Women of ABpoli: Hot Flashes - Freedom...?
This Week in AB
Coutts Protest reduced to headlines of "Coutts 13"
The border blockade on the Alberta side of Coutts Crossing cost the Alberta economy around $44 million per day for each of the 21 days it continued.
Premier Jason Kenney - who was attempting to grease some palms in the U.S. at the time - tweeted that the blockade was illegal, thanks to his own party's Bill 1: the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
But nothing happened.
On February 3, Jason Kenney was extremely sympathetic to protesters at the border.
On February 4, Kenney (and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe - if anyone is counting) announced the mandates were coming to an end, but the blockades didn't end.
Kenney was still showing sympathy for the Coutts blockade on February 5.
Behind the scenes, as it turned out, Kenney asked the federal government for assistance on February 5 - though we didn't hear about that until February 19, the day Kenney announced he was challenging the implementation of the Act.
There's speculation around the impetus for that: because of course a public treasury should be used to try and keep Kenney clean.
The RCMP reported Monday that some of the protesters at Coutts Crossing had a stockpile of weapons. They were willing to get into a showdown with police and had lots of plans for their (immediate - but not long-term) future.
With all of this, we can say that:
First, there is a nasty element - faction, if you will - in these protests who are willing to take the lives of others because they believe that their rights supersede those of everyone else.
Second; there is a right-wing Christian faction who want the government replaced by someone they want to support. Okay then.
Third: there is a faction who were caught up in this "movement" who have legitimate complaints: they have lost their businesses and/or their jobs due to the pandemic and/or pandemic responses.
I cannot address the first or second because I don't belong to either of those groups. The third, however, I have empathy for.
I am empathetic to those who lost their businesses due to a global pandemic. I am empathetic to those who used to work in certain industries, like conference and banquets, who lost their jobs and their ability to work, for the last two years. It had nothing to do with them, their work history, or their capabilities - it was the result of a government trying to reduce infection rates in a global pandemic.
I have empathy for those who lost more than this, even if by choice. That sucks, even if your personal choices got you there.
I don't have empathy for those who refuse to participate in a society that protects the vulnerable. I don't have empathy for those who have refused to adapt to the current situation. That is their failing - not mine.
Finally; Kenney is a lying, two-faced hypocrite. I know - the least surprising of it all.
Fort McMurray by-election called
“Why leave it until the last day?
Kenney is suddenly worried about public health if there's a by-election but not if, you know, there's a public health crisis. Okay, Jason.
This is where Kenney's legacy is tested. Do Fort Mac residents show up or stay home? How does one choose between four or five anti-Kenney candidates??
Here's the thing about by-elections - they can have wild results.
By-elections tend to have incredibly low turnout, which usually favours an incumbent party. A person only needs around 4,000 votes to win.
Brian Jean, who is running as the UCP candidate who wants Jason Kenney out, has the added benefit of name recognition.
However… there could be an upset.
I’d expect Jean to win - he’s already taken the “Kenney must go” narrative, which means it’s harder for other candidates to use that against him.
However, Jean didn't even come close to achieving that running against Kenney in the 2017 leadership race. So, sure, "Kenney must go" but will Fort Mac voters be wondering if Jean is really the guy to make that happen?
The UCP and NDP would like to make every election a two-party race. If you don't like the other guy, you have to vote for this one to make sure the one you don't like most won't get elected.
However.
Paul Hinman, now-leader of the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (WIPA) became the first (former) Wildrose candidate to be elected in a by-election - Calgary-Glenmore - upset in 2009.
The runner-up was a Liberal.
By less than 300 votes.
In Calgary.
In 2009.
As I said, by-elections are funny.
Back to Fort Mac - they're a conservative union city. Juxtapositions aside, would Ft Mac vote ND? I doubt it, but again, with low turnout, upsets are possible.
So, if Fort Mac was really miffed at Jason Kenney, and didn't think Brian Jean, hometown hero, could actually do anything about him, and the wouldn't vote NDP... well, I'd bet they'd just stay home - but that could mean an NDP win. So, what to do?
There's also the Alberta Party.
The people of Fort Mac - Wood Buffalo could decide to “send a message” and elect a third-party candidate. This could be the Wildrose candidate or an Alberta Party candidate.
Don't laugh.
In 2015, NDP volunteers on the doors were stricken (seriously) to hear that people were willing to vote for Wildrose or the NDP - "whichever had the best chance to defeat the Progressive Conservative candidate". It was rough on the partisans, to be sure.
So, it depends on how upset Fort Mac is with the UCP. And how much they trust Brian Jean. And how much they want to send a message. And whether one candidate can get the people to coalesce behind them. And whether that splits the vote.
By-elections are funny - who knows how they'll turn out? Not me. Not at all.
With Martha and Henry long gone, it's time to recognize a new Albertan: Kyle
Dr. Campbell's thread is amazing. And scary. And right on the nose.
Seriously, read that thread.
Former Health Minister faces code of conduct hearing by Alberta Law Society
“Tyler Shandro is under investigation by The Law Society of Alberta.”
Well, it took three years, but apparently showing up on someone's driveway to berate them for a social media post, while not an issue for the UCP, may be a code of conduct violation by the Law Society.
At least someone gives a damn about their members acting like a 12-year old dumbass.
Canada
Trudeau brings in the Emergencies Act; cleans up Ottawa
What is the Emergencies Act? Well, it replaced the War Measures Act in 1988. So, when your drunk uncle parrots FOX news garbage and says this is the first time the Act has ever been in force in Canada's history, he's right, yet also wrong, and seriously under-informed.
Shocking; I know.
Leah West, of Intrepid Podcast, writes a great explainer on the Act, and what evidence may be brought forward in defence of its implementation.
Even though the implementation must be debated in parliament within seven days, the Act is in full force as of February 14th.
Oh, and the Republicants (not a typo) are losing what is left of their conspiracy-addled minds. But that is dark and too deeply disturbing to bother you with. Google it if you wish, but holy hell these people.
So, Trudeau enacts the Emergencies Act, and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland drops the atom bomb on the convoy occupation's finances, announcing that funding for the occupation will be frozen. Their crowd-funding, their bank accounts, their credit cards, and their bitcoin wallets - done, inaccessible.
Ottawa police hand out flyers saying the protesters must go home or face arrest, frozen bank accounts, loss of insurance, licences, you name it, they announced it. Go home.
Two days later, police started making arrests. As of February 19: Chris Barber (who?), an organizer from Saskatchewan. Tamara Lich, fundraiser extraordinaire, Alberta. Daniel Bulford, Ontario. Pat King, Alberta.
Missing: consistently supportive (yet bailed) BJ Dichter, and behind the scenes, Canada Unity.
Barber made bail, the decision on Lich's bail is held over until Tuesday, Dichter decided to shut the hell up, and Pat King will have his day in bail hearing court Tuesday.
Meanwhile, vehicles are on the move, protesters are fenced in away from residents, more arrests, hot tubs down - it's not over, and it's almost uglier, and the sun will rise again tomorrow. Or not and we'll be done with all this crap.
America
The country is fixated on Canada and it's as ridiculous as we've come to expect
First, there was this awkwardly stereotypical NYT podcast. And FOX - which I won't bother linking to - and elected officials...
Our only saving grace down there is Caroline Orr and Daniel Dale.
Final thought (if you know, you know)
cover photo: @abpressrelease