Originally published on Jan. 16, 2021 at CBC Calgary. In the summer, with half of Memorial Drive in Calgary shut down to traffic, a group of protesters set up near the Peace Bridge to draw attention to a bewildering array of grievances. One sign attacked Justin Trudeau, another warned of 5G networks, some supported oil and … Continue reading COVID denialism and the Alberta context
Alberta
With pandemic travel scandal, Kenney faces conservative kryptonite: elitism
(Monty Kruger/CBC) Originally published Jan. 5, 2021 at CBC Calgary. How long do Albertans remember a scandal? It sort of depends. How long do Albertans remember missing out on their mom's funeral? In the midst of a pandemic that has forced governments around the world to initiate sweeping invasions into the personal and professional lives … Continue reading With pandemic travel scandal, Kenney faces conservative kryptonite: elitism
Alberta government wants to rewrite the water use rules along eastern slopes of Rockies
This article was originally published on Dec. 7, 2021 at CBC Calgary. The Alberta government wants to rewrite the rules on water use along the eastern slopes of the Rockies as part of its economic recovery plan, including a push for new coal developments in the area. Water use is highly restricted in southern Alberta due … Continue reading Alberta government wants to rewrite the water use rules along eastern slopes of Rockies
Personal responsibility, government inaction and Alberta’s COVID response
This article was originally published on Nov. 24, 2020 at CBC Calgary. When COVID-19 first appeared and spread across the globe, people and governments reacted with alarm. Action was swift. In Alberta, businesses shuttered as the government imposed restrictions, some for good. People mostly stayed inside. Premier Jason Kenney said it was a generational challenge … Continue reading Personal responsibility, government inaction and Alberta’s COVID response
Alberta’s uncultured minister
One could be forgiven for assuming that Alberta's minister of culture would have some semblance of the arts and the province's arts community, but by all accounts, that's not the case. If there were any doubts, this recent interview in the Globe and Mail should remove them. The fact that Maureen Kubinec hasn't seen a live performance … Continue reading Alberta’s uncultured minister
Ric McIver and the extremists
When the Peace Bridge opened in March of 2012, crowds gathered to celebrate. Politicians and citizens all swarmed both ends of the controversial bridge, eager to be amongst the first to cross. Just prior to cutting the ribbon, there was a blessing by a First Nations elder — recognition that Calgary sits on traditional Blackfoot … Continue reading Ric McIver and the extremists
Out(road)rageous: $5 billion could go a long way
We seem destined to always talk about transportation. Public transit, including the long-sought southeast LRT line and the nuances of where to put the north-central line; the mess that is Calgary’s taxi system; bike lanes; pedestrian safety improvements; two-way roads through the Beltline; and now the revelation that the southwest portion of the ring road … Continue reading Out(road)rageous: $5 billion could go a long way
Cut the public affairs bureau
The latest provincial budget comes out on March 6 and the opposition is already circling, with Wildrose leading the charge. On February 25, Alberta’s other right wing released its budget recommendations. No surprise, there were lots of savings to be found in the bullet points (see, it’s easy!). It was bullet number 4 that, as … Continue reading Cut the public affairs bureau
Theatre Outré outrage unfounded
** Update ** Theatre Outré has released a new statement that contradicts its earlier claims. The new post says the theatre is not closing and says there are no issues with the city or their landlord, but only with the alleged homophobic neighbours in their building. More on that if we can confirm the content … Continue reading Theatre Outré outrage unfounded
Citizens on the backburner: it’s all about the oil in Alberta
Imagine if you could run roughshod over the laws and be comfortable in the knowledge that you’d only get in trouble about one per cent of the time, and when you did, it amounted to a miniscule fine. What would you do? You’d probably behave like the oil companies operating within Alberta. In a recent … Continue reading Citizens on the backburner: it’s all about the oil in Alberta
Drew Anderson 