Alberta has become the unexpected contender to champion progressive policies in Canada. But the reality of the shift and its implications have yet to be determined and evaluated. That's the topic under discussion at Parkland Institute's 19th fall conference, "What's Left? Alberta and the Future of Canada".
"The shifting politics definitely influenced our selection of topics and specifically what progressive policies might be opened by the shift," says Trevor Harrison, Director of the Parkland Institute.
While the provincial election this past spring fell in line with the Albertans' penchant for dramatic government shifts decades in the making, it's who and what Albertans voted for that upset the province's stereotype. Albertans stood up for investment in social programs and a system of more equitable taxation.
"The changed political scene opens up the possibility of many of things Parkland has argued for being implemented," says Harrison.
Since its founding 20 years ago, Parkland has focused on the political economy of the province. And the conference's title borrows from Harrison and former director Gordon Laxer's book, The Trojan Horse: Alberta and the Future of Canada.
"That book was instrumental in the founding of Parkland Institute and provided the first real analysis of the impacts of Ralph Klein's neoliberal revolution on Alberta and its implications for the rest of Canada," says executive director Ricardo Acuña.
This year's conference will look at the implications of a new revolution in Alberta politics.
"The May fifth provincial election put Alberta on the doorstep of another potential transformation, in terms of public policy and ideology," says Acuña.
And with a federal election that echoed a move away from neo-liberal policies, the possibility for progressive change is real. But what it will look like as policies are implemented is an open question, one the conference will undertake with keynotes such as Alex Himelfarb and Kathleen Monk.
Himelfarb's credentials as a public servant are extensive, having served three Prime Ministers and worked as director of the Glendon School of Public Policy. He has written extensively on the question of fair taxation and his talk at the conference will focus on the consequences of tax cuts on Canadians.
"Conference attendees will find his answers to the challenges facing Albertans and Canadians today compelling and inspiring," says Harrison.
Individual sessions throughout the conference will examine policy issues that have defined the headlines for the past six months. Topics ranging from taxes to implementable environmental policies that reflect a new environmental reality will be examined by lead researchers from across Canada.
"This conference is an opportunity to discuss the potential impacts of a provincial and federal election that took a progressive turn, look at those issues in depth and assess their viability," says Acuña.
Parkland Institute's Fall Conference runs from November 20 to 22 in the U of A's Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies (CCIS). Please see the website for more information.