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OUR TOXIC POLITICS CLAIMS ITS LATEST VICTIM

By Max Fawcett | Opinion | June 13th 2024
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * 


Former Alberta MLA Shannon Phillips at a press conference in Ottawa in 2018.
Photo by Alex Tétreault / Canada's National Observer
Previous story
Listen to article


At some point, even for the toughest of cookies, enough is enough. After years
of enduring threats, harassment, and even an illegal surveillance campaign by
local police officers — one that never resulted in criminal charges — Alberta
NDP MLA Shannon Phillips announced last week that she was resigning from
politics. “I’m the next in a line of woman politicians who are taking a pass,”
she told the Globe and Mail.

Phillips, who served as Alberta’s environment minister from 2015 to 2019, was a
popular target for right-wing trolls and online agitators like Rebel Media.
Catherine McKenna, who endured a similar campaign of targeted abuse when she was
the federal environment minister, knows a thing or two about that.

“Yes, I'm mad,” McKenna said on social media. “We are seeing the deterioration
of politics on our watch - allowing attacks on politicians especially on women —
by right wing politicians & their mouthpieces. This toxic workplace would never
be tolerated anywhere else. It's democracy that's at stake, folks.”’

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For what it’s worth, I am highly conflicted here. I worked closely with Phillips
when she was the Minister of Environment and I was in the Alberta Climate Change
Office, where I helped write speeches and prepare communications material for
her department. As impressively fierce and formidable as she was from a
distance, whether dealing with the oil and gas industry or opposition MLAs, she
was even more so in close quarters. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say
she was the most effective environment minister in Alberta’s history — and maybe
even Canada’s.

But the price she paid for her political involvement was high. And while she
switched to the opposition benches in 2019, that price just seemed to keep
getting higher. “These conditions are not improving,” she told the Globe and
Mail this week. “The right is only getting more crazy and more bonkers, and
disinformation is just getting worse. And that is going to have an effect on
people’s desire to do this work.”



For her worst critics, of course, that’s the point. They want to raise the cost
of getting involved in public life for those with progressive views or values so
that anyone with a family, a career, or some other non-political life experience
won’t want to come near it.

That obviously includes harassment on social media, which has become
exponentially worse since Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022. "Twitter used to be
our best contact for bringing [harassment and threats] down off social media and
once the new owner took over, our contacts there were let go and now there's
nobody to contact at that particular social media platform," said Patrick
McDonnell, the sergeant-at-arms and corporate security officer for the House of
Commons, during testimony before a committee of MPs studying the House’s
harassment policy.

The volume of that sort of harassment is growing exponentially, too. "In 2019
there was approximately eight files we opened up on threat behaviours, either
direct or indirect threat towards an MP, and in 2023 there was 530 files
opened," McDonnell said. Worse, it’s now increasingly happening in real life
instead of online, with people showing up at the homes of MPs and MLAs. As RCMP
deputy commissioner Mark Flynn told the Toronto Star’s Tonda MacCharles, “we’ve
seen a shift from people protesting or appearing…at Parliament Hill, minister’s
offices, constituency offices, et cetera, to where we are now seeing people go
to their residences and start taking actions at their residence.”

While the MPs involved are reluctant to talk about it, some of them have already
had their windows broken and buildings vandalized. If the ongoing escalation
here doesn’t stop, at some point soon this is going to lead to something far
worse than property damage or threatening behaviour. Someone is going to get
hurt, maybe even killed, and that puts the families of every elected official at
risk. Is it any wonder that people like Phillips and McKenna, progressive women
who take the lead on issues that most rile up far-right agitators, decided to
leave?

> After years of enduring threats, harassment, and even an illegal surveillance
> campaign by local police officers, Alberta NDP MLA Shannon Phillips announced
> last week that she was resigning from politics.



If we want to make politics safe for everyone to practice and participate in,
it’s time to make some meaningful changes. First and foremost, that means
dialing down the rhetoric about a political opponent’s supposedly nefarious
intentions and treating them like a human being with a difference of opinion
rather than a threat to anyone’s livelihood or existence. It means significant
additional resources for the offices in both the House of Commons and provincial
legislatures that are responsible for maintaining the safety and security of
elected officials. And it means finding ways to ensure both the police and
courts are taking these threats more seriously.

Then again, maybe some people don’t want that. And as Phillips knows only too
well, the police and courts aren’t always interested in looking out for
everyone's protection. But if we don’t get a handle on this, and soon, we’re
going to drive even more good people away from public service. There’s no reason
for us to tolerate this state of affairs, and those who do — or worse,
contribute to it — are confessing something very ugly about themselves.


