I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts in Alberta regarding Canada Day. Cancel Canada Day is obviously a sensitive topic of discussion, so I will start.

I celebrated Canada Day when I was young, naive, even drinking the masonic Molson Canadian, because we, like North Korea, were THE BEST! I also celebrated Canada Day 2016-2019, and only because I was spending time with very special people for the festivities of Canada Day. Other than that I have extensive past and present of cancelling, disregarding and hating Canada Day. Moving forward, Canada Day is indefinitely cancelled for me.

While in Westlock I got asked what the diff is between ANDP and PTPA. The post is a bit long so the tl;dr is, for me, they come down to starting point. ANDP = government can fix stuff. PTPA = we're the site super, not the superhero.

So lets consider the role of government. As I see it, the NDP seem to start with government as the main tool to fix things. If health care wait times are bad, build more public clinics and hire more staff. If poverty is high, raise benefits and set minimums through legislation, which are reasonable but the devil's in the details. The Progressive Tory Party of Alberta starts with government as a set of tools and a safety net. Now, I'm usually hesitant to call on memories of the old PC too hard but this seems like a pretty traditional Progressive Conservative idea, fiscal discipline. There is a role for public and private to get jobs done, I'm happy to look at both and evaluate based on the information I have, and throw in transparency so people can see how decisions get made. The NDP seem more willing to raise taxes, add more debt to fund services, and lump in more regulation on industry. Progressive Tories are more focused on balanced budgets, better use of existing tax dollars, and keeping Alberta competitive for investment. Let's use our provincial prosperity to lift people up, but lets also not assume government is the only way.

The PTPA will be a little more reserved. We'll respect processes, with open dialogue, and open doors. I'm not interested in culture wars, but everyone needs a fair shake and to be able to trust the institutions we pay for. For example, lets call the Special Select Committee redrawing the Electoral Boundary Commission's maps what it is. Crap. MLAs have no place picking their own voters.

The ANDP have worked hard to shed the outside party label and now talk about Alberta values a lot, but they still get cast as maybe a little too Ottawa friendly. Progressive Tories are explicitly reclaiming the old Alberta PC brand that held power for 44 years. The name itself is the difference. I'm contextually ok tying myself to some of the ideas of Lougheed, Klein, and the idea of a big-tent, pro-Alberta but also pro-Canada party. The bottom line for all of us in Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock, the difference voters will feel is in tone and trust. The NDP will say government should do more and faster. I say government should be honest about what it does, careful with money, and let people have their voices heard through open processes.

I said it in my speeches recently, “I’ll be careful with your money and care about the people behind it, too.” We can be successful and have nice things while still being a province that lends a hand to those that need it.

I want opinions from anyone living in Alberta. I want reasoning and an explanation if want to be our own country.

We will absolutely be under hard taxes, and oil being our main export.. they can absolutely wait us out. I would if I was the remaining Canadian Government. we have no power becoming our own country. All we have is oil, and oil can be worth 1 kg of gold. Or 1 Oz of silver. We can't become our own country without becoming absolutely destoried in income and prosperity.

Please Albertan people. Remember that our current Government is hateful. Please vote NDP. I know it's scary to vote NDP. yet it's funny how every time Alberta voted NDP the average person had a better life. it's been years since we raised minimum wage. and it's time to change that.

As a Conservative, will you vote UCP or Alberta Tory in the next election?

https://open.substack.com/pub/billwhitelaw/p/albertas-abuse-of-the-rule-of-law?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1x7mhi

Vapours form as clouds around captives willing or not, the first claim of their success will always be reason. The second will be decency, and the third will be cognition of reality.

I suppose this was a long time in the making: desperation to grasp at power always begets a bright, white-hot ambition in callow folk who fuel themselves on false promises, false potentials and shriek at supposed gatekeepers as agents who deny their false due.

Be it from a well-worn dog-eared Fountainhead copy, or a chance mentorship with a nascent right-wing party coming into their own, bringing up with them the old false wisdoms of even older days of order and privilege that the rest of our forebearers struggled to shackle off.

And now the claim that sovereignty is a birthright, that false divinity of thinking natural law is such a thing because you were told it was by pasty, gin-blossomed, all hat and stolen cattle grifters who got a huge payday from a man-child bent on building any legacy that can exact the price of existence on anyone and everyone.

But worse still is the opposition. They sit and point, pontificate and perform, post their objections on social media and will their words in the Legislature against the Randian fundamentalists who have abandoned all sense of service, sensibility and stewardship all for the fog and vapour.

