Who knew that a move one province over also meant a move on the political spectrum.
Up until four years ago, the entirety of my adult life had been spent in B.C., where I was very much thought of as a right winger. Having shared opinions through a community newspaper column for decades, it was a given for readers that I would see issues through a right-of-centre lens.
It was many years ago, but I can still remember one particular critic opining that I was so far right that I was in danger of falling off the edge of the earth, which I took as a compliment considering the source.
I’ve always considered myself fair-minded, willing to see both sides of an issue, but when push comes to shove, I’m far more likely to side with those on the right side of the spectrum than those to the left.
Since moving east, however, I’ve come to learn that a typical right winger in B.C. is looked upon as more of a middle-of-the-roader or perhaps even – gasp – a lefty in Alberta.
I can’t ever recall being labelled a left winger in B.C., but I’ve had a handful of readers affix that tag to me in the couple of years I’ve been working at the Wheel. I don’t believe my leanings have changed dramatically in recent times, so I’m guessing the shift is more geographical than political.
Given Alberta has historically leaned heavily to the right, there’s quite a sliding scale when it comes to those who identify as conservatives, from moderates to those of the Wildrose variety. The United Conservatives have tried to gather all of them under one big tent, but even electoral success hasn’t been able to hide the many different shades of blue.
I’ve never been a believer in having to buy everything your party of choice is selling, but I guess being critical of the UCP from time to time could be construed by some as being a lefty. I’ve also never been a believer that the other guys get it wrong 100 per cent of the time, but I guess being supportive of an NDP position on occasion could also qualify me as a lefty in some people’s eyes.
In my defence, I think a sitting government, regardless of political stripe, is far more likely to be the subject of criticism simply because it’s the one calling the shots, so it’s not so much a left-right thing as it is a case of dumping on the decision makers.
Not sold on that logic? Think I’m protesting too much? Maybe I am, maybe I must accept the notion that a B.C. right winger isn’t the same animal as an Alberta right winger.
After all, this is a province where Jason Kenney wasn’t quite right enough, the same Jason Kenney who spent a decade in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet, who was president of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and who dragged his feet on pretty much every public health regulation during the pandemic.
If that’s not right enough for some, then what chance do I stand?
