Grant Notley The Social Conscience of

HOWARD LEESON

Grant Notley The Social Conscience of Alberta

Second Edition

Foreword by

1 THE PRESS Published by Second edition, first printing, 2015. First electronic edition, 2015. The University of Alberta Press Proofreading by Brian Mlazgar. Ring House 2 Fact checking by Jim Gurnett, Keith Wright , Alberta, Canada t6g 2e1 and Kathy Wright. www.uap.ualberta.ca Indexing by Judy Dunlop. Book design by Alan Brownoff. Copyright © 2015 Howard Leeson Front cover photo: Grant Notley, 1982, by Arnaud Maggs. Library and Archives Canada, library and archives canada r7959-1323-5-e. Used by permission. cataloguing in publication The University of Alberta Press supports Leeson, Howard A., 1942-, author copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, Grant Notley, the social conscience encourages diverse voices, promotes free of Alberta / Howard Leeson. speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank ¬Second edition. you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with the copyright Includes bibliographical references laws by not reproducing, scanning, or and index. distributing any part of it in any form Issued in print and electronic formats. without permission. You are supporting isbn 978-1-77212-125-4 (paperback). ¬ writers and allowing University of Alberta isbn 978-1-77212-128-5 (pdf). ¬ Press to continue to publish books for isbn 978-1-77212-126-1 (epub). ¬ every reader. isbn 978-1-77212-127-8 (kindle) All rights reserved. No part of this publication 1. Notley, Grant, 1939-1984. may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval 2. Politicians¬Alberta¬Biography. system, or transmitted in any form or by any 3. Alberta New Democratic Party¬ means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, History. 4. Alberta¬Politics recording, or otherwise) without prior written and government¬1935-1971. consent. Contact the University of Alberta 5. Alberta¬Politics and Press for further details. government¬1971-2015. I. Title. The University of Alberta Press gratefully fc3675.1.n68l44 2015 acknowledges the support received for its 971.23’03092 c2015-906022-2 publishing program from the Government c2015-906023-0 of Canada, The Canada Council for the Arts, and the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Media Fund.

7 Ede and I would like to dedicate this book to Nancy Eng. Like Grant Notley, Nancy was taken from us too early in life.

ix A Note on the Text

xi Foreword rachel notley

xiii Preface to the First Edition

xv Acknowledgements

xvii Introduction to the Second Edition xxxiii Introduction to the First Edition

1 1 | A Prairie Child 15 2 | University Years Contents 45 3 | The Early NDP 81 4 | Provincial Secretary 141 Photographs 169 5 | The Leader

207 6 | The MLA for Spirit River-Fairview 255 7 | The Social Conscience of Alberta 285 8 | The Leader of the Official Opposition

313 Epilogue

317 Notes

323 Bibliography

327 Index

A Note on the Text

THE SECOND EDITION of Grant Notley: The Social Conscience of IX Alberta contains a new Introduction by the author, a Foreword by Rachel Notley, a new selection of photographs and a new Index. The main text of the book reproduces the original 1992 edition, with minor corrections.

Foreword

MANY PEOPLE I MEET describe my dad as having been a great XI public speaker; however as Howard writes in this book, my dad was quite shy. Public speaking often made him nervous, but he believed that anything could be overcome with a little (or a lot) of hard work. As I nervously prepared for the leaders’ debate in the 2015 election, I thought of my dad’s example: if I prepared enough, I knew I could do it too. It has been suggested that the election of Alberta’s frst New Democrat government came out of nowhere, that it was due to voter fatigue with forty-four years of Progressive Conservatives, or hinged on that key leaders’ debate. I disagree. Our victory was a result of many, many decades of work by many, many people who built the reputation and integrity of the New Democrat Party in Alberta. While that work didn’t always reflect in popular support for the party, it was reflected in underlying levels of credibility. This book outlines much of the hard work that was done by Dad, but which unfortunately didn’t translate into popular support until after his death. It was then that Albertans experienced a collective recognition of how much they valued his contribution. In fact, when I talk to people who remember my dad now, they’re often surprised to learn that the height of his political career involved winning two seats¬both by very small margins. So what was it about him that had such a profound impact? I think the subtitle of this book holds

