What Matters to You – That’s All She Wrote

Moving closer

I’ll have to ask your indulgence on this one, as I’m a little more than reflective today, as it could very well be the last time I speak in the house as the MLA for Lac Ste Anne Parkland.  The last 3.8 years have flown past, and I was warned they would, but in the thick of things, you never realize how far you’ve gone or how the time has flown until you are near the end of the road.

Truth be told, I dragged out the time before I stood up in the house to deliver my Maiden Speech, and I wanted to take the time to research the other MLAs who had represented the same area. To say the pedigree humbled me is an understatement: some major portfolio ministers, some very solid MLAs, and the longest-sitting speaker of the house.  Talk about tough acts to follow. 

Reading through their maiden speeches and several others they gave over the years about the characteristics of the people in our area made me feel a little less overwhelmed.  The same themes were pervasive into the present day.  It gave me some solace to think of it as not starting at the bottom but continuing in the race, passing the torch, as it were.  The benefit I had is that they were still around and, to my disbelief, were there in a heartbeat to take my call if I needed advice. Coming to the end of my first term, I get it.  It is a fraternity, there is deep care given to the communities and the constituency as a whole, and with that, you can’t help but give up part of your soul to it as well.

Proud of my TEAM

Although giving speeches and leading task forces may get some social media play or even a few seconds on the evening news, the real rewarding work has often been when no one heard: I am fortunate to have a solid staff, and the folks in our area and I are so very fortunate to have them.  Kristen and Bobby have been and will continue to be champions for the folks in our area when they need some help or guidance.  

Our accomplishments

Here are just a few of the things we have, as a team, been able to help with over the last few years.

• Created Bill 31 in short order, which mitigated a potential shortage of clay, gravel, sand, and marl supply by defining them not as minerals and how they would and could be mined.
• Repealed the provincial Carbon Tax in Bill 1 by proving in a court of law how flawed it really is.
• Engaged Albertans with the Firearms Task Force, addressing concerns related to federal overreach, property rights, ability to own and use firearms and proper representation for law-abiding Albertans.
• And personally, I got to lead the Economic Corridors Task Force, in which I am also the Parliamentary Secretary. Plus, I led the Career Education Task Force, where I helped develop solid recommendations for career education deliveries.
• I even supported the return of the international airshow in Villeneuve and further pitched the idea of an accredited aviation course to be taken by local students –which is in its second year of operation.

Isn’t politics backwards?

The whole process of politics seems backward to me in several areas, and I’d like to share that with you as well, and now that I’ve been here for a while, explain to you why it is done.  My grandma told us that there are three things that you don’t talk about in polite company, sex, religion, and politics.  My parents taught us as kids about manners and what polite people don’t do.  You never ask for money; you earn it.  You don’t bug people on their days off, with their family, or at the supper hour because they have earned their privacy.  You, sure as heck, don’t just drop in on folks unannounced. 

Now in Politics, it seems like the first three items always come up in conversation, and you are asked to fundraise, door knock, show up at events, and call folks at home to ask for their opinions…on just about everything.  I’ve had to struggle with what I’ve been taught vs this industry, and I’ve had to reconcile with it in the following way for the following reasons.

Allow me to explain!

The door knocking and the phone calls are done for voter identification. 

Parties want to know which way you are leaning, if you are undecided or decided, so they know what they need to do to help change your opinion or to get you the information you need to help you make an informed decision. Additionally, they can get you fired up enough to pull up your socks, get out, and vote on the “Big Day”. 

So really, if we were not so darned apathetic in our democratic freedom to vote, we would not be getting so many random door knocks or phone calls. 

The fundraising, most of the cost goes to advertising and signage.

The other large cost centers go for hiring “Professional Door Knocker and Phone Callers”, because it is physically impossible to get in touch with folks in such a short timeline – 28 days – as a small team when we are so spread out. 

If you want to avoid being bothered at home, you could contact the local Constituency Association of the party of your choice (I’m partial to blue myself) and let them know you are on board and will show up to vote. 

For Lac Ste Anne – Parkland Constituency

I’ll also be out and around…lots, as we will be out of session and heading into an election season very soon.  Come on over, tell me what matters to you, and give us your information so we can ID you and not bother you at your door and at home. 

However, the biggest thing you can do is come out and vote!

Get everyone you know to vote, get the numbers up so we don’t have to call you and remind you because, honestly, we wouldn’t have to if we had the majority of the folks in our areas picking their candidates rather than the historically low numbers.

If you want me to be the MLA, and if you think I’ve done a good job, all the better reason to ensure that I can still be your voice because I can assure you, all of those that don’t want me, will be there in force at the polls and on the doors.

Sincerely,

Shane Getson