By Brenda Kenny
The guts of living in groups, or cities like Calgary, mean that politics is part of our lives. Unless you prefer anarchy, we need ways to make decisions together, to govern our actions together, and to choose the path forward through the policies that we put in place. We elect people to represent us, and we have long-serving city staff who implement our decisions and choices. All that runs alongside a wonderful mix of community groups and people living “politics” in our city everyday.
Talking about politics is not the same as “partisanship” or fixed positions. Open and meaningful debate, respectful airing of different views, and criticism of ideas with the intention of improved outcomes are important. We only get to the best possible future if we actively test ideas and innovate, and if we take accountability for solutions that work today and into the future.
Many people say they are “done” with politics. Apathy and cynicism run deep if you think politics is about creating division to gain power, demonizing the other side, and focusing on coercive, short-term tactics to win votes now.
We are lucky in Calgary. The voter turnout in the 2017 Calgary Municipal election was 58.1%, the highest turnout in more than four decades. Next year we will be asked to vote again. Regardless of our individual views, will we each be ready? And can we encourage others to feel ready and willing to vote for the city and the community they want for the future?
Through Calgary on Purpose, we are surfacing stories about what is important to Calgarians and we want to encourage a robust political culture in Calgary in which we are excited and proud to be involved in our politics as candidates, workers, and voters. So, we are all for politics. We believe this is more important than ever. Calgary faces hardship and opportunity at a time of transition and risk of deep divisions.
Before you move to a position or fixed view, pause to think about our city. Think about your community in 10 or 20 years from now. Think about what brings people together, how it feels to be a Calgarian, and what makes us special. We are in this together, so let's have a healthy debate about our future.