June 13th 2024
 *  * Max Fawcett
    * Lead Columnist
    * @maxfawcett


KEEP READING


ALBERTA PREMIER DANIELLE SMITH SEIZES CONTROL OF INFAMOUS ENERGY 'WAR ROOM'

By Lisa Johnson | News | June 12th 2024


CANADA’S OILSANDS COMPANIES CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH

By Max Fawcett | Opinion, Politics | June 12th 2024


CALGARY COMPANY SIGNS FUNDING DEAL TO TURN TRASH INTO CLEAN ENERGY

By Amanda Stephenson | News | June 11th 2024


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A QUOTE FROM BERTRAND RUSSELL

Dale Corbett | 4 days ago

A quote from Bertrand Russell is highly appropriate here: "The first step in a
fascist movement is the combination under an energetic leader (Poilievre, Trump)
of a number of men who possess more than average leisure, brutality and
stupidity. The next step is to fascinate fools and muzzle the intelligent, by
emotional excitement & terrorism."

 * reply


SO TRUE; PEOPLE HAVE NEVER

Tris Pargeter | 4 days ago

So true; people have never been easier to manipulate, and at the worst possible
time.

 * reply


THIS ALL COMES BACK TO THE

P W | 4 days ago

This all comes back to the fossil fuel industry. This is the foreign actor that
is really influencing Canadian politics. They know their days are number but
they're going to get every last drop of blood money they can get and they don't
care who they hurt.

 * reply


YUP.

Rufus Polson | 4 days ago

Yup.

 * reply


AND THEN THEY'LL PACK UP AND

Alex Botta | 4 days ago

And then they'll pack up and split the scene, leaving Albertans to clean up the
mess. And Alberta will beg, plead, goad and guilt trip the federal government to
fund the cleanup, which may well stimulate a national backlash against that
notion and pin the blame squarely where it is most deserved -- at the Alberta
government's half century of mismanagement and subservience primarily to foreign
oil companies.

I really hope the rest of the nation is well on its way to full electrification
by the time this comes to pass.

 * reply


I'M MORE THAN PERPLEXED THAT

Thomas Muir | 4 days ago

I'm more than perplexed that the police who were part of the "illegal
surveillance campaign" have not at least been charged, or that the police force
has not been seriously castigated for their involvement and ambivalence toward
the incident. One can complain all one wants about social media and right-wing
trolls -- all legitimate complaints -- but we now know of at least one incident
where our police were involved in "illegal" anti-democratic, unprofessional
activity. No charges. No real investigation. No outrage at this obvious
flaunting of our so-called democratic system. Heck, I'm flabbergasted! (to be
nice about it)

 * reply


FAWCETT: "I DON’T THINK IT’S

Geoffrey Pounder | 4 days ago

Fawcett: "I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say she was the most effective
environment minister in Alberta’s history — and maybe even Canada’s."

Which probably isn't saying very much.
The job of environment ministers, particularly in Alberta, is to cater to
extractive industries, not protect the environment.

Check out Forgotten Corner's appalling interview with former NDP Env Minister
Shannon Phillips.
https://www.forgottencornerpod.com/episodes/episode-2

The Alberta Advantage podcast eviscerated Phillips and the AB NDP.
https://albertaadvantagepod.com/2020/06/02/fear-of-a-green-new-deal/

Alberta's NDP government cynically took industry's side against caribou:
Environment Minister Shannon Phillips: "'The federal Species at Risk Act is an
extremely inflexible instrument that has already had negative economic
consequences (in Alberta). We are going to do our best to make sure that we
protect jobs on this.'"
Industry's and government's strategy is to let the clock run out on caribou.

The NDP approved clear-cut logging in the Kananaskis region:
"Concerns range from dismay over visible swaths of bald landscape, to potential
effects on jobs, tourism and the environment — including water quality and risk
of flooding.
"'We want the minister to press pause on this so we can assess what is the value
of clear-cutting in Kananaskis," said Stephen Legault, program director at the
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.
"Also, over the long term, we need to have conversations about our watersheds.
Kananaskis Country is where Calgary and High River and other municipalities
downstream get their water from. We want to have those conversations.'
AB Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier: "We continue to work to
ensure a thoughtful and sustainable approach to forest management that balances
the economic, social, and environmental needs of our communities – in the
Kananaskis region and across the province."
"Residents from towns south of the park, such as Longview, Turner Valley and
Black Diamond, have long opposed logging there, dating back to 2001 when the
forest management plan was signed with Spray Lakes Sawmills of Cochrane.
Recently, a group of recreational users started a Facebook page called Take a
Stand for the Upper Highwood and created a petition calling on Premier Rachel
Notley and Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips to stop logging in
the park."
"Residents, environmentalists sound alarm over clear cutting in Kananaskis
Country" (Calgary Herald, May 19, 2017)
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/residents-environmentalists-sou...

Phillips co-wrote the foreword for the 2004 book "An Action a Day Keeps Global
Capitalism Away" by Mike Hudema, a campaigner for Greenpeace Alberta. As
Environment Minister, Phillips minimized her role and renounced those views.
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/shannon-phillips-helped-with-som...

Don't get me started on Catherine McKenna.
Both ministers shilled for the O&G industry.
Neither stood up for the environment, climate, or your grandchildren.

