The Power to make a difference

Author Margaret Atwood voiced this opinion years ago… but it continues to have some legitimacy today. While women have moved beyond their stereotypical roles, much of the world remains male dominated, especially within the political arena. Through hard work and dedication, many powerful women are leading communities, corporation and countries, bringing feminine influence into the political world. I am a longtime community advocate who has entered politics at a time of change. My interests range from education to environment to community development and arts and culture. I think we need to make politics meaningful to Albertans again and that is why I became involved. I was elected for my first term as the MLA for the Edmonton-Glenora constituency in March 2008. Since then, I have been able to provide my thoughts and suggestions, and impact some of the decisions this province has been making. I am very dedicated to my job as Member of the Legislative Assembly and a cabinet minister. I believe that governing is a privilege, not a right—a belief that was reinforced when I worked as a writer for Premiers Peter Lougheed and Don Getty. During my time in the professional world, I have identified five ideals which I attribute to my personal success.
The first of these is to appreciate the contributions of volunteers. It is amazing how much volunteers are accomplishing right here in our own province. By dedicating a portion of
your time to helping your community, you are able to learn a lot of about others as well as about yourself. Personally, I have been involved in volunteer projects such as Bell Walk for Kids, as a community league executive and coordinator for the Glenora School Council, to name a few. I do not feel like I could be as successful in helping my constituents if I had not immersed myself in the community through these many activities. In addition to volunteering and helping those around you, you must be able to be a team builder. I could not have accomplished my goals without a strong team behind me. Due to the relationships I have built and the support network I work with, I have been able to accomplish great things. We all know the old adage “it takes a village to raise a child.” The relationships we build help us to move forward in a collaborative, positive manner. This especially relates to my role now as a minister and MLA. Team building goes hand in hand with my third ideal: to listen and value the opinions of others. Everyone— male or female, old or young—has something to bring to the table. When you are placed in a position of power and influence, you must be open to hearing the thoughts of all. Conversations with my constituents help me prioritize the issues and concerns people have. Through these discussions I have been made aware that many people are concerned about the cost of rent, affordable housing, homelessness, the environment, community safety, and keeping schools open in their communities. Therefore, these are issues I have taken a keen interest in… will advocate for… and will seek ways to improve. Fourthly, to be a successful woman in the business world, you must be willing to make decisions. Do not sit on the fence and let others around you lead the way. You must be willing to stand strongly behind what you believe in, and take action. In the business of politics, I have to make tough decisions every day but, in the end, I know I have helped to accomplish many positive things for the people in my community. Ultimately, it is about doing the right thing. Finally, the last piece of advice I can provide is to be prepared and do your homework. Whenever I walk into a meeting I have a solid understanding of the topics being discussed so I can contribute effectively. When discussing issues with colleagues, it is important that everyone has an opportunity to present their ideas and work toward common solutions with a solid understanding of the issues at hand. We all have responsibility to form a 360-degree, three dimensional picture of all aspects of every situation. The decisions we make affect many, not just today but tomorrow as well. The respect that is revealed by the attention given will always lead you to the best solution. We must be diligent and always be aware of the cumulative effect of every decision made. Just like dropping a pebble in a pool of water, it is the resulting ripple that should concern us in everything we do.

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