Premier should start showing respect for all Albertans
By Lethbridge Herald on October 31, 2025.
Editor,
I’ve attempted to write this letter several times over the past few months. Every time I do, a new issue arises. What to address first?
Perhaps the additional fees I’ve been paying as a senior – to my optometrist? To my pharmacy? My husband and I are both on a fixed income, so I need to ask our UCP government, how is this helping us? Costs for everything are going up, but my pension is not. I joke that I received a $12 raise last year. Not so funny.
How about the claw back of AISH? Money given by the federal government and then taken back by our provincial one? That doesn’t sound right!
That’s two strikes against the UCP – and two strikes against our most vulnerable.
Now for strike three. Our children and their education. Education should be at the top of the list for needs in this world. I was not a teacher, but worked in the school system. Not that long ago, if my stats are correct, Alberta was in the top ten in the WORLD for its excellence in teaching! What is the first thing this government does as they come to power? Change the curriculum. Disrespect our teachers – people who do not work from 8:30 – 3:30 with all the holidays off.
Understand this to be true. The work of education never stops! Teachers spend countless hours prepping, writing reports, dealing with concerned parents and juggling priorities. Our teachers are exhausted and our kids are suffering because of the stance of this government. A 10-year-old child of a teacher was worried about having enough money for their family. Children shouldn’t have to worry about that!
It is time for Premier Smith to stand up and do what is right for the people of Alberta. Enough with the political jibber-jabber. Be reasonable and acknowledge the work that our educators do.
I am afraid for this province. This government and our premier continue to throw curve balls at the public.
This talk of separation? That is exactly what is happening to us now. This appears to be their plan. Start putting our tax dollars where they belong, instead of using them to divide us.
Give us back our hope.
Ruth Pelletier
Picture Butte
14-13
Oh my, “strike 3” what a terrible situation in Alberta! Your anti-government rant fails on all accounts. We have to wonder what or who you are drawing your conclusions from? Take a look at reality, Statistics Canada reports monthly, quarterly and annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inter Provincial Migration, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Where does Alberta rate among Canadians Provinces/Territories? If not at the top then either second or third consistently since the UCP have been in Government. For the third consecutive year Alberta has had the highest inter provincial migration and last quarter another 6,500+ migrated to Alberta. CPI, Alberta enjoy the best bang for our buck in almost every area, particularly at the gas pumps and no Provincial Sales Tax and the lowest In Canada Taxation. If you are so dissatisfied and distressed living in Alberta, why not move to another province? With the constant migration to Alberta, surely you can find place in another Province, oh but wait, I forgot you were on fixed income, well you better not consider Quebec where they have a 9.975% Provincial tax plus GST, so 14.975%, even Saskatchewan is 6% plus GST, forget BC with gas prices at the pump more than $2.00 a litre and their Provincial tax set at 7% plus GST… take your pick!
As we approach Remembrance Day and as Albertans witness the creeping advance of authoritarianism in this province, your apparent distaste for democracy is revolting.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
— Pastor Martin Niemöller
Shame, Reality. Shame.