Category Archives: Politics and Government

When the UCP Government Ran Amok

Posted on October 30, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

“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

Posted on October 24, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

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

Posted on October 16, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

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

Danielle Smith’s Victory Speech: Backtracking Big Time

Posted on October 9, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

Did anyone catch Danielle Smith’s victory speech? In it she did three things: Judging by the applause, the audience fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Alberta will take its rightful place Smith started with the usual pitch. It’s time … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 67 Comments

And the Winner is…?

Posted on October 2, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

Ms Soapbox is draped across her fainting couch anxiously awaiting the outcome of the UCP leadership race and is too distraught to post a blog.* She would welcome her readers’ thoughts on: *Actually she’s working on a project which turned … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Politics and Government | Tagged , | 37 Comments

Kenney’s Legacy: Lessons from Alice

Posted on September 26, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

Alice laughed. ‘One can’t believe impossible things.’ ‘I dare say you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen…’Why, sometimes I’ve believed in as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’—Lewis Carrol, Alice Through the Looking-Glass Jason Kenney is on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 56 Comments

Pierre Poilievre and the Politics of Brutalization

Posted on September 18, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

“The word ‘brutalize’ is now employed quite wrongly to mean harsh or cruel treatment meted out by the strong to the weak…but in fact it means something subtler, namely the coarsening effect that this exercise of cruelty produces in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 76 Comments

Jason Kenney’s “Breaking Bad” Press Release

Posted on June 6, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

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

Mr Kenney Goes to Washington

Posted on May 29, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

May 26, 2022 marked Jason Kenny’s last appearance in the Legislature as Alberta’s premier (we think). His final week was replete with members’ statements applauding his leadership, his legacy, and everything his government had accomplished over the last 3 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 44 Comments

51.4% (the end of Jason Kenney?)

Posted on May 22, 2022 by susanonthesoapbox

It finally happened.* Despite the UCP government changing the law to allow the purchase of party memberships without someone’s knowledge or consent, the UCP executive changing the rules setting out when, where, and how Jason Kenney’s leadership review would take … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 45 Comments