We still need to hear more about things like water and wastewater infrastructure and community infrastructure, like local rinks and libraries. But at least we're much further on that debate than we were in the last federal election.

I was really happy in the Globe and - in the Globe and Mail debate, which was on the economy, that there were questions about infrastructure, about immigration, about housing. These things have often been seen as municipal issues, but they truly are pan-Canadian issues. Now, I'm not saying I'm happy with all the answers, but I'm happy that at least we're talking about them.

All three of the leaders looked like they were surprised to be asked about housing. And really none of them had anything interesting to say. And so this is something we need to push hard on to ensure that they understand that our housing crisis is really a major economic issue. It's not a social issue; it's an economic issue.

But of course in my world nothing is political. And everything's about policy and governance. And maybe a bit of politics.

I don't believe that the economy has changed people's thinking politically in Alberta. However, obviously we elected a brand new government for the first time, some people say, in 44 years. It's actually the first time in over 70 years, because the previous government, prior to the PCs, was really just PCs with a different name. And I think what that did, it doesn't suddenly mean that Tom Mulcair is going to win a whack of seats here in Alberta, but I think it did open Albertans' eyes to the fact that, you know, something different is possible and we can do something different.

You know, the key issue is that city issues are not to be put in a box and say well, that's what the mayor wants. They're Canadian issues. Cities account for 75 percent of our GDP. If you don't have a plan for cities, it means you don't have a plan for the economy.

I'm happy that Canadians are having a good debate about infrastructure, and not whether it's important but more how we're going to pay for it.