In no particular order of priority, here’s my wish list for Christmas and 2011.
Michener Hill Extendicare — A buyout from the province.
Grocery stores — Permission to sell wine and beer.
Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre — Not just more protocols, or shuffling patients around, but enough funding and staff and beds to reduce wait times in the emergency department.
Calgary Flames — A new coach and making the playoffs.
Red Deer community — A year-round indoor public market.
West Country — Bush party attendees who respect the outdoors and clean up after themselves.
Ed Stelmach — A really, really good PR person.
Raj Sherman — The People’s Award for Health Care Defender of the Year.
Stephen Duckett — A guide, belated though it may be, on how best to respond when media have questions.
MLAs — No more free tickets to events like the Grey Cup.
City council — An operating budget that pleases everyone.
Local charities — Money, lots of it.
Province of Alberta — An earned environmental protection award.
Alberta legislature — Party-proportional representation.
Hwy 2 RCMP and Alberta Sheriffs — Drivers who adjust to changing road conditions. Oh, and new spike belts to replace worn out ones.
Hwy 2 drivers — An end to bully, extreme speed-limit breaking drivers.
Airports — An end to the ridiculous escalation of fear about terrorism.
SPCA — A home for every cat and dog and bunny.
Electricity consumers — Regulation.
Homeless — Warmth, safety and a helping hand.
Voters — The right between elections to recall MLAs/MPs.
Don Cherry — Retirement.
Stephen Harper — A nomination for entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Cyclists — A comprehensive plan in Red Deer to create more bicycle routes and paths.
Environment Canada — Good golfing weather forecasts.
Canadian soldiers — Peace on Earth.
City’s snow-clearing road crew — A winter holiday.
All my readers — A merry Christmas or, if Christ isn’t for you, a Happy Holiday.
Mary-Ann Barr is Advocate assistant city editor. barr@www.reddeeradvocate.com