Women of ABpoli Hot Flashes - Grim reaping
This Week in AB
First UCP leadership debate ignites feelings
“I’m so done hearing who is going to “fight Ottawa” harder.
Who is going to run our province better in October?
We need a Premier who is focused on Alberta — not obsessed with Trudeau.”
I know the UCP candidates aren't really talking to me.
I didn't support the merger and I think "unity" is a sham. I don't believe religion should hold any influence over government and I am not a "big C" Conservative.
I am, however, a "small 'c'" conservative, Red Tory or Blue Liberal; too progressive to be conservative, and too conservative to be progressive.
Too many current UCP members don't welcome people like me having either interest or participation in the party because of that.
I've been quizzed on whether I agree with the principles of the UCP more than once by people who don't think I should be participating in their leadership vote.
However, despite the fact that the Party's new gatekeepers want to purity test conservative values against some pie-in-the-sky libertarian fantasy, that merger they're all so proud of was with Progressive Conservatives -- not Reform, not Western Independence -- Progressive Conservatives.
The party, mission, and vision of Lougheed's Party may no longer exist, but we are still here, and we still have a voice, even if it's not echoing loudly enough by the representatives in the UCP.
But I digress.
The candidates attended their first debate in Medicine Hat on July 27. The feed was consistently interrupted (Shaw outage, I hear). That night, I joined the Breakdown on a Twitter space because people wanted to talk (and listen).
Over the next couple of days, I spent some time sifting through very conservative commentary - you know, the commentary from people who would never be asked if they should be allowed to participate in the vote for Alberta's next premier.
After that, I watched the debate again.
First, I found some quotes worth sharing.
"We had a $10 billion dollar over-spend, spending addiction, inherited from the NDP; and previous PC governments, if I'm being honest." ~ Travis Toews (20:45)
"First of all, there's many people on this stage that were part of government -- there's no "I" in "TEAM" -- we do these things together. If we're going to build a team, let's start talking about how we did these things together." ~ Leela Aheer (23:00 ish)
"I've come full-circle (on climate science). I believe we can get to Net Zero, and I believe we can do it faster than anyone else." ~ Danielle Smith (28:20)
"We need to change people's perception of Alberta -- they see us as 'rich emitters'. We have the cleanest, most ethical source of energy in the world." ~ Rajan Sawhney (29:30 ish)
"The Sovereignty Act is tantalizing -- it's seductive -- but what are you going to do when you can't deliver on what you're selling?" ~ Rajan Sawhney (36:00)
"We do have to be careful about the words we use because I will say this: bad judgement, flippant comments erode trust in our government, and that's not helpful in 2023." ~ Rebecca Schulz (46:40)
"Nurse practitioners, physician's assistants -- which have been in place since 2013 -- can be a gateway to doctors. Women's health, sexual violence, domestic abuse, people of colour; I haven't heard anyone talk about their experiences." ~ Leela Aheer (47:00)
"We don't need to blow us AHS. What we need to do is work with the great doctors, nurses, and technicians that we have and make things better." ~ Brian Jean (48:58)
"Our approach (with the federal government) has been to write letters, angry tweets, light our hair on fire, run around creating chaos, making headlines, and not getting results for Albertans." ~ Rebecca Schulz (53:00)
"If we want a legacy of riling people up, we can certainly do that; or, we can work collaboratively. And I just wanted to say to Ms. Smith: you've mentioned several sections out of the constitution that you think that we can forward our agenda on -- which I completely agree with -- but then that would render your Sovereignty Act completely redundant." ~Leela Aheer (54:00)
I've watched or participated in more than a few races in the past seven years. The PC leadership in 2016; the federal NDP and CPC leadership in 2017, the Alberta Liberals and the UCP as well, the Alberta Party in 2018, CPC again in 2020, and now, the UCP again.
The Alberta Party's was civil enough, but by far, the most optimistic leadership race I've watched since 2016 has been the Alberta Liberal race. And yes, maybe it's because anti-Trudeau sentiment doesn't play well in that room, but I'll tell you, it's really enjoyable to listen to candidates talk solely about what they would do for Alberta.
I know that it would be easier to point out everything the candidates did wrong but leadership races provide an opportunity for a number of ideas to be brought forward. So, I thought I would choose some of the ones that I would like to see more of.
Smith had some optimistic thoughts on what hydrogen fuel could offer the Alberta economy, including enticing auto-makers to build hydrogen vehicles here. Jobs, economy, natural resources.
Rajan Sawhney talked about transparency with her pandemic response inquiry (which Smith has vowed to do if she becomes leader as well). To my way of thinking, every government is likely doing this already (I hope), and I like that it might be publicly available.
Sawhney, Jean, and Aheer said frontline service providers need to have input on how to deliver care to Albertans better. When you want answers to specific questions, ask the right people. Don't forget to ask patients, though, as Aheer helpfully mentioned.
I hate the "fight Trudeau" trope. We already pay people to do that and does this really have to cost more in Alberta, too?
Lastly, there was something else going on.
If the 2015 leader's debate taught us anything, it's that who people choose to debate matters.
Smith was chosen for debate by both Schulz and Sawhney. Toews was chosen by both Jean and Loewen. Sawhney was chosen by both Smith and Aheer. Toews chose Jean.
No one chose to debate Aheer, Loewen, or Schulz.
Sawhney targeted Smith from the very beginning and Smith accepted the challenge. That may have benefitted Rajan Sawhney a good deal.
A second debate will take place after the membership sales cutoff on August 12.
Speaking of membership sales...
Lots of people have reasons for not wanting to buy a membership.
Some people really, really, really hate "them" (whatever colour their sign).
I value different voices, even if I don't necessarily value all of their policies, or opinions. I was happier with our provincial government when there were many voices in the Legislature.
I was happiest when the government actually listened to the opposition because I believe that good policies can come from any side of the aisle. After all, it was the grandfather of Reform who first made the argument for carbon taxes, and how many people with an orange or red sign are fully committed to that?
Buy a membership, don't buy a membership, publicize your decision or don't. You know where you can get more info if you have any questions :)
Legal Aid lawyers ignored by Shandro, may take job action
Legal Aid in Alberta has been "chronically underfunded" for years. In 2018, under the NDP, the program received a $70 million boost over five years after receiving input (or complaints) from providers. This year, though, those complaints were simply ignored.
Justice Minister Tyler Shandro also presided over the province's compensation brawl with doctors in 2020, which resulted in a depletion of family physicians practicing across the province, hitting rural Alberta especially hard.
"Fewer lawyer" jokes aside, underfunding legal aid hurts those without means who rely on the program for access to expertise and representation when dealing with the justice system.
Associations will be meeting August 3 to decide what their next steps will be, including the possibility of refusing to take clients.
Shandy's back (and that reminded of the great ABleg hits by Negotiation).
Canada
Trudeau goes on vacation, Conservatives madder than when he's in Canada
I really have nothing to say about this other than I wanted to make it a headline, too!
Leslyn Lewis pulls out of third CPC debate
All I heard was "you weren't voting for me, anyway."
Candidates who don't like rules and conventions don't want to adhere to rules and conventions; news at 11.
Meanwhile a recent poll tells us that Trudeau's approval is lower than ever at 49 per cent, and Pierre Poilievre is sitting at 53 per cent "who?" Kidding. 53 per cent are "neutral" towards Poilievre, indicating that they're enjoying their summer and would kindly ask everyone to FO and leave them alone.
Final thoughts
“Jeebus fracking H. Cripes. How have we managed as a species?”