PHOTOS: An artist’s impression of the Schiaparelli Mars Lander descending gently toward the Martian surface. Schiaparelli’s actual Mars landings may not have unfolded exactly as illustrated by the European Space Agency. Below: The evocative cover of today’s National Post. About 178 million kilometres from us yesterday, give or take, Europe’s Schiaparelli spacecraft went missing and […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Alberta right now: The state of the province, its parties, and its oil after 1 year without Stephen Harper
PHOTOS: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley addresses supporters for her “state of the province” speech in Calgary’s Jack Singer Concert Hall yesterday. (Photo from the Premier of Alberta’s Flickr account.) Below: Would-be Progressive Conservative leader Jason Kenney and current Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean. It was so busy in political Alberta yesterday those folks who were […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Just say no to term limits! They’re fundamentally undemocratic and that’s why the right likes them
PHOTOS: Given the alternatives, most of the world would be delighted if this scene could be repeated, don’t you think? Probably most Americans would be too. Below: Four-time presidential winner Franklin D. Roosevelt and other presidents who contemplated third terms, but were thwarted for on reason or another, Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson and Grover […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
This just in from Elections Alberta: New Democrats out-raise Wildrose Party and PCs combined in 3rd Quarter
ILLUSTRATIONS: The Alberta fund-raising horse race. From left to right, Wildrose leader Brian Jean, NDP Leader and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and PC interim Leader Ric McIver. Actual Alberta political leaders may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Ms. Notley, Mr. Jean, Mr. McIver and PC leadership contender Jason Kenney. Never mind the […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
“Taxpayers Federation’s” true Astro-Turf nature finally worms its way into public consciousness
PHOTOS: Canadian Taxpayers Federation Communications VP Scott Hennig at the 2013 Manning Conference in Ottawa, the annual spring bean-fest for right-wing activists organized by Preston Manning’s eponymous training camp for market-fundamentalists. Below: Winnipeg commentator Dougald Lamont, author of an opinion piece published yesterday by CBC Manitoba about the CTF; CTF Operations VP Shannon Morrison taxpayer.ca […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Death of former premier Jim Prentice resonates painfully throughout Alberta’s small political community
PHOTOS: Former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice, who perished in an airplane crash in British Columbia Thursday night, in a characteristic pose. Below: More shots of Mr. Prentice doing what he was best at, making personal contact with potential supporters. Its vast geography notwithstanding, by population Alberta is not that big a place, and political Alberta […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Athabasca University Students Union eyes legal action to block retroactive changes to nursing program
PHOTOS: Athabasca University’s new president, Neil Fassina, who started work this week (Athabasca University photo). Below: AU Faculty of Health Disciplines Dean Margie Edwards, former interim president Peter MacKinnon and, regarding a totally unrelated matter, Donald J. Trump Neil Fassina, former provost and academic vice-president of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, started work in […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
It’s official: Sandra Jansen is now running for the Progressive Conservative leadership
PHOTOS: Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Sandra Jansen, in hat, in the Calgary Pride Parade, photo grabbed from her campaign website. Interestingly, the same photo was used on a Rebel Media page attacking Ms. Jansen. Below: PC leadership front-runner Jason Kenney, political strategist Stephen Carter, who will be working for Ms. Jansen, and interim Liberal Leader […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Where’s Pat Paulsen, now that America needs him? And why didn’t Jason Kenney phone Brian Jean?
PHOTOS: Pat Paulsen and Bobby Kennedy. Below: Mr. Paulsen in 1970 … and in focus, putative PC leadership candidate Sandra Jansen and Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean. Where’s Pat Paulsen, now that America needs him? Or, to put this another way, seeing as Mr. Paulsen permanently departed this vale of political tears back in 1997, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Canadians can be thankful for small, and probably temporary, mercies in wake of U.S. presidential debate
PHOTOS: Republican candidate Donald Trump stalking Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton around the debate stage in St. Louis yesterday evening (CNN Photo). Below: 20th Century screen star Bela Lugosi, Edmonton political commentator Chanchal Bhattacharya and a Wildrose supporter in a Trump-style ball cap (National Observer photo). Happy Thanksgiving! I guess we can be thankful, after watching […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Five years ago today, Alison Redford was sworn in as premier of Alberta … and the wheels fell off the Tory bus
PHOTOS: Alison Redford takes the oath of office as Alberta’s 14th premier. Below: Ms. Redford speaks her first words as premier of Alberta and is greeted by enthusiastic well-wishers as she walks through the Legislature’s Rotunda. Bottom: Gary Mar, whom Ms. Redford defeated for the leadership of the PC party and the premiership of Alberta. […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
A compelling counter-narrative: Are Justin Trudeau and Rachel Notley singing from the same hymn book?
PHOTOS: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Chris Schwarz, Premier of Alberta/Flickr). Below: Brad Wall, Saskatchewan’s cranky premier (Photo: Daniel Paquet); a tease from the Calgary Herald’s web page that maybe, just maybe, swings and misses; SAIT journalism instructor and former Calgary Herald reporter Jim Cunningham. CALGARY Was Prime Minister Justin […]