Tag: alberta

referenda

I know a lot of people find this blog (somehow) from all over, which is great – but I’m going to talk about something specific to my region, and that is the most pointless, expensive, and stressful referendum in the history of the province of Alberta – and possibly Canada. I don’t have the figures for that.

I am by no means a professional political critic, accredited journalist, or anything of the like – but I have lived here for my entire life… through Ralph Klein… Steady-Eddie Stelmach… Redford & her sky palace that cost her the premiership, Prentice and his snap election that forfeited the house to the NDP… Notley… Kenny… and now Danielle Smith, who has painted herself into a corner.

The official date of the referendum is 2 days from the posting of this blog, and since there are 10 questions that nobody asked for (all of which are to be counted by hand, since our premier doesn’t trust voting machines, but somehow does trust A.I. data center projects) – MANY people have voted in advance by mail, or advance-polling. I voted earlier this week at an advance-poll.

So with that in mind, I’m certain that this post is coming a bit late, and there are likely no fence-sitters left to sway at this point… so this is just me airing my grievances, I suppose. So, if you’re not into that, feel free to turn back now.

THE NINE: Yes, the first 9 questions that pertain to immigrant status, healthcare woes, and various other systemic problems that we’ve been dealing with for decades (healthcare… education…) before the most recent influx of immigrants and migrant workers from within Canada coming here to make a life…

I’ll start by saying that to my mind, there are no racist questions… there are only racist answers. That said… these come pretty close.

It’s a hell of a thing to blame the newcomers for an old problem, particularly when the mandate was to attract workers to come to Alberta… so to deny (or charge a premium for) education and healthcare to refugees and newcomers who are holding up the wobbly table leg of our provincial economy is not only cruel, it invites further class division (which is a polite word for “crime“) as well as the potential for things like… measles outbreaks, for example.

At any rate, it’s nonsensical. Particularly when these separatists want to draw the line at folks who’ve been here for 12 years or less… (Tell me you moved here during the $250/barrel oil boom without telling me…)

I voted no to all 9 questions that asked if I think this fiscally irresponsible government should be able to have more power and less accountability with tax dollars.

QUESTION TEN: It reads like this on the referendum ballot:

Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?

Here’s my critiqued version:

Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the (non-constitutional as determined by 2 separate courts, and thus, very questionably) legal process required under the Canadian Constitution (again, not constitutional) to hold a binding provincial (although if there’s going to be one, it should be a national) referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada (thereby spitting in the faces of the veterans… and spitting in the face of the indigenous peoples who are protected by treaty rights… ushering business and investment OUT of Alberta… and causing our property values to PLUMMET while having NO trade agreements, NO currency, and NO way to defend our borders and by extension our precious natural resources from the Russian submarines that have been stationed due north of us for years, or from our American neighbors deciding we need a little “freedom”)?

If you’re wondering… I voted to stay.

These are not partisan issues, but they’re being painted as such.

And the separatists – who cannot agree on what to do next, by the way (between being sovereign, or joining the USA, both of which screw us all royaly) – are already positioning themselves to cast accusations of voter fraud.

Stay vigilant, people.

can’t buy happiness

“That little phrase that more often than not used to make ourselves (or other people) change their feelings around a financial decision, a missed opportunity, or even some financial frustration comes from an unlikely place.”

We’ve all heard it, we’ve probably even said it, but this “money can’t buy happiness” needs to at least be put back into it’s original context if we’re going to insist on repeating it.

That little phrase that more often than not used to make ourselves (or other people) change their feelings around a financial decision, a missed opportunity, or even some financial frustration comes from an unlikely place. The phrase was originally used to encourage people who were already financially well-off to consider parting with some of their earnings to help the unfortunate. To say “money can’t buy happiness” would infer that happiness comes from good deeds and acts of service more than it does from the hoarding of wealth. Somewhere along the line, things got a little muddled.

In truth, studies have shown that if an individual were to make $75,000 annually, they could comfortably afford to be happy. That range seems to cap our around $95,000 annually, as similar studies have shown that people making over $105,000 had similar levels of happiness to those making $95,000.

Below these figures, where most of us reside, happiness can still be achieved of course, but not without the caveat of some level of financial stress or struggle. To be in the aforementioned income bracket would mean that care-free living would be attainable.

Money is energy, and frankly, you’re gonna need some. Wanting and working toward these things is not faux pas. Setting financial goals is excellent, and the stigma around money… how much you have… how much you need… how much your borrow… all that needs to stop in order for all of us to embrace life as we want to live it – easier said than done in a capitalist North America.

To flip that… Energy is currency, and the way we carry ourselves and what we invest our loving efforts into has value as well. I’m in no position to tell anyone how their life should be led, but I will say that any shame around our artistic endeavors shouldn’t have any more shame than our work schedules, which shouldn’t have any more shame than our family time, which shouldn’t have any more shame than our alone time. Every one of us is trying to balance life in the most fruitful way possible, and putting up a veneer of our hashtag-best-life is exhausting, and honestly is a distraction from what it’s really important.

There is no shame in your goals, whatever they may be.

Reaching those goals WILL require you to do something different than you’re doing right now, though… and change can be really uncomfortable, but discomfort is a catalyst for change. Pressure causes all manner of beauty, from wildflowers to thunderstorms, from diamonds to puppies… but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

Training this week has been a real trip. I can feel myself getting stronger. I’ve been really clamping down on my food intake as I’m trying to really optimize my body right now and I’m seeing some exciting changes. Race day is coming up quick and I’m feeling ready.

Today, I’m on the road, and I’m graced with the opportunity to traverse a different set of trails than my home town can offer me. I’m fortunate to be in a position to not have to travel to the next town tonight, as playing the same venue 2 nights in a row is a rare treat in this day & age.

As I post this, I am in Grande Prairie, AB and I’ll be performing at the Grande Yellowhead Casino with Robin Kelly. If you’re in the area, swing by tonight!