Tag Archives: Redford

Health Minister Fred Horne: The Puppet Master

Posted on July 7, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

The Google search engine connecting a reader to the Soapbox spat out this query:  “Is Fred Horne as stupid as he looks?”  Yikes!  That’s bit harsh.  But I must admit the question had crossed my mind (without the reference to Mr … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

We’re all in this together–sort of. The Alberta Flood 2013

Posted on June 30, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

Nobody said it better than the Dairy Lane Cafe and the Blue Star Diner in a sunny (literally) little poster announcing that on Canada Day every penny received from sales and tips would be donated to flood relief.  The blue … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Will Platts Pop Alberta’s “Bitumen Bubble”?

Posted on May 26, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

Platts, a global company with a remarkably flaccid name, finds itself smack in the middle of an international price fixing scandal and I really hope the Alberta government is paying attention!  Last week the European Commission storm troopers, sorry, inspectors, … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Conrad Black and Danielle Smith

Posted on May 12, 2013 by susanonthesoapbox

Conrad Black, the Canadian media mogul and convicted felon* was in Calgary last week to have a “conversation” with the Calgary business elite (and me) over lunch at the Calgary Petroleum Club. The big question is why does Baron Black … Continue reading →

Posted in Lectures, Politics and Government, Rich and/or Famous | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 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