Women of ABpoli: Hot Flashes - Issue #3
The Heat is On
Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn reinstated in caucus
“LOL taphuq? #ableg https://t.co/tQRmfnw5wP”
Legend has it that the way your new year begins is what you can expect your year to bring. With that in mind, to really get a feel for how little Jason Kenney had to do with this decision, we need to go back to the beginning of 2021, when Rehn was first kicked out of caucus.
Rehn was only one of six UCP MLAs who took a much-needed sun and sand vacation over the Christmas break while Albertans were still being urged to stay home over the holidays. In a New Year’s Day address, Kenney said there would be no repercussions for MLA travel – a decision he was forced to reconsider after significant internal backlash.
As Rehn was a backbench MLA at the time, he didn’t lose a Ministerial post like Grande Prairie’s Tracy Allard, who was stripped of Municipal Affairs portfolio, or Calgary Klein MLA Jeremy Nixon who was removed as Parliamentary Secretary for Civil Society, or Red Deer South’s Jason Stephan from Treasury Board. Like Calgary Peigan’s Tany Fir, and Wood Buffalo’s Tany Yao, Rehn was relieved of his legislature committee responsibilities.
However, out-of-country travel wasn’t Rehn’s only indiscretion. As it turned out, the town of Slave Lake was loudly calling for Rehn’s resignation due to a lack of face-time by the MLA in his constituency.
Kenney said at the time that Rehn “has made no meaningful effort to work in his constituency. I have repeatedly asked Mr. Rehn to be more present in his constituency. He has ignored calls from me, UCP caucus leadership, and his constituents to do so. Regrettably, MLA Rehn’s performance falls well below the high standards we expect in our caucus and party.”
That was before the UCP caucus voted to remove Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes, and Central-Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen in May.
While the latter may have impacted the decision to return Rehn to caucus, it was, once again, the optics surrounding the decision.
Many of us make snide commentary about parties making the best decisions for their own benefit of staying in power rather than the public interest, but if Rehn’s reinstatement was at Harper’s behest, purportedly because three rogue MLAs would only need one more to join forces and achieve official party status in the Legislature… well, it may be “servant leadership” but it’s not serving those who elected them.
Speaking of having no faith in the Party Leader…
The Green Party of Canada is making headlines for all of the wrong reasons.
In October 2020, when Annamie Paul was elected to replace Elizabeth May as Leader of the Green Party, there were positive headlines. Paul was the first Black woman, and the first Jewish woman, elected to lead a political party in Canada.
Internal struggles may have begun early but those spilled over into the public arena when Fredricton MP Jenica Atwin, one of the Green Party’s three elected MPs, a “historic win” for the Party, crossed the floor to the Liberals in June.
Atwin said party infighting over established Party positions, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “played a role” in her decision.
Things went downhill, publicly, from there with the Party executive purportedly threatening to remove Paul’s membership, not fund her campaign for election on the eve of a writ drop, and muting Paul during an online executive meeting.
Then came a push for a vote of non-confidence. Paul called the allegations put forward by the Party’s Federal Council “so racist, so sexist, they were immediately disavowed by both of our MPs as offensive and inflammatory and contrary to party ethics”.
The Party’s councillors will vote on July 20, and if they are successful in gaining enough votes of non-confidence, the question will be put to the membership in August.
Tired of harassing the province’s doctors, UCP takes aim at frontline staff
After 17 months of pandemic duty, nurses and other frontline staff are burnt out and hospitals are closing off beds due to “temporary staff shortages”.
Certainly, this would be the time to shame staff for working overtime, and it’s expected the UCP will release the public sector compensation “sunshine list” for 2021 to help sway public opinion in favour of wage cuts for educated women who chose a career of taking care of Albertans in need.
But also hire 25 nurse practitioners to support Primary Care Networks because it sure looks like we have lots of them to spare.
