Category Archives: Politics and Government

A Trip to the Mayo Clinic: Your dime or mine?

Posted on April 20, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

This past January Mr Soapbox and my youngest daughter (let’s call her Mini) went on a pilgrimage to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  Unbeknownst to them they were following in the footsteps of Ms Michele Lahey, former Chief Operating … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Ms Soapbox’s Great Adventure—Off to the Leg (it rhymes with “edge”)

Posted on April 14, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week Ms Soapbox was introduced to the Legislative Assembly by Liberal MLA, Laurie Blakeman, the oldest (as in longest-serving, not age!) opposition MLA.  Ms Blakeman noted that Ms Soapbox was a lawyer but said the House wouldn’t hold that … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

What Would It Take to Make you Plead Guilty? Alberta Revamps Traffic Court

Posted on April 7, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

What would it take to make you plead guilty to a crime you didn’t commit?  One hundred dollars?  One thousand dollars?  Need more information? Okay, what if the crime isn’t serious?  And if you plead guilty you can avoid the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Alberta Health Services Executive Bonuses: The joy of friends in high places

Posted on March 31, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

To paraphrase Ogden Nash (actually Mr Nash did not utter this famous phrase, but for some reason we all think he did), “Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where my bonus is?” It is indeed bonus time.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The Price of Justice in Alberta: One Free Crime

Posted on March 24, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

On March 17, 2013, Alison Redford’s PC government broke the back of justice…and none of us saw it coming. Lady Justice, or Justitia, is the personification of the justice system.  Her blindfold symbolizes objectivity, her scales symbolize the balance between … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Redford’s Keystone Ad in the New York Times: The St Patrick’s Day Blunder

Posted on March 17, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

So it’s come to this has it?  Premier Redford has officially abdicated responsibility for the Canadian natural resource strategy to her communications director, Stefan Baranski, who persuaded Ms Redford to place an ad in today’s New York Times.   The … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Budget 2013 (If you want to play with the Big Boys, you play by Big Boy Rules)

Posted on March 10, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

 “Opening new markets across Canada and around the world has become job one for this government.”—Finance Minister Horner on the 2013 Budget priorities, Alberta Hansard p1440. That simple sentence tells you all you need to know about Budget 2013 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

And Now…A Message from your Premier-In-Waiting: Mr Lukaszuk

Posted on February 24, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

We interrupt our regular programming—the PC spin on the cause of the $4 billion budget shortfall—to bring you an important public service announcement from the Premier-In-Waiting, Mr Lukaszuk. Mr Lukaszuk steps up to the microphone and says:    Listen up you … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Economics, Education, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Who do you trust? Premier Redford or Alberta’s Doctors?

Posted on February 10, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

“How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders?  The man can’t even trust his own pants.”—a line from the spaghetti western Once Upon a Time in the West. If the government’s attacks on Alberta’s doctors … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Zen and the Art of Political Corruption

Posted on February 3, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

Aurelio Zen is a Venetian policeman headquartered in Rome.  His reputation for integrity is a serious handicap to promotion within a treacherous political environment.  His creator, Michael Dibdin, uses the Zen series to illustrate the inequity of a corrupt society … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments