Is Kenney Fighting For or Against Alberta Oil?

The political theatre playing out in politics does offer one silver lining: there's plenty to talk about.  However, there is a downside and right now, Kenney's theatrics may end up helping John Horgan receive the provincial jurisdiction he so desperately wants to be able to limit the amount of oil shipped from BC's ports.  Thanks to Kenney and the UCP's continued grandstanding on the federal carbon tax issue, they are demonstrating a clear defiance that only bolsters the BC NDP's position against the Trans Mountain Expansion.

The federal government approved the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) in 2016 and has repeatedly said the pipeline is "in the national interest".  The federal carbon tax implementation has been billed as a way to purchase 'social license' and this term has been mangled so many times it's less clear for whom the social license was intended.  While a number of people claim it was to buy acceptance from environmentalists, Notley's support for the federal carbon tax was clearly to gain the social license from the federal government for approval.

Of the opposition parties, the Alberta Party was in favour of a consumer carbon tax back in 2015 but both Greg Clark and David Swann voted against the NDP format.  It just makes sense to support the federal government when the province needs federal support in return.  As Kenney makes his contradictory play in support of both federal and provincial jurisdiction, he helps make Horgan's case for provincial jurisdiction in BC.

In working the narrative to paint Alberta's NDP and the federal Liberals as "best friends", the UCP furthers this narrative of supporting the federal government as a bad thing to score political points in Alberta.  What is it doing for BC?  Yet again, this narrative only helps the anti-approval sentiment in the province.  Kenney is playing both sides of this debate and if he is successful it could mean the absolute denial of increased access for Alberta oil.  He'll blame the Liberals and the NDP but this is on him and his desperate attempt to fuel anger for votes.

All actions have consequences.  As Jason Kenney continues to grandstand on the matter of federal jurisdiction regarding the carbon tax, he is fighting for the federal government to concede jurisdiction over provincial matters.  This is precisely what the BC NDP is fighting for.  If Kenney succeeds, it will set a precedent for other provinces to defy the federal government's decisions including the one he claims to be fighting for.

The University of Alberta Stands Tall

Post-secondary institutions don't receive nearly as much publicity when they do something "right" as when they do something "wrong".  Current and former Alberta MLAs of one stripe have publicly declared the University Senate's decision to grant Dr. David Suzuki an Honorary Degree "bizarre", "embarrassing", "out of touch" and "ridiculous".  Another suggested it would be beneficial if the decision makers remove themselves from their "ivory tower".   Moody's Gartner, a law firm in Edmonton, rescinded a $100,000 donation to the U of A Law School over the decision.

Fraser Forbes, Dean of Engineering at the University, described the decision as a "direct and alarming threat to our Faculty of Engineering and the worst crisis, a crisis of trust, that we've faced in more than three decades".  Andrew Leach, Associate Professor at the Alberta School of Business at the University and former Chair of Alberta's Climate Change Advisory Panel, also disagreed with the honour but for reasons of academic integrity

David Suzuki, who, despite receiving a weekly welcome in living rooms across Canada with "The Nature of Things" (currently in its 57th season) has been vocal in his opposition to continued development of oil projects.

Top of mind for many in Alberta is the Trans Mountain Expansion which took more news space as of April 8, 2018 when Kinder Morgan announced work would be put on hold, citing "jurisdictional differences between governments". The BC government's "action to protect BC over Kinder Morgan pipeline and tanker traffic expansion" is at odds with the federal government's approval of a project to expand the existing pipeline to accommodate an additional 590,000 barrels of oil per day for export.

David Turpin, President and vice-Chancellor of the University of Alberta responded today noting that it was a former U of A President, Henry Marshall Tory, who advocated for development of the oilsands in the face of public resistance.

"We will stand by our decision because our reputation as a university - an institution founded on the principles of freedom of inquiry, academic integrity, and independence - depends on it.  Universities must not be afraid of controversy.  Instead we must be its champion.  Stifle controversy and you also stifle the pursuit of knowledge, the generation of ideas and the discovery of new truths.  Take uncomfortable ideas, debate, and conflict out of the university and its fundamental role in society disappears." 

~ David Turpin, April 24, 2018

The purpose of an honorary degree, as stated on the University's website is:

"intended to recognize and honor [sic] outstanding individuals whose significant achievements and contributions are worthy of the university's highest honor [sic].  The awarding of an honorary degree is intended to encourage a standard of excellence which is exemplary to students and to society. Honorary degree recipients embody the university's vision to inspire the human spirit through outstanding achievements in learning, discovery and citizenship in a creative community"

David Suzuki, in spite of all but the last of the aforementioned complaints, has made significant contributions to learning, discovery and citizenship.  From Dr. Leach's summary though, it's quite possible Dr. Suzuki has succumbed to the affliction of even the best-intentioned 82 year old men in deciding he has no more need to learn.  Even if that is so, it does not diminish Dr. Suzuki's many accomplishments over his lifetime which include:

- Steacie Memorial Fellowship for research on cell mutations due to temperature change (1969)
- Credited with "popularization of science" due to his involvement in radio and television programs and documentaries Quirks and Quarks (1975-present), The Nature of Things (1979-present), A Planet for Taking (1985), Yellowstone to Yukon; The Wildlands Project (1993) and The Secret of Life (1993)
- UNESCO Kalinga prize for science (1986)
- Right Livelihood Award (2009)

Even if many people disagree with what he has said and done in the past decade or so, David Suzuki dedicated his work and life to science, scientific inquiry and educating others and there is nothing wrong with being the 30th university to recognize that with an honorary degree. 

Former recipients of the University of Alberta's Honorary Degree include Wayne Gretzky and Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Another Four Bite the Dust

It's not really a shrinking caucus if people refuse to run for re-election but the number of former Wildrose MLAs on that list is rising at a steady enough rate to warrant some consideration.  All Wildrose and PC MLAs became UCP MLAs when the parties merged.  Prior to the merger, the Wildrose caucus consisted of 22 MLAs including Derek Fildebrandt, Strathmore-Brooks and its leader, Brian Jean, Fort McMurray-Conklin.

As a refresher, Fildebrandt stepped down from the caucus in August 2017 to allow Albertans to focus on the UCP leadership rather than the reasons he stepped down.  In February of 2018 a press release on behalf of Jason Kenney informed both Albertans and Fildebrandt that Fildebrant "can't return to UCP caucus".  Within a week Don MacIntrye resigned over sexual assault allegations and Brian Jean resigned in March of his own volition.

Photo: unitedconservative.ca/caucus

The latest trend is current UCP MLAs (who also happen to disproportionately be former Wildrosers) announcing they will not be vying for the party nominations in their ridings.  On April 9, Scott Cyr, MLA for Bonnyville - Cold Lake announced he would not be seeking the UCP nomination and he was joined by Wayne Drysdale, MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti, Pat Stier MLA for Livingstone MacLeod, and David Schneider, MLA for Little Bow who made announcements on Friday, April 20.

The former PC caucus has remained relatively untouched, aside from Dave Rodney stepping down to give Kenney his seat in November 2017 and now Drysdale not seeking re-election.  One has to wonder if there's something in the air at the UCP that is making former Wildrose MLAs a little uncomfortable.  From a public relations perspective, it certainly seems smarter to have as many MLAs as possible announce they will retire from politics in 2019 rather than drag it out over four or five months (or more).

Schneider's riding won't exist under the new boundaries and neither would Derek Fildebrandt's as his was carved up mightily.  Under the new boundaries, Fildebrandt's Strathmore-Brooks riding lost the most populated areas; Strathmore merged with Chestermere (Leela Aheer) and Brooks merged with Cypress, (Drew Barnes).

While some MLAs have announced their intention to run again, some notable others have not.  Rick Strankman (Drumheller-Stettler) has not yet announced and with his unenviable public relations issues with the Wildrose, it would not be surprising if he did not contest the riding.  One contender, Nathan Horner, is currently registered to vie for the UCP nomination in Drumheller-Stettler.

Prasad Panda, Calgary-Foothills, has not announced either and there are currently two individuals registered to seek the nomination in his riding; Connor Staus and Jason Luan.  It may also be worth mentioning that the ridings of Barnes, Orr, Nixon, Pitt, Cooper, Hunter, McIver and Smith have no other contenders registered.

Perhaps it's true that these former Wildrose MLAs are all ready to move on and they are all happily heading back to being citizens at large for their own reasons.  And someone once told me there are no coincidences in politics.  So there's that.

What Women Want

Jason Kenney made a startling declaration on Thursday regarding "The Biggest Women's Issue in Alberta".  The never married, childless MLA from Calgary-Lougheed stated with as much importance as you would expect a similarly experienced individual could, that it was: the economy.
"I don't care whether you're a woman or a man" Kenney said, which is often how to tell if someone put any thought whatsoever into addressing a "women's issue". 

A quick google search informed me, a woman, of the following issues to make headlines in Calgary so far in 2018:

1. Safety
2. Resources
3. Pay Equity
4. Supportive Environments
5. Training and Education (to access better paying work in the trades)

"The economy" didn't make the first six pages (I didn't feel the need to look further).  The fifth issue above (from Women Building Futures) showed up on page 2 with a specific goal of obtaining education which would allow women access to better paying jobs.  The most recent article linked to from the Women Building Futures website is entitled "WBF elated with federal budget gender equality focus - Journal of Commerce" (emphasis mine).

While I don't propose that Google is the be all-end all to women's issues in Alberta, I trust it more than the MLA who is neither a woman nor included in his parade of Alberta any photo ops with representatives from WBF, Women's Centres, Women's Shelters, or the most recent Women's March.  Even his Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff are men; not that there's anything wrong with that so long as you're not counting on their advice regarding creating a video about a "women's issue".

For women, Kenney has provided the following insights:

1. Dictating dress (Niqab Ban, 2015)
2. He thinks "gender neutral" is a punchline (Ontario PC Leadership, 2018)
3. He offers zero tolerance for sexual harassment (#MeToo, 2018)
4. He cut funding to an organization assisting "ecumenical (Christian) and women's groups"                (KAIROS, 2010)
5. He abstained from the debate on buffer zones around abortion clinics (Alberta, 2018)
6. He has a "100% voting record on life ... issues" (Abortion, consistently) (added: good read)
7. He wants more women candidates to run for the UCP (Alberta, 2017)

This is only the first six pages but I think there's something there...