Does your favorite politician have a rookie card? Of course not. So why are we treating politics like it’s a sports event? Because people just want some entertainment.
The United States (U. S.) has always influenced Canadian politics. This has been especially true over the last decade. Donald Trump has come in, gone out, and come back into power again. Alberta, however, has felt this impact more than any other province in Canada. Given Alberta’s long history of right-leaning politics, this isn’t surprising. What is alarming is that Alberta’s political scene seems to be adopting the same “entertaining” style pioneered by the U. S.
Guess what I’m describing: flashing lights, vibrant colors, loud music, and celebrity appearances. If you guessed a concert, you’d be mistaken. This is actually how a Trump rally looks. It raises questions about how someone like Trump could ever get into office in the first place. But when you see pictures or videos of these rallies, it all starts to make sense. The extreme views and absurd policies don’t matter much; they distract potential voters with pure entertainment.
If someone isn’t particularly interested in politics, this “entertainment” model unfortunately makes a lot of sense. Everything-even politics-has a likability factor. Research shows that people are often subconsciously more likely to vote for the more attractive candidate in an election. However, just because someone has a pleasing appearance or a charismatic personality doesn’t mean they’ll be effective politicians. Still, this trend is slowly creeping into Alberta’s political landscape.
In small but significant ways, Alberta is becoming increasingly similar to the U. S. Earlier this year in October, Red Deer held its mayoral election with numerous candidates vying for the position. But there was something different about it all. The signs popping up on street corners were edited with Snapchat filters and heavily altered images. One candidate, Haley Wile, exemplified this trend as she campaigned based on her likability rather than solid policy ideas. This kind of “entertaining” approach seen at the municipal level is also making its way to provincial politics.
Premier Danielle Smith’s use of the notwithstanding clause shows her intent to attract attention. The United Conservative Party (UCP) has introduced this clause against teachers and transgender individuals as part of their agenda. Beyond changing policies in Alberta, Danielle Smith seems eager for attention herself; there hasn’t been sufficient justification for invoking the notwithstanding clause before now. At its core, it’s a strategy aimed at putting Alberta’s politics on a larger stage where national trends can easily influence them.
The upcoming years will be crucial for shaping what Alberta will become moving forward. When Trump leaves office eventually, Alberta will need to start making decisions independently again-whether that’s good or bad remains uncertain right now. Hopefully though, Alberta will begin taking itself seriously and abandon its tendency to mimic others in the years ahead.
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