PHOTOS: A Canadian Labour Day parade, well back in the day. Below: A poster for today’s Labour Day barbecue and picnic in Edmonton, J.S. Woodsworth, first leader of the CCF, and a philatelic tribute to labour. “What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all.” – J.S. Woodsworth, first leader of the CCF Oh, today […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Church in fight over Alberta LGBTQ policy espouses far-right ideology, has close tie to advocacy group
PHOTOS: The New Testament Baptist Church near Spruce Grove, just west of Edmonton. Below: The vandalized sign, with some of the scrubbed pink spray paint still visible; additional signs on the site promoting the church and school; and administrator Rev. Brian Coldwell and private school advocate Donna Trimble, the latter two shots from the CBC. […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Brian Jean’s crack about beating Rachel Notley may have ended his hopes to lead Alberta’s right
PHOTOS: Opposition Leader Brian Jean, haunted by the radicalism of his own rural-dominated party, now looks like he’s stumbled into the same snake pit of anger and misogyny. (Photo from Wildrose.ca.) Below: Premier Rachel Notley, the subject of Mr. Jean’s controversial remark; Wildrose Finance Critic Derek Fildebrandt, whom he tried to discipline last spring for […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Tales from the Political Crypt: Vote for me and I’ll give it all to charity!
PHOTOS: Your blogger with Carl Benito, back in the day. Below: Brian “Clipper” Jean in his wedding canoe, and Jason Kenney, a confirmed bachelor, striking an appropriately W.L. Mackenzie King-like pose. The latter two politicians are the principal contenders to lead a united right, if indeed the right can be united. Bottom: Some of the […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
When then was ‘Now!’ Marking the day Peter Lougheed moved Alberta dramatically to the left
PHOTOS: Peter Lougheed on the campaign trail during the 1970s. Below: A few of the important characters in this story … William Aberhart, Ernest Manning, Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley. Today is the 45th anniversary of Peter Lougheed’s historic election victory in 1971, which brought the Progressive Conservative Party to power with a comfortable majority, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Wildrose leader’s public spat with the mayor of Montreal may not help, but it’s likely to continue
PHOTOS: Wildrose Opposition leader Brian Jean has been giving Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre the sink-eye again lately. Below: Mr. Coderre, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Don’t expect Alberta Opposition Leader Brian Jean’s public spat with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, which has flared up again recently, to end any time soon. After all, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Stephen Harper quits his day job, sets up ‘international’ consultancy – brace for trouble!
PHOTOS: Former PM Stephen Harper, finally sailing into the sunset? Don’t count on it. (Photo grabbed from the Harper PMO’s now-defunct website. I believe this is the best photo ever taken of Mr. Harper, peering, as it does, right into his soul.) Below: Former Harper chief of staff Ray Novak, Mr. Harper with his buddy, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
AHS extends Dynalife medical lab services contract for five years
PHOTOS: Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman. Below: Former Alberta Health Services CEO Vickie Kaminski and current CEO Verna Yiu. Alberta’s health care community was abuzz this morning with word Alberta Health Services has renewed its contract with Dynalife Diagnostic Laboratory Services for five years. As of lunch hour, the province-wide public health care provider had […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
News you may have missed: pollster says Alberta NDP could win an election held tomorrow!
PHOTOS: Albertans scour the Alberta media for information about provincial politics, but they’re all getting exactly the same story. Actual politically engaged Albertans may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Alberta Opposition Leader Brian Jean and PC leadership candidate Jason Kenney. From the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, it seemed […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Part II: If there’s no Russian threat in the Baltics, why is Canada so enthusiastic about a new Cold War there?
PHOTOS: The memorial to the Soviet soldiers who died conquering the city of Berlin in 1945, the last time a major world power seriously underestimated and misjudged the Russians. Below: NATO’s top soldier, Czech General Petr Pavel and the U.S. Army’s commander in Europe, Lieutenant-General Ben Hodges. They said what they said. Bottom: a detail […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Part I: What will NATO get up to in the north now that the chill is off between Russia and Turkey in the south?
PHOTOS: NATO pilots salute back in the day, when you could make a case there was actually a reason for the military alliance to exist. Below: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. MUNICH, Germany Relations between Russia and Turkey have warmed noticeably since the deep chill that began between the two […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Unsatisfying report on leak of former PC leadership candidate’s phone bill fails to answer the questions everyone’s asking
PHOTOS: Thomas Lukaszuk in his political heyday during the summer of 2012, telling a scrum of reporters about his bid to run for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. Below: Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Jill Clayton, former PC premier Alison Redford, and premier pro tempore Dave Hancock, who temporarily replaced Ms. Redford. […]