While Albertans celebrated the traditional final long weekend of the summer amid unseasonable heat, Premier Danielle Smith popped up in Texas, all but ignoring the occasion.
This is pretty much standard operating procedure for the United Conservative Party anyway, Labour Day being too much associated with organized labour for their ideological comfort.
Last Friday, an anodyne statement was published on the government’s official website reminding us that Sunday was Alberta Day, the fake Sept. 1 holiday Jason Kenney dreamed up to rebrand the Labour Day weekend by celebrating the day the Government of Canada peacefully bestowed provincial status on this part of what was then known as the Northwest Territories.
To Tanya Fir – Alberta’s nearly invisible minister of arts, culture, status of women and other stuff the UCP doesn’t particularly care about – fell the duty of noting publicly that “there will be something for everyone at events hosted across Alberta, from the sounds of your favorite Alberta musicians to local food and artisan vendors.”
Notwithstanding the UCP predilection for putting out a press release about everything, no cheerful statement about Labour Day appeared today on the Alberta Government website.
However, the press secretary for Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones emailed a 97-word Labour Day statement to media this morning that failed to say anything about unions.
However, it did follow the annoying UCP practice of reminding the rest of the country that they’re only rich because of us: “Alberta’s workforce is the backbone of the economic engine of Canada.” (This no doubt prompted eyerolls all ’round.)
Nobody in the Alberta government was going to say anything like Premier Wab Kinew’s polite recognition that, “today, we encourage all Manitobans to take a moment to celebrate the labour movement and our unions.”
For her part, Ms. Smith’s office contributed an apparently hastily assembled last-minute social media meme, complete with a stock photo that is also used elsewhere on the Internet. “It’s the dedication and hard work of our workers that built this province and carry it forward every day,” it said. “Happy Labour Day!” That was it.
A few hours later, the premier was posting photos and bragging on social media about her meeting in Austin with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who apparently doesn’t waste a lot of time on Labour Day either. Or, rather, Labor Day.
According to the premier’s most recent public itinerary, she is taking time from a vacation to meet the Republican governor, who is known for his opposition to gun-control laws, knee-jerk support for the fossil fuel industry, efforts to undermine renewable energy, attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, prohibitions on equity rules, bans on use of COVID masks, and severe legal limits on access to abortion. He also advocates amending the U.S. Constitution to limit the power of the federal government. Most this will sound drearily familiar Albertans who pay attention to Ms. Smith and the UCP. It was not completely clear from the itinerary whether this was a personal or official visit, although the implication was that it was business.
Come to think of it, maybe the premier also got the idea for her Labour/Labor Day meme from Gov. Abbott, whose version published 53 minutes before Ms. Smith’s meme appeared sounded much the same: “Wishing you a safe and restful Labor Day, Texas! It’s thanks to the dedication of hardworking Texans that our state is a place where people prosper and businesses flourish.”
Don’t y’all go joining a union now, fellow Texans!
Next year, Labour Day and “Alberta Day” will both fall on Sept. 1, so it will be interesting to see how hard the UCP Government tries to pretend that the long weekend has nothing to do with Labour and everything to do with Alberta.
Just remember if you’re trying pick which one to celebrate that it was unions who got you the one that’s a statutory day off and Jason Kenney who ginned up the one that will never be a real holiday.
NOTE: Mr. Jones’s short statement eventually appeared on the government’s Alberta.ca website, dated Sept. 2. It can be read there in its entirety now. DJC
Considering the detritus in the UCP caucus and your enlightening highlighting of such luminaries as Fir and Jones, how many schmucks are left in the UCP ranks who haven’t managed to snare an extra sinecure yet?
If it wasn’t for unions, what rights for workers would we have today. My senior relatives, which also includes my aunts and uncles, (many who are now deceased), were working when there were no real rights for workers, back in the 1930s, and in the 1940s. What is Danielle Smith doing wasting her time, and our money, by being in Texas?
Texas has the second largest GDP and population in the US. Its GDP exceeds that of most countires. Like it or not, Abbott leads one of the world’s most important jurisdictions and building a stronger relationship could only provide upside.
Upside? Well that depends. Two years ago the Texas electrical grid operator was pleading with people to conserve electricity. During this summer’s heat wave their public radio reports that extra solar and battery storage have eliminated the problem. The big difference with Alberta is the Texas grid only uses the lowest cost electricity sources: solar PV, grid scale batteries, and a bit of wind and fossil gas. In Alberta we have Dani and the UCP banning low cost electricity from renewables. I wonder how long it will be before Texas starts selling us fossil gas? Those pipelines can run both ways.
https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-08-23/as-dangerous-heat-grips-texas-solar-power-and-batteries-keep-the-electric-grid-humming-along
Well said.
