For starters, I don’t think ‘government’ is the mechanism through which we solve societies problems. People, organizations, and communities solve problems, and government is responsible for supporting, codifying, and protecting the solutions that community creates for itself. If nonprofits like Disability Matters, Make Poverty History, Manitoba Child Care Association, and dozens of others in this province had access to legislate health improving, cost saving, economy boosting, and community improving measures, we’d have crime, poverty, homelessness, and civic awareness solved in a decade.

I will continue my work in community building, bringing together contentious developers and community groups, activists and policy makers. I will sit and meetings endlessly, and at endless meetings (the committee Mennonite in me is strong, if you think the legislature is a tough sit try a split conference church council meeting ????) I will continue to work in a diversity of faith communities to build spaces for care, continue to work with industry to improve health and environmental standards, and amplify and activate the organizers work for good todays and better tomorrows.

I’ve grown up around tremendous family and community supports, and I’ve had the privilege to speak with public intellectuals, CEOs, community board members, and business leaders, as well as people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, and poverty. I’ve got to talk with Pride organizers and participants, church leaders, doctors and philosophers, police officers and social workers. I’ve had coaches and teachers that have taught me well and given me life gifts, work ethic, and critical insight.

We can build community with community, and if the government supports that then we are doing well. The only true government of the people is one that respects and protects the commons; the collective work of our global civilization and the nurture of Mother Earth. To work for these goals means transparency, cooperation, and accountability for our legislators. We live in a technological world, and there is no good reason why we can’t have connect and manage the needs of community while still supporting creative innovative and robust economies. There is no good reason we need to subject the environment to lower standards for the sake of our economy. The cure for this is universal civics education, health and nutrition standards across provincial schools, and the alleviation of unnecessary financial and social burdens on families and people experiencing crisis.

Maybe most importantly, we will learn from the mistakes of colonialism, learn to speak a new shared language of respect, elevate the voices of indigenous leaders to act on the calls to reconciliation, we can work out a better way of being together, in parliament, in our earning life, and in our giving live. Massive change is built over years of perseverance and dedication, and set in big moments. Look to your elders, your community, and your young people about where to go. Help them to get there. Many small differences is the only sure path to change, and the many can make a difference.