Confronting Alberta’s challenges
COALDALE – There is no question that 2016 has been a challenging year for many Albertans. A struggling economy, an uncompromising government, and even inclement weather had many of us fighting a persistent uphill battle.
However, in a year where successes were so few and far between, persistence itself is no small victory. The truth is that success is rarely built on success, and it is never built all at once. Far more often, success is built on failure, frustration, and sometimes catastrophe. It is built slowly, day after day, by good people doing the best they can in circumstances not of their choosing.
It is in this spirit that the Official Opposition has approached the work of serving this province. Yes, we have given our full-throated opposition to the government’s most calamitous policies, but we have also suggested amendments and alternatives every step of the way. And, most importantly, we have worked diligently to make sure the voices of all Albertans are heard and represented inside and outside the Legislature. A core belief that unites our party and the conservative movement is that our success will always be linked to our willingness to be of service to each other.
This is the same spirit of goodwill that has come to define the upcoming holiday season. When I think of the Christmas story, what stands out to me is the sense of wonder felt by all those people crowded around the manger. These were people from all walks of life, folks who held next to nothing in common. When they looked upon the babe, they saw a child of limitless potential who would change the world by putting others before Himself.