Canada has both labor laws and a Civil Law system. Unions have long been redundant. “Alberta Day” would much better represent contemporary society than some anachronistic celebration from the industrial 1800’s when the province didn’t exist.
Ha ha ha …wait
You aren’t joking?
Damn
No, he’s serious. Although I doubt he knows much about how crappy Alberta labour laws are?
Wow! Think you had better stay in at recess and read your more recent history! When I was kid mid century (that’s 20, not 18!), my dad worked six days a week. Sunday was his only day off!
The unionized public sector jobs that are being stealth-privatized in this province become six-day work-week non-union jobs in the private sector. No Kon worth his salt wants to see a bunch of entitled prols driving their Hyundai Accents when the money wasted on the excesses of these people could go toward super-yachts for the rightfully empowered ownership class.
Alberta UCP Bill 32, the so-called Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, was passed into law on July 29, 2020. It permits overtime pay or time-off entitlements to be averaged over a 52-week period. This affected any worker not protected by a union agreement.
Dig deeper, Doug. From the federal justice website:
“Quebec is the only province with a civil code, which is based on the French Code Napoléon (Napoleonic Code). The rest of Canada uses the common law.”
Anachronisms from the Napoleonic era must really upset you.
Just a few educational examples:
Winnepg General Strike
“A provincial royal commission headed by H.A. Robson investigated the strike. The report deplored sympathetic strikes but concluded that the Winnipeg strike was not a criminal conspiracy by foreigners and stated that “if Capital does not provide enough to assure Labour a contented existence … then the Government might find it necessary to step in and let the state do these things at the expense of Capital.” Wikipedia
1949 – asbestos is bad, right? https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/asbestos-strike
1976 – huge year for strikes cuz economy sucked (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/year-of-strike-2023-historic-1.7042081)
2024 York University strike necessary when wage freeze that was judge unconstitutional was not addressed (https://cupe.ca/court-confirms-bill-124-unconstitutional-ford-pcs-must-finally-invest-public-services-cupe-ontario)
But why let civics, logic, and respect for all interfere with ideology?
Keep it up, Doug. Your guaranteed days off, annual paid vacation, pension plan etc. weren’t brought to you by some benevolent employer.
Alberta Day doesn’t represent anything except Alberta governments endless effort to pretend we aren’t part of Canada.
Doug I am sorry but you need to start educating yourself a bit more rather than just reading Pierre Poilievre garbage.
It is people like you that makes our lives miserable.
So Unions are redundant? I would say CEOs making millions in bonuses regardless of their performance are the ones very redundant.
And everyone has an opinion, too.
“Job creator” liked typing detected.
This “redundant” phenomenon produce a twenty-five percent compensation differential between unionized and non-unionized workers. Here’s to living in the past.
Unions will be redundant once we have a classless, stateless society of equals where the commons are shared from each according to his ability to each according to his need.
Unions are redundant but working people have been steadily losing income share contrasted against inflation since the sixties ?
Per actual dollar value my grandfather retired with a much more significant income than I will, despite my generation being the most educated generation in the history of our civilization.
The world is slowly being re carved into giant fiefdoms, and indeed the billionaire class of today may even be RICHER than the robber barons of early capital.
Canadian labour law is weak, and varies depending on which province you live in, as we know alberta has some of the flimsiest job protections in north america, save so called “right to work” states like TEXAS where workers basically have no rights whatsoever.
So gee, yeah I think unions are useful and necessary (see the recent port and airline strikes) I think Alberta premiers making labour stops in one of the most rabidly anti worker states in existence is troubling and worth noting, and I think all people advocating for the side of capital should ask themselves why they’re so fond of the taste of boot leather.
All power to the people, humanity will not be free until we’ve hung the last capitalist with the rope he sold us.
It is interesting Smith quietly dashed off to Texas for Labour Day and or Alberta Day. I feel she is becoming a person of International Mystery.
Nothing is quite as it seems in the Funhouse of Mirrors that is Smith’s communication style. So I suspect the vacation was the pretext for the meeting, which was really the main purpose of the trip. Perhaps Smith did not want to appear to be going to Texas for instruction her from political or business masters. The vacation cover story is as likely as Austin Powers going to Berlin to just to visit his ill Aunt Helga. I expect the outcome of the Texas trip will eventually become clear in some later announced deal or actions.