 * reply


NONETHELESS, THE NDP ALSO

Tris Pargeter | 4 days ago

Nonetheless, the NDP also accomplished a few significant things, starting with
taking out coal-fired plants and the kickstarting of renewables here, cutting
child poverty in half, introducing 10 dollar a day childcare, and raising the
minimum wage. Under the circumstances, and in retrospect, they should have just
gone for broke since as women they couldn't win here anyway or anyhow, which is
still the political reality. It's why Nenshi has been embraced so heartily by
progressives; he's not just experienced politically; he's also a man, period.
Agreed about the excessive toadying to big oil, particularly at this last
election with the backdrop of catastrophic wildfires astonishingly not even
mentioned, but this is the other political reality. And Nenshi is still talking
about "supporting them in the transition," but I think the fact that we're THREE
years out from a reprieve explains this in part.
Politics remains the "art of the possible" and denying that reality denies THE
reality of ever more "low information" voters manifesting, inflamed by the
ever-more-evil cons.

 * reply


TP: "POLITICS REMAINS THE

Geoffrey Pounder | 4 days ago

TP: "Politics remains the 'art of the possible'"
TP: "Under the circumstances, and in retrospect, they should have just gone for
broke since as women they couldn't win here anyway or anyhow"

You refute your own argument. (Except, of course, the NDP women won in 2015 and
came close in 2023, defeated by the UCP woman.)

Agreed, the AB NDP should have "just gone for broke". Notley and Phillips could
have stood up to the O&G lobby and extractive industries. They passed.

A one-term majority government with no hope for re-election is relatively free
to act, unconstrained by "political reality". The AB NDP, for example.
Given a petro-economy weighed down by low oil prices, the NDP stood no chance
against a united conservative party in 2019.

"the art of the possible"
A slogan, not an argument. You can always count on partisans to drag out that
old warhorse whenever somebody criticizes their pet politician or favorite
party.
An excuse for failed leadership. An attempt to lower expectations and diminish
responsibility. Echoed by the party faithful to discourage voters from holding
elected leaders accountable.
The suggestion that our petro-progressive politicians might be failing us is
typically met with mindless slogans: "Politics is the art of the possible."
"Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good."

Politics is the art of the necessary. Anybody can do the politically expedient.
Anybody can govern by poll. Anybody can follow the parade. Anybody can pander to
industry. True leaders do what is necessary, even if unpopular. They persuade
people to follow.
If "progressive" politicians are not willing or able to defend the public
interest, why run for public office? Why enter politics in the first place if
you cannot sell and defend your values and policies? If all parties simply go
where the votes are, that eliminates any role for leadership. Government by poll
fails to serve the public interest.
We do not need any more nominally progressive politicians who blow with the
wind. A government that merely follows the parade and turns its back on science
(i.e., reality) is worse than useless.
"Politicians are weathervanes when they are supposed to be compasses."

The reality is that sooner or later the world will shift away from fossil fuels,
starting with coal. Failing to prepare Albertans for that eventuality is
irresponsible. Doubling down on fossil fuels when the world is on the verge of
turning away from them sets Albertans up for massive economic crashes and
upheaval. Not the responsible leadership we need for the 21st century.

The AB NDP's obsession with re-election in 2019 led to short-sighted policy that
emulated previous Conservative govts and betrays future generations.
A NDP win in 2019 was not on the menu. Notley was always a one-term premier.
No one and nothing forced Notley and Phillips to prop up the oil industry and
sabotage Canada's climate efforts. Their poor choice. Their efforts won little
credit from Alberta voters.
The AB NDP did not have anything to gain by sliding right — or by aping
conservative rhetoric on energy and pipelines. That territory was already held
by the UCP.
Pandering to fossil-fuel dinosaurs just fed the right-wing frenzy. Stoking
Albertans' perennial resentment over pipelines and everything else under the sun
only helped the UCP.
The more Notley fought for pipelines, the more she fanned the flames of anger
among Albertans. A pipeline project became the rallying flag for Albertans,
whose sense of grievance against Ottawa burns eternal. Fuelling the right-wing
rage machine.

 * reply


NOTLEY HAS A VERY BAD

Alex Botta | 4 days ago

Notley has a very bad reputation in communities on the coast where TMX ran
roughshod. She'd be best advised not to show up in Metro Vancouver.

 * reply


TP: "STARTING WITH TAKING OUT

Geoffrey Pounder | 4 days ago

TP: "starting with taking out coal-fired plants and the kickstarting of
renewables here"

In 2014 AB Premier Jim Prentice agreed to phase out coal and focus on
renewables. The NDP decided to retire Alberta's coal fleet by 2030. For
financial reasons, the industry decided to accelerate the switch. The market was
heading in that direction already. Based on economics alone, the rapid decline
of coal was inevitable:

"And we now have Premier Jim Prentice publicly stating he, too, sees the 10- to
15-year phase-out in this province's future."
Dr Joe Vipond: "A coal-free grid within our grasp" (Edmonton Journal, Dec 17,
2014)

"For one, 12 of the 18 coal-fired plants in Alberta would have been shuttered by
2030 anyways (with four planned for closure by 2019)."
"Ethics Complaint Filed Against Alberta Minister Turned Coal Lobbyist" (The
Narwhal, April 5, 2016)

