The pundits say Ms Redford will be confirmed as PC party leader. They’re right, but not for the reasons they think. Here’s why: The party cannot endure another leadership campaign. True, the skirmish between PC leadership candidates (he’s an idiot, no she’s an idiot) would present the Opposition with useful
Continue readingTag: Politics and Government
Susan on the Soapbox: Alison Redford’s Vision for Alberta–”Trust Industry” (gulp)
Brian Mason (NDP) is right. The only way to find out what’s going on in Alison Redford’s head is to pay to attend a function in her honour. Glenbow Museum So on Monday night, Mr Soapbox and I were milling about at the Glenbow Museum, debating about whether to sneak
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Running with Scissors: Another AHS CEO Bites the Dust
It’s like running with scissors. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. On Oct 17, 2013, Duncan Campbell took over as interim CEO of Alberta Health Services, replacing Dr Chris Eagle who abruptly resigned with two years left to go on his five year employment contract. Duncan
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Bill 32: Why is the Opposition in an Uproar over Billboards?
It should have been a no brainer—passing into law a bill aimed at improving public safety. Instead Bill 32: Enhancing Safety on Alberta Roads Act turned into a roadmap for bad governance culminating in a motion that the government was in contempt. Transportation Minister McIver What did the government do
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Trouble with Hubris: Doug Griffiths’ Bill 28 goes into Freefall
Like Icarus, strapping on wings of feathers and wax, Municipal Affairs Minister Griffiths attempted to glide Bill 28 Modernizing Regional Governance Act through the Legislature. It sparked an uproar among municipal officials and disintegrated under the Oppositions’ scrutiny. Griffiths and the Premier responded to the crash and burn with a
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Edmonton’s $3 Billion Super Lab: Where’s the business case?
Is there anyone left in the PC government with a lick of common sense? Last week the NDP revealed that the government intends to outsource lab services to a private corporation and has initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to award a $3 billion, 15 years contract to a
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Debt is debt, except when it’s hope
Sometimes Question Period is downright funny. Witness this exchange on the provincial debt between Opposition Leader Danielle Smith and Premier Redford.* Ms Smith: In Medicine Hat earlier this month the Premier said this about debt: it’s not debt; it’s hope. So let’s take some of the Premier’s other quotes and
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Congratulations Mayor Nenshi!
John Macfarlane, editor of The Walrus,* asks the question: When did society turn against its best and brightest and more importantly, why? He was bemoaning the fact that Torontonians had elected Rob Ford—a man he described as wearing “his ignorance like a badge of honour”—to be their mayor. Mayor Rob
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Smith vs Mason Debate: An Enlightening Evening
“Tonight we will witness a debate of Epic Proportions! “In the Right Corner, the Freedom Fighter—Danielle Smith!!! In the Left Corner, the Protector of the People—Brian Mason!!!” Mount Royal University was hosting the ninth and final debate between Wildrose leader, Danielle Smith, and NDP leader, Brian Mason. We expected to
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Campus Alberta: Converting Universities into Trade Schools
I like engineers but this is ridiculous (and I’m not talking about Supercow, the U of C engineering mascot). Supercow U of C Engineering Mascot The PC government just invested $142.5 million to expand the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary while at the same time hacking
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Redford backtracks on public participation–but only at the federal level
Premier Redford was asked to comment on the actions of environmental activists protesting a National Energy Board (NEB) review of the proposal to reverse Enbridge’s Line 9 oil pipeline. The environmentalists say the NEB’s review process is too narrow and public participation is too limited. Premier Redford said: “I think
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: McQueen’s Damage Control Strategy: The Erosion of Natural Justice Continues
“It is incredibly irresponsible and I think they’re trapped in an extremely ineffective strategy of damage control.” — Rachel Notley NDP MLA* Environment Minister McQueen is back from her European junket. She’s had a few days to consider Justice Marceau’s decision which flayed her department for refusing to allow an
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Does Redford’s “Prerogative” Trump the Law?
When a Queen’s Bench justice compares Redford’s government to the corrupt regime of former Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis you know you’ve hit rock bottom. Justice Marceau made the damning comment in his ruling that the Redford government violated the principles of natural justice by refusing to allow an environmental coalition
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: A Dead Cat Bounce: Redford’s Approval Rating Up to 32%
It’s called a “dead cat bounce”. It’s based on the premise that even a dead cat bounces when it slips off a 12th floor balcony and lands on the sidewalk (contrary to popular belief most sky-diving cats aren’t lucky enough to land in a rose bush). Skydiving cat (really) This
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: A “Two Minute Tory” Spends an Evening with Ted Morton
Ted Morton, the former Finance Minister and unsuccessful PC leadership candidate, was holding court at the Manning Foundation. He was going to give a speech on how a bunch of lefty carpet baggers (aka the “Two Minute Tories”) hijacked the PC leadership selection process to the enduring detriment of the
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Janet Davidson is appointed Deputy Minister of Health
Janet Davidson The Redford government just passed an Order in Council appointing Janet Davidson Deputy Minister of Health. This decision has many implications, not the least of which is this: Will Ms Davidson continue in her role as Official Administrator of Alberta Health Services? Is she legally allowed to perform
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Capturing the Youth Vote: Got (Black) Milk?
Politicians have been fussing about the youth vote for decades, primarily because it’s virtually nonexistent. But if they could replicate Black Milk’s social media strategy they’d deliver the youth vote all wrapped up in a pair of Galaxy tights (and Question Period would get a whole lot more entertaining as
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Advice from the “Old White Guys”: Alberta Progressives Listen Up!
The Republicans may hold the secret to the progressives’ return to power…yes, seriously! Let’s start at the beginning… Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson in their glib little book The Big Shift argue that Western Canada, particularly Alberta, is responsible for the tsunami of support that carried Stephen Harper to victory
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Home Care Consolidation Debacle: Fred Horne’s Mission Impossible
Like Tom Cruise in Ghost Protocol, Health Minister Horne is tearing through the building trying to stay ahead of the explosives he’s set to detonate. The big question is will he make it out in time. So far Fred has successfully blown up the AHS board, slashed the number of
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Auditor General’s Report: Alberta’s “Enron” Moment
God bless Merwan Saher, Alberta’s Auditor General! He grabbed the government by the scruff of the neck and gave it a shake for dragging us into the abyss of “Enron” accounting. Sadly, the government refuses to budge and opaque financial reporting will continue. Merwan Saher has been a government auditor
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