XII the answer: he was the government’s critical social conscience. They knew they could rely on him for that. I’m often asked about his impact on my own career. Certainly

Foreword I have felt the pressure that most children do to carry on their parents’ legacy; however, I got involved in politics because I enjoyed the camaraderie and the issues. I grew up in a campaign offce and, unlike many other New Democrats in Alberta at that time, I took part in winning campaigns. I loved these elections and our family watching the results come in was a bit like Hockey Night in Canada, made even more important because winning and losing was about issues that mattered. My political life has been signifcantly shaped by the fact that I grew up in a house where politics was not about fame and fortune, but about hard work and the reward of feeling like you’ve done the right thing. Dad taught me about political work and, together with my mom, taught me my political values: justice, determination, and integrity. Through both my parents I learned that if you actually care about something, you better get up and do something about it. This book is a biography of my dad’s political life. However, it is also a primer for would-be politicians. Its most salient message? Political victory worth having rarely comes easy.

rachel notley September 2015 Preface to the First Edition

XIII

WHEN THE EUROPEAN SETTLERS streamed into this land a hundred years ago, the prairies seemed a vast almost unending region, a tabula rasa awaiting only the imprint of their collective hands. It was virtually unspoiled and unresisting. Over the years the settlers changed the prairies dramatically, building farms, homes, towns, and eventually cities. Just as importantly, they also built new social structures. The experiences of isolation, oppression, and alienation plowed new social furrows beside those in the land. These cultural roots remain with us today. They nourish us, providing us with a sense of heritage, a stability, a sense of place in a world which constantly seeks to change our values and norms. As you might expect, we look to our community leaders for veri- fcation of these values, for personifcation of what we hold closest. Some leaders stand out in this respect. They are almost archetypal, XIV Preface to the First Edition When hedied,abitofAlbertadied.Hewasus,andwemisshim. their collectivebeing,andhisuntimelydeathtouchedthemdeeply. he stoodout.Albertansfeltintuitivelythatrepresentedapartof they reflectatruthaboutourselveswhichdemandsourattention. so vividlyfamiliarthatweimmediatelyidentifywiththem.Somehow Such a man was Grant Notley. In the society and politics of Alberta Acknowledgements

I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE a number of people who XV have contributed signifcantly to the second edition of Grant Notley: The Social Conscience of Alberta. First, and foremost, I would like to thank Rachel Notley for taking time out of an incredibly busy schedule to write the Foreword for the new edition. That she would do so amongst the “minor” tasks of setting up a new government, putting together a throne speech, crafting a new budget and generally adapting to the job of of Alberta tells us much about her feelings toward her father. I would also like to thank all of the people at the University of Alberta Press for agreeing to do a second edition. A special thank you to those who did considerable work on pictures, research, fact checking, rewriting, cover design, and marketing. Unless you have worked for a press or served on the board for a press, you have very XVI Acknowledgements little understandingofhowmuchworkgoesintoputtingouta second edition. Without alloftheirinitialhelptherecouldneverhavebeen a script causedbymyconstantneedtokeepchangingeverything. Leanne Overendforenduringthemanyextratypingsof manu interviewing andconsulting.Finally,Iwouldliketoacknowledge useful documents;andtoBillDrydenAnneHoppfortheirhelp conversations withGrant;toLindaSarafnchanwhoprovidedmany tions. IamalsogratefultoMarkZwellingwhosentmehistapesof people whopermittedmetorecordtheirobservationsandrecollec for takingthetimetotalkmeaboutGrant,aswellallofthose edition possible.InparticularIwishtothankSandyNotleyKreutzer photographs availableforthisedition the ProvincialArchivesofAlberta,andTomSigurdsonformaking for helpingoutwiththecraftingofnewIntroduction. possible. Aswiththefrstedition,aspecialthankstoAydonCharlton and hisgeneralhelpfriendshipinmakingthissecondedition Canadian PlainsResearchCentrePress,forhishelpinproofreading Well doneUniversityofAlbertaPress. academic publishersareunderconsiderablefnancialpressure. acknowledged fortheirworkduringthisperiodoftimewhen decent book.Itisespeciallyimportantthatuniversitypressesbe Finally, Iwouldliketoagainthankallofthosewhomadethefrst Once again,IneedtothanktheAlbertaNewDemocraticParty, I wouldalsoliketothankBrianMlazgar,formerheadofthe

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XVII Change has come to Alberta.

—RACHEL NOTLEY, election night, May 5, 2015

CHANGE HAS INDEED COME TO ALBERTA. Like the years 1921, 1935 and 1971, the year 2015 will be remembered as the year of the political earthquake. After almost 44 years in offce the Progressive Conservative Party was not only defeated but was reduced to third- party status. It was replaced by a party that, as recently as 1993, had been wiped out of the legislature and, according to the polls, was in third place when the 2015 provincial election campaign began. How could this happen? How could a province viewed by most as the conservative heartland of Canada decide to elect a majority New Democratic Party (ndp) government? Clearly part of the answer lies in the fact that the people of the province had decided that the Progressive Conservative Party needed to be removed from offce. XVIII

Introduction to the Second Edition But theycouldhaveturnedtotheWildroseParty,whichhadalmost like themselves,realAlbertans. ByelectingRachelNotley,votersin because theyrecognizedthat boththeleaderandpartywere, continued. Inshort,manyAlbertans decidedtovoteforthe political spacethatAlbertans overtheyearshavenurturedand ( predecessors theAlbertaCo-operativeCommonwealthFederation and honourablehistoryintheprovince.TheAlberta the Alberta vidualist andentrepreneurialspirit.Theywouldbewrong. Infact, foreign valuesofcollectivisminaprovincerenownedfor its indi the of Alberta.Sherepresentedreal,butsafechange. “throw therascalsout”withoutthrowingoutembeddedvalues “safe” change.FormanyAlbertansRachelNotleyprovidedawayto the historyandrootsofprovince.Inotherwords,theywanted change, butbecausetheywantedchangethatwasconsistentwith the election,Iwouldargue,notonlybecauseAlbertanswanted lack oneimportantelement.TheAlberta other partyleaders. Finally, Racheldidasuperbjob,especiallyduringthedebatewith the partyrananexcellentcampaignwithawell-craftedplatform. a well-respectedandwell-knownfamilyname.Aswell,she party hadaleaderwhowasbright,articulate,andintelligent,with only the stances ofcrisiswithintheparty.Bytimeelectioncallcame, these, however,onlythe 2014, eachofAlberta’sfourmajorpartiesselectednewleaders.Of been theoffcialoppositionthroughseveralpreviouselections. won powerinthepreviouselection,orLiberalPartythathad ccf This conclusionmustseemcounterintuitivetomanywho view These areallreasonableexplanations,butinmyopinionthey Why thenRachelNotleyandthe ndp ) andtheUnitedFarmersofAlberta,occupiesalegitimate asaradicalleftparty,groupthatpersonifesalienor ndp ndp wasapartybothstrongandunited.InNotley,the representsastreamofpoliticalculturewithlong ndp didnotchoosealeaderundercircum ndp ? BeginninginSeptember ndp wasabletowin ndp , likeits ndp

