Women of ABpoli: Hot Flashes - It's a Blunderful life
This Week in AB
Alberta is open for good (again)!
Alberta's premier has always had difficulties living up to his words. While Kenney claimed increasing vaccination rates were a better option than masking as he made his "open for leadership review" - I mean open for spring - announcement, when questioned two days later about his request to remove COVID-19 vaccination mandates of healthcare staff (in places like long-term care) he claimed vaccine efficacy in reducing transmission was equal to being unvaccinated.
Right. So, what else can possibly be done to mitigate risk for vulnerable people? Masks, shockingly enough.
During a Twitter Space on March 1, one of the speakers mentioned that they, as an immunocompromised individual, have lost their sense of security in public with the removal of mask mandates.
This was always the case with masking.
As we heard back in 2020 "masks don't protect you, they protect others from you". Even the Kenney government recognizes this as they've opted to maintain masking requirements in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
In sum, if you're vulnerable to a COVID infection and in a place where everyone agrees you're vulnerable - like a hospital - Kenney's government will mandate protective measures for you.
If you're otherwise healthy enough to live your life, but equally vulnerable to a COVID infection, you will have to accept the risk rather than inconvenience people who claim to be about "love", "kindness", and "community".
Kenney says the UCP will amend Municipal Governance Act to stop municipalities from having bylaws his supporters don't like
Note Kenney didn't have an issue with Mackenzie County amending their procurement policy to make contractors with vaccine mandates ineligible to bid.
However, when Edmonton mayor Amarjit Sohi suggested the city may maintain its mask mandate, Kenney vowed to take away their ability to protect the people who elected them.
It could be a bluff or it could be Kenney's way of showing "strength" ahead of his upcoming leadership review. What most people agree upon is that it's the least conservative approach Kenney could take.
The Municipal Governance Act (MGA) is quite clear on the respect for municipal jurisdiction - especially when the provincial government doesn't want to get their hands dirty.
Notably, in 2020, and again in 2021, Kenney relied on municipalities to take the initiative on masking mandates where his government refused.
Municipality associations, elected municipal leadership, and councilors have come out against Kenney's threat.
Calgary voted against maintaining a mask mandate, and Edmonton will have their council vote March 8.
As usual, the hypocrisy is lost on those who prefer to ignore it.
“"I am suing @JustinTrudeau for overreach!" -Jason Kenney
Also: https://t.co/p2oX2X7USG”
Oh yeah, and Kenney is also making a motion to the federal government to remove pandemic restrictions on international travel because: leadership race.
Can't get enough of CPC infighting? Turn on the UCP channel
For Conservatives, unity is anything but grand.
Think of the epic battles between familial alliances for the throne - it's like that but with more back-stabbing.
For the federal conservatives, the fight is between the Christian right Reformers and moderate - "Red Tory" or closet progressive (PC) - conservatives who are trying to broaden the reach of the party.
For the UCP, it's a few PC hangers-on and Wildrose legacy supporters who were turfed in favour of a Christian Heritage Party makeover.
Take Back Alberta (TBA - even with the confusing acronym, it basically works both ways) is organizing against Kenney ahead of his upcoming leadership review.
The group, with Wildrose roots, is seeking their opportunity to force a leadership race that may allow them to take power - without all that heavy baggage the Wildrose used to carry around.
I honestly find it fascinating that fringe party supporters have been able to take over parties that were once palatable to a majority of voters. Until I figured out how easy it actually is.
In the grand scheme of things, few people buy memberships (around four per cent of the population), way fewer attend policy conventions, even fewer get involved with their local constituency associations, and fewer still run for board positions at the executive level.
The power/people structure looks like this (for every political party):
The leader "holds the pen", and generally tries to ensure that supporters run for (and are elected to) the executive.
In the UCP, the Executive consists of seven people. They make decisions, such as permitting expenditures, forming committees for leadership reviews, leadership races, event planning, policy development, etc.
A board holds a lot of power, even over the leader if sentiments can be swayed. One of their greatest powers is that they have a lot of say in Party business.
There is also an Executive Director. This person may be agreed upon by the Executive, but it is a paid position and not an elected one.
The lovely thorn in Kenney's side, Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer's constituency association board was voted out in its entirety in January of this year. Her board has challenged the legitimacy of the outcome, claiming there were "irregularities".
According to the complaint, it's alleged that the Party assisted in concealing the influx of new members from the existing board.
All of this is just to drive home the point that these private clubs are run by a very small number of people and are all vulnerable to an organized movement intent upon change.
And no, it has nothing to do with what is best for the people - it's about the power to make decisions.
After months of waiting, some coal projects denied, others continue to move through the approval process
4 'advanced projects' to continue regulatory process: Grassy, Tent, Vista & Mine 14.
Is it enough? #mountainsnotmines #waternotcoal #abpoli #ableg https://t.co/TKGMqEr43K”
When the UCP decided to scrap Lougheed's open-pit mine policy back in 2020, Albertans were not happy.
Conservatives (well, those who want to conserve more than ideology for the next generation) banded together and pushed back against the UCP's short-sighted cash grab of ridiculously low lease agreements (though not everyone was on board).
Is it enough?
I hate to think that the report is being taken seriously only because of the high percentage of UCP voters in the area, but this is how ideological government works, after all.
Canada and beyond
There's a CPC leadership race coming
After the CPC caucus decided the membership didn't deserve a say in who should lead the party, a leadership race was triggered.
The vote will be held September 10.
Aside from convoy-supporting Pierre Pollievre, a Red Tory - harkening back to the days of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada - candidate has indicated interest.
Unlike Pollievere, who cut his barely adult teeth in politics, Kheirriddin is a McGill Law graduate who has experience outside of government-mandated wages.
Rumours are swirling around Jean Charest again and I can't even be sure it's not just to troll the right wing of the Party Harper Built (TM).
Other rumours about Brampton Mayor and former Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership hopeful Patrick Brown are also in the air, but until they submit their $200,000 ransom - I mean "entrance fee" - I'll remain a mildly-interested observer.
Oh, even invasions have rules?
I know it's popular at the moment to believe that rules don't apply to you if you super-duper believe they don't, but that's why I included this thread. There are literally rules everywhere and pretty much the only places where this isn't true is corrupt nations where poverty is the rule rather than the exception. Sorry?
Trudeau and Ministers travel to Eastern Europe
I actually sighed before I started writing this.
We get Jason Kenney grandstanding for his ~13 per cent "Jesus is my vaccine" base and representatives in the federal government have to deal with real issues involving freedom.
Final thought