Author Archives: susanonthesoapbox

Ric McIver Stumbles…the PC Party Falls

Posted on June 22, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“Closed-mindedness or intolerance have no place in the PC [party].” —The PC party’s response to Ric McIver’s participation in the March for Jesus led by anti-gay pastor Artur Pawlowski. Instead of belabouring Ric McIver’s pathetic too-little, too-late apology for participating … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Desmond Tutu and the “Animals in War” Memorial

Posted on June 15, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Everywhere you turn in London there’s a statue or monument commemorating an epic battle or a long dead sovereign. While interesting, none is as compelling as the Animals in War memorial.  It reduced me to tears. The Animals in War … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

The Orient Express!!!

Posted on June 8, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

This is the Orient Express…well not the original Orient Express with service from Paris to Vienna and the Balkans or its successor that travelled from Strasbourg to Vienna. Those trains are long gone. This is the Venice-Simplon Orient Express and … Continue reading →

Posted in Vacation | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Round One! Thomas Lukaszuk!

Posted on June 1, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“Diamond” Jim Prentice (don’t you just love the “Brian Masonism”) adopted a “nobody moves, nobody gets hurt” strategy for his leadership campaign…and it works for the 99% of his election platform. There will be no change to the energy policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

The Alberta Federation of Labour’s Litmus Test for Alberta’s Opposition Parties

Posted on May 25, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“Sometimes telling the truth hurts…and it will hurt here.”—Rob Anderson, Wildrose MLA at the Alberta Federation of Labour Conference in response to a question about the legal right to strike* The Alberta Federation of Labour held a two day conference … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Jim Prentice: A Risk-averse Banker Meets the Black Swan

Posted on May 18, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Two energy company executives made a wager. The one who bet that Jim Prentice would never give up $3 million a year in exchange for power lost. True story. On May 16, 2014, Mr Prentice entered the Progressive Conservative leadership … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Honour and Dishonour on the National Day of Honour

Posted on May 11, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

On May 9, 2014, amidst the pomp and circumstance of marching bands, dignitaries and aircraft buzzing overhead, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the crowds gathered on Parliament Hill that the names of the 158 soldiers killed in Afghanistan would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mr Hancock’s Cockamamie Apology

Posted on May 4, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“I’m truly sorry that we allowed government to become a distraction from the vital work we’re doing on issues that matter to Albertans.”— Premier Dave Hancock to PC party supporters, May 1, 2014 Bill Clinton apologised for slavery, Tony Blair … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

Obama Punts Keystone XL (Again) — Harper Learns a Lesson in Humility (Maybe)

Posted on April 27, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

“If you were a betting man (or woman) what odds would you place on President Obama approving the Keystone XL pipeline before the end of his term and why?” Ms Soapbox posed the question to a panel* discussing the future … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

It’s Time to Drag Redneck Alberta Out of the Closet

Posted on April 20, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

If a government wants to trample the rights of its citizens it can do so in two ways. It can violate our fundamental rights by passing legislation that invokes the “notwithstanding clause”—this allows the government to pass laws that expressly … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | 30 Comments