Happy Alberta Day
I just finished reading Premier Smith’s statement celebrating Alberta Day and wondered how I would explain it to someone who knows nothing about Alberta’s history. I suspect the conversation would…
susanonthesoapbox
Nenshi Visits Calgary-Elbow
Naheed Nenshi has been busy visiting NDP constituencies across the province. This afternoon he came to the Calgary-Elbow Constituency BBQ. After a (very) enthusiastic introduction from NDP MLA Samir Kayande,…
May I Make a Suggestion?
Where’s our news? I ask because I’ve noticed that the UCP is adept at flooding the media with good news stories about what they’re going to do to help Albertans…
What’s on your mind?
As you may have gathered Ms Soapbox is still under the weather. I’ve realized that what I miss the most about not writing is not getting your comments. Consequently I’d…
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Everyone in the Soapbox family has or is on the verge of a horrible cold; nevertheless we’d like to wish everyone a Happy Canada Day. Canada Day is a day…
Nenshi Wins the NDP Leadership Race
“The purple is an invitation to say: set aside who you are and let’s define ourselves by our common humanity. And I thought to myself: I’ve got no political home.…
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
What I love about Father’s Day (and all the other special days of the year) aside from the fact that it’s an excuse not to write about politics, is it…
The UCP Goes Over The Top: Bill C-59
It was bound to happen sooner or later. The UCP government’s over the top reactions to anything the federal government does finally pushed it into the looney zone. On May…
Rachel Notley’s Last Day in the Chair
After an illustrious career in the NDP movement, including 16 years in government, 4 of which were as premier, Rachel Notley is stepping down as party leader. She made her…
Taking it to the Streets: the Enough is Enough Rally
“Nothing is real that does not end on the streets. If tyrants feel no consequences for their actions in the three-dimensional world, nothing will change.” – Timothy Snyder, historian. On…
The ‘stay-out-of-my-backyard’ (‘no-funds-for-you!’) bill
Ric McIver, the Minister for Municipal Affairs, is the point man on Bill 18, the Provincial Priorities Act or as Danielle Smith like to call it, the ‘stay-out-of-my-backyard’ bill (images…
NDP Leadership Candidates’ Slogans: A brief discussion
According to those who know about these things, political slogans, those short pithy statements plastered across websites, banners, and lawn signs, are an important part of a candidate’s brand. The…
Happy Easter…
It’s Easter Sunday and the world is a mess. (Cue brief political interlude) Here in Alberta we’ll have an opportunity to improve things…if we don’t get derailed in the run…
Some Thoughts on the NDP Leadership Race
Rachel Notley was elected as an NDP MLA in 2008. She became the leader of the NDP in 2014 and will be stepping down as leader in 2024. She led…
Budget 2024: Gotcha!
In case you didn’t catch Danielle Smith’s bizzarro Address to the Province last week, the one where she signalled what we could expect in the 2024 Budget, here’s a brief…
Danielle Smith’s Parental Rights Agenda
Last week in pursuit of her “parental rights” agenda, Premier Smith announced a set of policies that limited medical treatment for transgender youth and did a whole lot more. I…
Rachel Notley Steps Down
“We didn’t get everything right, but we governed with integrity, an ambitious agenda and an earnest desire to make life better for Albertans.”—Rachel Notley The first time I met Rachel…
The AESO Emergency Alert
Last night Alberta’s electric system operator (AESO) issued a province-wide emergency alert asking Albertans to immediately reduce their electricity use to minimize the potential for rotating outages across the province.…
Squid Game
The UCP’s “bread and circuses”* approach to government is no longer working. The “bread” (low taxes and high employment) is no compensation for our crumbling healthcare, education, and social services.…
Merry Christmas!
Every family has its own holiday traditions. In the Soapbox house on Christmas Eve we play Rummicub and eat ourselves silly (I don’t know what they put in caramel popcorn…