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1 . As I said in the represents a represents ndp ndp retain its legitimacy in what many retain its legitimacy ndp And yet, so much has changed in Alberta since his death. And yet, so much has changed in Alberta social party in Alberta. Practical party worker, social conscience, social conscience, party worker, social party in Alberta. Practical that of contradictions the circle squared idealist, Grant pragmatic one finds in the social and political . He bridged the old and the new, he provided the necessary hard the necessary hard he provided bridged the old and the new, He of a progressive the continuation a link to ensure work to forge If we accept the premise that the Alberta the premise that If we accept had ceased to exist, Bill Clinton was president of the US and the Progressive Conservative Party had been reduced to two seats in the House of Commons. In a very profound way, our comfortable The answer to that question is complex. Not long before the The answer to that question is complex. publication still in of the frst edition in 1992, the Soviet Union was China had yet to embark on a capitalist trajectory, George existence, States, and Brian MulroneyBush the elder was president of the United . By mid-1993, the Soviet Union still was How could what he and others started nearly 50 years ago still be How could what he and others started relevant today? Change and Continuity sixteen years that he was leader of the Alberta sixteen years that he frst edition of this book: Introduction to the and why it was perceived by Albertans as an option in this election. by Albertans as an option in this and why it was perceived did the Put another way, how surpris conservative province? Not concluded was an increasingly donepart of the answer can be found in the work ingly, I believe that in the including her father, Grant Notley, by Rachel’s predecessors, history of their own political community. It was, in that sense, a community. It was, their own political history of thing to do. very Albertan still left seeking to province, we are political force in the legitimate politic to maintain that position in the body explain how it was able the province could make a dramatic change while respecting the the while respecting change a dramatic make could the province XX Introduction to the Second Edition understandings oftheworldanditsfutureweresweptawayin of anumbercommunistregimes, theworldbegantoadjust tics foralmost80years.Notwithstanding thecontinuedexistence Union cametheendofanexperiment thathaddefnedworldpoli how profoundthatchangewould be.WiththefallofSoviet reaching remakeofthepoliticalworld.Mostusdidnot realize the SovietUnioninDecember1991thatprecipitatedavast andfar- themselves throughouttheworld.Butitwasformalcollapse of postwar consensusonpoliticalandsocialchange,beganto reassert Margaret Thatcher.Theolderdivisionsofsociety,submerged bythe of RonaldReaganandintheUnitedKingdomwithelection of profound changesthatbeganintheUnitedStateswith election paradigm wasunderchallenge.Hediedtoosoontorecognize the nationalism andideologyfuelledbytechnology. language, religionandregionweresubmergedinatorrentof the oldorder.Theolderbasesofpolitics,family,clan,ethnicity, ical processeswereunderwayintheworldthatwouldsweepaway more equalityinsociety,butalsothebeliefthatinevitablehistor had solidifednotonlytheneedtotakepositiveactionensure right. Forthoseontheleft,experiencesofGreatDepression program incontrasttothoseontheothersidetermsofleftand ture in1972totalkabout“today’ssocialist,”casthispartyand seemed appropriatetoGrantinhismaidenspeechthelegisla paradigms ofanalysisthatftthenewrealityworld.Thus,it studied politicsandattemptedtomakesenseofitconstructed ideologies, capitalismandsocialism.Notsurprisingly,thosewho began tobeinterpretedinthecontextofclashleftandright Increasingly aftertheRussianRevolutionin1917,allpoliticalaction The period1917to1992waswhatmanycalltheageofideology. digm ofpolitics,thereverberationswhicharestillfelttoday. 1990s bytheendofColdWar.Itwasahugeshiftinpara And yet,evenbythetimeofGrant’sdeathin1984thatbroad In manywaysthetwentiethcenturywasanartifcialcentury. - - - - Introduction to the Second Edition XXI - - - of the 1960s and 1970s concen ndp in Alberta is a leftover relic of an earlier ideolog in Alberta is a leftover relic of an earlier ndp So, with these changes, can we come to the conclusion that a So, with these changes, can we come to From the vantage point of 2015, the changes that occurred are of 2015, the changes that occurred From the vantage point for granted have been swept away in an avalanche of change, many have remained. to hang on long enough to become government? The answer I think to hang on long enough to become government? is “no.” Although the Alberta it was also a party based trated on ideological divisions in society, therefore more profound on social divisions of a more lasting and nature. While many of the rocks of political stability that Grant took to dominate international relations was not something that Grant to dominate international relations was would have been familiar with. party like the somehow now managed ical era, a strangely antique party that has became dominant in Canadian political discourse during the 1970s became dominant in Canadian political and the early 21st century and 1980s. But it was not until the 1990s began to resurface that divisions centred on religion in particular paradigm that now seems in the world. The “clash of civilizations” various parts of the world. Indeed, even during the latter part of world. Indeed, even during the latter part various parts of the before the collapse of Russian communism, the twentieth century, many countries, including older divisions had been re-emerging in divisions in the Canada. Regional ethnic and regional economic Canadian nationalism form of Quebec separatism and western certainly understandable. While ignored, the older wellsprings of While ignored, the older wellsprings certainly understandable. twen not disappeared from society in the political division had in the they had been temporarily submerged tieth century. Rather, in generated from socialist experiments sharp ideological clashes ned largely by the opposing threats of capitalism and socialism. of capitalism by the opposing threats defned largely a familiar and in adjust to the end of were slow to Most observers did not realize world. We simply comfortable analytical many ways have on every Soviet Union would that the fall of the the impact world. political culture in the a new reality. International and domestic politics were no longer no longer were politics and domestic reality. International a new XXII Introduction to the Second Edition The Old andtheNew urban ridings.Populationsin thoseconstituenciesrecognize encies wherethemedianincome isbelowthoseofthemoreaffluent tices ofcolonialism. cultural, andevenlinguisticdifferencesrootedincontinuing prac these divisionsaremuchbroaderthanclass,encompassing racial, in materialcondition.Inparticularcases,likewithIndigenous peoples, to striveintheirplatformsandpoliciesforasocietythatismore equal represent thelesspowerfulandaffluentinsociety continue politics hasdisappeared.PartiesliketheAlberta ideological anddoctrinairebases,thisdoesnotmeanthat class note ofitinallhispoliticalplanning.SowilldaughterRachel. ical partiesintheprovince.Grantrecognizedthatalienationandtook the lastelection.Westernalienationcontinuestoinfluenceallpolit in Party Credit Partyafter1935werealsostrongestfortheWildrose remains. Theconstituenciesthatconsistentlyvotedforthe Social of theelectioninMay2015toseehowdeep-seatedthatalienation nance ineachpoliticalcommunity.Oneneedonlylookattheoutcome corporations andthefederalgovernmentin“East”foundreso of degree inalloftheAlbertapoliticalparties.Fightingpower people oftheprovince,andhasbeenembeddedtoagreaterorlesser the by alienation hasbeenharnessedbyeverygovernmentelected reinforced theearliersenseofAlbertaisolationandalienation. That and thehugeroyaltiesflowingfromthemin1970s1980s in influenceandsize.Aswell,battlesoverthecontrolofresources the agricultural communities that spawned them have been reduced are stillforcesinthepoliticalcultureofprovinceeventhough book this to activism thatIspokeaboutintheoriginalIntroduction strong inmanypartsoftheprovince.Thetwotypes of Prairie graphics inAlberta,aprofoundsenseofregionalalienationremains Despite themassivegrowthinpopulationandchangingdemo It isnoaccidentthatthe While itistruethatpoliticaldivisionsarenowlessfxatedon ndp didmuchbetterinurbanconstitu ndp continueto -

