Carl von Clausewitz, the Prussian aphorist and theoretician of war, famously observed that “war is the continuation of politics by other means.” Something like the opposite – that politics is the prosecution of war by other means, or darn close anyway – is likely true as well. I hope I offend no gentle readers by […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
‘Son of a rich farmer’ outrage fails to trump embarrassing questions for Jason Kenney about UCP candidate attitudes
When Alberta Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt was tossed out of the Legislature Wednesday morning for supposedly insulting an Opposition MLA, the kerfuffle that resulted obviously came as welcome relief to United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney. In recent weeks, Mr. Kenney has often been on the run, sometimes almost literally, from questions by journalists […]
Posted inCanadian Politics
Which is better, hate crimes or war crimes? The Beaverton nailed the Munk Debate two months ago
For what was supposed to be a fresh news story, an old report from the Beaverton circulating on social media yesterday actually came closest to accurately describing what went on in the so-called debate last night between alt-right U.S. political agitator Stephen Bannon and the neoliberal propagandist David Frum. The Beaverton is a Canadian news-satire […]
Posted inBestsellers
For the Changing Moon, poems and songs by Anna Marie Sewell, tops Audreys Edmonton bestsellers fiction list this week
Here are the lists of the top 10 fiction and non-fiction titles sold in Edmonton for the week ended Oct. 28, 2018. The lists are compiled by Audreys Books and provided by the Book Publishers Association of Alberta. EDMONTON FICTION BESTSELLERS 1. For the Changing Moon (poetry) – Anna Marie Sewell * 2. Want – […]
Posted inCanadian Politics
Want to know how to deal with Steve Bannon? Oddly enough, Jason Kenney has the answer!
Want to know how to deal with the irresponsible refusal by the organizers of the so-called Munk Debate to cancel their invitation to former Trump election strategist Steve Bannon to come to Canada and spew his racist dreck around our country? Follow the example of Jason Kenney! In most circumstances, the last thing a sane […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
NDP introduces to post-secondary tuition-fee setting a measure of fairness for students
Alberta’s Legislature returned to work yesterday as Rachel Notley’s NDP Government got the ball rolling with a bill that will keep a lid on post-secondary tuition and ensure foreign students don’t get stuck with unscheduled tuition increases part way through their studies. This may be a long way from what’s really needed to strengthen our […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
No apologies: Rachel Notley sure didn’t sound as if she were conceding anything at campaign-style speech Sunday
In what was probably the first speech of the 2019 Alberta provincial election campaign, if not quite officially, Premier Rachel Notley was comfortable, confident, funny, hopeful, energized, charismatic, fiery and, yes, inspiring. She sounded, in other words, like a winner. By any measure, it was a terrific speech. And the racket from the packed ballroom […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Former NDP leader Brian Mason says farewell with words of wisdom and warning
Former Alberta New Democratic Party leader Brian Mason has been a gale force presence in Alberta politics for so long it’s hard to imagine the place without him. Yet there he was yesterday at lunchtime, on stage in the ballroom of Edmonton’s Westin Hotel, saying farewell to politics, the NDP he led in the provincial […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Backstory from 2014 explains why Alberta car dealers might want to unseat the NDP
Many Albertans were shocked to learn last week that Opposition Leader Jason Kenney had promised an auto dealers association pouring money into a political action committee supporting his United Conservative Party that if elected he would hand enforcement of vehicle sale consumer protection back to the dealers. Twenty-six Alberta car and truck dealerships are reported […]
Posted inBestsellers
Eye of the Beholder, a mystery by Edmonton author Janice MacDonald, tops Audreys Edmonton fiction bestseller list
Here are the lists of the top 10 fiction and non-fiction titles sold in Edmonton for the week ended Oct. 21, 2018. he lists are compiled by Audreys Books and provided by the Book Publishers Association of Alberta. EDMONTON FICTION BESTSELLERS Eye of the Beholder – Janice MacDonald * Trickster Drift – Eden Robinson French […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Rachel Notley’s pension announcement yesterday was an ironic coda to Alison Redford’s 2014 war on unions
When Premier Rachel Notley announced to the annual general meeting of the United Nurses of Alberta yesterday morning her government would keep a promise made to working Albertans 26 years ago by a Conservative government, it offered an ironic coda to one of the issues that contributed to the downfall of the Conservative Dynasty in […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
NDP official demands ‘substantive penalties’ for ‘severe and wilful violations’ of election finance law by auto dealers’ PAC
Shaping Alberta’s Future, the Political Action Committee set up to help elect a United Conservative Party government led by Jason Kenney, is operating in open defiance of Alberta’s election financing laws, the Alberta NDP’s provincial secretary says in a letter to the Election Commissioner of Alberta. NDP Povincial Secretary Roari Richardson requested Lorne Gibson immediately […]