Who will step up and lead us out of this mess?

In corporate governance, there is an expression called “the tone at the top” and in the military there is a similar expression called “commander intent.” In both cases, it results in the fact that the leader of an organization sets the direction, the culture and its reputation as much or more than the mission statement, the strategic plan or the various checks and balances that might be in place to keep the group moving forward.

What we have witnessed lately with our neighbours to the south seems to reflect the complete rejection of the many checks and balances that were put in place and too much of what is happening in the streets, does, in fact, reflect the tone at the top of the U.S. government. It is both fascinating and frightening to watch and none of us really know where this will eventually lead that country in the months ahead.

Another great expression is the one that says, “I have made up my mind, don’t confuse me with facts.” That seems to be almost as predominant in Canada these days as anything else.

Federally, the Liberals are spenders and they are anti-hydrocarbon energy. Their tone at the top is to spend money while saving the entire world environment. A tough combination. No doubt the billions that have been poured into the economy recently have been necessary, but the “facts” are that without a strong energy industry, this country will be mired in debt, and a balanced economy is going to be generations away.

Even our new Bank of Canada governor is said to be an environmentalist, so it is unlikely that the tone at the top will be much help to Alberta in the next few years. There will be taxes coming that we have never dreamed of, and in terms of the commander’s intent, I am convinced that Trudeau intends to do all he can to protect the interests of Ontario and his beloved Quebec at the expense of the rest of the country.

Provincially, the tone at the top was to cut spending, reduce taxes and return Alberta to a balanced and debt-free status. Noble goals, but attacking doctors in the middle of a pandemic, reducing funding to schools and universities and generally appearing to be insensitive to any negative general public reaction is not a good idea. The words “finesse” and “communication” seem to have escaped our friends in Edmonton and while the commander’s intent may be to grow industry, the “fact” is that we cannot simply barge our way into prosperity.

The impact of the pandemic is significant, but the realities of today’s world are that Alberta needs a strategy that may be built on traditional energy, but visualizes the province as a world leader in the development of renewables, in research in both energy initiatives and medical research, along with a mandate of opportunity and optimism for all Albertans.

Then there is Calgary. The tone at the top seems to be, “We know what is good for you and you are going to like it.” Whether it is bike lanes, garbage recycling or a very expensive train, this commander’s intent seems to be to ignore increasing taxes, potholes, overgrown parks and broken fences. The commander’s intent is to leave a legacy and it does not matter who has to pay.

The uncomfortable facts are that many businesses are failing, the tax base is eroding and the population is aging. There seems to be no love lost between the city and the province and while it might be fine to say, “The province will pay for that,” the fact is that there is only one taxpayer. I wish that our council would focus more on the business and maintenance of the city and less on the social manipulation of the citizens.

Common sense? Awareness of the seriousness of the situation? Co-operation and conciliation? These don’t seem to be obvious to anyone. We’re on a high-speed train heading full speed into a concrete barrier. Which leader will be the one that pulls the brake and says, “Let’s go back to the drawing board and figure out where we are going before we go any further down this track.”

George Brookman is chairman and corporate ambassador of West Canadian Digital Imaging Inc.

We know what is good for you and you are going to like it.