- - - - Introduction to the Second Edition XXIII - - - -

won in the ndp speaks to their issues and issues and to their speaks had a complete sweep, winning sweep, winning had a complete ndp ndp Finally, Grant would have recognized and approved of his daugh nd that familiar regional differences within the He would also fnd that familiar regional the province. ter’s fscal prudence. He was a fscally prudent man, and insisted larger and more prosperous. As a result, Grant would have approved larger and more prosperous. As a result, on these northern of the tried-and-true strategy that concentrated southern half of the prov constituencies, as opposed to those in the Alberta ince. If you look at the rural seats that the 2015 election they are for the most part in the northern part of the areas northeast and west of Edmonton were much different than different much were Edmonton of west and northeast areas the much smaller in the north those of . Farms were of large ranching busi than in the south, with none of the influence In short, farms in the nesses that dominated much of the south. farms in the south were north tended to be smaller and poor, while much more rooted in a class interpretation, that was intensely crit much more rooted in a class interpretation, rejection of the system ical of capitalism and therefore counselled arriving from Europe altogether. This view was familiar to settlers agricultural realities of rather than the United States. As well, the Much of this difference is explained by the original settlement is explained by the original settlement Much of this difference The southern part was heavily influenced patterns of the province. Wood whose populism was by American populists like Henry Wise farmer that counselled rooted in a particular view of the yeoman of it. A second view was change in the system, and not rejection strategies for winning inner-city ridings. strategies for winning as leader, and recognizable. During his time province remain strong province, the of north the in constituencies rural on concentrated he his party. they provided more fertile ground for understanding that concerns. In Edmonton, the concerns. the percentages even a quick look at However, every constituency. us that the class tells in the various constituencies for each party Grant would in the bigger cities. is alive and well base of politics and discussing western Canadian alienation have felt right at home and understand that the Alberta that the and understand XXIV

