Remember 2017 when Jason Kenney continually invoked Peter Lougheed’s name in his quest for the UCP leadership?
Well, it’s 2021 and Mr Kenney isn’t wrapping himself in Mr Lougheed’s mantle any longer. He’s ripping it to shreds.
Next week the Kenney government is going to court to defend its decision to rescind Peter Lougheed’s Coal Policy (which has been in effect since 1976) and open the eastern slopes, the Rockies and the foothills to open-pit coal mining.
Open coal pit-mining in the headwaters of three major rivers, the Red Deer, the Oldman and the South Saskatchewan, are you kidding me?
The Coal Policy
Mr Lougheed’s government raised the Coal Policy in the Legislature in the spring of 1976. It became policy in June 1976. Mr Lougheed took his Cabinet on a road trip, two actually, over the summer recess—they visited 32 communities in June and 27 communities in September—getting feedback on the Coal Policy and four other priorities.
On Oct 14, 1976 Mr Lougheed updated the Assembly on the government’s progress on these priorities.*
With respect to the Coal Policy, he said the decision to impose restrictions on coal mining was controversial, but his government had achieved “a very good balance between development and protection of the environment.” It had set “aside many key areas of land use where environmental or recreational features can be maintained and neither exploration nor development will be permitted.” He noted “other areas were set aside…in which there would be no development unless there could be full assurance of satisfactory reclamation.”
He called the Coal Policy a bold and dramatic decision, made after considerable thought, and acknowledged it hadn’t been easy, but it would serve Albertans well.
In the coming months Mr Lougheed and his Cabinet answered many questions in the Legislature about the impact of the Coal Policy on proposals to supply coal to Ontario Hydro, on royalty negotiations with Japanese corporations and on projects proposed in the Genesee, Sheerness and Sundance areas.
They tabled reports and studies on future world markets for non-coking coal, the cost-benefit analysis of coal development in Alberta, and the present and future outlook for Alberta coal in selected world markets. They responded to requests for detailed information on the cost of compensating coal mining companies affected by the Coal Policy, who held the leases, and where they were located.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Getty, carefully explained the process, he wanted to take the time to go through it properly because it was new. He outlined a three-step process:
- The company would provide the government with “preliminary disclosure” and the government would indicate “on a preliminary basis” whether there were any problems in principle with the project.
- Then the company would do “disclosure to the public” and hold “a public meeting in the area most affected by the development”
- Then, and only then, was the company allowed to proceed to the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
The Coal Policy was controversial and raised many questions, but the Lougheed government was steadfast in its commitment to the preservation of agricultural and recreational land and the environment for Albertans.
Under Covid Cover
Fast forward from 1976 to 2020.
Mr Kenney cancelled the Coal Policy without any consultation by posting an information letter on the Department of Energy’s website on the May 31 long weekend.
You remember that weekend, the first long weekend of covid, when we were battling through the first wave and trying to figure out how to cope with everything from working at home, masking, and whether or not we were eligible for federal or provincial (hah) relief.
Fast forward again to January 2021. In the midst of attacks on the Capitol, globe-trotting UCP MLAs, bewildering lockdown restrictions and exceptions, concerns about new covid variants, and contradictory reports of vaccine shortages, Albertans finally figured out what Mr Kenney did to them in on the May 31 long weekend.
And they’re furious.
It didn’t have to be this way.
Instead of hiding behind lawyers who will argue the government has no duty to consult when it’s rescinding a policy, Mr Kenney could have followed Mr Lougheed’s lead and been upfront and transparent about what he intended to do.
But transparency highlights Mr Kenney’s problem.
Unlike Mr Lougheed who stood up to protect Albertan’s agricultural and recreational lands and environment in the face of strong opposition from the coal industry, Mr Kenney betrayed Albertans’ trust by selling Albertan’s agricultural and recreational lands and environment to the coal industry.
Which brings us back to where we started.
