Chris Clegg
Let’s see! The cost of living for Albertans is out of control. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are wreaking havoc on Canada’s and Alberta’s industries and economy. Teachers are on strike. Nurses may be the next to go!
But your provincial government is hard at work! Oct. 15, while dealing with all the issues so important to Alberta, they trotted out – wait for it! – plans for a new licence plate!
Well, that was certainly Earth-shattering news! It will certainly reduce cost of living for Albertans, settle the teacher’s strike, appease the nurses and show Trump just who the boss is! Yes, sir! Albertans can go to bed tonight and sleep a whole lot better!
In case you missed it, Albertans will get to vote on a new licence plate design. Let it be said it will never be as good as the Northwest Territories and the shape of a polar bear. So why try? This is not a competition!
The new plate will have the slogan ‘Strong and Free’ and “Wild Rose Country’ be damned! I mean, it was so outdated it had to go, right? Been there since 1974. Had to go!
How many well-educated Albertans even knew the ‘Strong and Free’ provincial slogan was adopted in its Latin form – Forbis et liber – in 1980? If the slogan was so darn important, how come it took 45 years to change it on the licence plates? We all know government moves slow. Frozen ketchup slow! Glacier slow! Continental drift slow! Big Bang and the creation of the universe slow!
With everything going on in the world and in our fair province, who in the blue blazes under the government dome in Edmonton thought this was so important? I mean, we all know many in the government offices exist only to inflict misery on Albertans with endless red tape and regulations, only to hide behind any decision made screaming freedom of information.
This was a priority?
This decision wreaks of someone wanting to leave a legacy. Someone hiding in a closet in a government office who is so obscure they just have to do something to justify their existence. They must be close to retirement.
Seriously, ‘Strong and Free’ sounds pretty American, doesn’t it? Something some Yankee would say before firing on the enemy. With the talk of the far right wing pushing for Alberta’s independence, one has to wonder if this is another concession to the right wing nutbars in Premier Danille Smith’s party.
Probably just a coincidence because the slogan was passed in 1980 but the question begs asking, “If King Ralph Klein didn’t want it, who does?” It sure seems like something Ralph would do to anger the political elite in Ottawa, who were not exactly his best buddies, not that he gave a damn!
And get him a good laugh!
Oh, well! We are pleased to report this is over. A decision has been made. We can move forward now that this important matter is behind us.
Perhaps Smith can now focus on the issues that really matter to Albertans.