Category Archives: Law

Smith’s Demands

“She’s playing with fire with a foreign adversary.” Political scientist, Duane Bratt in an interview with Mark Hislop   This week Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, gave Canadians another reason not to support her pick, Pierre Poilievre, for prime minister in … Continue reading

Posted in Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 51 Comments

The UCP Goes Over The Top: Bill C-59

It was bound to happen sooner or later. The UCP government’s over the top reactions to anything the federal government does finally pushed it into the looney zone. On May 29, Rebecca Schutz, the Environment Minister, issued a press release … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , | 43 Comments

Squid Game

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

Protecting the Environment: There has to be a better way

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

Danielle Smith’s Alternative Reality

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

A “Reset” to Alberta-Ottawa Relations (Chortle)   

When Danielle Smith and her team met with federal ministers Jonathan Wilkinson and Dominic LeBlanc to discuss energy and climate change measures, there was some talk that Smith may be open to a “reset” of the Alberta-Ottawa relationship. Unfortunately, some … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | 67 Comments

Hiding From the Fourth Estate

Last week Danielle Smith announced her new “one question, no follow up” rule for journalists asking questions at her press conferences.   She said the “one question” rule would apply to everything, not just the ethics commissioner’s investigation into whether … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 65 Comments

Smith’s 11 Minute Phone Call with the Pastor

“That’s an astounding thing to say from the Premier of the province.” – Law prof Eric Adams On March 29 Danielle Smith issued a press statement to pre-empt a CBC story about a conversation she had with street-pastor Artur Pawlowski. … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Danielle Smith, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 101 Comments

The Day Premier Smith Lost All Credibility

Albertans are asking a lot of questions about RStar, the $100 million pilot program designed to give owners of inactive wells a royalty credit on new wells if they clean up their old wells which they’re legally obligated to clean … Continue reading

Posted in Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 78 Comments

The UCP Government Responds to Justice Paul Rouleau’s Report on the Emergencies Act  

On Friday Justice Paul Rouleau released his report of the inquiry into the Trudeau government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act in response to the convoy protests in Ottawa and elsewhere in Canada. Rouleau determined the Feds’ decision met the … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Law, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 60 Comments