Mac Olsen
The political forces that shaped Canada and the world in 2016 were a mixture of good and bad – with the left-wing forces being the latter.

Here in Alberta, Premier Rachel Notley has decided we can afford to pay a lot more money into government coffers, courtesy of a new and outlandish carbon tax.

Of course, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is implementing a national carbon tax, so they’re both guilty of this tax-and-spend, left-wing obsession.

Prepare to see your take-home pay reduced, to advance their “green agendas” that have no basis in sound reasoning or science.

Climate change is a left-wing conspiracy to make the “green necks” and other environmental activists happy.

However, I’m not going to stop driving my four-wheel drive truck to pander to their sensibilities. Paying the two carbon taxes isn’t going to deter me from using what is a practical and sensible form of transportation here in the Peace Country.

And, it’s not going to be long before we see marijuana use legalized in this country. I wrote about this subject in my last regional editorial, which received some feedback, mainly in the form of pro-marijuana use and legalization. They’re certainly entitled to their opinions and I’m entitled to mine. Just say no to marijuana use and legalization.

In late November, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro died and Trudeau praised him up and down as a fine leader. The PM thought he spoke for all Canadians, but he didn’t speak for me.

Earlier this year, I wrote about being concerned that conservatism and right-wing political parties are on the decline in Canada and throughout the world. But, I saw a glimmer of hope in April, when Brian Pallister led the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba to victory. They ousted the NDP, who reigned for over 17 years.

I hope that Pallister’s win gives the Ontario PC Party the momentum it needs to defeat NDP Premier Kathleen Wynn in their next provincial election. The thrashing she has taken over skyrocketing electricity costs has certainly made her vulnerable.

That glimmer of hope in Manitoba turned into a new dawn for me on Nov. 8, when Donald Trump was declared the President-elect. I had no expectations that he could come close to winning the presidency. But like many others, I was stunned – and also elated – that he had won over Hillary Clinton.

Yes, Clinton won over Trump in terms of the popular vote, by over two million votes. But it was the Electoral College that really mattered, and that’s where he won over her by a wide margin.

I turn 50 on Jan. 4, 2017.

The best birthday present for me will come 16 days later, when Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. No doubt, he will have interests that are contrary to Canada and the rest of the world, such as protectionism. But he will be the best thing to happen to the U.S. since Ronald Reagan.

A new dawn will come on Jan. 20, 2017 and a new momentum for conservatism and right-wing parties in Canada and throughout the world, I hope.

So long, 2016! Welcome, 2017.