It’s time to give Alberta’s workers a bigger say.

Over the past weekend, I participated in the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ (AUPE) 34th Annual Convention up in Edmonton, and had the opportunity to connect with members one-on-one and hear their concerns about the future of the province.

It is so important for groups like the AUPE to be engaged in the political process, and this weekend was a real example in the power of organized groups to enact change and hold unresponsive government accountable. Unions, by organizing their membership and encouraging participation, set a good example for political participation that all sectors of society can follow.

It was an honour to speak to this hard-working group, and the warm and enthusiastic response I received from the crowd was both humbling and motivating.

The future of the province is at stake, and there are two visions of how to proceed. The government can continue to refuse to exercise leadership by stifling engaged organized groups such as unions, or we can choose to accept that our best days are yet to come, and strive to make them reality by working closely and intimately with such groups. The Tories and the Wildrose are just variations on the same theme, but the Liberals have a better way forward.

Overall, congratulations to the AUPE for the great organization and dedication that made this convention- which was their largest convention on record with 1,006 participants at the closing ceremonies- possible.

To read my full speech, click here

AUPE’s summary of the convention is here