This Week in AB: Overreach abounds
Libertarianism has a number of tenets with which most people are familiar, namely: individualism, individual rights, and limited government.
Ideally, individualism is afforded equal respect, individual rights are self-tempered by respect and personal responsibility (rather than forced by laws or rules), and government is limited by dividing and limiting its power. “Ideally” is key, obviously.
Unfortunately, few followers of the political philosophy can measure up to the standards they purport to value and Danielle Smith — a self-described libertarian — has long been my absolute favourite walking contradiction.
In response to a petition by 51 lawyers, the Law Society of Alberta held a special meeting to allow members to vote to repeal section 67.4, which was added to the society’s rules in 2020 by a vote of three-to-one of the membership. The section allowed the society to mandate some of the 12 hours of education and training per year (that members of the Canadian Bar Association are currently required to take) to a particular course or area where the society feels gaps in competence exist.
Membership voted three-to-one to defeat a motion to repeal the rule.
Smith says she’s concerned about “overreach” within self-governing professional organizations because the complaints seem to come from those who do not share a similar political view and are “not considered ‘woke’ enough” by their colleagues.
The term “woke” was co-opted as a pejorative by conservatives from 1970’s Black slang that used to be a question — “are you woke?” —to determine whether people understood how the police leveraged their power against Black Americans.
It’s been expanded by progressives and conservatives alike with progressives claiming it means that they are aware of systemic issues within current power structures and conservatives claiming it means someone who wants to force them to acknowledge other people don’t have the same experiences because of their race, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation etc., and that by making such acknowledgement they might have to admit that the reason white men outnumber every other demographic in positions of power is not simply due to “hard work”.
Being privileged over others for the same superficial reasons others are denied that privilege is hard.
Smith said she was paying close attention to Dr. Jordan Peterson’s complaints against his professional organization, the Ontario Psychological Association, and awaiting the outcome of his “re-education” case.
“Re-education” is a fun buzzword that is meant to trigger people to fear new information that will contradict something they think they know.
Sadly, what really happened is much less sinister. Peterson was asked by the OPA to undergo social media training after they received complaints about his social media use (particularly by invoking his membership with the OPA to add credibility to his “pseudo-profound bullshit”) by the public and members of the profession.
It is much less likely to be “re-education” than “educating a 60-year old who never learned how to use social media in a professional manner” but that wouldn’t signal the freedom-addled to show up with “Trudeau must go” signs in his (cough) honour.
While doing her best impression of an empty pot, Smith proudly declared the kettle is also black by adding she thinks the Law Society has “a bit of mission creep”.
An utterly fascinating walking contradiction.
Cronyism, ethical lapses, illegality; Alberta politics still has it all
Cronyism is one of the things elected officials love to draw attention to when they’re in opposition and would rather keep under wraps when they’re in government. The only Alberta government that managed to get by without a cronyism scandal was the NDP.
It’s not because I think they were somehow above that, rather, no one expected them to form government so, no one waiting to get their back scratched when they did. Except the unions… but most were held off because Alberta was in a recession.
Anyhow, cronyism is when people who helped get someone elected (volunteers, donors, etc) are rewarded with public funds — like when Smith’s former campaign staff were awarded a three-month, $72,000, sole-sourced contract to create memes and videos.
Despite the fact that it’s “politics as usual”, and “every party does it”, Albertans weren’t happy that cronyism became synonymous with a PC government. Unsurprisingly, one Albertan in particular had a lot to say on the matter.
This is the most scandal-ridden period of this government’s history. I cannot recall another period when I’ve seen so many scandals, ethical lapses, instances of corruption, cronyism and illegality in a seven- or eight-month period.
If Ms. Redford wants us to stop asking questions about it, then she needs to lead a government that isn’t so corrupt. Danielle Smith, National Post, December 21, 2012
If you add up the accusations of interference in the justice system, having direct contact with those facing charges for persistent public health order violations (and promising to grant them amnesty), and her unfortunate need to rephrase or clarify wild inaccuracies, I can’t help but wonder if we’re currently looking at “the most scandal-ridden period in this government’s history”, either.
"Only don't tell me that you're innocent; because it insults my intelligence... and it makes me very angry." ~ Michael Corleone; The Godfather
The name Christine Anderson, an MEP from Germany, may not mean much to most people, until you recall the headlines from her “welcome” speech while the Prime Minister was visiting parliament in the European Union in March of last year.
“Disgrace for any democracy,” they said. “Trudeau blasted over handling of Freedom Convoy after Brussels speech”. “‘Dictatorship of the worst kind’: EU MPs blast Trudeau for Covid ‘rights violation’”.
Some right-wing “Freedom Movement Ambassadors” invited Ms. Anderson for some meet-and-greets in Calgary (for $250-$350 per person), Toronto ($250-$500), Whitby ($20-$200), and Montreal ($200-$325) this last week.
Nothing says “connect and unify” like inviting some Euro trash provocateur to slag the leader of your country for personal gain.
Which is, of course, precisely how some Conservative Party of Canada Members of Parliament ended up having dinner with Anderson, posing for photos, and then claiming they had no idea who she was but accepted the invitation anyway.
CPC MPs Dean Allison, Colin Carrie, and Leslyn Lewis said in a joint statement that “it is, of course, not uncommon for Members of Parliament to meet with visiting elected officials from other countries.”
That explanation might have some teeth if they were cabinet ministers, or even members of the governing party but let’s be honest; these three are backbenchers in the opposition party — foreign officials of any regard are not clamouring for their attention.
Which would have been their first clue, if their claim of ignorance was legitimate and I can’t summon the necessary charitability to believe it is.
More likely, they jumped at the opportunity to be seen with someone who despises Trudeau and they simply didn’t care what else Anderson brought to their table.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes and all.
Speaking of stupid games…
Oh yeah — Raj Sherman, former Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party cum Progressive Conservative MLA (in that order) has won the United Conservative Party nomination for Edmonton-Whitemud where he will face off against NDP’s Rakhi Pancholi.