I was scrolling on Threads today, and discovered a couple of posts including a video of an Alberta Next panel, in which moderator Bruce McAllister admonished seventeen-year-old high-school student Evan Li for asking questions about Alberta’s education system–namely, the province funding private schools and the upcoming teachers’ strike–then suggested his parents ‘turn him over their knee,’ after making comments about how Li was speaking and cutting his microphone mid-sentence.

This irritated me on so many levels.

First of all: a public figure and former politician–in public–advocating child abuse against a high-school student, and for saying something he didn’t like, and not in line with the United Conservative Party of Alberta‘s party line…I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but that a public figure would be so blatant, and in public, about advocating corporal punishment/child abuse…all I can say is, McAllister and Alberta’s UPC have nothing to be proud of here.

McAllister also had the temerity to tell Li that he wasn’t ‘making sense.’ Maybe not to McAllister; however, I thought Li made perfect sense in asking about the state of Alberta’s education system, at present and going forward. As far as I’m concerned, McAllister’s response is just another instance of adults finding ways to not listen to children and youth and take them, their issues, and their concerns seriously, even if said issues and concerns apply to society at large.

I’d also like to point out the complete condescension and disingenuity of McAllister saying he “applauded” Li’s coming to the event to speak, but didn’t like the way he was speaking…

But I can’t say I’m surprised or shocked to see the arrogance of someone from Canada’s Conservative Party–or anyone adjacent to it–on such open, blatant display; these people clearly think that they can get away with anything and everything.

But I have to give the people in the audience kudos for supporting Li, especially after McAllister stated his parents ought to turn him over their knee; I heard a female voice, speaking into the microphone, that what McAllister did and said to Li was ‘rude’ (more than once) and ‘disgraceful,’ accompanied by a chorus of ‘boos’ from the general audience. And I have to at least nod my acknowledgment to everyone in Internet comments sections who praised Li for speaking truth to power, and decried the way McAllister treated him. And Li himself deserves some praise for the way he handled his mistreatment, and for speaking out after the fact, and continuing to speak up for teachers, students, and others in Alberta who are negatively affected by the decisions of Alberta’s provincial government. Like so many have stated, Li and his actions are a light in the darkness of our times.

I don’t live in Alberta, but McAllister’s treatment of Li in that joke of a ‘town hall’ really sticks in my craw, and I hope he faces severe consequences for it; I know Danielle Smith won’t dismiss him from his position, but I hope the good people of Alberta will continue to hold McAllister to account for his atrocious behaviour towards Li.

I know this post is more than a tad disjointed, but it’s urgent, and I need to get my views on this situation out there.