Esther Wrightman

There is something deeply unhealthy happening in our public discourse. When people question government policy, they are called extremists. When they raise concerns about immigration or social cohesion, they are called racists. When they question public-health decisions or speak about vaccine injuries, they are called anti-vaxxers. When they challenge the constitutional status quo or discuss Alberta’s future, they are called traitors. These labels are rarely intended to encourage dialogue. They are used to end it. But questioning government is not extremism. Challenging existing laws is not lawlessness. Discussing constitutional change is not disloyalty. And disagreeing with government policy does not make someone dangerous. In a healthy democracy, citizens are free to question authority, challenge prevailing ideas and advocate for change. That is not a threat to democracy. It is democracy. The real danger is a political culture that silences legitimate concerns, punishes disagreement, disparages citizens and treats them as enemies simply because they refuse to conform. We will not rebuild public trust by ignoring this reality. We will rebuild public trust by listening, answering difficult questions and addressing the substance of their concerns. Dialogue does not weaken a country. Refusing to have it does.