Political theatre does a disservice

By Letter to the Editor on January 31, 2020.

Re: “Alberta fires back at UN committee for criticism,” Jan. 8

No doubt the UCP Cheer Squad will be applauding Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage for her fearless opposition to the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

I see no reason for applause.

Rather than dealing with substantive issues, Savage took pains to remind the world that Albertans are led (and occasionally misled, I might add) by our duly elected representatives. I suggest that her effort represents, like the so-called war room, a waste of expensive ministerial and staff time. In the eyes of the world, it can only diminish the standing of Alberta and our government.

The energy minister’s statement is pointless whether or not she values Canada’s participation in the UN. If the minister believes that the UN is worthless, surely she should merely ignore it and devote taxpayer funded time to more worthwhile activities.

If she believes that, despite its flaws, the UN has some value, it would be more productive to spend time working directly with the federal department that directs our Canadian representatives to the UN. Only those representatives can work with their UN colleagues to correct misapprehensions about our government’s policies. I suspect that approach would have more impact on the international stage than a patronizing press release from a displeased provincial politician.

Along with other recent statements from government representatives, Savage has reinforced the inescapable conclusion that our duly-elected government is deaf to any voice but its own. The strategy is constant: ignore the message, attack the messenger.

When an international financial institution downgrades Alberta’s credit rating, our government accuses the agency of falling victim to international efforts to landlock Alberta oil. Ignore (at least in public) the well-founded financial reasons for the downgrade.

When local, provincial and national organizations raise concerns about the environmental effects of fossil fuel dependence, our government suggests, without credible evidence, that they are agents of a foreign-funded campaign to hamstring the Alberta economy. Ignore the possibility that environmental concerns are widely shared, and that attending to them might actually enhance Alberta’s stature amongst conscientious international investors.

When a local newspaper provides factual information disputing government claims about health-care spending, it is accused of irresponsible journalism. Ignore the possibility that its analysis may be more relevant than statements by our minister of health.

Now a United Nations committee has suggested that concerns of Indigenous groups are not being given appropriate consideration in Alberta’s resource development decisions. Our government’s response: Lecture the committee, rather than examine its concerns.

To the international business community which our government is trying to impress, I suggest such responses must appear at least petulant, if not downright contemptuous. No program of taxpayer-funded business trips to London (or elsewhere) is likely to overcome the impression of naive and heavy-handed government, concerned only about its own political priorities. This is not the way to convince well-informed international investors that Alberta is “open for business.”

I believe that Albertans deserve leadership that responds positively to constructive critiques, no matter their source. We are not well-served by political theatre aimed at discrediting non-UCP messages and messengers.

David Gue

Medicine Hat

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