"Mr. Prentice, a former federal environment minister, is also shaping a new
climate-change strategy that will see the province shutter many of its coal
plants and replace them with new investment in renewable energy sources such as
wind and solar.
"'Alberta will have a visionary long-term approach to climate change and we'll
never again go to Copenhagen in the circumstances that I did as federal
environment minister in 2009.'
"While the Premier concedes emissions from the oil sands will continue to rise
over the next several years, the province can make GHG emission inroads
elsewhere, he believes. The province gets 85 per cent of its electricity from
coal-fired plants – many of which were built in the 1960s and 70s.
"'They're all nearing the end of their useful life,' he said. 'They're in their
wind-down phase and can be phased out and we can achieve very significant
emissions reductions just by not burning coal.'
"He said he's a big believer in renewable energy, noting that Alberta already
has more capacity from wind power than anywhere else in the country. He said
solar energy is also developing quickly. 'I think what we should be doing is
making investments in those areas in the context of an overall climate plan for
the province,' Mr. Prentice said. 'I think as people have seen in the early days
since I've been Premier, this is not business as usual anymore in Alberta."
"New premier Prentice says Canada needs new markets for Alberta oil" (Globe and
Mail, Sep 18, 2014)

 * reply


NOTE THAT PRENTICE WAS THE

Alex Botta | 4 days ago

Note that Prentice was the last of the old Progressive Conservatives in Alberta.
He stood out as one of the more "reasonable" members of Harper's federal cabinet
and seemed a bit out of place and uncomfortable with the Harper group's tendency
for social warfare and environmental imperialism. He tripped up badly when he
accepted Danielle Smith into the Alberta PC fold, being taken in because she was
in disguise as a moderate at the time.

It's all very interesting to this old ex-Albertan.

 * reply


I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT LOGGING

Alex Botta | 4 days ago

I didn't know about logging the Kananaskis. I got to love that valley back in
the day. Shameful.

 * reply


ANYONE WHO THINKS BEING

Kathy Goodwin | 2 days ago

Anyone who thinks being environment minister anywhere is easy and should be
applying to be the next one. This is a nightmare job where you are required to
consider the economy first, the wants of special interest groups next, and the
environment last. When you don't get everything people want, you are harassed
unmercifully and berated for your misses by the public.

 * reply


KG: "THIS IS A NIGHTMARE JOB

Geoffrey Pounder | a day ago

KG: "This is a nightmare job where you are required to consider the economy
first, the wants of special interest groups next, and the environment last."

Agreed. As noted above: "The job of environment ministers, particularly in
Alberta, is to cater to extractive industries, not protect the environment."
Anybody who hoped the AB NDP might do things differently was disappointed.
Ms. Phillips got her marching orders, and she carried them out with enthusiasm.
If a minister cannot accept what he or she is being asked to do, the honourable
option is to resign.

KG: "When you don't get everything people want"
Climate change is the issue of our time.
Taking Alberta in the wrong direction and locking in fossil fuel production for
decades during a climate emergency is grossly irresponsible — an abdication of
office.

KG: "you are harassed unmercifully and berated for your misses by the public"
Let us not conflate legitimate dissent and political analysis by concerned
citizens, other politicians, party members, union leaders, public figures,
environmentalists, climate activists with harassment and criminal behavior.
The harassment of politicians, especially women, is primarily, though not
exclusively, a right-wing phenomenon, especially in Alberta. The misognynist
Lock 'er Up crowd is a UCP phenomenon in imitation of Trump supporters in the
U.S..

Big difference between harassment and holding your elected representatives
accountable. Citizens have not only the right but also the responsibility to
hold their MLAs and MPs accountable. The essence of responsible government. This
is done through peaceful means such as public debate, letter-writing, petitions,
peaceful protests, joining NGOs, political analysis in the press, and ultimately
by voting.

Neither Notley nor Phillips was a champion of the environment. Ms. Notley has no
vision for an orderly transition away from fossil fuels. Notley's grasp of
climate science and ecological perils is tenuous, at best.
Not the leadership we need for the 21st century.
And it is up to concerned citizens — people who care about their grandchildren —
to say so.

 * reply


SHANNON IS OUR MLA AND I'M

Tris Pargeter | 4 days ago

Shannon is our MLA and I'm glad to see her throwing in the towel for her own
sake.
She's one of the good ones and I think her resigning now is a last act of
generosity to provide a seat for Nenshi that's fairly secure due to the
University of Lethbridge (still attempting to be a "liberal arts" university)
being in the riding, AND despite personally supporting her friend Kathleen
Ganley for leader.
(Side bar on that; we live across the street from a field owned by the
university that is now rumoured to be up for commercial development rather than
anything educational because the institution is so strapped for money now, so
mission accomplished by the monstrous UCP....)
The ignorance, arrogance and staggering level of entitlement found in these
police officers, so depressingly common in "Alberduh," can be summed up by a
sign carried at the time protesting the NDP's plans for addressing ongoing
offroad damage by designating the wild area a park; the sign read "Right to
Ride." Here's an example of how these emboldened nutbars "think":
https://www.westernwheel.ca/beyond-local/undercover-rcmp-officer-testifi...
And speaking of riding roughshod, social media will remain the primary vehicle
for the rabid right until someone of note actually DOES get killed.

 * reply


NOT ONLY DID MS. PHILLIPS AND

Don Gillard | 3 days ago

Not only did Ms. Phillips and her colleagues in a first time elected NDP
government often face the wrath of the Calgary based oil industry, the bankrupt
legacy of a string of politicians who consistently disregarded the wisdom of
having any sort of Plan B whatsoever, attacks from pundits in the right-wing
dominated MSM and the self styled wanna-be’s outside of it, a rural electorate
who suspend critical thinking for the hollow promises from long term
conservative incumbents, threats of violence from extremist nutbars, and
unaccountable police goons gone rogue, there was also the ultimate humiliation.
That was the treatment from the fair weather ‘fellow travellers’ of the Left who
howled almost from the get-go about a first term NDP government getting into bed
with Big Oil, while completely refusing to understand the socio-political
environment that the Party had to navigate during it’s inaugural run.

Did these so-called ‘progressives’ think the realities of governing in Alberta
could be instantly toggled like a light switch after a nearly half century as a
defacto one-Party conservative state? There was absolutely no chance a first
time governing party was going to be able to the turn the poorly maintained,
rusting hulk of a ship christened Princess Alberta and it’s denizens aboard 180
degrees in a single term to meet the expectations of the hardcore left
ideologues. As if keeping the province out of a deep economic depression through
investments in rebuilding the province’s decaying infrastructure during one of
the worst of times wasn’t quite enough in it’s first term. Significant change
was going to need significant time and effort. Trust and buy-in from the public
needed to be developed in order to achieve the larger strategic outcomes. There
were no quick solutions.

Why, given this reality, would anybody with a progressive vision want to assume
the task of trying to unite Albertans in tackling the steep challenges the
Province is currently facing on it’s doorstep? To those who identify as
Progressive but criticize the ones who tried as not meeting your expectations,
maybe it’s time to put up or shut up.

 * reply


A ONE-TERM GOVERNMENT WITH NO

Geoffrey Pounder | 3 days ago

A one-term government with no prospects for re-election is a government with
nothing to lose.
And nothing to gain by hopping into bed with Big Oil.
Given a petro-economy weighed down by low oil prices, the NDP stood no chance
against a united conservative party in 2019.

DG: "the fair weather ‘fellow travellers’ of the Left who howled almost from the
get-go about a first term NDP government getting into bed with Big Oil"
Neither a necessary nor a successful political strategy. On the contrary. It
backfired big-time.
Instead of selling NDP policy and fighting for NDP values, Notley tried to
outconservative the conservatives. Predictably, that failed. No matter how much
Notley pandered to the petroleum crowd, the NDP still had no hope of
re-election.
Pandering to fossil fuel dinosaurs just fed the right-wing frenzy. A pipeline
project became the rallying flag for Albertans, whose sense of grievance against
Ottawa burns eternal. Fuelling the right-wing rage machine. Pipeline supporters
will vote will vote for the real O&G party: the UCP. Notley's pipeline hysterics
only inflamed Albertans against the NDP and alienated her own supporters.

The AB NDP's shift to the right was a political blunder. By shifting right,
Notley effectively sold out a once-progressive NDP to centrist voters,
supporters of dead or dying political parties: red PCs, the Alberta Party, and
the AB Liberals. All hail, King Nenshi!
It will not be Jason Kenney or Danielle Smith who erode and finally erase the
progressive party in Alberta. It will be the NDP. A coup for the centre-right.
Engineered by the AB NDP brain trust.
That failed strategy leaves progressives and greens with no representation under
the dome. The PC party is now resurrected under a new name and management.
What was open to the NDP?
The NDP's other option was to accept that it was a one-term government. Stand up
to Big Oil, reject petro-politics, put the province on the right track, and show
Albertans what principled progressive government looks like.

The NDP brain trust balked. Far from leading the NDP to glory, Notley blew it
up. Notley's lasting legacy.

 * reply


IF "PROGRESSIVE" POLITICIANS

Geoffrey Pounder | 3 days ago

If "progressive" politicians are not willing or able to defend the public
interest, why run for public office? Why enter politics in the first place if
you cannot sell and defend your values and policies? If all parties simply go
where the votes are, that eliminates any role for leadership.

Doubling down on fossil fuel production in the face of climate change is insane.
If the nominally progressive party refuses to take on the challenge, who will?
An admission of defeat.
We do not have the time for idling in neutral. With its pipeline campaign,
Notley's NDP actually took Alberta in reverse.
Alberta's drive for fossil fuel growth is irrevocable. Oilsands infrastructure,
including pipelines, takes decades to recoup its costs. There is no redemption.
No going back. No path from oilsands expansion to lower emissions and Canada's
climate targets. NDP policy locks AB into fossil fuel development and rising
emissions for decades.
Neither the NDP nor the UCP will take AB where we need to go.