In 2017 Mr Kenney proudly presented himself as the right leader to carry on Mr Lougheed’s legacy.
In 2021 Albertans know that Mr Kenney is not fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr Lougheed, let alone stand alongside him.
*Hansard, Oct 13, 1976, starting at p 1449
Susan on the Soapbox 
Thanks for another great blog, Ms Soapbox.
This seems like pretty classic neo-liberal shock doctrine, disaster capitalism a la that great Canadian Klein, Naomi.
As many have pointed-out Mr Kenney is not one to waste a disaster to promote his agenda.
NeilRD, I think you’re bang on. Sadly, Mr Kenney’s ideologically driven agenda is simply making things worse; everything from destroying our democratic institutions to destroying society and the environment. All I can say is he’s lucky we’re under covid restrictions because the rallies on the steps of the Legislature would be a sight to behold.
Susan: Thanks for another great blog. What lessons are we learning here? The UCP is going in a reverse direction with this open pit coal mining. The damages this will cause will be catastrophic. No amount of money will rectify the problems this will create. Peter Lougheed never let industry move ahead of the environment, putting the environment at risk. The UCP is only concerned about money, money, and more money. It is only for their rich corporate beneficiaries. As bad as the Alberta PCs were, on environmental issues, when Peter Lougheed and Don Getty were no longer the premiers of Alberta, (the $260 billion abandoned oil well cleanup costs that was put on Alberta, the allowing of more commercial logging activities next to the Rockies, which caused the flooding in southern Alberta, including Calgary, are examples), the Alberta PCs still never allowed open pit coal mining in the Rockies to happen again, because they knew Albertans would be staunchly against it. It’s a good thing that country music artists, like Corb Lund and Paul Brandt are voicing their opinions against this open pit coal mine, and for good reason. They reside in the affected area. I think other well known musicians, like Jann Arden, who also lives close to the affected area, might be next to voice their concerns. What also is ironic is that the premier of Alberta was in the CPC cabinet with Jim Prentice, the former Environment Minister, who wanted coal fired power plants decommissioned in Canada by last year. Jim Prentice also wanted to decommission coal fired power plants in Alberta, when he was the very last Alberta PC premier. Both reasons were for the pollution that was caused by coal. Even though this coal will be used for making steel, the mining operation will still cause pollution. Who will pay for the damages caused? The technology exists where steel can be made without using coal. Another bad move is that it is an Australian company that will be involved with this, and the coal will be sent off to China. In any case, Albertans don’t benefit. I have a historical connection to that part of Alberta. My Slovakian born great grandfather was working in the coal mines in southern Alberta, not long after he came to North America with his Czech born wife, during the early 1900s. When the Hillcrest Mine explosion happened, my great grandfather knew coal mining was a dangerous venture. My great grandparents, along with my only Canadian born grandparent (grandmother), and some of her siblings (who were born in that part of the province) then left to pursue farming in the east part of Alberta. I think if Peter Lougheed were still around, he’d have unkind words for the UCP.
Jan Arden has raised disgust on her Twitter account and KD Lang commented with equal disdain on Jan’s post. 👍 We need more of them and to speak up loudly and raise more awareness as most Albertans are unaware
That’s excellent news Marc. So many Albertans missed the whole thing until Corb Lund made his video. Now the story is everywhere.
Dwayne, thank you for this excellent overview.
The question you asked is critically important: Who will pay for the damages caused by pollution and the destruction of the natural environment?
Take a simple example, given that these mining operations will take place at the headwaters of three major rivers that provide drinking water and water for irrigation to Albertans and beyond, who will pay if/when the water is contaminated by selenium or stops flowing all together. Who pays for the damages, the health problems, the loss of ranching, farming and tourist income, etc?
It certainly won’t be an Australian company which will set up a Canadian subsidiary to do business in Canada and which will have just enough money on hand to stay in operation but will ship its profits home to the parent company in Australia. Sure, the Australian parent company may have deep pockets, but there’s this wonderful thing in the law called the “corporate veil” that insulates the parent from the sub so whatever liability the sub incurs it won’t be the responsibility of the parent.
I don’t think Kenney considers these types of things when he makes these stupid decisions and I don’t know whether his advisors have the wisdom or courage to point them out.
Sad, sad, situation.
When Kenney appoints someone charged with poaching on multiple occasions (Jason Nixon) to Environment Minister….He knows, he just doesn’t care
Jason Nixon has been charged with poaching?
Can I get a proof of that?
Susan: There is a glitch with posting comments. Can you please remove my duplicate comment? Thanks!
Dwayne, it’s the wordpress gremlin again. Honestly I have no idea why it kicks up duplicate comments, and I’m afraid to touch them when that happens because I don’t want to accidently send someone into oblivion, never to return!
Susan: No duplicate comment. Yay!
Susan: It said: Duplicate comment. Looks like you’ve already said that. If there is a duplicate comment, I hope it can be removed. Thanks again!
Environmental factors aside (since they are of no interest to the Angry Midget), why would Alberta want another Grande Cache?
Why indeed Bob? Kenney prattles on about how this decision will create more jobs. Given that Natural Resources Canada says energy jobs make up 4.4% of total employment in Canada; of this 0.9% is in petroleum, 0.5% is in electricity, and “other” (which includes coal) make up 0.1%, one wonders what percent of this 0.1% is in Alberta.
Once we have that number I’d like to see a cost/benefit analysis to see whether opening the coal mines is as good an idea as Kenney makes it out to be.
Here’s a link to a handy little fact book https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/nrcan/files/energy/energy_fact/energy-factbook-2020-2021-English.pdf
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park memorializes an exceptional leader.
What will the Jason Kenney Industrial Sacrifice Zone memorialize?
it will memorialize the extent of human stupidity and greed.
James and Carlos: I too have wondered about Jason Kenney’s legacy. He’ll probably go down in history as the conservative premier who convinced Alberta and the rest of Canada never to vote conservative ever again.
I DO HOPE SO
🙂 🙂 🙂
When I was first elected to Canmore Town Council in 2013, one of the first items to consider was The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (SSRP). It had been many years in the making, wrangling many disparate interests in consultation. It seemed a little beyond this councillor from a small town But I certainly understood the interconnectedness of Alberta…indeed, of all things. You can read the original plan and the amendments here https://www.alberta.ca/south-saskatchewan-regional-planning.aspx
Here’s a little taste of that original ethos of far-reaching collaboration:
“Vision and Strategies
The South Saskatchewan Regional Plan establishes a long-term vision for the South Saskatchewan Region and aligns provincial policies at the regional level to balance Alberta’s economic, environmental and social goals. The regional plan also includes strategies for responsible energy development, sustainable farming and ranching, recreation, forest management, and nature-based tourism.”
Now get informed and if the spirit moves you, let your MLA know how you feel. This misbegotten, unilateral rescission will cause irreversible damage to areas designated for long term protection. Oh and lastly, I was particularly moved to act (letter in the hopper, Miranda Rosin, UCP MLA), by the UCP disingenuously calling the SSRP “outdated”. Like that credit card ad notes, the real value in life is “priceless and the best ideas are timeless.
Excellent comment Esme: When I read words like “to balance Alberta’s economic, environmental and social goals” and “strategies” I want to cry. If we’ve learned anything under Kenney’s rule it’s that he has no vision, no strategy, and no inclination to balance anything. It’s follow the money and damn the consequences. Shameful.
I too will be writing my MLA. He’s going to be sick of me by the time these guys are turfed from office.
I’m an atheist now, but I still remember the Old Testament stories I learned in Sunday school, and I’ve been thinking about Jacob and Esau. If your memory needs refreshing, Jacob and Esau were twins. Esau was Isaac’s heir, the child who would inherit everything. This was not because he was better or smarter, or harder working, or a maverick, or in any other way more deserving, but simply because he was lucky enough to be born first. One day he came home famished, and Jacob was making dinner. Esau demanded Jacob give him the dinner, because Esau was an entitled jerk who went around thinking he was owed something. Jacob said, “SIgn over your inheritance to me, and you can have this stew.” Esau did it. Even as a child, I found this highly implausible – what kind of idiot trades their entire future for a very small short-term gain? Well, now we’re finding out that we’re basically governed by Esau, and this province is full of other Esaus who are just fine with it. Given how many of Kenney’s cabinet are self-professed Christians, I know they are familiar with this story, and are refusing to take a lesson from it. Apparently religion is only a useful guide to morality when it comes to justifying decisions you’ve already made.
Heather I don’t know the answer to your excellent question: “what kind of idiot trades their entire future for a very small short-term gain?” but like you said, we seem to have more than our share of them here in Alberta and a whole bunch of them are sitting in Kenney’s cabinet.
I can’t believe not one of Kenney’s cabinet ministers said rescinding Lougheed’s coal policy might not be a good idea. Either they’re idiots or yes-men. Either way they’re incapable of looking after Albertans’ interests.
VERY well said!!
If Jason Kenny is so strapped for cash he’s selling coal leases for +$66,000, maybe we should set up a GoFundMe page. I’d be more than happy to contribute tp preserve Peter Lougheed’s legacy.
Patricia, you made me smile because Kenney can’t even get the sale of coal leases right. The Natural Resources Canada fact book says governments get revenue from coal mining by way of corporate income tax (Alberta’s is the lowest in the land), indirect taxes like sales tax (nope, not here) and payroll tax (not sure about this one), royalties (haven’t seen what they are yet, but I’m assuming they’ll be low) and Crown land sales (which as you point out are being sold for a song).
Nice job Jason.
All Albertans deserve basic honesty and fair democratic process. I am sure many of the “conservatives” of Alberta did not appreciate that the new leader was only a sham leader – and most of the actions would be deceptive and done without input or interest of Albertans. The intent of this government is not to govern in the best interests of Albertans – and destruction of Alberta social infrastructure, physical geography and finances are the outcomes.
When the main way of operating is wearing earplugs, closing down legislation without debate, holding a bare minimum of legislature sessions – you know democracy is in peril.
Deception – Deception or falsehood is an act or statement which misleads, hides the truth, or promotes a belief, concept, or idea that is not true. It is often done for personal gain or advantage. Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda and sleight of hand as well as distraction, camouflage or concealment. Albertans – we need to take a stand against deception. COVID has provided camouflage which is truly hurting Alberta and Albertans.
Well said!
I agree Marc!
Dawn, I agree with everything you’ve said. The irony here is that Kenney, who has never worked a day of his life in the private sector, thinks that the private sector does everything better. If he worked in the private sector his milquetoast leadership style and incredibly stupid investment decisions would get him fired and his dissimulation, falsehoods, etc would bring him up before the securities regulators because the law prohibits a corporate leader from making statements containing material representations or omissions.
But as you point out, politicians can deceive the public with impunity. Our only recourse is to vote them out in 2023 and fight everything he throws at us tooth and nail until then.
WOW this guy has guts and they stink
Show respect for Canada he suggests to Biden
1) Respect is a word he does not understand the meaning and he does not have any even for the citizens of his province
2) CANADA ? So now we are Canada again?
Just get under your bed covers and pee your pajamas and disappear you idiot.
He will seek legal damages!!!!!!!
Oh dear he is asking for respect and then threatens legal damages
This man is a bundle of joy
Carlos, I was interested to see how TC Energy would respond. Unlike Kenney they’re saying KXL will be the greenest pipeline ever and it will be net zero by 2030. I don’t think this will do them much good because the oil producers who are contracted to ship oil in KXL have not made the same commitment and the problem Biden and others have with KXL isn’t the pipeline per se, but the oil sands, which is where the product inside the line is coming from.
The only reason I raise TC Energy’s response is because they took the high road, they didn’t attack Biden or make empty allegations about his decision weakening the Canada-U.S. relationship and undermining U.S. national security. (Biden has a good grasp of his country’s relationship with Canada and its national security, he doesn’t need Kenney to tell him his job).
Kenney took the wrong tack (again!). This is nothing more than an effort to deflect Albertans’ attention from the fact he made a $7.5 billion bet that Trump would win the election and he lost.
Maybe I come late but thank you for you writing, every Sunday I look forward to your thoughtful comments, Have Fun Susan
Thank you John! I appreciate your kind words. 🙂
Looks like they have somewhat backed down. This with Keystone decision, both absolutely egregious decisions by this incompetent government. Mary
On Sun., Jan. 17, 2021, 8:07 p.m. Susan on the Soapbox, wrote:
> susanonthesoapbox posted: ” Remember 2017 when Jason Kenney continually > invoked Peter Lougheed’s name in his quest for the UCP leadership? Well, > it’s 2021 and Mr Kenney isn’t wrapping himself in Mr Lougheed’s mantle any > longer. He’s ripping it to shreds. Next we” >
Mary I was waiting for those more knowledgeable than me to analyse the impact of Sonya Savage’s announcement. It would appear that this is nothing more than a temporary reprieve. The real problem is that 1976 Coal Policy prohibited coal development, whereas the UCP policy change permits it to proceed under certain conditions ie. those imposed by the Alberta Energy Regulator which is now under the leadership of Laurie Pushor. Pushor was front and centre in a Sask government land-deal scandal that cost taxpayers millions, was the subject of a brutal audit, and prompted an RCMP investigation. More smoke and mirrors from Kenney.
Here’s the link re: Pushor: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/laurie-pushor-aer-ceo-saskatchewan-scandal-1.5521162
Susan: What are your thoughts on these things?
https://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/phasing-out-coal-power-in-canada/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-energy-coal/canada-to-phase-out-older-coal-fired-power-plants-idUSTRE65M2J220100623
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2010/06/23/ottawa_planning_stricter_coal_emission_standards.html
https://www.progressalberta.ca/robin_campbell_coal_phaseout_flip_flop
Dwayne, for some reason I couldn’t get the links to open, so I’ll try again. I see that the last link refers to a story about Robin Campbell. Given that Mr Campbell told Ryan Jesperson that selenium is just salt, implying it’s not a big deal I have very little respect for his opinion on anything to do with the environment..
Let’s not forget that last November Mr. Kenney suggested that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was “brain dead” because her state waged a legal fight against Enbridge’s Line 5.
This man wants to be treated with respect?
Yes Richard this man, just like all the other ones of his kind now infiltrated in most Conservatives parties, thinks that he is entitled to do whatever he thinks is his right or that serves his objectives.
Just like Trump he has insulted everyone and then expects to be respected when it is convenient to him. In my dictionary this kind of behaviour is the definition of sociopath.
Of course he thinks he is perfect.
Richard and Carlos, right. And now Mr Kenney is demanding Trudeau start a trade war with Joe Biden because Biden delivered on a campaign promise and revoked the KXL permit. Kenney is the one who is continually patting himself on the back with “promise made, promise kept” but he sure doesn’t like it when someone else does the same thing. (We’ll talk more about Kenney’s response to KXL in this Sunday’s blog).
Susan while reading your account of how the government of Peter Lougheed handled the coal file I was transported to a time when I never had an issue voting for a Conservative leader. It was the very first time I did and felt protected like a citizen of this province.
Today I would physically remove Jason Kenney from the legislature if I was allowed to.
I will never even compare the two because Jason Kenney cannot even be included in the Club Peter Lougheed was part of. Peter Lougheed was above all an Albertan and a gentleman, Jaxon Kenney can barely make it to an idiot.
Carlos, it was fascinating to read Hansard from 1976. The level of respect and decorum puts Kenney’s UCP to shame. I’m not naive enough to belief there weren’t sharp words between the government and the opposition, but at least Lougheed understood his job was to help the people of Alberta, rather than sacrifice them in the interests of big business.
In the meantime one more article about the Great
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/01/19/opinion/biden-cancels-keystone-xl-alberta-laughing-stock
carlosbeca: That’s not a surprise. The UCP wants to take this dead issue to court, and waste more money in the process. Our money. So sad.
Kenney needs another distraction from the fact that he bet on Trump and lost.
Jason Nixon’s bio at gov.ab.ca states “Jason Nixon was appointed as Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks as well as Government House Leader on April 30, 2019. He will bring his substantial legislative record to his portfolio, as he works to restore confidence in the consultation process which was bungled several times, most notably with the Bighorn.”
I guess if there’s no consultation, there’s nothing to bungle?
Greg, I hadn’t thought of that. Decide everything behind closed doors and hope the public doesn’t notice. Not exactly a transparent or responsible system of government, is it?
“… if there’s no consultation, there’s nothing to bungle.”
I have money on my flank that says that was actually stated, VERBATIM, by at least one UCP mla.
Regarding Kenney and the Used Car Party’s utter, but completely unsurprising lack of business acumen: I really feel for the teachers, who had an excellent pension portfolio before Jason Kenney stole it and mal invested it.
It is unconscionable for the UCP to repeatedly treat the money teachers have already earned by dutifully fulfilling their end of a contract as if it is somehow His Jason Kenneyness’ to command because Albertans are the ones who paid it.
I mean, who in the world expects an employee to tolerate an employer that acts as if any savings the employee may have managed to amass (or indeed, that the employer has mandated staff put away each paycheque) is the EMPLOYER’s to invest wherever, and with whomever His Royal Kenneyness sees fit, without so much as a ‘by your leave’ to those who have already EARNED that wealth by demonstrably fulfilling their end of a contract?
Ans.
No one except Jason and his Used Car Partiers
Let’s keep an eye on this and see if the courts agree.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/teachers-association-to-take-legal-action-against-alberta-government-over-pension-dispute/ar-BB1d7DCZ
Kenney was never very convincing when he occasionally evoked the legacy of Lougheed. In general there was this progressive part of being a Progressive Conservative that Lougheed often took fairly seriously, which Kenney seems to mostly have barely disguised disdain for. I suspect the coal policy of 1976 was probably part of that progressive approach which the Lougheed government, particularly in its early years, adopted.
That this coal policy survived so long was probably a sign it was actually a fairly good one. There didn’t seem to be any problem with it by the public at large, even recently. Often in politics it is wise to take the approach of if it is not broken, don’t break it, but the UCP generally seems to prefer for whatever reasons the bull in the china shop approach. Maybe they didn’t see all those Save our Parks signs, or maybe they just didn’t get or want to get the message.
A pause is a good first step, but encouraging coal development which is environmentally damaging in many ways is just a bad idea now. It is not a good sign the economic development approach of this government seems rooted in the 1960’s, or at least some time prior to 1976 in this case. It is time for a change in direction.
Dave you make a good point when you say the longevity of the 1976 Coal Policy is an indication that it is a fairly good policy. I am astounded that Kenney’s government blundered into this mess, ticking off everyone from environmentalists, ranchers, farmers, city folk, country singers, the list goes on. Are they that out of touch with Albertans?
Ok the fun starts
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2021/01/18/Albertans-Keystone-XL-Investment-Going-Down-Drain/
Suprise Surprise
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/biden-keystone-xl-permit-revoke-inauguration-1.5880268
The idiot now wants sanctions – well I suggest you shoud be fires – you have been aware of this since the day you invested but maybe you were reading the Parler and thought Trump was going to take over the Capitol
What a sad state of affairs we are in this province.
I also wonder what the poacher Minister of Environment has to say about the coal garbage ?
Yes, this is going to be the topic of this Sunday’s blog. You’ll notice that Kenney is alone in his sabre rattling. TC Energy said it was “disappointed” and will consider its options but it’s not belligerent about what it’s going to do next. And not one oil company active in the oil sands which might have been a shipper on KXL stood up to comment on Biden’s decision. That tells you that this is a lost cause and Kenney would do everyone a favour if he just shut up, but he needs someone to blame for his reckless and risky investment in KXL so he’s pointing the finger at everyone he can find.
Well I have to say that I am surprised not too many people are posting this week but maybe they all left
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2021/01/22/Meet-Albertans-Ditching-Jason-Kenney-Government/
I am next just a question of timing
Carlos, re: leaving Alberta. Ditto.
Hi Susan. I have been following your blog now for a couple of years or so and this is my first comment. I want to thank you sincerely for the thought and effort that you put into your posts. They have been enlightening and inspirational for me and I imagine for many others as well. I hope that you continue fighting the good fight.
This week was a tipping point for me. I have loathed the UCP government since the day they were elected but I thought that I would be able to grit my teeth until 2023 and hope that the Alberta electorate had a change of heart. I didn’t make it even half way through. The week began with Jason Kenney standing at the podium clamoring for respect from the incoming US administration regarding the Keystone XL pipeline. This coming from a man who respectfully handed out earplugs in the Alberta legislature. A man who respectfully oversaw the trashing of the government’s contract with doctors. A man who also respectfully oversaw the firing of thousands of education workers. Over the weekend. On Twitter. A man with a clearly underdeveloped sense of irony.
Then I started learning about the changes to the coal mining policy from this blog and other sources. My mood did not improve and worsened even more when Kenney appeared in front of us again to wail about the cancellation of Keystone XL. He began by stomping his tiny feet a few times. Then he waved his pudgy hands in the air. He finished by threatening to hold his breath until Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden capitulated to his demands. (I may be wrong about this last part as I was busy writing to my MLA by then to express my contempt for all things UCP and to voice my opposition to the changes to the Coal Policy, but I’m sure he said something like that). I guess we don’t know yet if this childish performance will breathe new life into Keystone XL but I’m sure all it will take is for some diligent staffer in Washington to inform Joe Biden that Jason Kenney exists on this earth and we’ll be back in business!
My reason for posting here is to encourage the readers of this blog to also contact their MLA’s and let them know that we are paying attention to the disasters that are unfortunately occurring daily in Alberta and that we are holding the UCP accountable. Not Rachel Notley. Not Justin Trudeau. Not some imaginary left-leaning-tree-hugging-foreign-funded-Alberta-bashing-anti-Capitalist special interest group. The UCP.
For the musically inclined, here is the message in the words of Bruce Cockburn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53JkTgdTKd0 Luv ya Bruce!
I’m going to finish off this ridiculous week this evening with a bowl of popcorn and a screening of V for Vendetta. Anyone else?
Well I am Susan but I am happy you posted for the first time.
Excellent post and so well written it makes me feel that we have moved forward a little more. It is wonderful to meet people that can think for a change.
Jason Kenney is destroying this province and like you I am extremely frustrated.
I agree with you Guy. One of the most effective things we can do now is write to our MLAs (with cc’s to the Opposition) to express our dissatisfaction and frustration with the Kenney government and, in particular, their leader. He has angered so many Albertans with his policies (you’ve listed many in your comment) that his support must be close to rock bottom soon.
Thank you for the reminder that letting our MLAs know we’ve had it up to here with this clown show does work.
Sorry I mean to say I am not Susan – I apologize
Yup, got it Carlos. Thanks for your support. You’ve been here from the very beginning!
It has been a great pleasure. You have the best blog as far as I am concerned.