It’s the last day of the Calgary Stampede. It’s also the last day for politicians to dress up as cowboys for one last photo-op before getting back to business of politics. The issue we have with this photo isn’t that these men aren’t real cowboys but that they’re not
Continue readingAuthor: susanonthesoapbox
Susan on the Soapbox: Mr Kenney’s Laundry List
In a manner befitting the serious business of governing, the Alberta UCP caucus celebrated the end of the spring session by jumping into the reflecting pool in front of the Legislature. Perhaps it was the strain of being held to account by the NDP Opposition for seven whole weeks
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Happy Canada Day!
Dear Canada: Happy birthday! With hugs and kisses from Ms Soapbox. PS: You may have heard some silly talk to the effect that Alberta wants to separate from Canada because Albertans don’t think Canada appreciates their contribution to Confederation. They’re being egged on by a silly little man, our Premier,
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: About Those Ear Plugs…
Sigh. I expected to spend the next four years writing letters to my MLA, Doug Schweitzer, but I didn’t think the first one would be about ear plugs. But we play the cards we’re dealt so here goes. Dear Hon. Doug Schweitzer, Justice Minister and Solicitor General, I’m a lawyer
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Sisters’ Weekend
Ms Soapbox just returned from a fabulous long weekend in Victoria with her sisters. As a result I wasn’t terribly focused on the machinations of our politicians. Did I miss anything?
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: GSAs in Alberta (Even Doug Ford Does It Better)
It started when the Kenney government introduced Bill 8, the Education Amendment Act which they said would provide “the strongest statutory protections” for gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in the country. It ended with a news release issued by Education Minister LaGrange late Friday afternoon on “the protections for students under the
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Mr Kenney’s Speech on Bill No. 1
Mr Kenney and Bill No. 1 There comes a time for politicians who spent the campaign trail foaming with righteous indignation to transform into thoughtful representatives of the people who elected them. Sadly, for Mr Kenney that time did not come before he rose in the Legislature to speak
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The UCP Addresses Conversion Therapy…”in due course”
By a strange coincidence Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 11 came to town the same week that Premier Kenney and his Health Minister, Tyler Shandro, explained (sort of) the UCP government’s position on conversion therapy. Ms Soapbox and her daughters had tickets to the Ru Paul show and were delighted
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Throne Speech: Whose Destiny Are We Talking About?
“I am your density…I mean your destiny.” — George McFly, Back to the Future (1985) All eyes were riveted on Lois Mitchell, Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor, last Wednesday as she delivered the Kenney government’s first Throne Speech…er…your eyes weren’t riveted on HHHLG? You were having coffee with
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Day the Circus Came to Town
On May 21, 2019 Jason Kenney’s UCP government will officially be “open for business” in every sense of the word. Mr Kenney’s government will kick off with a Throne Speech which will outline how Mr Kenney intends to deliver on his promise to pull Alberta out of its state of
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Lessons from the AFL and AOC
What if we’ve run out of time? What if there’s no time left for baby steps; for one step forward and two steps back? What if it’s time to go big or go home? Last weekend Ms Soapbox attended two events focused on our future. One was a convention hosted
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Talk to you next Sunday
Yesterday Ms Soapbox attended the Alberta Federation of Labour 2019 Convention. It’s theme was Choosing Our Future. She heard some terrific presentations from people like Rachel Notley, John Max Smith (Harry Leslie Smith’s son), Gil McGowen and others. Today she attended a screening of Knock Down the House, a documentary
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Is It Too Late For The Facts?
Where is Sgt Joe Friday when you need him? Sgt Friday is the detective from Dragnet known for saying, “Just the facts, ma’am” when he’s investigating a crime. Why are we talking about facts? Joe “Just the facts, ma’am” Friday Because Jason Kenney has yet to be sworn into office
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Reflecting on the Election
Now that the election is over and the dust is settling, Ms Soapbox has been reflecting on the results. What do we make of this? The thrust of Mr Kenney’s victory speech was that Albertans value the economy and jobs above all else. (Whether this is a conservative ideal
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: A Really Great Photo…
I know, I know, I’ve already done an article on why I voted for Rachel, but I took this really great photo at the Calgary Rally on Saturday and I had to share it. Ta da!! So, now that I’ve got your attention here are my top 10 reasons to
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: A Guide to UCP “Conservatives”
The Peter Lougheed Progressive Conservatives parted company with the Kenney “conservatives” when Kenney created the free enterprise unity party. Those three little words signaled the transformation of the conservative party into one that cares only about money. With the Lougheed PCs gone the UCP turned elsewhere to fill out their
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Don’t Look Away
We’re on the cusp of the election and many moderate conservatives still don’t know who they’ll support. Will they ignore the allegations of vote tampering in the UCP leadership race and the slate of unfit candidates stacking up “25 deep” to support Jason Kenney or will they follow the lead
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Day Jason Kenney Edited the UCP Policy Document…
The UCP policy document opens with a letter from Jason Kenney which cribs Ronald Reagan’s well known question, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” Kenney’s answer is no, and he lists a number of reasons why it’s time for a change. The “time for a
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: GSAs…Here we go again
Last Thursday Mr and Ms Soapbox joined hundreds of Calgarians protesting Mr Kenney’s plan to out kids who join gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in schools. The question on everyone’s mind was why would the man who says he’s fit to govern Alberta enact legislation that increases the risk of harm to
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Jason Kenney and the Pope
Is there a limitation period after which we can safely disregard a politician’s scary comments? In 2000 Jason Kenney, then a 32 year old federal MP, gave a disturbing speech* at the St Joseph’s Community Catholic Home School Conference. It’s disturbing because it foreshadows how Kenney will govern if he
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