This week in AB: November 22, 2024
Brian Jean is in so much trouble. I can feel it.
Protecting politicians and their staff from prying eyes of the public
Alberta’s UCP is taking action to protect themselves and open access your personal information, all in one day. Bill 33 Protection of Privacy Act (for politicians and their staff while at work) and Bill 34 Access to (your) Information Act offer contradictory goals.
With Bill 33, the UCP wants to shield themselves and their staffers from public scrutiny. I’ll suggest they’ve chosen the wrong line of work.
The government is not an extension of the private club that is a political party and it is ludicrous that they are treating is as such. That the governing party gets to make decisions should be the extent of their privilege, not the foundation for providing themselves with more.
Their paycheque doesn’t come from solely from their supporters, it comes from the people of this province and the UCP has no right to decide what they will and will not share with Albertans in the course of the work they have the privilege of doing.
As always, the simple test of whether a policy is fair for Albertans is to determine whether it would be supported if the opposition proposed it. I cannot think of an instance where UCP supporters would agree this is the case.
Application of this Act 3(1)
This Act applies to all personal information collected, used or disclosed by a public body and all data derived from personal information and non-personal data created, used or disclosed by a public body, but nothing in this Act applies to personal information contained in the following or data derived from personal information or non-personal data contained in or created from the following:
(o) a personal record or constituency record of an elected member of a local public body;
(p) a personal record of an appointed or elected member of the governing body of a local public body;
(q) a personal record or constituency record of a member of the Executive Council;
(r) a record created by or on behalf of the office of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or the office of a Member of the Legislative Assembly that is in the custody or under the control of the Legislative Assembly Office;
(s) a record created by or on behalf of:
(i) a member of the Executive Council,
(ii) a Member of the Legislative Assembly, or a chair of a Provincial agency, as defined in the Financial Administration Act, who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly that has been sent or is to be sent to a member of the Executive Council, a Member of the Legislative Assembly or
(iii) a chair of a Provincial agency, as defined in the Financial Administration Act, who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly;
(t) a record of communication between:
(i) political staff, or
(ii)a member of Executive Council and political staff that does not involve any other employee of a public body;
I want the Alberta NDP make this case and I worry that if they don’t it’s because they feel the legislation would benefit them in the same way it will benefit the UCP — to keep political and ideological influences on decision-making from the public.
I want better government, not “new and improved” with a bold new colour scheme and the same old formula.
Takeaways
if it wouldn’t be good for the NDP, it shouldn’t be good for the UCP
less transparency from government is absolutely not what the UCP promised
Working around professional organizations and going after kids, again
Bill 34 doesn’t look like it’s going to offer greater transparency, it looks like a workaround to go after members of professional colleges, and ensure youth in this province lose someone else they should be able to trust.
“(Bill 34) would allow the personal information of a minor to be shared without that minor's permission if doing so was deemed to be in the youth's best interest.” ~ Diane McLeod, Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner, CP Nov 20, 2024
As McLeod further noted, according to the Canadian Press, “the bill isn't clear on who would be responsible for determining the best interests of minors, nor is it clear what ‘best interest’ means.”
The UCP has already refused to allow Alberta’s youth the safety of their schools, where they spend a quarter of their day during the week. Now they’re coming after the doctor/patient relationship?
An Albertan under the age of 16 should be able to have a private conversation with a medical provider without fear that their conversation will be disclosed at a later date to someone they don’t trust.
There is already a provision allowing medical and mental health professionals to take concerns to another authority if a patient is deemed to be a threat to their own person or to someone else.
Bill 34 is the UCP once again inserting the government into a doctor/patient relationship, which is a grave concern on its own, but they are once again taking away a safe space for Alberta’s youth to have an open conversation with someone they should be able to trust with their privacy.
I’ve said it many times before; if you want your child to talk to you, let them know that you are available and willing to accept whatever they’re dealing with as their greatest ally and supporter. It works.
Takeaways
Children are our future, not our property
No one wants the government in their doctor’s offices
The NDP would like more attention on the AER; after watching Question Period, uh, I should say so
I’m still reeling at this direct quote from the former Wildrose leader and current Minister of Energy, Fort McMurray-Conklin MLA Brian Jean.
Raises for the board and CEO are justified, Jean said, because they are paid for by industry. “Paid for by the industry they oversee.”
Is there any reason why I would need to expand on why this is not okay? Not for my readers, assuredly.
At the start of Question Period on November 21, 2024, NDP’s Opposition Leader in the House, Edmonton-Mill Woods MLA Christina Gray also asked whether Premier Smith thought Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) executives should be wining and dining anyone at the Calgary Petroleum Club.
The AER should not be cozying up to anyone at the Calgary Petroleum Club. The AER should not be benefitting from oil and gas booms, and under absolutely no circumstances should the AER be in any way equating the oil and gas industry with their salaries.
That’s painfully, and very shamefully, obvious.
Takeaways
there’s something very wrong with this set up
What’s next
I bet the Premier will be making some calls and asking the AER to hold off on their next dining extravaganza until Bill 33 passes.
By-election date in Lethbridge-West finally set
Lethbridge-West, the constituency left vacant when Shannon Phillips resigned at the beginning of summer, has finally been offered a date for the by-election: December 18.
By-elections are curious things; they attract far less interest than they should, and can swing wildly depending on who shows up.
December 18 is a Wednesday, while K-12 is still in session, so people will at least probably be around.
It is also right in the midst of the most copacetic times of year, when fear and smear won’t be palatable to most voters.
That means both candidates will have to tread carefully along the lines of hope, joy, and urgency; like Christmas shopping.
Unlike a general election, targeting the most ardent supporters to show up will be key. Maybe go with something festive like; “Ho, ho, ho! You don’t want coal in your stocking, vote NDP to sleep better this Christmas, and into the New Year. Santa is there for the kids and so is Alberta’s NDP. Ho, ho, ho!”
Obligatory reminder that Christmas is a month away, and the feds are offering a “GST holiday” this year.
Miracles and all.
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