Introduction to the Second Edition that hisfamilyalsobeprudent.Indeed,asyoureadthisbook was aliveandwell. During histimeasleader,especially inruralareas,thepatriarchy generation stillpassedontheir farmsandbusinessestotheirsons. him. Grantwaswellawareof Rachel’sabilities,butpeoplefromhis have beensurprisedatanumberofoutcomesinthe2015election. should makecoffeeandnotpolicy.However,Ibelievethat hewould sitting inacabinet.Hedidnotsubscribetothemaximthat women who wereobviouslycapableofrunningforfceandindeed ership rolesforNancyEng,JeanMcBean,EdeLeeson,andother women in leadershippositions.Hewelcomedandpromotedincreased lead size thathewasquiteopentoanexpandedroleforwomen, especially in politicswerelargelyrelegatedtominorduties.Ishouldempha women intheparty.Grantcamefromagenerationwhich undoubtedly haveappearedjarringlydifferent. the province.However,otherpoliticalandpolicyapproacheswould familiar tohim,thenaturaloutcomeofelection short, hewouldhaveglowedwithfatherlyapproval. his daughter,wouldhavebeenanaturalpoliticalpathforhim.In in areasonableperiodoftime,allwhichhavebeenintroducedby where fnanceswereadequate,andinsistingonbalancingbudgets ince uponelection,insistingthatsocialprogramsbeexpandedonly to 12members,doingathoroughreviewofthefnancesprov a trustfundfortomorrow.Measureslikereducingthecabinetsize fleeting oilroyaltiesshouldbespenttodayratherthanconservedin those whothoughtthatbudgetsshouldnotbebalanced,or Douglas, AllanBlakeney,andRoyRomanow.Hehadlittletimefor politician. HecuthispoliticalclothtothemeasurementofTommy Nevertheless, Grantwasinmanywaysatypicallypragmaticprairie will seethatthisprudenceentersintothediscoursequiteoften. Perhaps mostimportantly,itishisdaughterwhosucceeded One ofthemoststrikingdifferenceswouldberolemenand These andotherpoliticalpolicyapproacheswouldseem ndp in - - - Introduction to the Second Edition XXV - - election platform. During his election platform. During ndp platform in Alberta that did not even ndp The role of First Nations, Métis, and other Aboriginal peoples He would have been comfortable with the platform that proposedHe would have been comfortable with the While Grant was not a doctrinaire socialist, I think he would a doctrinaire socialist, I think he would While Grant was not The fact that there were largely equal numbers of men and of men numbers largely equal were that there The fact airline when it suited his purposes. in the province was already “on the radar” during his leadership, ship, but many in the party would simply have called for a public ship, but many in the party would simply of these genera corporation to begin immediately the construction Conservative governments tion facilities. After all, in the 1970s even and corporations. believed in public ownership of some utilities Former Premier had no hesitation in purchasing an increasing taxes on corporations, but he certainly would not have increasing taxes on corporations, but he influence economic change.viewed taxation policy as the only way to to develop wind and Giving tax incentives to private corporations option during his leader solar energy power might have been an generation, electrical grids, health care and other social services to generation, electrical grids, health care for example. The fact include areas of natural gas and oil production that there could be an to him. mention this matter would seem alien public ownership in the 2015 public ownership in of discussion at provincial conventions leadership, many hours of economic enterprise focussed on whether or not particular areas public ownership. These should be brought under full or partial monopoly like power discussions went beyond areas of natural that involved discussions of whether or not a woman could win a of whether or not a woman could that involved discussions now He would be surprised that this was particular constituency. almost a non-issue. of that there was absolutely no discussion have been astounded women as candidates, and that this equality was reflected in the frst this equality was candidates, and that women as not have resisted him¬he would also have surprised cabinet would believed that but he would not have role for women, an important especially in so many constituencies, would elect women Albertans 1970s many strategy sessions in the in rural Alberta. I remember XXVI

