Alberta’s government and its oil companies are playing a bit of a shell game with GHG emissions. The story for the public is that the companies are shooting for net zero. They intend to effectively eliminate their carbon emissions. A commendable goal indeed. The problem with that very optimistic story
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Views from the Beltline: Greenhouse gasses ain’t no joke
When Premier Kenney went down to the U.S. earlier this month to peddle even more of our major greenhouse gas-producing product, I was at a loss for words. The global warming threat looms ever more menacingly, threatening a cascade of catastrophes, yet here is a leading politician doing his best
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Oil, guns and ethics
Promoters of the Alberta tar sands suggest customers for the product almost have a moral obligation to buy it. Their term is “ethical oil.” We hear the refrain from an assortment of politicians, journalists and business executives, chief among them Alberta premier Jason Kenney. The oil of many of our
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The West? Really?
Many Canadians think of “the West” as one monolithic block. This concept seemed to firm up in many minds back when Preston Manning and his Reform Party stormed Ottawa proclaiming “the West wants in.” I remember Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson giving a talk to a standing-room only crowd
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Calgary’s three angry amigos
I have lived in Alberta a long time, all but four years under conservative governments—Social Credit, then Progressive Conservative, now UCP. Only for four years did I enjoy the governance of a social democratic party. I have never enjoyed that pleasure federally although I have found a number of Liberal
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Alberta—the political province
Canada’s central and eastern provinces, with the exception of Quebec, are all governed by the same two parties that date from the time of Confederation—the Liberals and the Conservatives. The western provinces have been much more politically creative. Three of the four are governed by parties that didn’t exist at
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Premier Kenney—conservative saviour?
The premier of Alberta has a mission, one that goes beyond leading the UCP and running the province. He must save his party from lunatics. At least according to a chat he had with his party’s caucus staff. He doesn’t need the jobs of party leader and premier, he told
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Katherine Wu warns that another U.S. COVID wave may severely test what’s already proven to be an alarming willingness to accept injury and death. Sophia Stocklein et al. find that the effects of COVID-19 include impeding prenatal lung development. Amanda Follett Hosgood
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: The 2022 Alberta budget
I’ve written a ‘top 10’ overview of the recent Alberta budget. My overview can be found here: https://monitormag.ca/articles/ten-things-to-know-about-the-recent-alberta-budget
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: How much more of our money will Kenney spend on his crusades?
Our belligerent premier, Mr. Kenney, rarely misses an opportunity to pick a fight with the feds. His latest foray is a court challenge of PM Trudeau’s invoking of the Emergencies Act. He claims the measure violated civil liberties and invaded provincial jurisdiction. His concern about civil liberties is not entirely
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Another dazzling bust to boom for Alberta
Having lived in Alberta on and off for over 60 years, I’ve seen my share of boom and bust cycles, perhaps our most well known economic phenomenon. But this last one has still surprised me. And for good reason. It is the largest in the province’s history. The driver, of
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Alberta To Waste Taxpayer $ on Frivolous Lawsuit
So, yesterday, Jason Kenney announced that Alberta was going to sue the Federal Government for “trampling on provincial jurisdiction” with the Emergency Measures Act … all of a few days after the Alberta government actually petitioned the Federal Government for assistance. Now, what I want to discuss here isn’t the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Jonathan Koltai et al. study the mental health effects of COVID vaccination – finding a justified decrease in stress among people who have been vaccinated, if flagging at the same time the continued mental health burden being imposed by governments who are determined
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: What is happening has happened Before – The Canadian Reactionary ‘Freedom’ Convoy/Protests
It certainly seems like the religious, libertarian hard right fringe has made its way from the US to Canada. The illegal occupation of Ottawa and border crossings are prime examples of the profoundly undemocratic/reactionary roots of this ‘movement’. The police are reacting with a glacial slowness that is exacerbating the
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: That Moment When The Alberta UCP Puts Pandering to Anti-Vax Idiots Ahead of Public Health
There you have it folks. What has changed from a medical standpoint with regards to masking efficacy from the beginning of the school term until now? Absolutely fucking nothing from an epidemiological standpoint. What has changed is that we have anti-vax lunatics closing border crossings and disrupting traffic in Alberta
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Jason Kenny – Letting The False Populist Science Deniers Make Public Health Policy
Jason Kenny the Premier of Alberta is making the definitive case for the Federal Government to take over handling public health decisions during a pandemic event. Captain Clownshow is making noises about ending public health measures early (*again* – Open for SUMMER!!!?!). “Premier Jason Kenney said that a plan to
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Trucker Freedum Rally Plagues Edmonton
Did you ever need to see what ignorance and a banal level of patriotism looks like? Here ya be. The Rally for Freedom in my hometown. It is so very disheartening to see this level of absolute farce on display. These individuals are demonstrating their absolute lack of social responsibility
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Charlie Smith highlights how attempts to minimize the ongoing pandemic have reduced the public credibility of both government and public health officials alike in British Columbia (even as they’ve provided a messaging boost to anti-vaxxers). Nam Kiwanuka laments how parents have been
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: A tale of two magazines
Last month one of Alberta’s conservative icons passed away. Ted Byfield was 93. Byfield, a propagandist for social conservative causes and a promoter of conservative parties and politicians (including Premier Jason Kenney), was best known for the magazine he founded—Alberta Report. Byfield and his wife Virginia launched the magazine in
Continue readingNorthern Currents –: Canada has started rationing PCR tests as Omicron surges
Montreal, parts of British Columbia, and Alberta have started to ration Covid-19 PCR tests as Omicron cases reach record numbers across Canada. Politicians didn’t want to make moves that they perceived as unpopular. Covid fatigue is setting in among the population; our leaders didn’t want to take the political risk
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