A family with 2 kids under 18 and a household income of $175,000 will get $1200.
A couple in their late 60s earning $175,000 will get $1200.
A single person between 18 and 64 earning $30,000 will get nothing, unless they are an AISH recipient.
Imagine holding together a provincial health system through a COVID surge that was the direct result of government inaction, and then being fired six months later.
Just catching up with the news of the day. If I understand it correctly, we're 2 1/2 years into a global pandemic, and we've just found out the Chief Medical Officer of Health read the Public Health Act incorrectly. Awesome.
It would be the most Alberta thing ever to ditch a premier who led a terrible COVID response and replace him with someone who doesn’t believe in medical science at all.
It's pretty remarkable to think that Alberta has not only a Minister of Culture and Status of Women, but also an Associate Minister AND a Parliamentary Secretary. And they couldn't manage to judge an essay contest with 5 entries.
We shouldn't catastrophize, I said. The caucus and the prospect of an election will rein her in, I said.
Please excuse me while I go light my hair on fire.
Plots to entrap Mayor Nenshi. Releasing photos of Mayor Gondek’s license plate. Those videos. There is something seriously wrong with this bunch of Calgary conservatives.
If we've learned nothing else in the past five years, it is that it matters what political leaders say. For the Premier to be carrying on about imaginary food shortages while the health system once again teeters on the brink sows dissent when we need solidarity.
So far today: - the prairie premiers say 'no thanks' to the federal emergencies act; - the RCMP seize a serious weapons cache at the Coutts protest; - the Premier of Alberta suggests the Coutts protesters relocate to harass one of his political enemies (the AFL)
If you're an academic leader, and you're not starting all your meetings by asking your people how they're doing and thanking them for all the extra work, you're doing it all wrong.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
If you read one thing about Alberta politics today, let it be this.
@charlesrusnell
has written a comprehensive account of the Kenney government’s use of bullying and intimidation.
Turns out there's a recording available as well. I didn't imagine it! It was erased from the written record.
So, tomorrow I'll be writing to the Clerk of the Committee asking that the transcript be corrected. Because that is what actually happened.
/fin
The PM should seize this moment to address the nation, talk about what climate change is costing us, and reinforce the importance of carbon pricing & net zero.
Danielle Smith coming in hot today with some wildly revisionist history!
How is this in any way in line with Truth and Reconciliation?
#abpoli
#ableg
#cdnpoli
I just read Manning’s fictional report. It ends by musing about whether public servants and politicians should be held financially liable or criminally responsible for the pandemic response. This man has been charged with leading a panel to review Alberta’s COVID response.
“Smith’s grasp on Indigenous issues is untethered from actual history. It seems rooted not in genuine allyship and justice but in the appropriation of Indigenous experiences to advance white grievance politics in Alberta and beyond.”
Obligatory political scientist ministerial responsibility tweet: The GoA has now fired the AHS CEO, the CMOH and the AHS board (that they appointed). And the Minister stays in place.
Readers of the
@nationalpost
may be surprised to learn that Alberta’s population is young, diverse and about 50% female. And some can imagine a future for the province that doesn’t revolve around nursing grievances.
An admin leave observation: every Dean and VP should have to submit one expense claim themselves, every year, just so they understand why faculty are so grumpy.
This is a government in desperate trouble. In the Cdn political system, the Premier/PM listens to Cabinet Ministers, but is normally able to sum up the ‘sense of the room’ and decide on a way forward. We’ve heard in the past 24 hours that the Cabinet committee was divided ...
The only useful information from this presser came as a response to the second-last question: if you test positive on a RAT, notify your family doc (assuming you have one) so that it has been documented.
All this talk about recognizing women's credentials has me thinking about an experience last month. I was invited to present to the Alberta legislature's Select Special Democratic Accountability committee. Some of my research is on relevant matters, so I agreed... 1/?
The documents filed here tell a remarkable story. Premier’s staff distorted summary of scientific evidence in briefing note. Here’s the summary of the literature provided:
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is crafting changes to be debated next week to reverse the part of a bill that gives her cabinet unfettered power to rewrite laws behind closed doors without legislature approval.
When a leader vilifies their critics, it renders them deaf to important information.
When a leader surrounds themselves with people who share their worldview, it limits their perspective.
When a leader refuses to acknowledge their mistakes, they are unable to learn from them.
For the sake of argument, let’s say Kenney’s telling the truth. The plan last fall was to let COVID rip and fill 1000 ICU beds, but AHS couldn’t deliver. He’s admitting the gov’t was OK with 3 or 4x the death toll from Delta.
I’ve worked at
@ucalgary
for 23 years. Hiring a national leader in equity, diversity and inclusion was long overdue. Delighted that
@MalindaSmith
has joined us. And for colleagues moaning to journalists about this, think hard about your privilege.
So, this is a deliberate plan to allow kids and the unvaccinated to acquire immunity. Any deaths or long term disabilities, or serious breakthrough cases are just the cost of doing business. And the architects of the plan left town while it was happening.
Never mind rule of law. Barry Cooper wants the Alberta legislature to make sure his taxes don’t go to Ottawa. And I’m sure he won’t mind when his CPP cheques don’t arrive and he can’t renew his passport. What toxic nonsense.
“Smith’s arena deal is intended to solidify her support in Calgary. It’s done the opposite. It’s revived the debates that killed the last two attempts… it demands even more…of a taxpayer subsidy to billionaire hockey team owners, & it drags the rest of Alberta into the debate.”
If a government wanted to ensure that its public health leadership had zero autonomy, it could fire the leader, and then make sure that the individual could never work in the jurisdiction again. Future leaders would receive the message, loud and clear.
So, I have some news. It’s been a huge privilege to be dean of
@UCalgaryFGS
for the past 7.5 years, but it’s time for a new chapter. I’m excited to be joining
@policy_school
next summer, where I can bring together my love of politics, policy & grad ed’n
Proud of my friend
@DuaneBratt
, who got this one exactly right. We are all part of a community that is going through something awful, and unnecessary.
Please take this to the 10 min mark. It's rare that a guest discussing a news story is compelled to hold back the tears and say that they are a human being.
@DuaneBratt
is an excellent political scientist & a decent human being.
Kenney says that the decision to end tracing/tracking/isolation was made by Hinshaw and sent to Cabinet in early July. It was then approved, without modification, by Cabinet.
Did I just hear the new AHS administrator suggest that the plan for people who couldn't pay for inter-facility transfer is to expect the company doing the transfer to move them for free?
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, on her Saturday radio appearance, said the sovereignty act "could have been used in the past" to stop the federal prohibition on plastic straws. "How many people love the fact that they are now having to use paper straws?"
#ableg
#cndpoli
1/x
Some personal news: Late last week, I made the difficult decision to resign as Director of Graduate Programs at the School of Public Policy. I am an enthusiastic proponent of the MPP & SEDV programs hosted at the School. Teaching in the MPP has been a highlight of my career.
over Cabinet or caucus to implement meaningful measures to achieve this objective.
Consequently, we are being governed to appease the views of MLAs who believe their core constituency are the anti-vaxxers/anti-maskers protesting in front of the hospitals.
Two of the three government MLAs addressed me as "Ms" or "Miss" Young. (Somehow "miss" was particularly jarring since I'm well into my 'm'am' years). The opposition MLAs made a point of calling me Doctor, rather emphatically. (Appreciated!)...
This thread is an excellent analysis of the 'Free Alberta' manifesto. But let's be clear: the 'strategy' calls for insurrection. Overthrow of the Canadian government and rule of law on Alberta soil. And MLAs are endorsing it.
1. The Alberta Sovereignty Act apparently would allow Alberta to decide that federal laws it doesn’t like (e.g., the carbon tax) don’t apply in the province. It would stop provincial enforcement of those federal laws.
Law just doesn’t work that way.
2/
Statement from
@SteveBuick2
with Health Ministry says "Levels will fluctuate over time and between communities. We encourage Albertans to judge their risk at any point in time and take appropriate precautions, including wearing a mask if they choose."
Reading the ppt prepared for Cabinet in February, what jumps out at me is this: the analysis does not take into account COVID illnesses or deaths. Public opinion matters, but human lives don't get a mention.
Leadership tip from the cheap seats: you can avoid all kinds of grief if you just take a deep breath, listen, and then say something like: ‘thanks for letting me know. I understand better now. I’ll try to learn from this.’
Oh my goodness! This is fantastic news for
@ucalgary
!welcome
@MalindaSmith
!! Dr. Malinda Smith appointed vice-provost (equity, diversity and inclusion) | News | University of Calgary
Imagine if government had encouraged employers to require their employees to get vaccinated 6 weeks ago. (Remember August, when the 3 big universities had to announce a weak vax mandate together for fear of retribution from government?)
There are many lessons in leadership to be drawn from Jason Kenney’s time as Premier. The importance of humility and empathy. The imperative to govern in the interests of all, not just your supporters. And …
The Alberta gov’t has backed away from its ridiculous demand that AthabascaU move hundreds of employees to the the town, but is still insisting the Execs move there (tho not til 2025, so they can ignore it and hope for change from a new gov’t). 1/2
I estimate there are close to 2,000 people outside of Bowden today for an "End the Lockdowns" Rodeo.
Multiple health rules clearly being broken, but some tell me they're "not worried at all" about penalties. RCMP were briefly on scene. They're long gone. More:
@CTVCalgary
I'm going to go walk the dog, and when I come back, maybe I'll know if my kid who didn't get a high school graduation, and spent first year university in his bedroom, has to move out of his residence and come home because we live in the worst governed province in Canada.
The visual here, with a line through a mask, is a problem. The line through normally signifies “not allowed.” I worry for all the kids and teachers who choose to wear masks tomorrow.
The Premier’s comments here are quite something. Politicizing the court, using highly inflammatory rhetoric. And later in the piece says she’s ready to use the sovereignty act and build (publicly owned??) natural gas generation in defiance of federal regs.