Introduction to the Second Edition but onceagainIthinkthathewouldhavebeensurprisedathow nity verywell.Hewouldhave applaudedeffortsbyRachelNotleyto understood disenfranchisement, poverty,andthelackofopportu the answertothisquestionis also“yes.”Grantwasapersonwho these mattersoughttobedealt withbytheAlberta I thinkthattheanswerwouldbe“yes.”Wouldheunderstand how released in1996. cially aftertheRoyalCommissiononAboriginalPeoplesreport provincial conventions.Thisbegantochangeafter1982,and espe Therefore, therewasverylittlediscussionofthesematters at odd populationremnantsleftoverfromthesettlementperiod. life, andforthemostpartMétiscommunitieswereviewed as “federal problem.”Afterall,the Indigenous communities,therewasalsothebeliefthatthisa addition tothisgenerallackofeducationabouttherolevarious fundamental constitutionalandhistoricalpositioninCanada.In as theFirstNationsofprovince,peopleswithadifferentand poverty generally.AtthetimetheydidnotviewIndigenouspeoples viewed thisasasocialproblemthatcouldbelumpedinwith at thepovertyinIndigenouscommunities.However,theylargely about thehistoryofIndigenouspeoplesinprovince. about Albertaaslatethemid-1990sstillhadverylittletosay began thelongslowprocessofdevelopment.Historybookswritten the collectiveconsciousnessofCanadiansaboutIndigenouspeoples treaty andotherAboriginalrightsinthe are ofgreatimportancetoday.Itwasonlyaftertheentrenchment tial schools,educationforIndigenouspeoples,orotherissuesthat to treatyrights.Nowherebefoundwereresolutionsonresiden cial conventionoftheAlberta a numberofresolutionsonthissubjectattheMarch1977provin this relationshiphaschangedsincehistimeinoffce.Therewere Would Grant be surprised at the emphasis on these issues in 2015? Would Grantbesurprisedattheemphasisontheseissuesin 2015? Like otherleft-of-centreparties,theAlberta ndp Indian Act forexample,buttheyallreferred Constitution Act governedmostofreserve ndp ndp wasappalled ? Ithinkthat of1982that - - - - Introduction to the Second Edition XXVII , - -

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ndp

. He under was willing to ndp Constitution Act Interestingly, the lack of debate about the role of foreign-owned Interestingly, the lack of debate about the Some issues that commanded great attention in the 1970s and great attention in the 1970s Some issues that commanded the role of private ownership and the decline of public ownership as an alternative. The general movement of politics to the right in the country has meant that the legitimacy of the role of the private that have developed in the last two decades, both of which would that have developed in the last two decades, frst trend is a decline in have puzzled someone like Grant. The in the country. There the concern about the role of foreign entities globalization and of inter is much more acceptance of the role of national corporations in Canada. The second trend has to do with ownership in the resource sector of Alberta. I believe that he would ownership in the resource sector of Alberta. slipped off the table and was have been perplexed that this issue has the campaign. not afforded a major discussion during of two major trends corporations in the province is indicative talk about public ownership as a tool for reducing foreign owner talk about public ownership as a tool for ensure that Canadian ship, but at the very least they wanted to were developing the companies, and not foreign-owned companies, supporter of more domestic resources of Canada. Grant was an avid 1980s were almost completely absent from the campaign of 2015. absent from the campaign of 1980s were almost completely in the foreign ownership of natural resources The question of the tenure as leader. The province was a huge issue during Grant’s ownership a major both federally and provincially, made foreign the issue in each campaign. For the most part, Allan Blakeney, in 1981, that Section 35 of Saskatchewan in 1981, that Section Allan Blakeney, premier be included in the on Aboriginal rights, of for and the justice of the inclusion stood both the necessity this section. ular, I think that he would have appreciated the emphasis on basic appreciated the emphasis that he would have ular, I think would also, peoples. He education for Indigenous services and of Indigenous the inclusion strongly supported I believe, have caucus. numbers in the provincial in representative candidates by was a strong supporter of the insistence I say this because he prioritize these issues in a provincial election campaign. In partic campaign. election a provincial issues in these prioritize XXVIII

