Category Archives: Politics and Government

Flaubert’s Conservative Dictionary

Posted on March 11, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

Watching Doug Ford become the leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives and Jason Kenney taking shots at Justin Trudeau and gender neutrality in his congratulatory speech, Ms Soapbox’s mind drifted to Flaubert’s Dictionary of Accepted Ideas. (Well, not initially, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 39 Comments

The Role of the Political Journalist

Posted on March 4, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

“The journalistic mission remains at its simplest: know your patch and use your knowledge to try to tell readers what’s actually going on.”– Katharine Murphy, Journalism Professor & Guardian Australia’s deputy political editor. Is it right for a political journalist … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 37 Comments

The Magical Thinkers: Horgan and Kenney

Posted on February 25, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

I’m not sure what’s more bizarre, BC Premier John Horgan’s rationale for asking the BC Supreme Court to rule on whether BC can limit the amount of diluted bitumen flowing on Trans Mountain or Jason Kenney’s reaction to Horgan’s decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

Jason Kenney’s Non-Partisan Request

Posted on February 18, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

This just in from “the train-has-left-the-station” department. Let’s see, how should Alberta respond to BC’s announcement that it will limit bitumen shipments from Alberta until it completes consultation on more spill response studies? Well, the Notley government could impose a … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 31 Comments

Huffing and Puffing “Leadership”

Posted on February 5, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week BC Premier John Horgan said BC would ban any increase in shipments of diluted bitumen (dilbit) to BC until a scientific advisory panel determined whether shippers can adequately prevent and clean up dilbit spills.  If the panel decides … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 93 Comments

#Metoo?

Posted on January 28, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

Can we talk? Many men (and some women) worry that the #metoo movement has morphed into a man-hating witch hunt where innocent men will be publicly humiliated and deprived of their livelihoods by vindictive women spreading unfounded accusations. They point … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Feminism, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 57 Comments

Why Do We March?

Posted on January 21, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

Of the 120,000 people who attended the Women’s March in Canada, 10,000 marched in Alberta and 3,500 marched in Calgary. They were repeatedly asked, “Why do you march?” They replied they were concerned about equal pay, violence against women, protecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrations, Feminism, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Thank You Alberta Party!

Posted on January 14, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

When Greg Clark stepped down as the leader of the Alberta Party Ms Soapbox wondered whether the party had lost its mind. When Rick Fraser and Stephen Mandel, two former Progressive Conservatives, entered the AP leadership race, Ms Soapbox wondered … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economy, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

The Rule of Law in An Age of Fear

Posted on January 8, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

“He who puts security before liberty deserves neither.” –Dennis Edney Q.C. quoting Benjamin Franklin Last week Dennis Edney Q.C. delivered the 2018 Milvain Lecture at the University of Calgary.  His topic was The Rule of Law in an Age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Law, Lectures, Politics and Government, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | 34 Comments

Something is Seriously Wrong

Posted on December 31, 2017 by susanonthesoapbox

How fitting. The UCP will close 2017 with yet another bozo eruption. Bozo eruptions were mildly entertaining in the past, but they’re occurring with increasing regularity and have taken on a distinctly anti-democratic tone. Here are two recent examples. NDP … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 47 Comments