"UN leader slams 'dangerous radicals' increasing oil and gas production"
U.N. Secretary-General Guterres: "It is a file of shame, cataloguing the empty
pledges that put us firmly on track towards an unlivable world."
"Some government and business leaders are saying one thing – but doing another."
"Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic."
"But high-emitting governments and corporations are not just turning a blind
eye; they are adding fuel to the flames."
"Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness."

UN Secretary General António Guterres: "We cannot afford slow movers, fake
movers, or any form of greenwashing."

When world leaders claimed to truly understand the perils of climate change,
Greta Thunberg rebuked them: "I do not want to believe that. Because if you
really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would
be evil." (2019)

 * reply


REAKASH WALTERS, FEDERAL NDP

Geoffrey Pounder | 3 days ago

Reakash Walters, federal NDP candidate in Edmonton Centre 2015: "As one of two
people who nominated Rachel in 2015, I am truly disappointed in the direction
the provincial party has taken and that they have chosen to prioritize oil
extraction in the middle of a climate crisis."
"What was Rachel Notley suggesting when she said she's not committed to voting
for Jagmeet Singh's New

David Climenhaga: "Indeed, the more [Notley] fights for the pipeline, the
stronger Mr. Kenney seems to get because the file is seen, however wrongfully,
by too many voters as a United Conservative Party strength."
"Sounds as if the Trudeau Liberals are listening to their Natural Governing
Party lizard brain, finally" (Alberta Politics, 19-Feb-19)

"Arguably, the law allowing Alberta to blockade shipments of fuel from
refineries here to force B.C.'s government to ignore the concerns of its own
voters and knuckle under to Alberta's demands for a pipeline was a moral and
political failure by the NDP.
"Democracy depends on a consensus not to abuse power, and drafting legislation
known in advance to violate the nation's constitution, putting that consensus at
risk, amounts to moral failure.
"Hoping the belligerent attitude demanded by Mr. Kenney's Conservatives would
persuade die-hard right-wingers to grant the NDP another term in office in
gratitude for legislation that horrified many of its most loyal supporters was
foolhardy."
"Court's decision to turn off Alberta's turn-off-the-taps law should surprise no
one" (Alberta Politics, Sep 25, 2019)

Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour and recent NDP
leadership candidate lashed out at the NDP govt on its failure to raise
royalties:
"Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan assails Notley Government's
royalty 'mistake'"(Alberta Politics, 2016)
"At the heart of Mr. McGowan's critique of the government's announcement and the
panel report that recommended it is the view it is both bad economics and bad
politics. 'Some people say the NDP have come face to face with reality. I say
what happened can best be described as the government being captured by
industry.'
'I honestly think the government has made a profound political mistake. We don't
believe progressive governments have to become conservative to deal effectively
with economic issues or to succeed politically. That's a fallacy.
'Virtually none of our concerns or suggestions are reflected in the royalty
report. Those ideas were passed over in favour of a plan that could have been
introduced by a PC or Wildrose government.'"

Naomi Klein (06-Feb-18): "Alberta has a left-wing political party in power, one
that has somehow convinced itself it can beat the right by being a better suck
up to Big Oil."

Former AB Liberal leader Kevin Taft: "…Questions that should be coming to the
legislature, around the tens of billions of dollars of unfunded liabilities for
environmental cleanups aren't even being asked. Nobody's asking why are
royalties so low. Those questions aren't coming up because those institutions
aren't serving the public."

"Oilpatch odours in northwestern Alberta still pungent, years after inquiry"
"[Donna Daum, a retired teacher] points out that members of the current NDP
government — including Premier Rachel Notley — were loud in their support when
they were in opposition.
"'(Notley) talked about the precautionary principle, which obviously is no
longer in their dictionary. I can't believe how these dictionaries get rewritten
the moment there's some responsibility attached to things.'"

Former AB Liberal leader Kevin Taft: "Through her whole career and her whole
party, up until they became government, [Notley and the NDP] were very effective
critics, counterbalances to the oil industry. As soon as she stepped into
office, as soon as she and her party became government, they've simply became
instruments of the oil industry."

Taft: "The world is working hard to end its dependence on oil, so hitching the
country's economy to an industry that must be phased out is recklessly
short-sighted."

Dr John O'Connor: "Pre-election, the NDP/Rachel Notley were vocally supportive
of bringing accountability and responsibility to bear on the environmental and
health impacts, especially downstream, of the tarsands. After the AB Cancer
Board report on Fort Chipewyan, she was notably outspoken on the need to comply
with the recommendation for a comprehensive health study of Fort Chip, which was
never even started.
"Now—it's buried and forgotten. Such hypocrisy."

