"DUMP DANI," Alberta's Leadership In Question

Calgarians driving along Deerfoot Trail recently may have noticed some large red graffiti that reads "DUMP DANI." No doubt a reference to Alberta's beleaguered Premier.

Albertans are watching their leadership closely, and the provincial report card is showing widespread failure on the issues that matter most. Premier Danielle Smith’s approval rating, last tracked at 46% in September, reflects a public profoundly uneasy with the direction of the United Conservative Party government. This dissatisfaction is anchored in the belief that the province is failing on core responsibilities: the surging cost of living, the integrity of the healthcare system, and the severe housing affordability crisis. The public’s alarm over these issues sets the urgent, confrontational tone for every political decision made in Edmonton.

This instability is manifesting directly in labour disputes that threaten essential services. The recent, historic teachers' strike exposed the deep, systemic underfunding of public education and the failure to address critical issues like classroom size and student complexity. Before the education crisis is even resolved, attention is shifting to the healthcare sector, where the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), representing thousands of healthcare support staff, is showing signs of an impending strike. This dual threat—an unstable education system and the possibility of a nursing and support staff walkout—creates a state of perpetual chaos, directly undermining the quality of life Calgarians expect.

Here in Calgary, these provincial failures hit the local taxpayer directly. Our City Council, under newly elected Mayor Jeromy Farkas, is wrestling with the final adjustments to the 2026 budget, which includes a proposed 3.6% overall property tax increase. For homeowners, this translates to an average 5.4% residential hike. This local pain is magnified by provincial policy changes, such as the elimination of photo radar revenue, which forced the city to allocate millions just to keep the Calgary Police budget whole. This tax squeeze is necessary, the city argues, to manage the national crisis of housing—with a massive provincial shortfall of 130,000 homes needed by 2030—a crisis the city simply cannot solve alone.

Exacerbating the public’s deep financial and service concerns is a crisis of trust. The provincial government faces intense scrutiny over transparency issues, including reports of broken freedom of information rules and lingering questions regarding alleged health contract scandals. This pervasive atmosphere of secrecy fuels cynicism and undermines the public's willingness to support government decisions, even when they involve necessary spending on core services. As the Legislative Assembly returns, the burning question for our community remains: are Calgary's crucial needs being prioritized, or are they being overshadowed by political battles for power and control in Edmonton? Citizens demand clear answers and genuine accountability.