Q. Why do you think you can make a difference in politics?

I was asked this very valid question recently, and my answer was that “I was not a politician, I am a
projects guy, and we are wired different.  Projects people are the only group that knowingly and willingly start their first day of work so that they can work themselves out of a job.”

Projects are all unique, they have different timelines, locations, reasons, materials, people, stakeholders, and schedules. There is the interface between the capital projects, and the operations groups who run the business, and will inherit the new assets. No two projects are ever the same.  The teams change, the contractors change, the owners change, the weather is never the same.

The parallels that I draw upon, and the training I have received during my 25 years of being in the industry are all applicable to the world of politics. 

• There is a given duration – 4 years or less
• There are different stakeholders – internal and external
• There are different resources and personnel to draw upon – new people are elected
• There are new teams formed, leadership alignments – the different ministries
• There is an existing operations group that still needs to run the business – the bureaucrats / and government workers.

So, when I look at breaking down the government into these components, I am one of the most qualified individuals that could be applying to the job, as a nomination contestant, a candidate, and to work for the people of the Lac St Anne Parkland CA. 

I have led project teams in Canada and the USA, I have been dropped into problematic projects for “Project Recovery”.  I have been involved, or led stakeholder relations and engagement sessions with unions, city councils, open houses, and first nations elders / leaders.

I was placed on two separate councils of a major international corporation to form policy and procedures for “Controls” and as well as “Contracts and Procurement”

I have not been involved in local, or provincial politics from the inside, I have been on the outside navigating through the politics to be able to meet or exceed the expectations of the regulatory bodies, and to maintain compliance given environmental, safety, interface, use etc.  being involved on projects that were measured in the billions of dollars, down to projects measured in the hundreds of thousands keeps you agile, as the number of hats you need to wear changes, and the people you have a chance to work with changes.

So, when I am asked, how will I make a change.  The answer should be, the same way I have been a doing it for the last 20 years.

Listen and observe the existing group or structure, perform the research to become educated on the subject or specialty.  Identify the most measurable and quantifiable elements that can be adjusted or changed, wait to see the results.  Consult with the team and manage the change.  When there has been the applicable time allotted, make another change to refine the process, and build the team culture of common goals, having fun, and having something to believe in that is challenging to achieve, but attainable as a team.

That’s how I know I can make a difference, because I have been trained, and paid to make a difference in my industry.  Applying these skills and lessons to this new area with all the parallels will be of help, and they will have the positive change that we need in a measurable timeline.

New Questions and Answers

Q. My question is what can be done to help owner operators?

On Tue, 6 Nov 2018 at 20:27, Contact Form wrote:

Hi there.

Yes, I have a question for you.

I am a wife of an owner operator, he hauls crude oil, who is working hard trying to make ends meet, sometimes making it work paycheck to paycheck, like most families.

My question is what can be done to help owner operators, who is paying alot
for diesel costs (sometimes over $10,000 over a 3 week shift)and carbon tax?

Thanks.

Xxxxx.

Reply From Shane Getson.

On Tue, Nov 6, 2018, 9:05 PM shane getson <voteshanegetson@gmail.com wrote:

Hello Xxxxx,

I hear you on the cost of fuel and Carbon Levy, As by definition we are never supposed to be paying a tax on a tax.

My family and I live on a hobby farm, I own a t800 gravel truck, and we burn coal in the winter time with our boiler.

Just to put in half a tank of diesel in ten Kenworth was the same cost as it was to fill the whole truck only 2 years ago. The coal is $43 per ton, the “levy” is 53 per ton now. Then GST on top.

We are paying more for fuel now, with $60 WTI OIL, than we were at $110 dollar oil.

Sorry for the long answer, but it struck a nerve with me as well.

If the UCP gets in, the Carbon Levy is gone. The insidious nature of that tax is it is compounding, driving the cost of everything artificially higher. That is the first thing that can be done, and will be done.

It will lower the cost of the fuel, and everything else that the artificial costs have been applied too. Groceries, cost of service, etc.

I hope that helps.

All the best,
Shane.

Vote SHANE GETSON UCP LAC STE. ANNE - PARKLAND

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