Letter: Polarization in communities

By Letter to the Editor on March 17, 2026.

Dear editor,

Many people in Alberta are clearly unhappy. Working and professional families feel distant from their government and uncertain about the future. Costs are rising, stress is high, and trust is thin.

A CBC article on Mar. 13 said, “Elections Alberta is urging better behaviour when people are interacting with citizen initiative and recall campaign canvassers around the province after it said it’s seen a marked increase in reports of harassment.

“This problem isn’t new, as the non-partisan office said, it has observed and addressed harassment on these campaigns since the Forever Canadian petition, organized by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, was approved last June.”

What concerns me most is not which solutions people support, but how divided we are becoming. Two hardened camps are forming. One believes Alberta has been treated unfairly by the federal government and sees separation as the answer. The other fears the provincial government is moving too quickly to sell public services and demands recall.

Both groups are responding to real pressure. Both want stability, fairness and security. As opinions harden, neighbours stop listening. Disagreement becomes personal.

History shows deeply polarized societies struggle to function. Compromise feels like betrayal, institutions lose legitimacy and daily issues turn into battles.

I am not arguing for separation or recall. I am asking whether deepening division will actually improve life for ordinary families. Alberta is strongest when disagreement does not destroy trust.

The Alberta government continuously blaming others for our problems is complicit in dividing communities. And our federal government needs to be taking more proactive steps to support working families with price controls.

Ken Riley

Bassano

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