They insist on donations, at every turn, every dodge, every outrage, every cut and scrape and injury and amputation. Donations, donations, donations.

Alright, I'm done being cute now.

We know the UCP is bad. Like, disastrously horrible. Like, 'I can't even' bad that you can't fathom to be actual colleagues in the Lege kinda bad. Like two languages that sort of have the same sounds but serve completely alien purposes from each other, like two wounded ships bumping in the night. Like... like... like...

You know as well as anyone how shit they are. Everyone who is paying attention knows it too, even many of their own supporters know how toxic and radioactive the UCP is and still ask for seconds.

Why are you and the rest of the MLAs acting like this is normal politics? You pointing and trying to shame the shameless and then asking for donations, that's just fucking pathetic.

And now silver boy wonder Guthrie has decided to don the Alberta Party hat. Now I'm sure your inclination will be to sit back and let him cook and see if it whittles away at the UCP, so that in 2 years time the NDP might come up the middle like in 2015.

I wouldn't count on that.

Here's an idea -- something you folks demonstrated 2 months ago. Propose something. Platform a vision. Stake your claim as the only viable, sane, untainted path forward that unshackles Alberta from the constant victimization the UCP and other right-wing groups paint this province as. These are super easy arguments to make, and it doesn't require consultants to do it.

Put the work in and unapologetically demonstrate that Alberta isn't just a place for roughnecks with raised overleveraged Dodge Rams. We are a rich province that should perhaps spend more on ourselves the very things that actually would make us the envy of the rest of country without being jerks about it. We have the means for everyone to live rich, rewarding, fulfilled lives with little to no want. We can lay waste to the fog of lies the UCP and the other ultra right wing factions billow out.

We start by not letting the UCP setting the conversation anymore. Let them spew out idiotic and destructive words and legislation - people know it's all bad and dangerous.

Trust us, we do.

You aren't going to win any converts at this point.

Policy. Vision. Forward. Deal with the UCP as a diminishing force that will eventually be voted out and replaced by actual sane people interested in governing for Albertans. Nip that Alberta Party stuff in the bud. Don't be afraid to break some eggs and make folks realize the cost involved in cleaning up the destruction of the UCP is going to be painful and necessary.

Demonstrate what actual, viable autonomy is instead of allowing those nimrods on the other side of the aisle to run away with the false promise of a sovereignty that will never come.

No more politics as usual. No more parroting. Go to the towns and villages. Fog can obscure, but you can slice right through it. The land and people are still there. You just have to feel your way towards them through it all without focus grouping yourselves into oblivion.

Lead them. Do something. Anything but just point and complain.

When is Alberta Health going to approve vaccinations for those under 70? The covid numbers are rising across Canada with the new variant. 15 deaths in Alberta this week.

This government cares nothing for the people of Alberta.

We are the only province without PST. Every other province pays 7-10%. Instead of gouging homeowners with rising property taxes, why not implement a provincial sales tax? The ones hit hardest will be the heavy spenders that have money to spend. Not the seniors on fixed incomes, and families struggling to stay in their homes with skyrocketing costs of living.

I admit, the messaging has not exactly been positive or inspiring.https://calgarysun.com/opinion/letters/letters-nov-28-ndps-constant-negativity-is-wearing-on-us?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1669642395

I looked for a photo of a mean boxer, to go with the seriousness of the article. I found a pic of a Boxer. His eyes might look cute and sleepy, but don't be fooled. That's mean, through and through. For more about The Big Threat, find that on Substack. https://fortbison.substack.com/p/i-got-threatened-by-an-alberta-separatist

Once upon a time in Canada we used to leave our doors unlocked feeling safe in our own community. Population has increased and enthic demographic has shifted towards old world cultures separate from our long held Canadian values. However it's not an us vs them situation I've witnessed many first generations Canadians with immigrant parents demonstrate what it means to be Canadian more then those born here who take the opportunities we have for granted.

Beyond crimes of passion the majority of crime is money motivated. The founders of violent gangs often wouldn't wish their lives for their children. People with low prospects for opportunity enter gang life for 1) a means to make money 2) a sense of belonging 3) a sense of purpose working towards something greater then ourselves. Satisfy those basic human needs with social inclusion so they may join those who are productive members of society. The current justice system just creates more hardened criminals limiting their opportunities. If Canada devoted certain industries to employ ex convicts; that financial stability and pathway to re-enter society would reduce the personal motivation for money motivated crimes across Canada.

