SMH

According to the polls, it was the closest election in Alberta history. Unless we're talking about horseshoes and hand grenades, having the closest election results ever means nothing unless you win the election, and that's what leaves me shaking my head tonight as Danielle Smith and UCP will reign over Alberta for another term after they claimed victory with 48 seats to the NDP's 38 seats. If you live in Red Deer, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, Banff, Jasper, or anywhere else not named Calgary, I hope you enjoy the new arena the Flames will play in that some voters just financed through provincial tax monies by voting UCP. Long live the Flames, I guess?

I struggle to understand how anyone, specifically those in rural areas, would vote for someone who compared transgendered children to putting feces in food, but congratulations to those who live in the Lacombe-Ponoka for putting that candidate in office. It takes real guts to elect someone who hates children. Of course, she's likely to sit as an independent, but the former UCP member will likely vote alongside her former party in most, if not all, cases.

That lunatic aside, it was one month ago when UCP Leader and Premier Danielle Smith pledged that, if elected, a UCP government will put $330 million into an agreement in principle with the city and Calgary Flames ownership to build a new $1.2-billion arena district. This is the same city that saw votes for the NDP hit 49.3% while the UCP finished with 48.2% last night, yet they're sinking $330 million of taxpayer money into Calgary where they technically lost the popular vote. If you're struggling to make sense of that, you're not alone.

This is the same Danielle Smith who, in 2012 as the leader of the Wildrose Party, called any contribution of taxpayer dollars to building new arenas "corporate welfare" as the Edmonton Oilers were looking to replacing their aging rink. As we know, the Oilers got nothing in the way of provincial tax dollars to build their arena, and they seem to be doing ok. So how does the Premier go from "corporate welfare" to cutting a cheque for a new Calgary arena?

This is the same Danielle Smith who, in April, said that the $330 million was "earmarked for supportive infrastructure in the district like road improvements, the LRT, and a community rink — not for the NHL team or operating costs" which would mean she has the ability to tell the Flames how to spend the money. Hint: she does not have that ability, and I doubt the Flames and the city of Calgary will be taking advice from her on how they can spend the money. I guess the meaning of "corporate welfare" has changed over eleven years.

It's one thing to make promises to a city where you have a stronghold of votes, but Smith doesn't have that in Calgary. While her victory speech on Monday night included promises of listening, collaborating, and admitting missteps, it's hard to not see this promise of $330 million as going to a luxury rather than a necessity. With Alberta's healthcare, education, and economy being major factors in this year's election for city dwellers, it seemed to not matter for the 63.4% of voters living outside of Calgary and Edmonton who voted for the UCP.

That's $330 million being directed to the city of Calgary and the Calgary Flames by nearly two-thirds of people who live outside the two largest centers in Alberta. Medicine Hat, for example, is in desperate need of infrastructure monies as "much of the City's infrastructure is over 60 years old, and some is over 100 years old," yet $330 million will be directed to building a new arena district for Calgary. This should also be where I point out that Medicine Hat is part of the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding that UCP Leader Danielle Smith won with two-thirds of the vote.

With the UCP holding a provincial majority, the chances of a bill including the $330 million endowment for Calgary being defeated is pretty much zero. With costs still rising and with plans not yet revealed on what needs to be done to build this new $1.2-billion district, there's a better-than-good possibility that $330 million is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to provincial funding for this project. We already saw the previous arena plans fall apart over a few million dollars, and I can't see anyone allowing that to happen again no matter what the cost.

No matter how many times scholars and economists write about this, governments continue to promise public funds to billionaires who demand new venues. No matter how many times people smarter than me tell politicians to stop making these promises, they ignore those warnings. No matter how much evidence is produced, public funds are always offered up for new venues.

Let me be clear: I'm not trying to compare two situations, but at least the city of Tempe voted correctly when it came to their new arena and public funds. What's your excuse, Alberta?

I guess democracy won in the end, though, so enjoy your promised arena district, Calgary. Perhaps there will be pilgrammages from across the province to see the new hockey-and-entertainment Mecca that your leader promised. After all, the entire province of Alberta is paying for it despite cities and towns needing road repairs and healthcare centers and schools with exceptional teachers, so it only makes sense if you load up the car and drive to Calgary to see the beautiful new center you funded because the owners of the Calgary Flames - who, may I remind you, are billionaires - didn't feel like paying for their shiny, new toy despite demanding it be built.

United conservatives are not fiscal conservatives. They've proven that time and again by cutting essential services while paying for luxuries that shouldn't be on the taxpayers' shoulders. For a province that prides itself on its abundance of resources to line its pockets with cash, you sure got swindled by a promise from a government who will never see a return on its investment.

All I can do is shake my head.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!