In opposition, the NDP voiced support for a comprehensive healthy study on
cancers in Fort Chipewyan. In govt, the only sound was crickets.
"[Allan Adam, chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation,] said his people
continue to die from cancer at alarmingly high rates, a fact he blamed on
oilsands developments. 'Whatever food I'm bringing in from the bush, it is
getting our people sick.' The chief said he had hoped that after four decades of
Conservative rule in Alberta, things would be different when the NDP government
came to power in May 2015. But under the Rachel Notley government, he said, it's
business as usual. 'I feel very, very ashamed to call myself an Albertan. I feel
very, very ashamed to call myself a Canadian citizen.'" (January 2017)

"The talk around our table is that the NDP government is just another platform
of the previous Conservative government with a different logo. Nothing has
changed." (Chief Allan Adam)

 * reply


INDEED, WELL SAID, AND THOSE

Tris Pargeter | 3 days ago

Indeed, well said, and those same overly purist NDP types are currently
agitating (in tandem with mainstream media) to scuttle the precious agreement
with the Liberals despite it being not only the best thing they've ever done for
their own supposed "goals," but also providing real respite as the only sane
governance for the country as a whole, both now and in the foreseeable future
where politics will likely continue to be binary. That's inevitable when one
side goes "bonkers" as Shannon said.
This same holier than thous nonsense has been displayed during the NDP
leadership here with some candidates wanting to cut off ties with the federal
party to proclaim their "individual values" of "made in Alberta" or some such
utter BS, simply helping the cons to divide and conquer. And a couple of
candidates proposed dropping the carbon tax for the same reason, adding to the
piling on of the ONLY federal political party qualified to actually deal with
climate change, EVEN though the pandemic could be seen as a trial run, and they
passed the test.
I keep saying this but it totally applies; NDP and other "progressives" continue
to succumb to the stupid tribalism that is undeniably the "narcissism of small
differences."

 * reply


I AM OF COURSE RESPONDING TO

Tris Pargeter | 3 days ago

I am of course responding to Don Gillard here.

 * reply


WITH THEIR 20-20 HINDSIGHT

Don Gillard | 3 days ago

With their 20-20 hindsight and the convenience of ignoring the social and
political milieu that the NDP found themselves in after being elected, the
chattering class galls me with their smug pronouncements of the mistakes made by
the rookie government. No mention made of the many initiatives that were
successfully implemented that were antithetical to the long prevailing Alberta
governance model of the previous regime. Such as, the disallowing of corporate
and union donations to political parties, the freezing of tuition increases on
students, funding for Early Learning Childcare Services, protections for the
rights of the LGBTQ+ community, safety buffers around abortion clinics that were
under seige, raising minimum wage from $10.20 to $15.00, reversed cuts and
increased funding for post-secondary education, implementing school lunch
programs for vulnerable school children, and much more if one only looks.

Yet with the City of Fort McMurray on fire with Notley attending on the ground
while just outside Calgary oil fat cats whacked golf balls at images of her
face, and Swastikas were being unfurled by a mob angry about a farm workers
protection Bill at the Leg and death threats were being phoned in, the NDP
government didn’t manage to immediately shut down the fossil fuel industry in
Alberta like they were supposed to do?!!

Spare me, please

I would like to re-iterate that this rare bird of a Party did a yeoman job under
extremely hostile conditions, and I for one am grateful for the service of each
and every member in that caucus. After many decades of political complacency you
gave hope to some of us who believed there were alternatives to the way things
could be done in Alberta, given enough time and support.

 * reply


DG: "THE CONVENIENCE OF

Geoffrey Pounder | 3 days ago

DG: "the convenience of ignoring the social and political milieu that the NDP
found themselves in"

It is Mr. Gillard who ignores the political milieu that the NDP found themselves
in. The NDP was always a one-term government with no prospect for re-election.
The NDP had nothing to lose by taking strong action on climate. If not now,
when?

Again, Mr. Gillard overlooks the importance of leadership. The NDP accepted the
role and responsibility of leadership, but on the issue of our times failed to
provide it. If "progressive" politicians are not willing or able to defend the
public interest, why run for public office? Why enter politics if you cannot
sell and defend your values and policies?

DG: "the NDP government didn’t manage to immediately shut down the fossil fuel
industry in Alberta like they were supposed to do"
Straw man. No one proposed shutting down the fossil fuel industry overnight.
That is why we call the energy shift a transition.
Transitions start by moving in the direction you wish to travel. Instead, Notley
and Trudeau took Alberta the other way. Doubling down on fossil fuels takes us
in the wrong direction. Building major fossil fuel infrastructure (TMX) that
locks us into a fossil fuel future. Sabotaging Canada's climate targets for
decades. Oilsands expansion and new pipelines are obvious lunacy.
When you're in a hole, stop digging.

DG: "mistakes made by the rookie government"
Flouting the best available science is not a "mistake". The science dictates a
rapid shift away from fossil fuels. Turning your back on scientific reality
demonstrates a wilful blindness and delusion. Cheerleading for the industry that
threatens our demise and throwing environmentalists and climate activists under
the bus demonstrates a profound failure of leadership.

