'My Priority' — 12 regular Albertans explain why they think the way they do this election
Democracy is stronger when we hear perspectives from across all of our communities
What's the one thing that means the most to you in terms of the provincial election and why is that?
We recruited people from across the province to answer that question. They're teachers, students, ranchers, factory workers ... just regular Albertans.
They opened a window into their lives, dug deep to understand what personal events shaped their views. We supported their writing efforts, then published their views online with an audio recording on Daybreak Alberta.
Take a read. Are there pieces that help you understand Alberta better?
Keep in mind, these pieces should not be taken as endorsements of any particular political party by either the writers or the CBC, rather they are expressions of the writers' points of view, and a look at how those opinions came to be formed.
Fighting for air filters in schools showed me why Alberta needs an unfiltered public health office
Politicians often say that they are following the advice of public health officials, but it is important for the public to see the actual recommendations directly and in a timely fashion. That's why Alberta needs independent officer of public health, argues Paul Lu.
Lu is a father who lobbied for HEPA filters in school and a professor of computing science. Read his piece here.
Sovereignty isn't separation; it's making choices for yourself. Alberta needs it
In social work, a client must feel empowered to make their own decisions. The same applies to a province, argues Matthew Morin.
Morin describes himself as a proud Albertan based in Calgary, and is a graduate student at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Social Work. Read his piece here.
Raising disabled kids in Alberta is exhausting. But not for the reasons you think
As a parent with two autistic children, Sarah Doll knows the agony of being stuck on wait-lists and tangled in red tape while her children regress. No one in power seems to care, she writes.
Doll lives in Edmonton. Read her opinion piece here.
Why Indigenous people must take part in the Alberta vote. And why it's unlikely to happen
In the upcoming provincial election, I will be casting my ballot for equality and recognition, and I will ask all my Indigenous friends and relatives to do the same. It is not important who they vote for, only that they vote, writes Mike Kortuem.
Kortuem is a member of the Big Stone Cree First Nation. Read his piece here.
My Liberal grandfather might roll in his grave, but I'll vote for what's best for Fort McMurray
I fell in love with the people of Fort McMurray. And since I'm loyal and protective in my approach to politics, I will vote to support freedom, support oil and gas, and support my community, writes Adem Campbell.
Campbell grew up in New Brunswick and is now a social studies teacher in Fort McMurray. Read his piece here.
Citizens in every way but one: My ballot box issue is voting rights for permanent residents
I knock on a door, and a man opens it, smiling. I told him I was door-knocking for a municipal candidate in Edmonton's city council elections. I asked him if he knew who he'd be voting for.
His smile fades. "Oh, we're only PR, sorry."
Everyone who lives in Alberta is affected by government decisions, but not everyone is allowed to participate in democracy, writes Gurpreet Kaur Bolina. Read her opinion piece here
I'm priced out of the housing market. That's a provincial election issue to me
As an Albertan in my late 20s — even making above the median salary — my savings have grown slower than the down payment on a house. It's a provincial job to regulate landlords and stop city councils from limiting low-cost options, writes Humam Shwaikh.
Shwaikh is an IT manager in Calgary who spends his time working with start ups and early stage companies. Read his opinion piece here.
Partisanship is poisoning Alberta's democracy
Too many voters reflexively support one party they feel is part of their tribe, and are taught to fear the other side, Andrew Roth writes.
Andrew Roth is a factory worker who lives and is raising a family in Lethbridge, Alta. Read his opinion piece here.
There's no getting around — Alberta's lack of accessibility law is my ballot box issue
Chris Ryan has been unable to work as a lawyer because accessible transit made it impossible to get to work on time.
He is a lawyer who currently lives in Calgary. Read his opinion piece here.
Alberta's other 4H club: Help needed for our highways, our homeless and our health
Glory Przekop knows the Alberta government values the thriving economy of the Peace Country, but she doesn't see much evidence that it cares about the people who live there.
She lives in the town of Beaverlodge, works for a non-profit that supports individuals with complex needs and volunteers as a board member for the local agricultural society. Read her opinion piece here.
I didn't 'play well' during the pandemic. My ballot box issue is freedom
Caroline Parke writes that she felt betrayed by the government's vaccine mandates and is looking for a government that will stand up for individual freedom.
She lives on a ranch near Lloydminster, Alta., with her husband and children. She is a recording artist and singer-songwriter. Read her opinion piece here.
If rural Alberta lacks support for agriculture's future, others will swoop in
Among our politicians, we see little willingness to address or even recognize the crossroad now facing rural Alberta, writes Mark Olson.
Mark Olson lives and works near Cremona, in west-central Alberta, and founded Flokk, an ag-tech startup. Read his opinion piece here.
Questions? Email the CBC's Elise Stolte at [email protected].