Many believe Alberta's present political landscape may experience a dramatic shift at the top in the next provincial election and a historical power insists it still has what it takes to make a serious challenge.
The Alberta Social Credit Party, once a provincial political powerhouse, hosted a recent policy convention in Innisfail.
Party president Helge Nome and leader Len Skowronski attended the gathering that resulted in new justice, education and social policies being passed.
“We held a successful Socred convention in Innisfail,” said Skowronski. “Of our roughly 250 members, we had a quorum attend and we were able to pass some social policies that will allow us to attract disenfranchised and disenchanted Albertans.”
The provincial Social Credit party won a majority government in 1935, barely months after its formation, and remained in power until 1971. However, it has held no seats since 1982. It finished a distant seventh in the 2012 general election, fielding only three candidates in the province's 87 ridings.
Skowronski noted his party was becoming a group of senior citizens but recently there has been a youth movement within their ranks.
“It is very exciting to see that we have five directors who are in their 20s,” said Skowronski. “Not to mention within our membership, a large number of active young people who have embraced our values and platforms. If you take a look at what the Conservatives have done to marriage legislation, and their stance on sexual identity on birth certificates without the consent of Albertans, there is a problem. Our new members do not like where this is going.”
Skowronski spoke on the possibility of a minority government the next time Albertans go to the polls with a stronger Alberta Social Credit Party holding a balance of power.
Party delegates committed to sponsoring legislation in the house that will allow anyone ticketed to have the option to transfer trials to a home court, to allow persons to carry and use bear/pepper spray for self-defence, to modify sex education curriculum to include the effects of teen pregnancy and teen parenthood, and to work with students and Alberta adoption services clients more fully from pregnancy to adoption.
Local party member Myrna Kissick was pleased with the direction the party is going after the weekend convention.
“As a longtime member of the party, we want to be states-people, working for the constituents and answerable to Albertans,” said Kissick. “I have always believed that youth are our future and with a growing party membership of 20- and 30-year-olds we are in a good position. Seniors are important because they form a large part of Alberta history and are our link to the past. We want to return power to the people, not the politicians.”
Information on the Social Credit party and platforms can be found at www.socialcredit.com
