Category Archives: Economy

Do The Math

Posted on December 22, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

I swore I was going to put politics aside in the run up to Christmas, but when the latest screed from Free Alberta Strategy dropped into my inbox, I had to respond. You’ll recall that the Smith government is trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Danielle Smith, Economics, Economy, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 53 Comments

Happy Labour Day

Posted on September 2, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

Yesterday Premier Danielle Smith issued a statement celebrating Alberta Day—a non-stat holiday created by her predecessor Jason Kenney to commemorate the day Alberta became a province—without once mentioning Confederation. Today the UCP government went one better. It issued a Happy … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Danielle Smith, Economy, Employment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 47 Comments

Taking it to the Streets: the Enough is Enough Rally

Posted on May 27, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

“Nothing is real that does not end on the streets. If tyrants feel no consequences for their actions in the three-dimensional world, nothing will change.” – Timothy Snyder, historian. On Saturday Mr and Ms Soapbox joined hundreds of Calgarians at … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Economy, Education, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 62 Comments

Budget 2024: Gotcha!

Posted on March 3, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

In case you didn’t catch Danielle Smith’s bizzarro Address to the Province last week, the one where she signalled what we could expect in the 2024 Budget, here’s a brief synopsis. (Smith’s comments are edited for tone and appear in … Continue reading →

Posted in Danielle Smith, Economy, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 99 Comments

Squid Game

Posted on January 7, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

The UCP’s “bread and circuses”* approach to government is no longer working. The “bread” (low taxes and high employment) is no compensation for our crumbling healthcare, education, and social services. The “circus” of blaming the federal government for everything is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Climate Change, Culture, Danielle Smith, Economy, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 51 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’s Alternative Reality

Posted on October 1, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Albertans live in an alternate universe. How else can we explain last week’s press conference where Danielle Smith pilloried the draft electricity regulations which are designed to ensure Canada’s electrical grid is running on 100% clean energy by 2035* and … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Disasters, Economy, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 72 Comments

Political Leadership in Crisis

Posted on September 17, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

“We’d like to know why we have not heard from you. Surely the suffering of our children merits more communication than a single tweet.” – Open letter to Danielle Smith from the parents and supporters of children infected in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Danielle Smith, Economy, General Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 83 Comments

Aug 3: The day Danielle Smith kneecapped wind and solar energy  

Posted on September 10, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

The low point of my summer (and there were many with this UCP government) came on Aug 3 when Danielle Smith announced a 7 month moratorium on wind and solar renewable energy projects—a decision that paralyses more than 100 projects … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Economy, Energy, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 59 Comments

A Word of Advice…

Posted on June 4, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

We’re still trying to make sense of this election.   There’s no question Rachel Notley’s NDP made phenomenal gains against the UCP.   They pulled in 776,000 votes (157,000 more than they received in 2019) and gained 39 seats (15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Economy, Education, Employment, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 57 Comments