Author Archives: susanonthesoapbox

Guest Blog: An Open Letter from WCPH

Posted on December 10, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

I know I said we were taking a break during the month of December but last week I received a copy of a letter written by Lloyd and Linda Lovett on behalf of the Whitemud Citizens for Public Healthcare that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Danielle Smith, General Health Care, Guest Bloggers, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments

And Now for Something Completely Different

Posted on December 3, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Politics in Alberta feels like a Monty Python comedy sketch, only not as funny. But that’s not why I’ve used John Cleese’s signature line as the title of today’s blog post. I’ve been thinking a lot about “something completely different” … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged | 58 Comments

We Value Your Feedback

Posted on November 26, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

When someone tells you Danielle Smith is a shrewd politician remind them of how she botched the APP consultation process.     Last week, the Dinning panel wrapped up the last of its five telephone townhalls. When pressed by the NDP … Continue reading →

Posted in Danielle Smith, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 59 Comments

Danielle Smith Says the Darndest Things

Posted on November 19, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week Danielle Smith was interviewed by Matt Galloway, the host of CBC’s The Current. Listening to her I was reminded of Art Linkletter’s show Kids Say the Darndest Things. Unfortunately the things Smith said weren’t funny. Here’s a sample. … Continue reading →

Posted in Danielle Smith, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 70 Comments

Here We Go Again: Restructuring AHS

Posted on November 12, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

According to Danielle Smith, AHS isn’t “truly accountable” and it’s been a “management problem” for quite some time. So she’s going to blow it up. This week some brave soul leaked a 36-page slide deck asking cabinet to approve a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Danielle Smith, General Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 88 Comments

Danielle Smith Addresses the UCP/TBA AGM

Posted on November 5, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

I watched Danielle Smith’s speech to her supporters at the UCP AGM and all I could think of was Salvador Dali’s painting of the clocks.    Time was melting, the landscape was warped.   Going backwards Smith told the crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Danielle Smith, Economy, Education, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 88 Comments

Danielle Smith Goes to the Pembina Climate Summit

Posted on October 30, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Perhaps Danielle Smith forgot she where she was when she told the attendees at the Pembina Climate Summit that clean electricity by 2035 was impossible and anyone who thought otherwise was a fantasist. The Summit attendees paid $400 to $600 … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 68 Comments

The Alberta Pension Plan: Pierre Poilievre Weighs In  

Posted on October 22, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

It took Danielle Smith five months to go from “Nobody is touching anyone’s pension” to “Look! It’s a shiny new APP! Albertans will get much more and it will cost much less!!”   And she had the LifeWorks report to … Continue reading →

Posted in Danielle Smith, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 94 Comments

Protecting the Environment: There has to be a better way

Posted on October 16, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

In 2019 the federal government enacted the Impact Assessment Act which regulated “designated projects” (think: oil sands, mining and other major projects within provincial boundaries). The Kenney government tagged it the “No More Pipelines Act” and brought a reference case … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on October 8, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. After a few missteps–the fresh cranberries turned into cranberry soup and the cook burned his hand when he was basting the turkey–everything came together. The meal was perfect and we had a lovely celebration with our family … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Uncategorized | Tagged | 17 Comments