Yesterday, I talked about how fully 1/3 of the resolutions in the upcoming UCP AGM were distinctly anti-transgender. Today, I want to look at the picture that the overall resolutions document paints about the UCP in its current form.
Broadly speaking, the policy resolutions fall into a few big categories: (Note: I have summarized the resolution in my own words - so you'll find a significant amount of snark in there)
Separatist / Ottawa Is Evil Grievances
Resolution #5 - Ban carbon taxes
Resolution #6 - Ottawa is asserting too much control over Alberta
Resolution #10 - Ban on agreements with Ottawa by organizations that exist under the jurisdiction of the Alberta government. (Expansion of the "municipalities can't take money from Ottawa w/out Alberta government approval)
Resolution #15 - Alberta has to have control over immigration (honorary additional placement under racism - because we all know that this is about keeping Alberta white too)
Resolution #21 - Alberta should further distance itself from Ottawa (go Separatists!)
Conspiracy Theories / Hate Mongering / Racism
Resolution #1 - Eliminate Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Resolution #2 - Banning transgender women from washrooms/change rooms/etc.
Resolution #4 - Banning minors from "sexually explicit performances" (e.g. Drag events?)
Resolution #7 - Parental rights (anti-trans/anti-2SLGBTQ)
Resolution #8 - Parental rights / parents dictate curriculum
Resolution #12 - CO2 is really good for us!
Resolution #13 - Elected officials should not engage with WHO, WEF, or the UN (apparently)
Resolution #14 - Defund treatment for transgender people
Resolution #15 - Alberta has to have control over immigration (honorary additional placement under racism - because we all know that this is about keeping Alberta white too)
Resolution #16 - There can only be two sexes!!!!
Resolution #19 - Protect crown lands from seizure by the UN(? - clearly aimed at aboriginal rights, so it goes under racism.)
Resolution #23 - Hold the AHRC accountable for the decisions they make (Because apparently religious freedoms are being suppressed?)
Resolution #25 - No digital ID!!! (Uh - okay - why?)
Resolution #27 - No vouching for other voters! (because electoral fraud is rampant? I guess?)
Resolution #31 - DEI is evil and it creates reverse racism!
Resolution #32 - Force the so-called "Chicago Principles" on universities (because they're too left wing, donchaknow!)
Cheap Political Shots At Opponents
Resolution #2 - Banning Unions from donating monies to political parties
Resolution #24 - The ATA is too powerful, so membership should be optional
Resolution #34 - Recall should be easier to accomplish! (Because they couldn't overthrow Gondek last winter)
Possibly Reasonable Stuff
Resolution #9 - Disclosure of funding sources for groups lobbying / protest against the government (This one also has tinges of conspiracy theory)
Resolution #11 - Utility Fees
Resolution #17 - Force municipal plebiscites on land use changes (might be reasonable - but I doubt it)
Resolution #18 - Hey, we should do something about getting better at managing our forests and dealing with fires. (Ya think?!)
Resolution #20 - Eliminate retention bonuses in the government bureaucracy. (Watch the exodus as long term staffers up and leave for private sector roles that pay better...)
Resolution #21 - Promoting trades and technical training in schools. (could be reasonable, although we know conservatives hate education in colleges and universities ... so ...)
Resolution #26 - We need to train more doctors in Alberta (No argument there - but don't bank on them hanging about afterwards any longer than they have to)
Resolution #28 - Ban cell phones in schools. (Ill informed at best, unrealistic in any real sense)
Resolution #29 - Rejig the food supply system to suit small production farms (Sure? Realistic? Nope)
Resolution #30 - Modify the flat tax structure (a bit - not nearly enough)
Resolution #33 - Landowner Rights - basically let's hamstring any kind of development or change by giving landowners a complete veto - that'll go well.
Resolution #35 - Build reservoirs to ensure a dependable water supply (sure ... but let's ignore the pollution that strip mining mountains is going to create?)
About 1/3 of these resolutions are topics that I would say are "legitimate matters of policy" - which is to say that it might be possible to have a meaningful and fulsome debate around the merits of the position being taken. The rest is either thinly veiled separatist rhetoric, or nonsense that is rooted in hate, fear, and ignorance. Think about that for a moment: 2/3 of the resolutions have nothing to do with reasonable and legitimate matters of government.
In the world of conspiracy theories and suchlike, the resolutions are outright attacks on "out groups" (them who isn't us - basically), whether that is attacking transgender people or First Nations doesn't matter. Attacking DEI is basically a claim of "reverse racism" (which isn't a thing - bias against minorities most definitely is). Throw in a few random grievances about "free speech", and you have a good picture of what is going on here.
The UCP isn't a party interested in making Alberta "better". This is a party that is interested in suppressing those it dislikes, poking a stick in Ottawa's eye at every opportunity, and generally being difficult on everything else. What does pass for serious(-ish) policy topics are often overly simplistic solutions to problems that are guaranteed to either fail or be impractical to implement.
This is a party that has been overtaken by single-issue zealots who have agreed to mutual support as long as they don't have to compromise anything with the target of their ire.