Introduction to the Second Edition sector inCanadamanykeypolicyareasisnowwellestablished. were onlyjustbecomingmajor politicalconcernsduringthe1980s. doctor assistedsuicide,anda numberofotherrightsandfreedoms issues tobeproblematic.Gay marriage,gay–straightalliances, thought thesearestrangetimesindeed. for hertoworkcloselywiththeprimeminister.Grantwould have on economicmatters.Onelectionnightsheemphasizedthe need government ofAlbertaworkcloselywiththefederal provincial relationsatallitwastosaythatimportant thatany in the2015campaign.Indeed,ifRachelNotleymentioned federal– freeze inthedarkmorethanonceduringlegislativedebate. Indeed, hewaslumpedinwiththose“easternbastards” always viewedasmore“pro-Canadian”thanotherpartyleaders. genuflect tothisreality,butthroughouthisterminoffcehewas Grant understoodtheneedforAlberta in ordertopreserveitscontrolovernaturalresourcesparticular. who proposederectinga“frewall”ofjurisdictionaroundAlberta future PrimeMinisterStephenHarperwasoneofagrouppeople Ottawa. Thiswasstilltrueasweenteredthe21stcentury.In2001, Conservative governmentinAlberta,andaLiberal Much ofitwasfuelledbythefactthatthereaProgressive “Fighting Ottawa” was a staple of Alberta politics for several decades. provincial politicsinAlbertaduringthewholeofGrant’sleadership. federal–provincial relationships.Theserelationshipsdominated in importance. has meantthatthematterofforeignownershiplargelydeclined areas ofthepublicsector.Theinterrelationshipthesetwotrends Stephen HarperConservativegovernment’sdrivetoprivatizemajor nerships) thathavenowbecomecommonplaceasaresultofthe Grant wouldcertainlyhavebristledat I believethatGrantwouldalso havefoundsomecurrentsocial And yet,federal–provincialrelationshipsplayedalmostno part Grant wouldalsobepuzzledatthelackofdiscussionabout p 3s (public—privatepart ndp torecognizeand 2 thatshould - Introduction to the Second Edition XXIX - - - - , was extremely ndp in Alberta during his ndp I would still say “yes.” For example, it is I would still say “yes.” For example, it is relevant and respectable. 3 , I’m not sure if he would have been able to , I’m not sure if he would have been able ndp mla way of knocking on every door, signing up members, way of knocking on ccf Finally, I think that he would have been intrigued with the way he would have been intrigued with the Finally, I think that years as provincial secretary and leader. He continued to reinforce the legitimacy of the role of the political left in the province. In short, he made the fcance in Alberta? I said in Put bluntly, did he do anything of signi one has a sense the original edition of this book that “intuitively that he was important.” a signifcant contri diffcult to argue against the fact that he made bution to maintaining and growing the ical campaigns are planned and undertaken. Grant would have ical campaigns are planned and undertaken. probably felt like a dinosaur in this environment. The Legacy about Grant Notley’s legacy. All of this brings us back to the question adjust to the need for a proper Twitter account and the use of it. As adjust to the need for a proper Twitter all parties during the elec we all know the use of social media by tion campaign, but particularly by the Alberta changed the way that polit important. Technology has undoubtedly fculty I believe that he would have had dif political campaigning. small age of social media, in which seemingly adjusting to the new period of time. Although events can take on huge import in a short in the West” during his he was known as the “Fastest Press Release early years as an that doing politics and running election campaigns has changed. running election campaigns has changed. that doing politics and The old campaigns, and generally emphasizing having large membership although has largely gone by the wayside, person-to-person contact of the province remains a staple having meetings throughout think largely because of his rural background. He understood that background. He because of his rural think largely them intel therefore could support equality issues, and they were impact of taking about the political he always fretted lectually, but elections. matters like these during stands on Grant always had trouble with a number of these social issues, I issues, these social of with a number trouble always had Grant