Nadine Wellwood, a Cochrane entrepreneur and former political candidate, has released a new book aimed at challenging traditional ideas about government, education, healthcare, and taxation in the province.
Titled Alberta Rising: A Principled Vision for a Sovereign and Free Nation — Reclaiming Liberty, Redefining Government and Realizing the True Potential of the Free Alberta, the book is designed to provoke discussion and encourage Albertans to reconsider long-held assumptions about public policy.
It's already a #1 best seller in its category on Amazon Canada.
“The whole purpose of the book is to help people develop the courage to question some of our own belief systems,” Wellwood said in an interview with Cochrane Now. “Even people who may disagree with some of the ideas in the book — it’s designed to get them to reconsider, to question, ‘What can we improve upon?’”
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a 51st state person, or you want sovereignty, or simply want to improve the status quo and stay in Canada, I would say it's a provocation — it really invites honest conversation on how we can improve on what's been done.”
Wellwood said the book grew out of her decades of experience as an entrepreneur and business owner, combined with her time in politics.
“I decided to take a look at this from a perspective of principles more than policies,” she said. “It’s a call for Albertans to be bold, be courageous, and to look at what the world has to offer.”
The book addresses a wide range of topics, including healthcare, education, taxation, licensing, and registration, often challenging long-standing practices. Wellwood points to Japan’s healthcare system as an example of better outcomes at lower costs and suggests exploring education vouchers to allow public funding to follow individual students. She also questions the role of professional licensing, which she says can sometimes function more as a tool of control than a means to maintain standards.
“Over the years, licensing and registration has become a means of control,” Wellwood said. “We are being forced to accept ideologies that may not align with our principles just to hold a designation or license.”
A key theme in the book is the limitation of government power and empowerment of citizens. Wellwood draws on ideas from philosophers, economists, and political leaders, including Ralph Klein, Frederick Bastiat, and Milton Friedman, to encourage readers to think critically about the role of government and the possibilities for reform within Alberta.
While Wellwood has been active in provincial and federal politics, she said she is no longer seeking office. She noted her past experience with the United Conservative Party, where she won a nomination for the Livingstone-Maclead constituency but was later disqualified, cemented her belief that meaningful change often comes from influencing public discourse rather than working within party structures.
"I'm not willing to just toe the party line and go along to get along. I was looking to make change and looking to really represent my constituents, with that political party in particular. Now, if you look at how Peter Guthrie and Scott Sinclair were disqualified, it's like you're not allowed to disagree at all. I think that's heartbreaking, because how do you get to the truth, unless you're willing to discuss the real issues and have open debate."
She has run for the People's Party of Canada and was a candidate in Alberta's Senate race.
RELATED STORIES
- Cochranite Nadine Wellwood in the Alberta Senate race
- Canada Needs the Fresh Ideas of the PPC, believes Nadine Wellwood; Open House Saturday
Wellwood said she hopes the book sparks conversation and inspires readers to propose their own solutions to the province’s challenges.
“I end the book with the comment, ‘I now hand the pen over to you,’ because this is not about my ideas,” she said. “It’s about getting people to think, to question, to propose something different, and to have honest conversations about how we can improve our society.”
Excluding the bibliography, notes, and references, the book is about 100 pages. Each chapter begins with a quote followed by Wellwood’s thoughts and commentary.
“It’s designed to be engaging, with very short chapters and sections. It’s really about provoking thoughts and challenging some ideas,” she said.
Alberta Rising is available in hardcover, softcover, and Kindle versions through Amazon, with plans for author-signed copies and potential local events.