[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Provincially Ontario tried one term of NDP in 1990. Since then NDP peaked with 33.6% of the votes in 2018, and have not otherwise exceeded 24% in the other 8 elections since 1990. Blue is obviously stronger in AB than ON, but lately that means 52-54% here vs 40% in ON.

Federally, NDP got 4.9%/0 seats of the vote last time, 17.8%/5 (out of 121 seats) the time before, and 16.8%/6 seats in 2019

vs. Alberta 6.3% for 1 seat last time, 19.1% for 2 seats out of 34, 11.6%/1 seat in 2019

While the NDP are certainly the most pro-labour of the 3 parties, the liberals are generally considered at least neutral(even that’s getting worse), but even the cons get some support from Unions in certain parts of Ontario because they actually somewhat try to be reasonable with them. Ford has a surprising amount of Union support in Ontario, so he has to take the political costs of attacking them into consideration. Smith doesn’t. That’s why it was “easier” and effective in Ontario and why it will be more challenging and less effective here.

There’s a reason Unions in Alberta never support conservatives and yet the conservatives win almost all of the time. This is why Unions have to be cautious about putting themselves at risk when the public has shown time and time again that they won’t support them when things get tough for them or they are under attack.

But we don't disagree too much on the rest. Appealing to their supposed expertise and access to information is fine, but might it also be reasonable to challenge the processes and thinking that have seen us remain in the weakest labour situation?

Is it not equally reasonable for someone on the other side to explain to you the reasons why what you’re hoping for isn’t viable and offer solutions as to how we can fix that?

I don't think it's overstatement to say that press conference was the biggest opportunity the labour movement has ever had to make a loud statement in Alberta. I hope they prove me dead wrong, but I simply think they failed to seize that moment.

I don’t think that it’s an overstatement to say that given the historic lack of support shown for Unions by voters in this province that it wouldn’t take a whole lot to give them more assurance that they won’t be shooting themselves in the foot if they try to lead the charge on this.

I still think that your assessment that they didn’t do enough is a result of your expectations being unrealistic given what you’re asking them to do and a lack of understanding of what it will cost them.