 * reply


DG: "NO MENTION MADE OF THE

Geoffrey Pounder | 3 days ago

DG: "No mention made of the many initiatives that were successfully implemented"
Climate change disproportionately affects women and children. The global poor
are the most vulnerable. Does not matter what your policies are on farm labor,
GSAs, childcare, etc. If you're not progressive on climate, you're not
progressive.

If we fail to act on climate change and other existential issues, no number of
progressive social policies will save us.
You can improve services for third-class passengers on the Titanic all you want,
but if you fail to avoid the iceberg, all is lost. You can move all the
third-class passengers to first class, but if the ship goes down it won't help
them.
If your house is on fire, what is your main concern? The fire — or childcare,
farm labor, and GSAs?
Do you rush to rescue your children — or worry about whether the daycare centre
has space for them?
If we don't put out the fire, if we fail to save our children, nothing else much
matters.

Climate change is not one issue of many. Climate change does not rank with
healthcare, childcare, GSAs, EI. Climate is the lens through which all economic
and quality-of-life issues must be viewed. Climate and environment are the
background to all our activities. Climate change is existential.
Most of us can survive, for better or worse, with or without NDP social
policies. We can't survive, much less thrive, amid ecosystem collapse.

DG: "After many decades of political complacency you gave hope to some of us who
believed there were alternatives to the way things could be done in Alberta,
given enough time and support."
Actually, the NDP's abject surrender to the O&G industry dealt a crushing blow
to those Albertans who hoped that politics could be done differently.
To top it off, the NDP have sold off Alberta's progressive party to the
centrists.

DG: "Notley attending on the ground while just outside Calgary oil fat cats
whacked golf balls at images of her face"
Exactly. Notley's pandering to the O&G industry won the NDP no credit, but
merely fanned the flames of Albertans' eternal resentment. To this day, industry
boosters give Notley no credit for building the TMX pipeline. Notley merely
alienated her own supporters.
In a delusional play for unattainable power, the NDP chased the UCP to the
right, with no hope of success. Predictably, those efforts not only failed, but
backfired.
The NDP had no prospects for re-election. Its sole option, therefore, was to
stand up to Big Oil, respect the science, reject petro-politics, put the
province on the right track, and show Albertans what principled progressive
government looks like.
Not give in to the insanity.

 * reply


EXACTLY SO.

Tris Pargeter | 3 days ago

Exactly so.
And these were/are not just the usual token, interchangeable "cheerleader" women
for the male-dominated status quo like Smith is, i.e. cold, Thatcher-like
deniers of the very concept of "society" and the concomitant reality of it being
comprised of actual, fellow human beings, they were/are genuine progressives who
are actually "among" us.
And few men appreciate what it's like for women in positions of power in what is
still predominantly a man's world, but as a woman I saw Rachel and Shannon age
over these last years, their natural smiles frozen into a different expression.
It's one thing I didn't understand, why they weren't more honest about the
unprecedented, relentless hostility and disrespect they were subjected to here
in macho "Alberduh," apparently unlike anything seen in the rest of the country
before, an example being the smirking, bad-boy UCP putting in ear plugs at one
point while IN the legislature FFS!
We went to one of their meetings here in Lethbridge and there were police at the
door, which we asked about and were told it was because of death threats, which
they kept to themselves, not wanting to look overly "emotional." I talk about
them "going for broke" but that would actually be the reckless, thoughtless
CONSERVATIVE style wouldn't it, completely ignoring context at all times?
And they did give us hope, which is what Nenshi is doing now because he's also a
basic outsider like they were, but has the most essential passport of being
male, and tall. A short, cute blonde woman who actually LOOKED like a
cheerleader was the ultimate target for the disproportionate number of stupid,
nasty misogynists here. And we're all looking forward to an Harvard educated,
genuine "smartest guy in the room" going toe to toe with the anti-intellectual,
mean-spirited "United Clown Posse" of Proud Boys Inc. generally, and
PARTICULARLY if they ALLOW Smith to remain, who took a class with Nenshi while
at U of C that was taught by Peter Lougheed (he mentions that at least HE was
paying attention), and where HE was president of the Student's Union, not her.
Ha.
Not to mention the "Take Back Alberta" idiots led by a home-schooled evangelical
who's apparently read the bible TWELVE times, so has unmitigated male
entitlement beyond comprehension, so felt free to actually call Nenshi
"grotesque" on social media.....should be interesting.

 * reply


AGAIN, I AM REPLYING TO DON

Tris Pargeter | 3 days ago

Again, I am replying to Don here.

 * reply


MADELINE ALBRIGHT WROTE

David Krieger | 2 days ago

Madeline Albright wrote "Fascism, A Warning"
And says
"First of all, I don’t think fascism is an ideology. I think it is a method,
it’s a system.”
Want to see the system in place for 40 + years in the USA
https://evonomics.com/how-to-disguise-racism-and-oligarchy-use-the-langu...
Albright is especially fond of a Mussolini quote about “plucking a chicken
feather by feather” so that people will not notice the loss of their freedoms
until it is too late.
Abertans and Canadians are being plucked and loving it

 * reply


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