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
Politics
Capitalism and catastrophe: an interview with Naomi Klein
Let’s start with a question. What seems like a bigger challenge: fixing a flawed economic system, or dealing with the catastrophic consequences of uncontrolled climate change? How about another one: would you rather hand over billions to bail out a bank, or to help ensure the our planet remains liveable? Extreme, right? No. We’re in … Continue reading Capitalism and catastrophe: an interview with Naomi Klein
Cycling outside of Calgary’s inner city
While cries of social engineering and a war on cars echo off the sides of skyscrapers and condos, the city is busy turning Calgary into a bike-friendly city in newer communities and suburbs without much fuss. Although there has been at least one councillor bemoaning the separated bike lane being built on Northland Drive in … Continue reading Cycling outside of Calgary’s inner city
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
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
Questioning Calgary’s arts party
The federal government kicked in $1.6 million, the city one-upped them with $2 million and the province gave $250,000, with another $500,000 set aside to match corporate donations. It’s a tidy sum of money, all earmarked for arts and culture after Calgary was named the cultural capital of Canada (okay, one of the cultural capitals; … Continue reading Questioning Calgary’s arts party
Oil and government
When Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), walked into a conference room in Kananaskis to observe the meeting of energy ministers from across Canada in July, he expected to find a seat in the section reserved for environmental groups, or concerned citizens groups. There was no such section. Looking around the … Continue reading Oil and government
Ethical oil and China
A great deal of attention has been paid to two pipeline projects — one that will see Alberta’s oilsands bitumen transported across the U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico (Keystone XL), and one that will run it through the Great Bear Rainforest in B.C. for shipment to Asia (Northern Gateway). The projects have serious implications, … Continue reading Ethical oil and China
Drew Anderson 