Andrew's News Page

19/12/2019

Similar to the "Citizens United" rulong in the States which allowed unlimited corporate funding in electioneering to help set the narrative of the political debate:

Over $80,000 traced to companies owned by Edmonton liquor baron and Calgary Budget Rent-a-Car owner

19/12/2019

Issues of governmental transparency and the democratic process:

“Essentially FOIP allows people who want you to fail to look at your playbook,” Kenney’s war room commander says

18/12/2019

There is an antidote to demagoguery – it’s called political rewilding

This form of radical trust devolves power away from top-down government, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

11/12/2019

Premier Jason Kenney took his “urgent” mission for a “Fair Deal ” for Alberta to Ottawa on Monday saying the country is at risk if the feds don’t help out. Kenney said Alberta’s ability to be the “Golden Goose” of Canada’s economy is in peril, thereby putting the stability of Confe...

11/12/2019

I wonder if the Premier could survive politically if he could not:

(1) stoke feelings of resentment and anger with political hyperbole and a bellicose attitude towards others

(2) divert attention for his economic agenda (widespread defunding of public institutions; public funding of private institutions; corporate enrichment, incl. conflict of interest; and privatization) by blaming shortfalls on others

(3) subvert accountability, transparency and debate through an absolute majority and removing oversight

11/12/2019

We have known of his intent since February!

Alberta Opposition Leader Jason Kenney says a United Conservative government would work to reduce bureaucratic bloat in health care and explore private delivery options.

11/12/2019

As the US explores universal healthcare, our Premier is undercunding public healthcare and funding private clinics.

For Immediate Release November 29, 2019 As members of the United Conservative Party gather in Calgary for their annual general meeting, Jason Kenney is breaking his promise not to compromise front-line public health-care services in Alberta. HSAA has been served notice by Alberta Precision Labs it i...

10/12/2019

Further cuts are expected next year

09/12/2019

As one sees a move to directing funds to charter schools, this is something upon which I reflect:

I taught at a 'for-profit' college. They're predatory disasters

Students rack up debt for worthless diplomas – debt they default on at twice the rate of their peers at traditional colleges

09/12/2019

https://youtu.be/7tRtkJdwi7A

외국인직접투자 5년 연속 200억달러 유치 '조기 달성' Foreign direct investment into South Korea has surpassed 20 billion U.S. dollars for five years in a row. According to the Mi...

09/12/2019

I had mentioned that the current, American advisor to the Kebney Government on the Albertan school curriculum was a researcher for the Koch brothers. This is a review of how tgmheir family disturbingly came by their billions.

Dark Money review: N**i oil, the Koch brothers and a rightwing revolution

New Yorker writer Jane Mayer examines the origins, rise and dominance of a billionaire class to whom money is no object when it comes to buying power

05/12/2019

05/12/2019

Alberta Innovates, the province's largest research agency, is shedding nearly 20 per cent of its workforce after its funding from the provincial government was slashed by the provincial government.

05/12/2019

EDMONTON — A federal agency investigating the recent Alberta election has found evidence the campaign featured tactics including co-ordinated, false social media postings.In a report released…

05/12/2019

Does this sort of compassion sound familiar? Senior citizens not being able afford needed prescriptions. Severely disabled Albertans receiving less. Corporations getting a 4% give-back with corporate tax cuts while our taxes go up and the Goverbment runs a deficit.

Move will limit states from exempting work-eligible adults from having to maintain steady employment to receive benefits

04/12/2019

What’s with the sudden hate on for nurses by United Conservative Party supporters? It comes from somewhere. Your average UCP internet troll doesn’t just come up with this stuff on his – or occasionally her – own. The traditional Conservative approach to attacking nurses and other predominant...

02/12/2019

Alberta Teachers Association says Kenney’s education minister is trying to “undermine faith in the public education system”

02/12/2019

Seniors will no longer have a dedicated provincial advocate in 2020 as government asks Alberta’s health advocate to absorb the role.

02/12/2019

I am posting this retrospective on the "Days of Action" when then-Premier Mike Harris of Ontario began an immediate attack on heathcare with $132 million dropped from the health budget, closing of hospitals, and calls to fingerprint those on social assistance, thereby criminalizing poverty, all while giving a 15% tax break on funds which the Government had to borrow. I lived through these years as my now-fellow Albertans lived through imposed 'austerity' but I also remember the social solidarity across the political spectrum.

With events in Madison unfolding by the hour, we are reposting the story of the Ontario "Days of Action" to offer practical advice for mounting huge strikes and demonstrations. In the late '90s, unions in Ontario, Canada, conducted 11 citywide strikes against the Conservative government's policies.....

02/12/2019

To me this decision is not fiscal but is ideological and speaks to their overall intent towards the public sector.

New provincial legislation from the UCP has removed the word “public” from all school boards, affecting eight of 41 public school boards across the province.

02/12/2019

The Alberta government intends to make changes and contract out services that would result in the loss of an estimated 6,400 to 7,400 unionized public-sector jobs by 2023, major labour organization…

02/12/2019

> Q & A > Dennis Theobald, ATA Executive Secretary Question: Last week I heard the minister of finance say that government was demanding cuts to p

02/12/2019

> Mark Milne, ATA News Staff The government’s takeover of the teachers’ pension plan suggests that it doesn’t care about teachers’ views, says ATA p

02/12/2019

> Cory Hare, ATA News Managing Editor As 300 Calgary teachers are slated to lose their jobs, the government has ordered an independent audit and governance

02/12/2019

The Kenney government is about to make devastating cuts to education, health care and other vital public services that Albertans rely upon… based on distortions and outright lies about things like public-sector spending and public-sector wages.

02/12/2019

EDMONTON – “Do you remember when Jason Kenney promised jobs and economic growth? Do you remember when he said his government would make life more affordable for ordinary Albertans? Do you remember when he signed his so-called Health Care Guarantee and said that no front-line jobs or services wou...

02/12/2019

This morning we’ve learned they’re asking the courts to drop cases against their political allies, saying what they did won’t be illegal for long.

02/12/2019

https://www.aupe.org/news/news-and-updates/5900-aupe-positions-be-laid-goa-and-ahs-tell-aupe

02/12/2019

https://www.aupe.org/news/news-and-updates/government-omnibus-bill-attack-your-pensions

02/12/2019

Union leaders have been gearing up to fight layoffs and demands for cuts, increasing the potential for confrontation with the province that could lead to strikes

02/12/2019

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says his critics ought to tone down their rhetoric, arguing some of the reaction to recent budget cuts is overblown — including talk of a potentia…

02/12/2019

“Our approach is soft-hearted but hard-headed,” he [Premier Kenney] told the delegates.

The weekend UCP convention in Calgary was incredibly important for Premier Jason Kenney.He had to ensure that his party — and MLAs and ministers — are solidly behind the official restra…

01/12/2019

As United Conservative Party members packed a hotel during a party convention on Sunday in Calgary, over 1,000 demonstrators suffered the cold outside to protest recent measures taken by Jason Kenn…

01/12/2019

Here are the revised public-domain images I designed today, which all are welcome to download, use and/or share, as you wish