Once upon a time, Alberta led the way in restoring wildlife habitats and rebuilding populations of creatures at risk. Wildlife biological staff, working in the public interest, often in the public sector, with the support of the public, made it happen. Not so much today. Now, writes Professional Biologist Lorne Fitch, professionally trained biologists are […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Ordered to produce documents for Elections Alberta in 21 days or face arrest, David Parker calls it a victory
Being told you have three weeks to comply with the law after being found in civil contempt is not what most of us would call a ringing victory, but you have to give Take Back Alberta founder (or whatever he is) David Parker credit for seeing the bright side of life. Having been told by […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Danielle Smith touts letting loggers cut trees and ranchers graze cattle to help manage fire threat in national parks
Never one to let a good crisis go to waste, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith escalated her criticism of Parks Canada’s approach to fire management in Jasper National Park yesterday, suggesting the province could do it better by paying loggers to clear firebreaks and letting ranchers graze cattle in the parks to keep the breaks clear. […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Yes, Alberta, it’s time we had a grown-up talk about wildfires
As flames from the massive forest fire in Jasper National Park ripped into the west side of the town of Jasper Wednesday night, Edmonton broadcaster Courtney Theriault plaintively tweeted that “we should probably have a grown-up talk about wildfires now.” With catastrophic forest fires so big they create their own weather systems increasingly becoming a […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Now that we know about those skybox tickets for UCP insiders, did anyone provide free corporate flights to out-of-province NHL playoff games?
Did UCP ministers or political staffers avail themselves of free flights to B.C. or Florida? If so, who paid?
Posted inAlberta Politics
Danielle Smith, the Sky Palace, and those Skybox freebies: What a difference a decade makes!
Alberta’s premier on the Sky Palace in 2014: ‘Duplicitous, entitled, completely out of touch’; on her Skybox tickets in 2024: ‘All the rules have been followed.’
Posted inAlberta Politics
Tyler Shandro, controversial former UCP health minister, found not guilty of unprofessional behaviour by Law Society panel
Albertans are within their rights to wonder if it’s OK for any Alberta lawyer to throw a tantrum in their neighbour’s driveway in light of the ruling by the Alberta Law Society yesterday that former United Conservative Party health minister Tyler Shandro was not behaving unprofessionally when he melted down in such circumstances over a […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
What did Danielle Smith say after the shooting at Edmonton City Hall? Precious little! She was too busy chatting with Tucker Carlson!
We could use a little more civility in Canadian politics nowadays, but the irony of Premier Smith’s military-grade gaslighting in Halifax is palpable.
Posted inAlberta Politics
That bid to create a separate Sheriffs Branch officers’ union can’t succeed without help from the UCP Government – so what’s up?
Is there more to this idea than just some disaffected Sheriffs running a wild idea up the flagpole to see who salutes?
Posted inCanadian Politics
‘Tubby’ Black, palaverous peer who forfeited Canadian citizenship for plush seat in House of Lords, booted by that chamber
Recently Mr. Black has been heard to muse that he would like to take up his lordly duties again. Too late, alas!
Posted inAlberta Politics
Alberta launches grizzly bear hunt, government says; it’s ‘not a bear hunt,’ government also says
ear hunt announcement smacks of dressing up trophy hunting for Friends of the UCP as a public service.
Posted inAlberta Politics
Calling all moderate U.K. Tories: You can’t tame the alt-right; the alt-right will tame you
My friend “Art Sifton,” the social media gadfly found at @ArtSifton, is one of the sharpest political observers I’ve ever met, and not just of Alberta politics. The night I was writing the previous post on this blog about the July 4 election in the United Kingdom, Art emailed me this, with permission to crib […]