The whole Labour Day/Alberta Day thing is very confusing, especially so when they will be on the same day. I suppose there is no reason we can’t celebrate both, but does that mean Albertans will get two statutory days off instead of one? Just wondering.
lol. Actually, “Alberta Day” is September 1st, while Labour Day is the first Monday of September. So while they may fall in the same day from time to time, that won’t be the norm.
As for them both being stats, not gonna happen. I’m going to classify “Alberta Day” in the same category as Mother’s or Father’s Day: a cultural observance that’s not a paid statutory holiday.
Perhaps Smith went there to learn from Abbott how to execute people. They do hold some records for the number of people executed. Smith like Abbott doesn’t seem to put much value on the citizens’ lives, just their own and their political inner circle. That woman really has no shame or brains. What an image for Canada to have one of its premiers visiting a state which excels at killing its own citizens
Including disabled citizens, if I remember correctly!
Chiquita bananas no doubt. https://www.leidenlawblog.nl/articles/it-is-bananas-the-historic-ruling-against-chiquita-for-financing-paramilitaries-in-colombia#:~:text=The%20historic%20ruling%20against%20Chiquita%20for%20financing%20paramilitaries%20in%20Colombia,-July%2012%2C%202024&text=A%20US%20court%20recently%20found,we%20stop%20buying%20Chiquita%20bananas%3F
Did I fall into that one? Did you lay that one out?
Albertans like to be abused, for some reason. Probably from drinking too much of that frac water.
Smith and Abbott – Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
LOL good one Jaundiced Eye
The UCP has leaned into its anti-unionism even harder than their federal counterparts.
PP’s Conservative Party of Canada has been sucking up to some unions, while simultaneously trying to drive a wedge in the labour movement between private-sector and public-sector unions — guess which they dislike more?
But Daniellezebub and her gang seem to have equal disdain for both. At least they’re honest about it lol.
Meanwhile, ANDP leader Naheed Nenshi could be found celebrating Pride in Edmonton, too busy to offer a robust riposte to the flurry of UCP actions and/or plans. C’mon, seriously, can’t well educated and well paid politicos multi-task?
Lefty: Many senior labour leaders were in the same place doing the same thing with the same result. Hard to believe, but there you go. DJC
Look at the totally sincere and spontaneous grins. Look at the hands. Our American cousin is using a variation of the Merkel-Raute, with intertwined fingers.
https://www.univiu.org/time-capsule/issues/personalization-of-power/the-merkel-diamond
Oh, dear. Dani must be counting on a Trump government in November, and getting ready to drop billions on a pipeline to Texas or something. Pfffttt to Venezuelan oil. Or maybe I have her confused with some other politician whose career was cut short after dropping money on a pipeline to nowhere.
Rockin’ the gang signs! How down home, family friendly Republican! And our Dani? Lapin’ it up like a good lil’ puppy!
Smith may want a pipeline but in B.C. the leader of the new Conservative Party, Rustad, wants nuclear reactors. He isn’t premier yet, but he hopes to be, having gotten rid of B.C. United. He said he wants to talk about nuclear. gee its going to be a tough one. who is crazier, Smith or Rustad, pipelines or nuclear
Southern Vancouver Island is an excellent place to put that nuclear power plant Mr. Rustad wants. It’s the shakiest place on whole the Pacific Rim. When the Cascadia Subduction Zone shifts and Victoria is flattened, there will be no need to spend billions rebuilding if it’s also thoroughly irradiated. Then the capital can finally be in Vancouver – whatever’s left of it.
Actually eaf both are nook kooks as both have now speculated on the feasibility of small nuclear ☢️ power plants for their respective provinces. Oh well, they haven’t checked the economics of CANDU I guess.
e.a.f.
What’s really crazy is that they are both talking to Jordan Peterson about anything…..
“…and severe legal limits on access to abortion.”
Governor Abbot’s great state of Texas, Fox 26 Houston, Harris County, August 26. “Some would call it a crisis. Six babies have been abandoned in Houston this fiscal year, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. That number is a 50% jump from 2023 when four babies were abandoned, and a 500% increase from 2022 when only one baby was abandoned.”
Texas restrictions on abortion are working just fine.
Hello DJC and fellow commenters,
I was thinking about Danielle Smith’s comment about fear and competition. Here are a couple of thoughts I had on the Labour Day weekend, even though they are somewhat off the topic of this column.
Didn’t Danielle Smith, perhaps indirectly, appoint John Cowell as Administrator of AHS? And didn’t he tout the advancements/improvements in Alberta Health under his own leadership. Didn’t the Minister, presumably at the behest of Danielle Smith, appoint Anatha Mentzelopoulos as President and CEO of AHS as well? Isn’t it a bit contradictory for Danielle Smith to be publicly supportive of these individuals and then subsequently bash AHS publicly?
If Danielle Smith’s criticisms of AHS were accurate, doesn’t that then mean that Smith is publicly admitting that her judgment about these leaders was highly flawed? She seems to publicly portray two diametrically opposed views, neither of which I believe. Somehow, the contradictory nature of her pronouncements seems to be lost on her and , presumably, on her base.
You write like a kind person. That’s why even though I may not be one, I appreciate that you are. So. My take? Dani, with Jason before her, is playing a chaos game. For her to win, she believes there must be an irreconcilable mess left behind every brain burp she expostulates! Our job should be to force media along with our friends and neighbours to realize that.
Welcome back, Dave! Great column – you’re obviously refreshed!
I went to the full photo of the Tex-Alberta crew and saw some people whose names weren’t provided in the caption. Does anyone recognize them? What is their background? Is it customary not to name Alberta’s representatives on international trade missions to foreign countries now? Is that top secret, or is the information posted where the public has access to it? Did this overstep federal-provincial jurisdiction? Mostly, who are these people we paid to attend, and what did they do?
Abs—
Danielle on X….
Alberta’s commitment to our relationship with Texas is underscored by the opening of our Southern US office in Texas and our engagement to advance the message that Alberta is The Answer is led by our Senior US Representative @ James Rajotte* and the @ABinthe USA teams across the United States.
*James Rajotte– former MP..
(Edmonton South West 2000-2004)
Couldn’t find any info after 2015.
——————-
Danielle on X >Sept 3 10:10 am<
Full house at the recent town hall with Jason Stefan and Adriana Lagrange..
A microphone and takling tough questions –this is the kind of direct democracy we believe in as United Conservatives. Your honesty and values are what keeps us strong. ***
(no cell phones allowed?)
Well according to Jason Stefan on Facebook – 4 days ago
" Yesterday ,Premier DS, AL, and I met UCP members…….."
———————-
So as far as I can see, that meeting was Aug 29th (?) ,and imho, another 'time' misrepresentation. But of course she had to go and post her meeting with her other favorite Governor. Then backtrack to cover lapse of Alberta / Labour/Labor Day, I'm busy I'm on vacation, but opening a new office, but working for Albertans…….
And gee, will you look at that, she was so busy out of town, she missed the pride event in Calgary…..awe, so sad.
*** your honesty and values are what keeps us strong — what was it that a certain politician said about those kind of people–losers? dupes? easily manipulated?
No, I'm not cynical, much!
Perhaps Alberta day inspired this.
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/christmas-in-venezuela-kicks-off-in-october-president-maduro-has-declared/article_ba4c0eac-3c6b-507d-9ccc-586a46666d9c.html
Christmas in the tailing ponds to follow!!
TB
Damn it; Madurno got his ideas from Smith!!
TB
So, Queen Danielle spent ‘Alberta Day’ in Texas. No surprise, really. Perhaps the next initiative will be to rename Alberta the Lone Star Province? Can’t wait that idea to see the light of day.
Premier Wab Kiniw is fast emerging as the true heart and soul of the social-democratic movement in Canada. He doesn’t like Trudeau and doesn’t care for Smith or Moe, either. Sounds like my find of guy. And right now, every time a seat in in the Manitoba leg comes open, the next byelection will shift it to the NDP column. Sounds like the guy doesn’t know how to stop winning. The upcoming elections in Saskatchewan and BC will be very instructive. No question there will be considerable (foreign) interference from Alberta’s Calgary Cabal, and the CON parties in those provinces are being called out for it.
JM: Certainly plans are afoot to call the UCP private police force the Alberta Rangers. One good thing about this is that sarcastic street people won’t call me “Tex” any more when I wear my Stetson in downtown Edmonton. DJC
I suppose it’s cold comfort, but I’m thankful the UCP doesn’t even KNOW about May Day….
Smith left the joint well in order. The Province pulled the plug on the Calgary Green Line funding yesterday.