There are times in our lives when deja vu moments occur and I had one of those recently; I wondered why newer and younger Albertans must again fight the same battles I first fought over 45 years ago ó and which led me directly into politics.
For those who donít know, I served on Albertaís first Human Rights Commission back in the 1970s, and at the request of then-Premier Peter Lougheed, I later became an MLA (in 1979) and then a cabinet minister.
The story of how I got into politics ósomething I as a young farm wife with five kids, never desired nor thought of óstarts a bit earlier.
My husband Joe and I married young and dreamed of farming. At the time, secure in the fact that a long-standing Social Credit government (described as small ìcî conservative) would protect our property rights, we instead learned in 1965 they could too easily expropriate our land on behalf of others. They did so for power lines, pipelines, gas and oil well sites and the like.
We understood then and understand now such development must occur for the public good.
But the proposed power lines would have gone over our feedlot; that was a problem because no permanent buildings could be built under such powerlines. So we decided to ask for a small change in routing.
So, naively, I believed that when I contacted our government in Edmonton and spoke to the appropriate ministers, that a small change in routing would be granted. I was shocked at the arbitrariness of their response: The Old Boys Club gave me the ëwe know what is best for you my dearí attitude and wouldnít budge.
Unfortunately, that attitude permeated many areas of the government, and I wasnít the only one affected, so I began to organize farmers to challenge the lack of openness in public decision making.
This is only a small example of what was occurring at the time, of how a political party was losing touch with voters it was supposed to represent. The existing SoCred politicians were not bad people. But they were out of touch and arrogant.
I knew nothing about organizing or politics. But I was taught by example ó by my hard-working, philanthropic German immigrant parents ó to be caring, community-minded and to fight for what you believe is right. So I did.
Coincidentally, in the late 1960s, a man called Peter Lougheed was criss-crossing Alberta with a fresh vision that many of us wanted to follow. He formed the first Progressive Conservative government in 1971, and that led to my later involvement with the human rights commission and active politics.
Unfortunately, I believe the same situation that existed over four decades ago, and which caused me to leave politics two decades ago ó when I left politics in 1992 I knew that the public and some of us MLAs were being kept in the dark about decisions that were being made by a small group inside the dome in Edmonton ó has again come to pass today.
We the public are partly to blame. Our attitude that dictates that loyalty to a party is everything, instead of looking at the reality of hiring people who will run Alberta in much the same way we choose employees for every type of business: At some point, underperformers must be forced to move on.
Choosing a good loyal friend for the job who does not have the appropriate blend of vigour, education, life experience or proven capabilities that fit the running of government is a mistake.
Now, about the decision Albertans face in this election.
I came to know Danielle Smith, when a number of years ago, she spearheaded a group promoting property rights ó an issue dear to my heart given that was why I got into politics. I was impressed with her grasp of policy and principles, ones that must be restored to Albertaís government.
So despite my long association with the Progressive Conservative party, it is overdue to open the doors and windows and let fresh air flow in, and to sweep away what has become with age, a stagnant and unresponsive party.
It disappoints me that we must constantly check the ethics of our elected people.
Instead, I hope in the future to be a part of healthy public debate about policy with of course the usual disagreements that must be worked through. I want a province that is again well-governed and a government that will leave a bright future for coming generations.
That is why, after decades of being a Progressive Conservative, and after serving proudly in Peter Lougheedís government, I have moved on, and now support Danielle Smith.
Connie Osterman served as an MLA for Three Hills between 1979 and 1992, and served as minister of various portfolios in the governments of premiers Peter Lougheed and Don Getty. She and her husband Joe reside on their family farm near Carstairs.
