Breathe

This week in AB

The longest month of attacks against municipal authority by Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party finally ended, but it looks as though Edmonton Police Commission (EPC) has decided to be the first to test the muddy waters left in its wake — by refusing Edmonton City Council’s request for an audit of the police services spending.

Now, one might think that because the Edmonton Police Service is funded by the City of Edmonton, the City should have the ability to request such information.

Not so, says the commission, who “respectfully” declined the City’s request, adding that they recognize “that working with other partners and all levels of government will benefit all Edmontonians” and “champion a partnership approach” (emphasis mine).

Apparently, much like how the governing party has decided to deal with municipalities, the commission prefers that to be a “silent” partnership.

Tweet, quoted tweet with response from commission

Now, I don’t claim to be an expert in being accountable for hundreds of millions of dollars, but it seems like a bold move to tell your funders to take a flying one when they ask to see details on how that recent increase is providing better services for those who paid the bill.

Unless the plan is to create enough friction with the City that the province has “cause” to step in and take over administration of the Edmonton Police Service, and while they’re at it, they may as well just swap out “Edmonton” for “Alberta”, and — presto change-o — Alberta’s provincial police force is born.

No referendum required.

If mean-old City Council won’t stop asking questions, what choice would the UCP have?

Canada

Report on Foreign Interference involves “every order of government, every political party”

Tweet, article

"We found foreign interference at every order of government, in every political party, in the public sector, the media, the NGO (non-governmental organization) sector, the private sector," said Liberal MP David McGuinty, who chairs the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.

"It's there, and it's not stopping."

CTV/Canadian Press

That socially stagnant foreign powers have been interfering “at every order of government” isn’t really surprising when we consider the backwards motions many of our elected officials have been making over the past few years.

The report focuses on influence from “hostile” countries, presumably those countries with whom Canada has fundamental differences in terms of democratic processes and human rights.

While those concerns should not be downplayed, I would have preferred that all foreign influence be properly scrutinized — particularly from the one with which we share a border.

We have political parties in Canada bringing in American campaign staff, and Canadians who volunteer with American election campaigns. While I understand the desire, being that we are so closely connected beyond geography, the Americanization of our country is worrisome — especially when they don’t have enough sense to tell the difference.

In Alberta, we have a premier — the leader of a Canadian province — who thought she had the same powers as American state governors and repeatedly refers to rights in the American Constitution as if they magically apply here.

I’ve lived in the U.S.; it’s a nice place to visit if you ignore the gun violence, two-tiered healthcare, and the three-tiered education system. If I wanted to live in a failing democracy, I’d move back.

Coming up!

Women of ABpoli is cooking up something new!

We’ve got a sneak peek next week for paid subscribers — we’ll hopefully be all polished up and ready to go public June 17!