Category Archives: Economics

The Auditor General’s Report: $1.6 Billion is NOT a Rounding Error

Posted on November 8, 2020 by susanonthesoapbox

By a miraculous coincidence the Auditor General’s report on the Kenney government’s first year in office landed smack in the middle of the American election. Well, the election is over. Mr Biden won. Agriculture minister Devin Dreeshen can put away … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 83 Comments

Decision Day for Dr Day

Posted on September 14, 2020 by susanonthesoapbox

Mr Justice Steeves’ decision in Cambie Surgeries Corporation v. British Columbia (Attorney General) reads like a Scott Turow novel, albeit at a slower pace. It includes all the major elements of a legal thriller: a law suit with white hats … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economics, General Health Care, Law | Tagged , , , , , , | 43 Comments

A “Marathon Session”

Posted on August 2, 2020 by susanonthesoapbox

The Alberta Legislature is adjourned for a month. For this we are truly grateful because no matter how Jason Kenney tries to dress up his performance—he says he’s well on his way to delivering on almost 70% of his campaign … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Climate Change, Economics, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Kenney’s Recovery Plan: A Failure to Launch

Posted on July 5, 2020 by susanonthesoapbox

Pfffft! That’s the sound of Jason Kenney’s recovery plan as it sputters and lands like a limp balloon in the corner of the room. Mr Kenney promised Albertans a “bold and ambitious plan,” a “game-changer” that will send a clear … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Economy, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, General Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 38 Comments

The Magical Ms M and the Blue Ribbon Panel on Finances

Posted on September 8, 2019 by susanonthesoapbox

When Jason Kenney asked former finance minister Janice MacKinnon “to conduct a deep dive into Alberta’s fiscal situation” he told her to deliver recommendations to balance the budget by 2023 and develop a plan to retire the province’s debt without … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Employment, General Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 50 Comments

What Do They Want?

Posted on August 4, 2019 by susanonthesoapbox

When Ms Soapbox read the “open letter” to Canadians published by three oil executives she was reminded of Sigmund Freud.  Freud spent 30 years asking himself: what do women want?    After 70 years of riding the boom/bust roller coaster … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Economics, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Calgary Flames Arena–Have We Got A Deal For You!!!

Posted on July 28, 2019 by susanonthesoapbox

To paraphrase Jane Jacobs, the majority of Calgary City Council regard Calgarians as “empty-headed young ladies whose main duties were to see that their nails were clean, their curves properly distributed and their behavior seemly.” These councillors refuse to allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Don’t Look Away

Posted on April 11, 2019 by susanonthesoapbox

We’re on the cusp of the election and many moderate conservatives still don’t know who they’ll support.  Will they ignore the allegations of vote tampering in the UCP leadership race and the slate of unfit candidates stacking up “25 deep” … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, General Health Care, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 36 Comments

Politics in the Age of Bewilderment

Posted on January 6, 2019 by susanonthesoapbox

The historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari says we’re living in the Age of Bewilderment, the old stories have collapsed and the new stories have not yet been written. Ms Soapbox thinks some politicians are trying to bridge this gap … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, General Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Money or Mission? A Simple Test of Policy

Posted on August 5, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

In a discussion about politics in America, Michael Lewis, the author of The Big Short and Moneyball, said the rift isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, it’s between the people who are in it for the mission and the people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments