Grassroots debate at Alberta Party AGM

Re. “Alberta Party convention offers little to get really excited about,” Keith Gerein, Oct. 22

Mr. Gerein’s column missed the mark on political platform development and prioritized selling controversy over good governance.

It’s a concerning take considering the feedback we hear about concerns related to polarization and acrimony between our two larger rivals. Finding a way to seek common ground and respectful debate should be lauded, not derided.

It was clear that there was passionate debate about a proposal to reduce funding to private schools, and my own resolution to provide stable and predictable funding and tuition costs for post-secondary institutions and students — which narrowly passed.

This was true grassroots democracy in action.

The tone of the meeting and policy conference was one of consensus-building and soliciting. That feedback informs the process of establishing our platform, as does the work of our caucus, and consultations with experts and stakeholders over the past eight months.

Policy lays out the vision, platform lays out the nuts and bolts of how we will get there. Mr. Gerein’s assertion we should have a detailed platform this early before an election is like telling a novice poker player to reveal their hand to their more experienced competitors before the flop. We’re here to win, and that’s not a winning strategy at all.

Stephen Mandel,

Alberta Party Leader