PHOTOS: A famous – and famously controversial – photo of Dan MacLennan playing golf with premier Ralph Klein (source not indicated). Below: Mr. MacLennan and Mr. Klein in conversation on the lawn of the Legislature; Mr. MacLennan as a union leader with his fellow jail guards during an AUPE convention (Dave Olecko photo); the young, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
RCMP turn a blind eye to abandoned firearms in Fort Mac – manna to the gun lobby but a worry to the rest of us
PHOTO: RCMP officers like these in High River during the flooding to 2013 were subjected to a vicious campaign of vilification by some Alberta gun enthusiasts for seizing abandoned weapons in the Southern Alberta town (CBC photo). QUEBEC CITY We know firearms are dangerous – especially when they’re not in the hands of so-called “law-abiding […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
A complaint about a former politician’s coal industry advocacy yields more significant results than expected
PHOTOS: Coal mining in Alberta (CBC photo). Below: Former Tory finance minister Robin Campbell, president of the Coal Association of Canada, on his way to Ottawa this morning; Duncan Kinney of Progress Alberta; and Alberta Ethics Commissioner Margaret Trussler. QUEBEC CITY A complaint to the Alberta Ethics Commissioner about a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister’s […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
It’s official: Departure of oil sands and hockey billionaire Murray Edwards had nothing to do with taxes
ILLUSTRATIONS: Alberta’s terrifying Temple of Tax, found on the media midway. So scary it even frightens billionaires away. Really! Below: Dr. Samuel Johnson, noted wit, N. Murray Edwards, oil sands billionaire (CBC photo), and Mr. James Boswell, biographer. It’s official. The departure of oil sands and hockey bazillionaire N. Murray Edwards from Alberta had nothing […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Victory Day in Moscow: some thoughts about the wisdom of messing with Russia
PHOTOS: A scene for last year’s May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow. The red banner visible in the centre is one of the Soviet victory flags hoisted over the Reichstag in Berlin in May 1945. Below: My military history professor, Reginald H. Roy and British World War II Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery, both […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Notley Government navigates a profound crisis with grace and empathy, as even some conservatives begin to recognize
PHOTOS: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who has risen to the challenge of a difficult moment in Alberta’s history. Below: Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee, a scene from the Fort McMurray fire catastrophe, which continues to burn, and the Globe’s Gary Mason. The latter two photos are from the CBC and Globe and Mail. It must […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Fort Mac fire overshadows an earthshaking political anniversary – the NDP’s election one year ago today
PHOTOS: Rachel Notley smiles moments after learning she was about to become Alberta’s first NDP Premier on the evening of May 5, 2015. Below: Part of the crowd on hand for the swearing in of the NDP Cabinet on the steps of the Legislature on May 24, 2015, and flames yesterday over the city of […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
St. Albert Catholic school board has spent more than $367,000 to defend firing of transgender teacher
PHOTOS: Transgender teacher Jan Buterman (Metro Newspapers photo). Below: Duncan Kinney of Progress Alberta, the former Pope Benedict, and David Keohane, Superintendent of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools. ST. ALBERT, Alberta The St. Albert Catholic school board has spent at least $367,188 of taxpayer money to keep a transgender former teacher named Jan Buterman from […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Go figure! Votaries of right-wing unity gather in Red Deer, vote to form yet another Alberta conservative party
PHOTOS: Progressive Conservative interim Leader Ric McIver and Wildrose Leader Brian Jean in a rare recent moment of amity at, but of course, the Manning Centre’s Ottawa beanfest for right wingers in February 2016. This snapshot, the only one of its kind I’ve ever seen, was published by Postmedia. Below: Wildrose spokesperson Jason Nixon, perennial […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Don’t blame loudmouth extremist Craig Chandler for PC Leader Ric McIver’s troubles – they’re all his own
PHOTOS: Tory Dream Team, 2014 edition. From left to right, Jim Prentice, Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk. You’ve got to admit, from the perspective of 2016, Mr. Lukaszuk is lookin’ pretty good, and not just because of the orange tie! Below: Extreme social conservative Craig Chandler, Mr. Chandler’s offending Facebook remark (clip created by Ed […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Where’s the beef? Alberta’s cattle industry is only getting what it ordered from Earls
PHOTOS: Where’s the beef? Not in Alberta, if this province’s beef industry can do anything about it. One thing this story has nothing to do with is small-time ranchers like the guy on the steer or independent restaurants like the one run by the mom and pop below. The former picture belongs to the Golden […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Insightful Parkland Institute study of how media covers workplace injuries helps put yesterday’s tragedy in perspective
PHOTO: An Alberta Occupational Health and Safety officer on the job. (Government of Alberta illustration.) Below: Athabasca University labour relations professors Bob Barnetson and Jason Foster, authors of a new study on how media coverage distorts our understanding of workplace injuries in Alberta. Today is the International Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured […]