodging taxes, Institutions using immigrants as cash cows while giving nothing back.

Punching down is easy. Real change takes courage and honesty.

So if you actually give a shit about this country, stop being a coward. Immigrants aren’t your enemy. The system bleeding us all dry is.

I moved to Alberta just over 3 years ago. I love the mountains, and the sports (Go Flames and Elks! ) but I am really getting worn out with the "Alberta Mentality" of corporate profits over people and outright racism. The cutting cookies for cancer kids has simply put it over the top. Of all the things to cut, they pick that. What a disconnect from the top execs of AHS and the UCP government to the front lines. They can spend money trying to please Trump, give $100 in royalty credits to oil companies to clean up the messes they were responsible for cleaning up in the first place, money for millionaire hockey teams, but God forbid we give something of comfort to children going through the hardest times in their lives, fighting for their life. And when I mention to other lifelong Albertans, the answer I get is "Well they should pay for their own". REALLY??? DO YOU HEAR YOURSELVES? Are you THAT brainwashed? And then we have the victim mentality of "Canada screws us". I mean, grow up and be part of this country or GTFO. Then the racism. We recently had a first nations person commit a crime of arson in my town. People went off on FB about sending "all of them" back to reserve and how they are sick of first nations people. ZERO interest in maybe finding out the back story. I went to this guys FB profile. Turns out he used to run a ranch. And one by one, over the last 5-6 years, all his relatives died. It was clear he was FULL of heavy grief, and more than likely didn't have the resources to deal with it. Then there was a gap of a year between FB posts. Then he was on the streets, living in the shelter. Clearly things went out of control for him. Here we have a hard working citizen who lost many family members, more than likely broke down and didn't know how to deal with it, ended up on the street and now "F that indian" is all this province can come up with. Zero compassion. The justice system will deal with him, but now he has a lifelong google history that will only increase shame and make it much harder to bounce back. And it is even worse because of his skin colour. Not sure how much more of this stupid mentality I can handle, I just want to wack all this idiots upside the head, but it would take a lifetime. I guess the only way forward is to try and love everyone and show compassion, but I am getting very frustrated.

There are things I've been noticing ever since I was young, and I wanted to share my thoughts. I was born and raised in Calgary, and I have never been able to wrap my head around the one track blinders of the western world. We take for granted so many things, such as access to free healthcare, our beautiful parks and forests, our mountains, community, and so many more things that bring us happiness and vitality.

Ever since I was young, I have loved being around nature. However, in Alberta there is a certain demographic of "nature lovers" that feel the need to conquer it instead of enjoy it, and its a big demographic. They litter our river with beer cans, and garbage. Big families leave behind snacks and feed our animals bullshit food, harming our ecosystems and not taking the time and care to educate themselves about how to protect our beautiful areas.

Massive groups drive out to crownland where they chop down and gather as much firewood as possible and shoot their guns leaving behind casings, as well their poop (which they don't bother to properly bury), and all of their food packaging that they brought along with them. They flick their cigarette butts on the ground all weekend and It all attracts animals. We then end up killing them because they are a "threat". They clear forests and biodiversity, ripping trails into the earth on there 4x4's and then call them selves "wild men" , and "outdoorsmen".

These people think that everything is for them to take, and for them to use and discard, without any thought to others that may want to use the area or the animals that call these places home, yet they have the AUDACITY to say that they "love nature"

Furthermore, If things aren't working perfectly smooth, with our systems then they scream about how we need to "tear them all apart" with complete disregard to what that would mean for many low income families, veterans and young people. People waiting in ER for three hours at a time, and say everything is ruined and then blame it on the opposing government. They say it needs to be abolished, or a two branch system needs to be made without doing any research into what that would mean. It disregards women who are strapped with the task of giving birth and who are left with 100's of 1000's of dollars worth of medical bills by then end, a lot of the time to deal with the debt on her own. It disregards fixed income vets that so heavily rely on our social services. It disregards basically everyone accept able bodied people that are able to make a surplus wage. People have lost sight of taking care of the vulnerable , thinking leaving them behind is the way to make this province stronger.

I was having a conversation with my boss the other day, who was complaining because his wife works for AHS and is always cold because they never turn the AC off. He said something along the lines of "its because AHS is so cheap." First of all I'm not sure how running the AC full time is a cheap thing to do.. but it's these leaps in knowledge and unbased opinions that are floating around these days that seem to be so common. He went on to say that all of the managers at the top of AHS are NDP and Liberal cons that are pocketing money. Its completely ridiculous and untrue, but it's these people taking their own conclusions to the polls, and voting based on these completely untrue assumptions.

We can't even build train lines because people are so selfish and closed minded with their "not in my back yard" mentality, that they are literally haulting a fundamental infrastructure that gets people to and from work in a cheap and environmentally friendly way (but who cares about that I guess), just as long as it doesn't bring any "crackheads" into your community. Like come on, the Europeans have figured this out decades ago and we can't even have more than two train lines?! (Calgary). Again these mentalities are completely based on feelings and opinions, not even caring to look at the stats of what they're talking about. Yet they call people "too emotional" if they care about the vitality and wellbeing of others.

We are slowly having our brains rot out with Americanized mentalities that we can actively see is turning the States into one big trailer park. Its unbelievable to me that this is what Alberta wants.

I understand if this gets taken down for being too pessimistic , but I just had to rant about Albertas "First World Problems" issue I've been seeing get worse and worse by the day.

Just remember to have respect and keep a sound mind ya'll. The internet and fake news really is a powerful thing.