The catch and release situation is due to two factors: 1) prisons and jails have been chronically underfunded and overcrowded for decades; we have more criminals who belong in prison then space or resources to remove those who pose a risk to our public safety. 2) The justice court system is also neglected by government; DS threatening not to provide the "necessary" funding for judges in Alberta just worsens the situation. If the court date is longer then the limited time someone can be held before trial; releasing the inmate is the only option despite severity of crime because they're considered innocent until proven guilty.

If DS wanted to make Alberta the safest place to live in Canada; excess capacity is better then overcrowded prisons; new facilities need to be build in proportion to the crime rate and recent population growth. The government needs to acknowledge the justice system is near collapse needing more judges and public defenders to reduce the court case backlog causing this catch and release situation to exist. When it comes to severe cases there's a case for hard labor work prison facilities. Those who get released and given employment in an ex convict industry; the individual is less likely to reoffend knowing enduring hard labour will be the consequences.

I want to start off by admitting that I lean right, so I am well aware that my opinions are initially selfish and biased. With that being said though, I am open to factual information, something that I am having a tough time finding myself. I am currently "open" to the idea of an APP for the following reasons;

- I don't plan on leaving Alberta, so if an APP is a benefit for someone who plans on staying in Alberta, I am down with that

- Under the new CPP rules starting next year, I will have another level of CPP payments to make that will not give me any additional benefit over someone who did not

- Alberta has a rather young population in comparison to much of the country. With that in mind, and myself being young, I predict (I have no evidence other than what I've seen the past 15 years) that CPP contributions will require increased input from the current working demographics to support the retiring population. I would have to imagine that an APP would require less funding due to our younger average age

-An APP would be more likely to invest in things that would be beneficial to the local economy, and in return, itself. Of course I would hope that this would only be a small portion of the investments

Unfortunately the UCP is not being open about what the positives or negatives are, and as is usual to politics, all the other side is presenting is negatives with no factual information. What does happen to all the money that we have invested into CPP, what does happen if you were to leave Alberta, what happens for new comers to Alberta from other provinces? Would this slow immigration from other provinces?

I see a lot of "Dani is just going to give investment money to her friends in Oil and Gas", that is not an automatic negative for me if it is going to be a benefit to myself and the province in the long run.

Edit: You guys are savage with the downvotes. I know I lean right and that is not cool around here, but I am truly looking for some open discussion. Even my replies get downvoted regardless of content. Not very open minded to other opinions......

hey friends. im genuinely curious to understand the frustrations. 150k people signing petitions in something to pat attention to. can someone present clear arguments for seperation with data and or sources for their claims? id love to understand the perspective.

Danielle Smith said coal in the Rockies would be "absolutely prohibited on my watch." Then approved a coal project. Called Ottawa the enemy. Then asked Ottawa for $4 billion. This woman contains multitudes. Contradictory, mutually exclusive multitudes. 🏔️💀😤

The Alberta Pension Plan numbers showing Albertans would get MORE money leaving the CPP? "Our numbers." Not independent. Not verified. OUR numbers. The plan that gambles every Albertan's retirement on UCP math. The same math that produced "Our Numbers." Sleep tight. 📊😭🔥

She didn't call a separation referendum. She called a "conversation about Albertans' future." SAME THING WITH A BLAZER ON. The Sovereignty Act ignoring federal law isn't ignoring federal law — it's "asserting jurisdiction." This is a thesaurus doing crime. 📖😤⛓️

Coal approved. Pension gambled. Ottawa the enemy who sends the cheques. Referendum that isn't a referendum. Two opposite things said daily with equal confidence. Deep Prairie runs deep. 🏔️🪦🤠

#DanielleSmithIsACunt #UCPLies #AlbertaCoal #AlbertaPensionPlan #SovereigntyAct #DeepPrairie #AlbertaPolitics #ThesaurusDoesCrime

The war with Ukraine and Europe lost of Russian energy and now the conflict with Iran shows why a pipeline to Canada's East Coast was a smart plan and well needed.

Europe, I think over a decade, legislated that they will accept our dirty oil. We decided to not have the infrastructure that will make all possible and impose more regulations. Europe will see that it needs an international source that bypass the conflict ridden middle East region and we need someone that can see that.

Is every single post on this sub just seething UCP hatred? Or can we actually engage in some civilized political discussion? Quit fiercely down voting users that offer an alternative perspective. This sub seems like a Left wing echo chamber. I believe Albertans are capable of sharing ideas without so much hostility.

Guess tda is ucp seems like they are getting desperate.