The year is 2022..And man, oh man, do things have to change..I’m not talking about new labels for Aunt Jemima syrup or the Edmonton Elk name change. No, I’m not touching either of those with a barge pole..I’m talking about big changes — changes that need to happen in Alberta and our provincial cities..Changes that will affect our lives now, and will so as we go into the future. Stuff that actually matters in our everyday lives..To repeat that famous quote from the movie Network: “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore.”.And so, here we go:.1) My friends, we must stop listening to the Duane Bratts and Lori Williams of the world. I don’t have anything against these ivory tower types, they are probably very nice people. But for crissakes, there must be other intelligent people with credible opinions who the local media can call upon for political comment. Reporters are a lazy bunch, and they always seem to go back to the same people for comment over and over again just because they know they will get an answer and meet their deadline. Is it time to get some other opinions on politics in Alberta? Surely, we can’t all be stupid?.2) An Alberta premier of any shade or stripe that will take on Ottawa and begin the process of autonomy for our great province. Our own pension, our own provincial police force and even our own intelligence service and diplomatic/business development corps would be a good place to start. We have to show the PMO we mean business, otherwise we, our children, and their children are doomed to paying off the exorbitant federal debt and subsidizing Quebec through unfair equalization payments. As Roberto Duran said to Sugar Ray Leonard, in the “Super Fight” of 1980 — “No Mas.” No more. This must stop..3) Alberta must begin to look at setting up Free Trade Zones or other incentives to lure investment in advanced technologies, as they have done in China and other countries. It’s one thing to say you want to diversify, quite another to do something about it and even harder to be successful. We also need to establish a task force to look at solutions that have proved successful around the world and we must also be prepared to take risks — it’s do or die, ladies and gents, we must move with the times. For example, if the state of Texas can reduce its dependence on O&G, we can too. How did they do it?.4) Ensure clean drinking water, to every First Nations Reserve in Alberta. No more talk, get it done. I don’t care how much it costs or what it takes, or whose toes get stepped on. Get the damn thing done. The current state of affairs is unacceptable. Let’s be an example for the rest of Canada and work with First Nations to get this resolved! The empty words coming from the PMO in this regard, have achieved nothing..5) Establish a realistic provincial green policy on motor vehicles. Look, we aren’t ready for electric cars, battery technology is still not there. The best way to go is hybrids. They work great, even at -30C (or so my Uber friends tell me), are reliable and, well, very green. It’s too soon to make the jump to electric cars. We just don’t have the infrastructure yet and it’s pointless to ram through wayward policies like Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek is attempting. It will only end in yet another costly disaster and wasted taxpayer funds. Battery technology will improve in time but we’re just not there yet..6) Build a C-Train line to Calgary airport. This should have been done years ago and the blame should be levelled at the incompetence of previous city hall leaders. This should have been fast-tracked even before the controversial Green Line mega-project, which notoriously went ahead despite calls for a plebiscite on the decision. Which reminds me, city hall must continue to cut costs and reduce taxes — this is their main task, not a climate emergency!.7) Why are Calgary’s intersection lights lengthy and not timed properly? I have driven across Europe and the United States, and with the exception of a few roads like 5 Ave. and Beddington Tr., I swear the absolute worst timed lights are in Calgary, bar none. Not only does this add to the waste of fuel, it slows traffic and causes great frustration. Perhaps this is intentional, I don’t know. Personally, I think whomsoever’s in charge should be shown the door — get someone in there who can fix it!.8) Get rid of those damn bike lanes in the suburbs! Keep them in downtown Calgary for couriers and the occasional commuter, but they don’t need to be anywhere else. Sorry, but we’re not Amsterdam and never will be. I have yet to see a single cyclist (even in summer) use the bike lanes adjacent to Northland Mall — not one. Nobody is crazy enough to ride there! This was a complete boondoggle, a waste of taxpayer funds by an out-of-control mayor. Let’s accept defeat and just get rid of them..9) Continue to play hardball with the Calgary Flames owners on the arena deal, don’t back down. And if they don’t like the deal, let them go. I will personally help drive them to the border and be done with them — I’ll even pay for gas and hot dogs. To be honest, I’d rather see the Stampeders get a new stadium, not these overpaid NHL prima donnas who do little or nothing for the local community. .10) Stop beating ourselves up, because we’re an oilpatch province. Instead of being ashamed of what made our province great, let’s be proud of it. Let the road of democratic independence guide us toward a new economic order, one that rests upon our strengths and our innovation, in spite of the feds. If we remain satisfied with the current deal under confederation, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes and colonial exploitation of past decades..Autonomy is our salvation..Dave Makichuk is a Western Standard contributor. .,He has worked in the media for decades, including as an editor for the Calgary Herald. He is also the Calgary correspondent for ChinaFactor.news,.makichukd@gmail.com
