Women of ABpoli: Hot Flashes - Issue #8
This Week in AB
Houston, we have the same problem
Alberta’s case numbers are rising at an incredible rate this week – from ~700 over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, to 800 on Thursday alone. One problem is that our hospitalization numbers are higher this week than in November, 2020 when we were seeing the same case numbers.
Maybe we could look for a better role model than Texas in the future. Please.
Speaking of health…
There are reports that emergency departments are still temporarily closing due to lack of doctors, beds are left unused, and surgeries are being rescheduled. This doesn't bode well for emergencies.
The Alberta government won't have on-reserve voting for October referendum questions
The ballots are for the municipal elections, but the referendum questions affect everyone who lives here whether they are in a municipality or not. I didn't mention the Senate election question because we don't elect Senators in Canada.
I cannot say enough how pleased I am at the clarity and simplicity of the benchmarks from Elk Island Public Schools. Easy to follow, numerical baselines – I love it.
After much advocacy from professors, teachers, students, and staff, the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, and Lethbridge will maintain some health precautions in the upcoming school year, and masking will be required by the Edmonton Public School Board, and Calgary Board of Education. Other boards are making their decisions day-by-day and information should be available on your child’s school website.
If only we had free speech on campus…
Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nickolaides rescinded former Progressive Conservative MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans’ board position at the Banff Centre, ostensibly for “her continuing failure to adhere to Banff Centre’s code of ethics”.
Kennedy-Glans, a lawyer who resigned her Ministerial role and sat as an independent after being told the executive council would vote as the Premier decided, denies the allegations, saying the complaint came the day an interview with CBC’s West of Centre aired.
During the interview, in May 2021, Kennedy-Glans shared a conversation she’d had with Kenney’s anti-Alberta activities inquiry commissioner, Steve Allan, in which she says Allan regretted the decision to sign on to the $3.5 million dollar debacle.
Kennedy-Glans’ commentary was limited to the anti-Alberta activities inquiry that was, until its release, a pet project of Premier Jason Kenney to prove a lack of oil jobs had nothing to do with free markets, supply and demand, or a dynamic business environment.
“If you’re going to ban freedom of speech so that anybody who ever sits on a board can never speak about anything, that kind of censorship is unfathomable,” Kennedy-Glans told the Globe and Mail.
Back up a few years to one of the UCP’s first orders of business in 2019: the adoption of the Chicago Principles of Free Speech at all publicly-funded post-secondary campuses in Alberta.
The Banff Centre’s policy reads: “All members of the Banff Centre Community have the right to criticize and question other views expressed on campus, but cannot obstruct or otherwise interfere with others' freedom of speech. The rights to mutual respect and civility are valued, but do not constitute sufficient justification to limit free speech,” (emphasis theirs).
Can the worst of Ontario really be successful in Alberta?
“Alberta: where all the political washups wash up.”
That should not be a rhetorical question, yet, here we are. Derek Sloan, the also ran, also caucus member from the CPC is abandoning his Ontario riding to run in Banff-Airdrie as an independent. His campaign launch was wild – truly.
Speaking of Ontario
Brian Jean wrote a thread on twitter about wanting a political party in Alberta that would actually work for the people. He waxed poetic about the Saskatchewan Party and Brad Wall. He also said he understood that Alberta needed another voice.
Alberta has become intensely polarized and we do need another voice - we are looking for that person... and so is the Alberta Party.
Canada
Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives oust Liberals
They say it was a surprise victory. Then social media filled up with “don’t split the vote federally” and “how could you, Nova Scotia?!” Some say the Nova Scotia PCs “focused on the ‘progressive’ in progressive conservative” with promises of better access and funding for public healthcare - something our federal party has difficulty with since they expelled the progressives to the Liberals.
We are officially in campaign mode (clips and tips)
On the CPC’s plan to kill $10/day childcare but also offer a “GST holiday in December”
Alberta’s pandemic record provides a platform for… Trudeau?
World
The Taliban is back in power in Afghanistan
Embassies have been evacuated, our military returned, and every country is scrambling to help. Canada has the benefit of being in an election cycle, so it’s all Trudeau’s fault. For those who would like a broader view, the UK is struggling, the EU is struggling, the US is struggling… and allies are working together to get people out.
Laundry List – GoA press releases
Spin Cycle
Alberta spending $1 million on formalizing parent/school collaboration that used to be done for free.
Delicates
August 14 is Pakistan Independence Day
August 15 is India Independence Day
Alberta Serious Incident Response investigates RCMP officer involved shooting fatality
Last Load
Construction continues: preliminary work begins for Highway 58 upgrades
Indigenous groups can now apply for Continuing Care grants