The end of March is upon us…

Wow! Two weeks since I put finger to keyboard here! Time flies, even if one isn’t having fun.

Let’s see, what has happened. Well, for starters, we had an eight-inch snowfall weekend before last. I couldn’t push it, I’m forbidden medically to shovel it, so out came the snow blower on Sunday morning. Since then, the weather has warmed and the snow is virtually all gone. Even I am beginning to believe that spring is in the air. The roads are covered with grit, rather than snow. The grit is left over from being sprayed on ice to keep everyone from sliding through intersections as they drive.

I started taking yoga lessons from my friend Erin. Very simple stretches and breathing exercises. Haven’t managed to integrate them into my daily routine, but that will come.

In anticipation of a Provincial election, I have agreed to become the Financial Agent for the NDP (centre-left party here in Canada). Sounds pretty grandiose, but we are a small party in central Alberta, mostly geared to stated some obvious alternatives to a strongly right wing government that pretends to be ordained by God to rule. Those of you in other countries who value your democratic rights will be horrified to learn that Alberta, where I live, has had the same party in government for almost 50 years. Very right wing, quite controlled by corporate power – particularly oil companies, who virtually own the government. We don’t see that changing anytime soon, but folks like us keep reminding people that Conservative candidates serve only corporate interests, whereas our candidates – who are generally passionate social democrats – would be more likely to serve the needs of the constituents. We have few “career politician” and more folks passionate about the needs of small towns and rural Alberta. We vote on principles, not necessarily to win.

It’s fascinating to talk t lifelong Conservatives who are opposed to the NDP (New Democratic Party), but who have no idea of the policies they think are so dangerous. When you tell them, they looked stunned, as though they’ve never heard that before. They tell me that our candidate is a really good candidate. I ask them, “Then why don’t you vote for him?” Answer: “He runs for the wrong party.” In other words, ‘we vote to win, not because we believe anything about how the place should be run.

I’ve been phoning people and inviting them to our campaign kickoff on Wednesday evening. Amazing how many folks want the ND’s and the Liberals to work together to defeat the Conservative government federally. I tend to support this initiative, but I suspect that ego will interfere, and the Federal Conservatives may win again. If that happens, democracy in Canada will be eroded even further. It seems quite clear to me that our PM, Harper, is actually fascist in his beliefs, more like Mussolini than anyone else.

But I digress…moving from Provincial to Federal politics without a breath. Sorry. I’ll try and keep you posted on the course of the election campaign. Of course, the writ has yet to be dropped, so there is no election as yet. We all expect is imminently.