With COVID-19 case counts in Alberta marching higher by the day, now closing in on 8,000 active cases, the chorus of grumbles about what’s become of Premier Jason Kenney is increasing in volume. Mr. Kenney was last seen on Aug. 9 at a press conference called to announce expansion of an Edmonton brewery that promised […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Erin O’Toole’s promise he’d put workers on corporate boards is meaningless at best, harmful at worst, unlikely to be implemented
Federal Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole has launched a charm offensive to win over unionized workers normally treated as lepers or enemies by modern North American “conservative” parties. A key policy in the Conservative Party of Canada’s platform, Mr. O’Toole insisted yesterday, will be to require about 100 corporations under federal jurisdiction to have at least […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
That Delta variant COVID-19 scenario that Jason Kenney just didn’t see happening? As summer ends, it’s happening
Delta variant or no variant, Alberta would be pulling the plug on almost all COVID-19 restrictions on July 1, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney confirmed on June 18. “On July the first, on Canada Day, Alberta’s public health measures will be lifted and our lives will get back to normal,” he asserted as Health Minister Tyler […]
Posted inCanadian Politics
On the 10th anniversary of his death, from the vantage of Election 2021, happy memories of Jack Layton and the campaign of 2011
Don’t mourn! Organize! — Joe Hill, Swedish-American union organizer Canadians still mourn the loss of Jack Layton, Joe Hill’s wise strategic counsel to social activists notwithstanding. I first made that observation on this date in 2011, when we learned the terrible news that Mr. Layton had been struck down by cancer at the age of […]
Posted inBestsellers
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good remains atop independent booksellers’ bestseller list for fifth week
Here are the lists of the top 10 fiction and non-fiction titles sold by independent booksellers in Alberta during the week ended Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. The lists are compiled by the Book Publishers Association of Alberta, and include sales at Audreys Books and Glass Bookshop in Edmonton. ALBERTA FICTION BESTSELLERS 1. Five Little Indians – Michelle Good […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, target Jason Kenney on his own turf
The Alberta portion of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s election campaign got off to an upbeat start in Edmonton yesterday with an enthusiastic outdoor crowd of supporters, a substantive policy announcement, and some fair shots at Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. Mr. Singh’s visit to the Edmonton-Griesbach Riding indicates party strategists have concluded candidate Blake Desjarlais has […]
Posted inCanadian Politics
Independent Ontario MP Derek Sloan, dumped by Conservatives he vied to lead for extremist views, rumoured set to run in Alberta
For heaven’s sake, Ontario, would you stop sending us your right-wing nut-jobs? There was Derek Fildebrandt. Horrible! There was Jason Kenney. Even worse! There are too many more to mention. Their names are legion. And now, if social media auguries are to be believed, Derek Sloan wants to invade our beautiful Wild Rose Country and […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Three Alberta universities announce COVID-19 restrictions declared impossible just three weeks ago
The universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge announced a joint back-to-school vaccine strategy yesterday that will require everyone on campus who can’t prove they’ve been fully vaccinated to undergo rapid COVID-19 testing. “Students, faculty, and staff who are not fully vaccinated, and those who would prefer not to disclose their vaccine status, will need to […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Bad political memories – sometimes they’re an asset, sometimes not so much
A lousy memory might be a bad sign if you can’t remember what you went downstairs to fetch, or where you left your glasses, but sometimes in politics it can be a blessing. Consider the report of Marguerite Trussler, Q.C., the Alberta Legislature’s ethics commissioner, into complaints about how Education Minister Adriana LaGrange went about […]
Posted inCanadian Politics
Pandemic election an outrage: Alberta Conservatives. Pandemic over, we’re open for good: Also Alberta Conservatives
It’s an outrage, practically a crime against humanity, for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call a federal election in the midst of a global pandemic, Alberta’s Conservatives say. The pandemic is over and thanks to the wise leadership of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, we are open for good, enjoying the Best Summer Ever ™ here […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
UCP walks back plan to end COVID testing; AHS ponders hiring expensive contract nurses while trying to cut staff nurses’ pay
Friday the 13th appears to have lived up to its unlucky reputation for Alberta’s Kenney Government. Even before the fateful date arrived yesterday, the United Conservative Party strategic brain trust had concluded it would be a good time to walk back its risky July 28 decision to ignore the Delta variant and announce instead it […]
Posted inGeopolitics
This is not a setback, it’s a rout – the war in Afghanistan is all but over and the Taliban insurgency has won
Suddenly, the provincial capitals of Afghanistan are falling like bowling pins to the Taliban. As of yesterday, the New York Times reported, only four major cities remained in the hands of the Afghan government. One of them was Kabul, the capital. Two of them were besieged. Which means, of course, “the government” is not really […]