Members of the public line up at Forzani and MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre. While it is true there are no actual well-heeled clients of the Helios Wellness Clinic in this lineup, actual lines of Calgarians awaiting medical tests may nevertheless not be exactly as illustrated. Below. Retired justice John
Continue readingTag: Alberta Politics
Alberta Diary: President’s memo cites executive reshuffle at Athabasca University
Athabasca University – safe for the moment, president says. Major executive changes have been made at Athabasca University, with the departure of several senior executives widely rumoured among university staff today. In an email to faculty sent early this afternoon, Athabasca University President Frits Pannekoek tried to reassure employees about
Continue readingAlberta Diary: ‘Freddy Lee’ Morton, the journalistic sequel: We’ve already seen this horror movie, thanks!
Freddy Lee Morton, in happier times, with your blogger. Below: Firewaller Tom Flanagan; the entire separatist 2001 Firewall team (grabbed from the National Post). Freddy Lee “Ted” Morton, the worst premier Alberta never had, was back in the pages of the Calgary Herald the other day, bloviating at length about
Continue readingAlberta Diary: A Tale of Two Provinces: B.C. NDP and Wild Rosehip Tea Party show why opposition matters
Razzle-dazzle, sis-boom-bah, balanced budgets, rah-rah-rah! Danielle Smith and the Wild Rosehip Tea Party yell squad cheers for Alison Redford’s Tory team’s worst plays on the field. The actual Alberta opposition may not be quite as illustrated. Below: Ms. Redford and B.C. Premier Christie Clark. Why are these two premiers smiling?
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Welcome to Wildrose Alberta! What do you mean they didn’t win?
OK, the National Post got a little overheated with this election-day photo of Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith. But, really, what’s the difference? Below: Premier Ernest Manning and Premier Alison Redford, bookends in Alberta’s endless conservative governing dynasty. In April 2012, spooked by the dangers posed by a far-right Wildrose government,
Continue readingIn This Corner: Get ready for the return of sin taxes.
For weeks now, the provincial government has been warning us, in the most dire terms possible, that we’re in for a “tough budget” filled with “tough choices”, and a certain amount of “tough shit”. Maybe tough isn’t a strong enough word. How about ‘cruel, but fair’, to borrow a line
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Despite a lot of distraction, illegal political donations still stink up Alberta
Political culture in Alberta? Maybe not exactly as illustrated, but it’s still a problem for the Redford Government if Albertans see it that way. Below: O. Brian Fjeldheim. OK, we’re all enjoying a nice quiet Family Day long weekend. This gives us an opportunity to look back at the interlocking
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: A message to grassroots supporters of the Harper Conservatives…
A message to grassroots supporters of the Harper Conservatives (and those who are on the fence): When the Harper Cons lie, cheat, steal and commit fraud, they are doing it to you too. When they keep secrets, they are hiding important information from you too. When they waste money and
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Former Finance Ministers Morton, Liepert and Snelgrove line up with free advice.
TweetFree from the tight leash of party discipline, three former Finance Ministers are giving plenty of advice to Premier Alison Redford and Finance Minister Doug Horner. Ted Morton, the former two-term Tory MLA from Foothills-Rockyview and two-time Tory leadership candidate who served as Finance Minister from 2010 to 2011, penned
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Edmonton’s homeless shelters home to body lice, ‘refugee-camp-like conditions’
Alberta’s perpetually mismanaged boom-and-bust economy makes homelessness worse, as hopeful immigrants flock here in hopes of a better life, and find nowhere to live. At least this guy has warm boots. Below: Dr. Stan Houston and Dr. Mat Rose. Welcome to Alberta, the Richest Place on Earth, where body lice
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Public Affairs Bureau boss Lee Funke resigns.
TweetLee Funke, Managing Director of Alberta’s Public Affairs Bureau, announced his resignation in an email to government staff today. Mr. Funke had served as Managing Director of the government’s communications branch since March 2010. Tracy Balash, Executive Director of Communications Planning, has been asked to step in as acting Managing
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Four-day school scheme shows Tories view Fort McMurray as not much more than a work camp
Public School District students await dismissal for the week on a Thursday afternoon in Fort McMurray. Actual students may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Edmonton-Calder NDP MLA David Eggen; former Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Guy Boutilier. And where, the good people of Fort McMurray should be asking themselves today
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Sorry about what we said, Tom, but spare a sigh for Alberta, latest victim of Dutch Disease
These typical Albertans may be victims of Dutch Disease. Who would have thought just weeks ago they were wearing slim-cut jeans, ostrich-hide boots and nice Resistol hats like the people below? It’s pathetic, really! Below: Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, sorry Tom; Alberta Premier Alison Redford. All images just found
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Are Athabasca University’s days numbered?
TweetIs Athabasca University coming to an end? Government and institution officials say no, but sources say discussions are taking place that could alter the services provided by Alberta’s online distance learning university, including a potential merger with the University of Alberta. With a looming provincial budget and post-secondary institutions preparing
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Welcome to Queen’s Park West.
TweetThe staff overhaul in Premier Alison Redford‘s Communications Office has resulted in two new hires. One was already working in Alberta’s Legislature and the other comes direct from Ontario’s provincial legislature. Already under the dome, Michael Norris left his job as Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths‘ press secretary to become
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: When did Alberta become a have-not province?
TweetEighteen days ago, Alberta became a have-not province. Eighteen days ago, Premier Alison Redford appeared on Albertans television screens to warn them of the notorious “bitumen bubble” that has been keeping the price of our oil down. Today, after eighteen days of political spin about deep budget cuts and tough
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Who leaked Alberta’s budget details? And who plugged the leak?
Some of the members of Alberta’s Treasury Board are pictured above. While not exactly as illustrated, they are all suspects in the leakage of budget details, in the office, with an email to the Calgary Herald. Below: Columnist Don Braid, detective Sherlock Holmes and Treasury Board President Doug Horner. It’s
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Summit call for ATB Financial privatization sets stage for rural Alberta banking battle
The Alberta Treasury Branch agency brings rural financial services to Czar, Alberta. You’ve got to know offices like this are doomed if ATB Financial is privatized. Below: William Aberhart in 1937, the year before he founded Alberta Treasury Branches; banker George Gosbee, in his role as Doogie Howser, CEO. Assuming
Continue readingAlberta Diary: The Progressive Conservatives and Alberta’s government: one entity, indivisible, under God?
Participants in today’s Alberta Economic Summit solemnly await Premier Alison Redford’s arrival at Calgary’s Mount Royal University. Many are called but few are chosen, and they may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Stefan Baranski, Charles Rusnell and Stephen Carter. As befits an almost exclusively political event, criticism of today’s
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Alberta politics takes a negative turn online.
TweetMLA pay remains an uncomfortable issue for Alberta’s political leaders. Yesterday, MLA’s sitting on the Member Services Committee voted to freeze the annual cost-of-living increase to their salary and housing allowance ahead of provincial budget release on March 7, 2013. “The rationale is clearly we want to lead by example,”
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