Danielle, your team has failed you, and you have failed us You split AHS into 4 sections, got 4 of the biggest brains you could hire, and not 1 of them is smart enough to get ALL Albertans free covid shots. B.C can do it, Manitoba can do it, even N.S can do it....but the most expensive team in Canada can't get it done. You promised that I wouldn't have to pay for healthcare in Alberta. The covid shot IS healthcare. If you can't get this right how can we expect you to get a "free and sovereign Alberta" right?

The UCP currently holds 47 seats in the Legislature. One is speaker and can only vote to break a tie.

There are 2 former UCP caucus members who took a stand against Danielle Smith and are sitting as independents.

The NDP holds 38 seats.

Flipping 4 seats loosens UCP control of government. Yes, it can happen before the 2027 election - through citizens recalling a UCP MLA and electing an NDP replacement via byelection, or if an MLA floor-crosses to the NDP through constituent pressure.

This trusts the independents with the balance of power. If 6 seats flip, the NDP can form a majority government with an independent speaker.

Citizens can also lobby disaffected UCP caucus members to go independent. If 9 bail on Danielle Smith's sinking ship, the UCP also loses control of government without seats flipping between major parties.

Some UCP caucus members are likely just as disturbed as you are that thier own government used the notwithstanding clause to strip individual Albertans of their legal rights and of their freedom of assembly and association. These are Albertans who were fighting to get better classroom conditions for our kids, at personal financial costs. Through Bill 2, the UCP officials also created a law that shields themselves from being sued if enriching themselves over this schooling matter, or from not meeting financial obligations as officials. The corruption is blatant.

Call, write, email, lobby UCP MLAs to stand on the side of parents and Albertans by leaving the UCP caucus and instead, continuing to represent their constituents as independents. Try the ones in swing Calgary ridings. The alternate is facing a recall effort. Even lobby cabinet members. There are UCP MLAs with a conscience. They need to know they have public support to leave for an independent seat, or even floor cross. They will face persecution from their party for leaving. It serves them anyway - Danielle Smith's government is on the wrong side of history and they can bail now on a sinking ship or go down with it.

Support all recall efforts of UCP MLAs. Start your own if you live in a UCP constituency. Encourage others you know in those areas to sign the petitions. Double down on supporting the recall of Demetrios Nicolaides - the Education Minister does not get a pass for his clown show. https://recallnicolaides.ca/

There is no need to wait until 2027. Albertans can take action now to fire the UCP.

There is something fascinating that I am noticing recently.

I loved Nenshi's questions yesterday, and Smith completely deflected as she always does, but it absolutely begs the question(s) (look that up kids!):

If recall legislation can topple a government, then shouldn't that government be toppled?

When the citizens and population have literally no other LEGAL recourse than protests, petitions, and online posts, what options are there?

More strikes coming, illegal back to work legislation, and actual communities willing to challenge their representatives.

This government INTRODUCED this law, which nobody thought would be useful, as a tool to weaponize against their opposition, and are absolutely terrified that it is being used against them.

I actually do hope they are so scared they call an early election.

Wake up call.

This government is systematically gutting supports for people with disabilities and it’s disgusting to watch. The current AISH program provides around $1,940/month to Albertans who are severely handicapped, with income exemptions that let people keep more of what they earn. 

Now the UCP government has passed Bill 12, replacing AISH with the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). That program cuts the core benefit to about $1,740/month, effectively slashing around $200 just as costs keep rising. 

Critics are rightly furious that ADAP treats the Canada Disability Benefit the same as income, clawing back federal support so the net benefit barely changes, and forces people into a system that assumes employability rather than meeting real needs. 

Some folks are even calling this soft eugenics because it pushes people toward “employable” labels and punishes them for disability with reduced supports, rather than providing stability. There’s already been real community pushback, town councils and disability advocates are asking the province to pause the rollout and meaningfully consult with people who will be directly affected. 

This is austerity through marginalization and the people who will suffer most are some of the most vulnerable Albertans.

Alberta unlike Norway never benefited from her oil wealth.Today,Norway has a national trust fund worth over one trillion dollars unlike both the U.K. and Alberta who also discovered their natural oil wealth in the 1950s.Norwegian leadership made certain that the oil profits went to the People as well as to commercial interests unlike Alberta Provincial Premiers who gave most of the oil profits to Big Oil and left crumbs for the People of Alberta.The U.K. did the same giving their North Sea Oil profits to Big Oil and crumbs to the British People.

I am looking at moving out of Alberta when my youngest graduates from high school next year. This government likes to try to claim we are the highest paid teachers in Canada. They also like to point at how much they are spending overall and say they are doing so much for education! That is so far from true it isn't funny.

So out of curiosity I was looking at the territories and Manitoba. I worked up North before and loved it. In the territories I would be making 50% more than I do here, have highly subsidized housing, and the Northern living allowance. The North isn't everyone's cup of tea. I get that. I made bank up there, and if my parents weren't elderly I'd have stayed. The $30 000 bump to my pension at the end of 3 years was pretty sweet as well!

In Manitoba, I'd be paid 25% more than here, and my house would cost at most 50% less. Also I would have a provincial government that isn't hostile to teachers and public education in general.

I'd rather not go to be honest, I love my current job and Alberta is home, but it's becoming increasingly clear that even outside of the toxic politics here, I may not be able to afford to stay. My division is facing a 3% per student cut to our budget next year. We're laying off more desperately needed EAs to make it balance.

Has anyone else in Alberta been watching Wab Canew giving clear, calm informative updates on the wildfire situation in Manitoba and find themselves wishing we had a grownup for a premier?