A tale of two schools
I want to tell you about two schools: Athabasca Delta Community School in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, and Mormon Hills School in Bountiful, British Columbia. I won’t pretend that the linked…
Atypical Albertan
Your once-in-a-century chance is now!
In 2008, for Alberta’s last election, only 40% of eligible voters decided to cast a ballot. Many people cite cynicism, apathy or a lack of likable candidates as reasons to…
How identity and leadership will factor on the future of Alberta politics
The two biggest factors that will determine the political future, coming out of this incredible state of flux, will be identity and leadership. I have often said that Alberta politics…
On Being a Teacher, or Why Merit Pay Stinks.
I’m taking a course on organizational theory right now and the readings have caused me to reflect on an issue that is getting a fair deal of play in education…
Alberta Health Services Works – Part II
Last week, I commented on how Alberta Health Services works in how it has served its function for government. Today, I argue that Alberta Health Services actually works in so…
Alberta Health Services Works – Part I
Yesterday, it was confirmed. Alberta Health Services Works. It has done what it was designed to do. Many Albertans in May of 2008, asked why the province chose to dismantle…
Bill 17: De-democratizing healthcare
My time lately has been consumed by two grad courses, an active full-time job and home and family commitments. But one emergent and urgent issue has forced me to tend…
Meet an Alberta Progressive: Sherry McKibben
One of the primary objectives of this series of podcasts, Meet an Alberta Progressive, is to demonstrate that progressives are a diverse group of people with diverse backgrounds, but to…
Your Alberta Health Act: Opening Doors for Private Healthcare.
"We'd be a lot better off if we had funding follow the patient" The comment hung in the air, a pinata, colorful, attention seeking, begging for a reaction. I figured…
Meet an Alberta Progressive: Chima Nkemdirim
The Alberta Liberal party placed an advertisement Wednesday inviting other progressive parties to talk about opportunities for cooperation. I spent a great amount of time campaigning in 2004 in Edmonton…
Katz and Copps: Why Edmonton should be concerned.
Darryl Katz looking to take over the lease on Copps Coliseum says something incredibly important about his plans for Edmonton's Arena District, but not in the way that most are…
Fraser Institute is Flat Wrong
Earlier this year, I wrote about the Manning Centre for Democracy’s conference on Alberta’s future. What I didn’t discuss in that post was how I spent an hour in the…
Inspiring Education report comes with risks
Inspiring Education came out with its long anticipated report yesterday and the initial response is quite positive. The primary vision is reflected in the three-Es for an educated Albertan: Engaged…
Manning Centre misses opportunity
In his book Don't Think of an Elephant, George Lakoff provides a metaphor for conservatives as the strict father figure, where as liberals are the nurturant parent. Upon first reading…
Cute.
Further to my post on private health care...
Time to put private health delivery to bed.
There seems to be one demon that lingers that Albertans have to fight off time and time again. At least this time it appears that our premier is actually standing…
Hearing David Suzuki
I had the opportunity through work to attend the 2009 Canadian Public Relations Society Conference in Vancouver this past June. The second afternoon luncheon was delivered by David Suzuki. I…
What it means to be a progressive.
Happy New Year everyone. Welcome to 2010. Is it everything you thought it would look like?I remember the new year of 1990 very well. I was 10 and it was…