A new year’s resolution for public service over politics

By Vamini Selvanandan

January is the season of resolutions – as individuals, we resolve to eat better, exercise more and generally do better in our lives. What if governments also saw the birth of a new year as a way to renew their commitment to better serve the public? After a year marked by controversy, conflict, and costly mistakes, Albertans are entitled to ask if our provincial government plans to do anything differently in 2026.

Resolving to respect democratic processes would be a good place to start. During the fall 2025 legislative session, the UCP government used the non-withstanding clause multiple times to curtail Charter rights: first to force teacher’s back to work, and then to protect a set of three laws impacting transgender youth and adults from legal challenges.

The notwithstanding clause was never meant to be a routine governing tool. It exists as a constitutional last resort—used sparingly, after courts have ruled, and with full acknowledgement that fundamental rights are being overridden in the public interest. Its legitimacy depends on restraint, transparency, and democratic accountability.

A commitment to respecting and retaining the best professionals to serve the educational and healthcare needs of Albertans will also be a welcome change in 2026. The government’s decision to curtail teachers’ right to strike through legislative action resolved an immediate disruption, but at the cost of long-term trust. Respecting collective bargaining rights while working together with teachers to ensure stable classrooms would signal a commitment to education as a public good rather than a political battleground.

As for healthcare, the government would do well to apply itself earnestly to health system issues within its purview. Staffing shortages, long waits for surgery, and strained emergency departments affect rural and urban communities across the province. These pressures have been compounded by a series of procurement decisions that raised concerns about oversight and value for money. A resolution to strengthen transparency, improve oversight, and prioritize patient outcomes over ideology will go a long way to rebuild public confidence.

Alberta’s relationship with the federal government has often been contentious. Provincial advocacy is necessary, but constant confrontation risks failing to deliver results that matter to communities. A New Year’s resolution worth keeping would be prioritizing collaboration with Ottawa in 2026 and working constructively to achieve real outcomes for Albertans.

Underlying all of this is a deeper issue: listening to Albertans. The unprecedented number of recall petitions launched against UCP MLAs in 2025 is a clear sign that the government has been out of step with its citizens. When citizens take the extraordinary step of trying to remove elected officials before the end of their term, it is a signal that voices are not being heard and concerns are not being addressed.

New Year’s resolutions are not about perfection. They are about direction. Albertans understand that governing is complex and mistakes happen. What we ask in return is humility, accountability, and a willingness to learn.

Those would be resolutions worth keeping.

Vamini Selvanandan is a rural family physician and public health practitioner in Alberta.