Category Archives: Education

When They Go Low: the Kenney by-election debate

Posted on December 11, 2017 by susanonthesoapbox

On Sunday afternoon Mr and Ms Soapbox were jammed into an overheated community hall listening to five politicians explain why they were the best choice to represent the good citizens of Calgary-Lougheed in the by-election triggered when Dave Rodney stepped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economy, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 53 Comments

The UCP Vote on the GSA Bill: Free Vote or Rubber Stamp?

Posted on November 19, 2017 by susanonthesoapbox

It started innocently enough… The NDP government introduced Bill 24, an act to prohibit teachers from informing parents their kids had joined a gay-straight alliance (GSA) unless the kids consented.   (Note: The Bill does not change a teacher’s general obligation … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

A Pop Quiz

Posted on August 20, 2017 by susanonthesoapbox

Ms Soapbox is shocked. She just returned from the Alberta Teachers’ Association Summer Summit on Public Education and discovered that she knows far less about education and teaching in Alberta than she thought she did. So pop quiz!  (Stop grumbling, … Continue reading →

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

The Whole Gay Thing

Posted on April 9, 2017 by susanonthesoapbox

Recently Brad Trost and Jason Kenney made some troubling comments about the whole gay thing and the progressives just won’t let it go. Trost, a “full spectrum” conservative, believes in all three conservative values: social conservatism, fiscal conservatism, and democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Jason Kenney Takes a Page from the Donald Trump Playbook

Posted on November 6, 2016 by susanonthesoapbox

Last night the Progressive Conservatives kicked off their leadership race in earnest. As expected Jason Kenney urged party members to “unite Alberta” (ie destroy the PCs by merging them with the rebranded Wildrose party) while the other five candidates reassured … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Justice Abella a.k.a. Rock Star

Posted on March 6, 2016 by susanonthesoapbox

Rosalie Silberman never wanted to be a judge. But the phone kept ringing. Would she like to be a Family Court judge? She was 29 and pregnant but sure, why not.  How about heading up the Royal Commission on Women’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Law, Lectures, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Bishop Henry Pontificates on Gay Straight Alliances

Posted on January 17, 2016 by susanonthesoapbox

On January 13, 2016 The Most Reverend Frederick Bernard Henry, the seventh Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Calgary well and truly lost it. Henry wrote a pastoral letter denouncing Education Minister David Eggen’s “edict” that public, Catholic, French and … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Five Resolutions for Rachel Notley

Posted on January 3, 2016 by susanonthesoapbox

Ms Soapbox’s first round of New Year’s resolutions for a politician (Alison Redford) were ignored, but she’s a persistent soul and will try again. This time she’s prepared five resolutions for Premier Rachel Notley. Stay the course on your climate … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economy, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Budget 2015: The Neutrino Problem

Posted on November 1, 2015 by susanonthesoapbox

Scientists solved the problem of the Ghost Particle in less time than it’s taken the Alberta government to come up with a creative approach to economic diversification. For 40 years Tory premiers talked a good line about diversification but with … Continue reading →

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

Jim Prentice’s Budget: The Not-So-Subtle Language of Money

Posted on April 5, 2015 by susanonthesoapbox

“There is no fortress so strong that money cannot take it.” — Cicero On Mar 24, 2015 Jim Prentice sent Albertans a message of such heartless cynicism that only the most naïve amongst us would fail to understand. Money talks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economics, Education, Energy, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments