Crime, homelessness, the opioid crisis and transit safety are all big issues for North American cities — and Alberta cities are certainly not exempt from any of them..As these issues become increasing prevalent, I encourage everyone who lives in Calgary or can be in the city on November 22 to join me for an evening of real talk about taking back our cities with the impressive Michael Shellenberger..Who is Michael Shellenberger?.Great question. A renowned author and speaker, the California-based TEDx Talks alumni is one of the leading voices on energy and how Canada should become a leader with our best-in-the-world Alberta energy. When he’s not busy talking about our ethical oilsands and dispelling the myths of the so-called “green energy solutions,” Shellenberger is penning books like San Fransicko and Apocalypse Never, where he talks about how progressive social policies have created a victim ideology that has gripped our cities..This ideology is perpetuating the vicious cycles of mental health, addiction, crime and homelessness and fuellng the ‘defund the police’ movement on both sides of the border. What it is not doing is helping our vulnerable populations get the wrap-around care and supports they need to get sober and get their lives back. Homeless encampments continue to spread through our cities like wildfire and our opioid crisis rages on. Just look at Calgary and Edmonton. Look at our smaller cities like Red Deer and Lethbridge. Would you let your children ride alone on public transit?.Last week, a ThinkHQ poll showed faith in Calgary city council continues to plummet, with Mayor Jyoti Gondek sitting at an abysmally low 35% approval rating after her first year. People do not trust their municipal councils and they don’t feel safe in their cities. Folks, this needs to change..We need to get tough on crime and get our frontline officers, our boots on the ground, the support they need to do their jobs and take care of our most vulnerable. We also need to restore personal accountability. As Premier Danielle Smith is putting the wheels in motion to invest in a long-overdue Alberta provincial police force to tackle rural crime as well as mental health and addictions support, now is our chance to get behind this movement and take our cities back..Alberta Proud is thrilled to host Shellenberger for a one-night event, where he will talk about how these progressive policies are destroying our cities and our economies. We will also have the incredible Dale Swampy, president of the National Coalition of Chiefs of the Samson Cree Nation from Maskwacis, AB, on deck to discuss these issues from a First Nations perspective. He'll talk about empowering our First Nations, where progressive policies have also perpetuated poverty and addiction..Join us at the Westin at the Calgary Airport on November 22. Doors open at 5 p.m. and our guests will take the stage at 6:30..Lindsay Wilson is president of Alberta Proud.
