Category Archives: Law

When the UCP Government Ran Amok

“There is no room for the unilateral assumption of authority in a constitutional democracy.” – Nigel Bankes, U of C emeritus professor of law, on the government’s decision to rescind masking in schools. Last week an Alberta court ruled that … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Crime and Justice, General Health Care, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 113 Comments

Danielle Smith: Alberta’s Very Own Liz Truss

In less time than it took Liz Truss to crash and burn, Danielle Smith transformed the United Conservative Party into the Libertarian Populist Party. And that’s why they’ll lose in the next election. Smith has been the LPP’s leader for … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

A Letter to UCP MLAs

Dear UCP MLAs: I’m a constituent without an MLA because your new leader decided I don’t need one. Apparently urban issues (unlike rural issues) are the same all across the city and I can take my concerns to the UCP … Continue reading

Posted in Law, Politics and Government, Social Media | Tagged , , | 66 Comments

Jason Kenney’s “Breaking Bad” Press Release

Last week, the feds granted BC a 3-year exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act decriminalizing the possession of up to 2.5 grams of certain illegal drugs for personal use. Judging by Jason Kenney’s response, you’d think Breaking Bad … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Crime and Justice, General Health Care, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 47 Comments

A Traffic Ticket and a Phone Call

On Feb 25, 2022, Premier Kenney issued a misleading press release setting out his rationale for a Cabinet shuffle. Two cabinet ministers, who should have been (back) benched a long time ago, will swap ministries.   Kaycee Madu will “step … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Quick comment on the Illegal Occupation & Blockades

Ms Soapbox is under the weather, as such there will be no blog post today. I expect to be fully functional next week, at least physically. It will take longer than that to restore my mental equilibrium given the ongoing … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Law, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 78 Comments

Kenney and the Autocrat’s Handbook

The Alberta Legislature ended the 2021 Spring Session on a particularly disturbing note. Members of the Opposition asked Jason Kenney to apologize for his role in pushing the niqab ban, a policy that contributed to growing Islamophobia, while he was … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 66 Comments

Fighting Racism in Kenney’s Alberta

Sometimes it pays to sit through a 53 minute 42 second Kenney press conference because something unexpected will happen at the very end. In this case it happened at the 46:24 mark. Last week in the wake of the horrific … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Justice, Culture, Education, Law, Politics and Government, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Easter in Alberta

Whether you observe Easter, Passover, or the rising of the first full moon after the spring equinox, this is the time of year when we emerge from the gloom of winter with renewed hope for the spring. Sadly, some of … Continue reading

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Celebrations, Economy, Education, Employment, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 64 Comments

Mr Kenney Responds to the Supreme Court of Canada

“Parliament acted within its jurisdiction.” – Supreme Court of Canada Reference re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act On Mar 25 Premier Kenney issued a statement followed by a press conference to respond to the Supreme Court of Canada’s (SCC) ruling … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Crime and Justice, Energy & Natural Resources, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 69 Comments