2023 won’t make us forget 2022, maybe more to remind us of 2022

By Ryan Dahlman

Ahhh 2023 is here. 

As we bear the not surprisingly inundation of commercials and over-the-top messages of quick fixes to New Year’s resolution end goals of losing weight, looking younger, becoming smarter, more sculpted, beautiful and just ultimately a better human etc. we have to realize what 2023 will be. 

2022 was a difficult and challenging year, but at the very least there was some signs of economic and social recovery. 

Entertaining and inspiring events and businesses came back as part of everyday society, sadly the Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t get the memo on either — but I digress.

Agriculture had its moments with some decent crops in Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

However, 2023 is another year of short term pain for long term gain. Housing prices will remain higher than normal, there will be at least a provincial election. One person who is hoping for a UCP loss this spring is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. With Bill 1 coming to fruition with Alberta just itching to put it into practice

ccording to some media there will be much bravado between Medicine Hat MLA (and oh yeah Alberta premier and High River resident) Danielle Smith and Trudeau in regards to the Golden Horseshoe. 

The Calgary Herald reported the federal government is pouring many millions of dollars into the electric car and battery construction industry in Ontario in the “Golden Horseshoe” area which includes Mississauga, Hamilton, Toronto, and Niagara Falls, meanwhile they are creating a “transition” program for workers in other industries “i.e. petroleum” get education to learn about a new industry. There are no $5 billion plants announced for Alberta. According to Post-Media, Smith has indicated there has been no discussions between the two sides. 

Both sides are positioning themselves in taking a stand with this issue. In layman’s terms, they are acting like overgrown babies. 2023 will be a fascinating year with Alberta-federal/Saskatchewan/federal relations. 

While consumers had to pay ridiculously high prices at the grocery stores and cringed when Westfair’s Galen Weston came on the TV with his signature sweaters telling viewers why consumer will love whatever overpriced products or they march out there; agriculture producers mysteriously didn’t reap the rewards. If $chicken producers in Ontario are the getting healthy price return for their chickens, they would all be rich. $27 per/kg for chicken breast? Wheat growers don’t make a tonne of money from $3 bread, cattle producers didn’t make a tonne of money from the astronomical prices of everything from hamburger to prime rib. Even heads of iceberg lettuce are an unthinkable $5-6. Prognosticators are indicating the price of food will continue to go up. Hopefully there will be no more anger-inducing Weston commercials, but considering the uproar on food prices … Galen is wearing his sweaters too tight, it’s cutting off circulation to his brain.  

Interest rates are going up, everything is costing more, including fuel for our homes/rentals and our vehicles. But don’t worry, we will all have electric cars. Can’t wait to see how all homes will be retrofitted to handle it and whether agriculture equipment such as tractors and combines will run off of AA or 9 volt batteries.

To slowly eliminate single-use plastics, 2023 will also feature single use plastic such as utensils used on take-out food. According to a report from the Canadian Press, Canadians use 15 billion plastic bags per year. 

The battle with drugs continues. Sadly, two people in Swift Current lost their lives over the Christmas holidays after overdosing on the drugs they were taking which had fentanyl in it. Many vapers are adding drugs to their vapes. Mental health, addiction issues and overwhelming stress is leading to drug use.

New 15-year research done by the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital indicating that people smoke marijuana have higher rates of emphysema and other other air diseases than those who just smoke tobacco or don’t smoke at all. The study was conducted between 2005-2020. 

Over November 2022 saw the highest number of Canadian insolvencies since March 2020 (the month of the widespread COVID-19 lockdowns, and the announcement of the initial CERB aid package). The numbers were just released by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.

2023 is not sounding healthy, much like many of us who have suffered from a lingering illness which causes a lot of coughing, tired feeling after not being able to sleep much. It has spread and much of the population seems to have been or currently suffering. 

However, after the mental Covid-19 fatigue we have suffered through, it seems as though 2023 will continue to be a battle.  

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