It is becoming more and more apparent that many politicians in all levels of government are actually too-narrow focused and too inflexible to adapt to what evidently will be the new norm.

Friends and neighbours are all in the mindset that oil and gas has lost its’ sheen and will no longer be the money tree it once was.

Too many politicians are clinging to it, and now our unemployment in Alberta and in Red Deer, is so high, second only to Newfoundland and Labrador. During this pandemic a lot of businesses adapted, going for example from making auto parts to making medical supplies. Eat in to take out.

When we had the chance to diversify, we did not. When we could have invested in land for other sectors like tourism, we focused on land for oil and gas industries.

Under the guise of Covid 19, politicians cut options, and invested in oil and gas. The free market investors were leaving in droves, but politicians took Albertans’ pensions to cover it.

Locally oil and gas related businesses were front and centre for planning, for when the next boom comes a knocking. We subsidized new housing at the expense of every home owner in the city. Our city’s population grew by 195 residents but we built 1299 new homes. We built new schools and firehalls in neighbourhoods that are mainly empty lots. Outcome; our assessments of our homes depreciated 2%. Tax base stayed the same but costs soaed.

Nearly 1800 people participated on the issue of Molly Bannister Drive extension, and 60% supported keeping the extension right of way. It made sense the right of way followed the power lines along the southern edge then followed the creek north then over the creek to hook up to Molly Banister north of the mall, away from Bower subdivision.

The population is stagnant, the real estate body believes our houses will decrease another 15% this year, but a developer wants to build over 600, possibly a 1,000 new homes but he wants to eliminate a valued traffic corridor and build 50 houses along the creek.

Under the guise of the environment, some politicians are pushing to allow them to do so.

The majority of respondents do not agree. Home owners could see their homes devalued even more. Traffic could be tied up for decades. Tax base won’t change as our assessments continue to depreciate but our basic services cost will increase.

Politicians have become so focused on the oil and gas sector that they have put all their eggs in one basket.

Cuts to services, cuts to education, cuts to healthcare, cuts to home values, cuts to quality of life and cuts to any sense of security all because too many politicians are too focused on single idealism, industries, and yesterday’s solutions.

Politicians, who are voting for and saying what they voted for and said even just a few years ago, please take note that the world is changing and perhaps you could change or step aside for the next generation.

As a voter, a tax payer, a home owner, a resident, a former O&G supervisor, a parent, a son, a grandfather, and as a man I can see things are changing but I can see many politicians who refuse too.

The next chapter has started, so please turn the page.