Don't miss our conversation with wellness advocate, educator, and author Lisa Bush on women's labour being the UCP's line in the sand on spending.
Some friendly, but firm, reminders:
“If your freedom and/or feminism doesn't include women in hijab, then keep it. And stop lying.”
Laundry List: GoA Press Releases
Spin Cycle
Thanks to a high uptake in vaccinations in continuing care facilities, the province will now lift remaining restrictions in continuing care facilities. Other vulnerable populations remain at the mercy of their neighbours.
Opthamology (cataract) surgery will now cost less in Alberta as the government expects to receive high volume discounts.
As the new promotions (and management?) arm of Alberta agriculture, the UCP will commission a study “to help the beef industry identify challenges and opportunities in their supply chain". Sounds like socialism to me.
Finance Minister Travis Toews announced negotiations with health care staff were underway. Toews added that the province was $93 billion in debt and if they expected the government would just continue to give them money, they should be oil and gas companies or men.
Rinse and repeat
From the government who lost $1.3 billion on a pipeline to nowhere, another promise kept. Enriched Academy hired a former staffer under the Harper administration to lobby for a contract to teach Alberta students about financial literacy. They received $700K. The two organizations without the Harper admin staffer got $300K and $200K, respectively.
Referendum season is almost upon us! Albertans will finally be able to let Quebec know what they think about equalization, and hold a pretend senate election, two items which are incredibly misunderstood in the province, and neither of which is under provincial jurisdiction. They’ll also get to have their say on daylight savings time, and, if they are so inclined, vote for municipal representation.
Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen released a statement saying the UCP supports Alberta’s farmers and ranchers with a promise to ask the federal government for money.
The UCP’s Utility Payment Deferral Program Act will raise utility rates on Albertans again. The undisclosed amount will be added to your monthly bills for a yet undetermined amount of time and be totally transparent.
Delicates
Alberta farmers received a 20 per cent reduction in insurance premiums since they have access to a non-competitive monopoly of government-run coverage currently overseen by a party that really, really wants their votes.
Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary has an additional two of nine scheduled hemodialysis stations now operating as of last year (yep, that’s correct). The two machines enabled 55 more patients to receive treatments last year. The release did not mention whether staff was needed to run the stations/treatment.
Wrinkle reduction
Did the UCP accidentally give the impression they don’t care about our water resources? Whoops. Environment Minister Jason Nixon announced in a 200-word essay why that simply isn’t the case and to prove it, dedicated the month of July as “Lakes Appreciation Month” in Alberta.
Nixon also detailed the many ways the UCP is committed to environmental conservation, spending on parks, expanding protected lands, hiring parks staff, building facilities, maintaining trails, and more. But is it enough to get rid of the “Defend Our Parks” signs?
As the only bi-provincial municipality in the province, Lloydminster and area will receive a “seamless, coordinated approach to healthcare”, thanks to a commitment from both the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments. Seems the only thing other Alberta municipalities are missing is a Sask MLA.
Vaccination uptake has been slower in certain regions of the province so the GoA has put together a special lotto vaxx for the outdoor adventurer. This is a separate lottery from the one with million dollar prizes because if they aren’t interested in winning a million bucks, maybe shooting a million bucks with a lifetime hunting license will be a better motivator.
Calgary will be getting its own cyclotron by 2024 with $18.5 million to begin the estimated $50 million project. The announcement was also endorsed by W. Brett Wilson since all Albertans will pay for it.
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EPS attempted traffic stop results in single vehicle collision.
EPS vehicle pursuit results in serious injury to uninvolved pedestrian.
CPS officer-involved shooting results in injury of 23 year old.
No charges after investigation into discharge of CPS member’s firearm that didn’t injure anyone.
Calgary improved community justice most, according to awards.
It’s summer, there’s construction.
The UCP has inked a new 20-year forest management agreement with Crowsnest Forest Products Ltd. for Unit C5, north of Waterton Park and south of Kananaskis Country.