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Please and thank you ;)
Let me begin by acknowledging that we are gathered here on the traditional territory of Treaty 6. I would also like to acknowledge the Metis people who share a deep connection to this land. Well friends, It’s on nights like tonight that I am really glad we expanded Alberta’s craft beer industry... Yes, tonight’s result is not the one we hoped for, or worked so hard for but, as I look at all of you, I am filled with an enormous sense of gratitude and pride. Gratitude to my team – a more dedicated group of public servants you will not find. To all of them, particularly those who are not returning to the Legislature, my eternal thanks. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to the thousands of over-caffeinated, under-showered, and over-worked volunteers who did us proud. Friends, Four years ago, Albertans hired us to do a very big job at a very difficult time. We did that job with purpose and we did it with integrity. And today Alberta is a better place because of it. I am enormously proud of our record. You all should be too. And let me say to every girl and young women watching tonight... I believe in you. Never stop believing in yourself. I hope we have shown you that in your life anything is possible. Sometimes it can feel like two steps forward, one step back… but may you never stop taking those steps. And for those of us who are working for a more progressive Alberta… this may feel like a step back. But remember, we have made tremendous progress. Albertans turned to us at a very challenging time. The oil price collapse hit us hard, exposing deep vulnerabilities in our economy. Through patient and determined action we began the hard work of lasting change. Today in Alberta, we are acting like the owners of our resources again upgrading more of the resources we own, turning them into the products the world needs. And creating the jobs Albertans deserve. And we are closer than ever to building a pipeline to tidewater and getting those resources to new markets. We are preparing for the economy that’s coming, expanding renewables and investing in ideas and innovation. Today in Alberta, the lowest paid among us make a better living… The best in Canada… because we raised the minimum wage. Because we believe all work has dignity, and all work should be rewarded. Today in Alberta, our kids are breathing cleaner air, because we are leaders on climate action. And let me say, as one of the world’s great energy leaders, we must remain leaders on climate action. We owe that to our children. And speaking of our children, today in Alberta, those same kids are learning in good schools and our loved ones are getting good health care. Public health care and public education are the great equalizers in our society. We defended them in government. And let me be very clear: We will defend them always. And – this is very important to me – today the number of children living in poverty is half what it was when we were elected. That’s 44,000 more kids who go to school with full stomachs and clothes to keep warm. No matter our role in the legislature, we will not rest until every child in Alberta is pulled from poverty. And today in Alberta, it doesn’t matter – and it never should matter - where you’re from, to whom you pray, or who you love. To every Albertan out there who identifies as L G B T Q 2 S A +, know you will always have a champion in me and in the Alberta NDP. And to every person who has worked with us to stand against bigotry, know that in Alberta there is no place for racism - there never will be. And we will never shy away from calling it out. Because we are all Albertans, fellow citizens on a common journey. For me, over these last four years, this has been the animating force of our government. All in this together. One province, with one future. And so, I am proud that workers will be safer on the job. Never again can you be fired if you take time from work to care for a sick child. The most vulnerable among us will live better lives because we raised rates for AISH and legally tied them to inflation. Every day, tens of thousands more kids will get a healthy meal at school. And my friends we have set a much higher standard for ethics and honesty in government. Now as proud as I am of our record, the people of Alberta have spoken. Democracy is our highest value. And I accept their decision. I have just spoken to premier-elect Jason Kenney and offered him my congratulations. I assured him that we will do everything we can to ensure the transition to a new government is smooth and productive. I wish him and his government well. We all do. We must. Because we all love Alberta. I also congratulate Stephen Mandel, David Khan, and Derek Fildebrandt on good, thoughtful campaigns. Your contributions to public life in Alberta are deeply valued by all Albertans. Now, friends, Albertans have hired us to lead a constructive and effective opposition. As Leader of the Opposition, I will do the job to the best of my ability and with the upmost integrity. I will defend the values we carried forward in government and the decisions those values drove. I will make sure that our vision of Alberta endures through a rigorous and robust opposition, holding government to account and making sure the voices of all Albertans are heard in their legislature. For our cause endures in the life of this province. It has for many generations. And I am again enormously grateful to the people of Edmonton-Strathcona for their renewed vote of confidence. I love you Strathcona. And I’d like to send my love to three special residents of Strathcona. Ethan, Sophie, Lou – you are my life. You helped me be here. I love you so much. Friends, For hundreds of thousands of Albertans who voted for us today, the path we chose was right for the province. It reflected the province we have become - young, incredibly diverse, outward-looking, confident. A province of enormous entrepreneurial energy joined with the conviction that we can achieve more working together than we can alone. Because friends, if one thing is true, it’s that we have fundamentally changed politics in this province. I was seven years old when my dad was first elected - the same year conservatives first took power. I was fifty-one when we ended the era of one-party rule. Today politics in Alberta has changed forever. Governing in Alberta should never again be a divine right, but always an earned privilege. Because in our democracy power must come with the high expectations of those we serve…and profound obligations to public service. Obligations that we all must work every day to live up to. Alberta, it has been an honour to serve as your premier. And it will be an honour to serve you as the Leader of Her Majesties Loyal Opposition. As I close tonight, I draw on the inspiration of those who came before and who charted the path we now travel. “Courage my friends, tis not too late to build a better world.” Thank you, Alberta.
Premier Rachel Notley, last Tuesday, after the Alberta Provincial Election results came in...
I am so upset. This one hurt on several levels. Firstly, because, when Jason Kenney will effectively be Alberta’s new Premier; there will no longer be any female premier or first minister in Canada. That, in itself, is sad and maddening. Because we need, we so desperately need women in politics. And when progressive, inspiring women are replaced by Conservative white men, who will roll back on all the progress made under their Premiership, it is infuriating and frustrating. Doug Ford is doing just that in Ontario, and I fear Jason Kenney will do the same in Alberta. Christy Clark was replaced by a white man in British Columbia, but John Horgan is a progressive, and has been a rather good Premier so far, so I’m cool with him.
Secondly, the provincial governments suddenly leaning Conservative make me really nervous about the Federal Election. We can’t go back to a Conservative government. People are still suffering from these ten long Harper years. And this is why change is sometimes judged too slow by people. A new Cabinet, however progressive, can’t erase the harm done in a snap of its fingers.
And thirdly, I’ve yet to visit Alberta, but I dreamed of seeing Rachel Notley at Edmonton Pride -she will still be there, I’m sure, just not as Premier- or run into her at the Calgary Stampede. I’m quite sad still. As are my Albertan friends, who will miss her even more sourly. So, on their behalf:
Thank you, Rachel!
Another favorite Canadian woman of mine is Premier Rachel Notley!
In Alberta, we don't care who you love, where you worship, or the colour of your skin.
Premier Rachel Notley.
Honestly, Premier Notley is one of the top reasons I want to visit Alberta, with Banff, the Flames, the Stampede, the Northern Lights and Jen Kish.
Honestly, I really want to meet Rachel Notley at least once in my life, be it at the Edmonton Pride, the Calgary Pride, the Stampede or even just run into her during her morning jog. She’s easily my favourite Premier (especially now, that Ontario shamefully elected that prick when we could have picked Andrea Horwath...), but she’s one of my favourite person, period. And I haven’t met her yet! But she is so warm, and genuine, and committed; she’s a beautiful human, and I can’t wait to meet her in person!
Also on my Travel Bucket-List, Calgary Stampede of course! Hope to make it to the Premier’s Breakfast next year. Twice as many chances (other than Edmonton Pride) to meet Rachel Notley!!!
Source: Premier Rachel Notley’s Instagram
