Thanks for keeping on top of this, Lisa. It's red tapey overreach enough on the municipal side, but the notion of the Government of Alberta overseeing academic research granting with some kind of an ideological litmus test of their own making is truly dispiriting.
“There now appears to be a good chance that Alberta’s universities will be collateral damage in the war with the feds.” I fear the entire population of Alberta may become collateral damage in Ms Smith, Mr Anderson, & Mr Parker’s war with the feds. This government seems more unhinged and incoherent every day.
Look what they did with Athabasca University. And I heard, only ONCE, that post-secondary religious institutions weren't cut?
I don't think it's a tentative "yes" to freaking out; I think we're running out of time to get our act together against these psychos. There was a meme on Facebook recently that asked, "Have you ever wondered what people were doing before Hitler came into power? Look around." I realize that raising Hitler is a sign of losing an argument, but in our slavish adherence to the "low-drama narrative" we have clearly lost the thread here. There's our current zeal for "having a conversation" that almost everyone now says repeatedly while steadfastly ignoring the fact that certain conditions are prerequisites to any meaningful "back and forth" or negotiation, like basic respect for the concept. Sounds like more "woke" crap doesn't it? (We HAVE become a bit precious on the left, maybe as an over-reaction to the ever more doctrinal religious right; the GOP's most unholy alliance.)
Sam Harris says that "there's no living with jihadists," and the same goes for any people who are insane or fanatical, or, increasingly, ANYONE who still identifies as a conservative after what's happened with them. We've had years of warnings but have refused to call them out in our misguided Canadian enthusiasm for fairness and inclusion, thinking they'll either be tempered or go away, but they haven't and now all our democratic institutions are threatened, along with civilization as we have known it. Note the root word, and how that was the first to go.
Naheed Nenshi offers hope but we have THREE more years of this unprecedented chaos (those people put in hotels as a form of "health care" was shocking) so we also need to contemplate an unprecedented reaction. What are the actual options when we're faced with such destruction and gross incompetence? Might a political science prof have any ideas?
It’s unfortunate the Alberta government uses its time and taxpayers resources to fight with “Ottawa”. Since the time of Lougheed, conservatives have promised to diversify the Alberta economy. There are real priorities that need tending. Conservatives should actually do something productive.
I would guess Smith herself wants to block any research that might disturb the oil industry in their unrealistic expectations of the near future; so climate change and the transition to clean energy.
Her advisors might want to block anything about harm reduction, since they would rather let Albertans die than change their minds on how best to treat people with addictions.
Then there are various social conservative views they may want to impose on Alberta kids...
I think it would help if we reminded people at every turn about the alarming importance of religion to this government. They don't mention it themselves because they remember how the "lake of fire" incident sunk them AND Smith back when they were still calling themselves the Wild Rose Party, but a rose by any other name....
So we could at least be honest enough to say RELIGIOUS views instead of the weasel term "social conservative" views. Why are we even doing that when you think about it? I'd say because most of us are uncomfortable with it, wanting a democratic government, not a theocratic one. Especially as we watch the U.S. careening ever closer to that.
Our mistake is in continuing to publicly fund a "separate" (another weasel word, read Catholic) school system. Alberta is one of only three provinces still doing that; even Quebec no longer does.
Smith herself is apparently not religious, which doesn't stop her from sucking up to religious extremists and throwing vulnerable minorities under the bus.
Trump isn't religious either but there's a horde of evangelicals backing him; shows the continuing social utility of religion when it comes to gaining and holding political power.
So why do you suppose that publicly subsidized churches aren't ENOUGH for "believers?" They often have schools too, and hospitals catering to their alternate reality; I've even seen a credit union, oh and there are bookstores....
I've heard lots of people say that they're fine with religion as long as it's not "shoved down their throats," but WHY else do they want the power of government then, if not to do just THAT? Religious belief dwells in their personal imaginations as an idea, a myth introduced during their childhood, like Santa Claus, except you're not expected to "grow out of it." Kind of the definition of "extreme" and/or a cult.
I'm fine with religion as a personal comfort like any ritual, but it should remain personal, not public. Separation of church and state is the only rational response to masses of people insisting on any myth being true for whatever reason, but we're straying very far from that of late.
Valerie Jobson: Cancer and other medical research would also not get the proper attention they deserve. Premier Horse Paste, and Davey Boy Parker would see to that.
Except the Freedom Convoy we experienced is comprised of Smith followers and likely pressed her to doing "something to stop the potential liberal influence "
Of course we should be “freaking out”. It is laughable how liberals think that democracy and, indeed, human civilization itself is safe from today’s conservatives. They are Nazis, pure and simple. A political science professor who does not understand that should resign immediately. In shame.
The Second World War taught us the only way to deal with fascists. We must get them before they get us.
The research could also be reviewed based on who the researcher is vs the topic or subject of the research. Are they politically aligned with UCP or are they critics? Appointments to provincial entity boards are already reviewed to ensure only UCP friends and supporters get the roles.
So now we have the Premier saying: 'They (the federal government) fund in a certain way based on a certain ideology and that's what we're going to be able to determine once that becomes a lot more transparent,"
The Advanced Education Minister saying: 'right now there is no grant that I know of, that I am aware of, that will be problematic,'
These are mutually exclusive statements that only align in their ignorance of how the grant systems in this country work. One can safely assume this level of ignorance about the post secondary sector is matched by their ignorance of the municipal sector.
So yes, it's time to freak out, either because they know what they're doing, or more likely, they have no clue, and don't care.
Then there's this: 'The only ray of hope in the Minister’s tweet is the statement that she would be consulting with the post-secondaries to ensure that the government’s process aligns with the institutions’ priorities.'
I know where you're coming from Prof. Young, but this is the same government that promised to 'consult' on their plan to trash the CPP. Now they're refusing to release much of the information collected in that consultation and are looking for ways to achieve their goal through subterfuge and deceit. This process will no doubt work and look much the same.
To @RaganJShaw History reveals the University has influenced the many accomplishments in our society.
The French Revolution dismantled the University 1793–1806 using financial central control during political turmoil - is this what you’re doing in a unique @ABDanielSmith way?Afraid of new ideas?
Is this Smith blaming the federal government for what she really dislikes, namely social and healthcare research? I recall that it's the granting councils (in the province, for various areas of research) that give the grant money, and it's the feds who provide funds to the councils. Is Smith that smart, to use the federal government as a handy stalking horse for pesky research? Probably not, but she is that vindictive. Maybe I'm not understanding all the issues. I'm sorry for Alberta.
Thanks for keeping on top of this, Lisa. It's red tapey overreach enough on the municipal side, but the notion of the Government of Alberta overseeing academic research granting with some kind of an ideological litmus test of their own making is truly dispiriting.
“There now appears to be a good chance that Alberta’s universities will be collateral damage in the war with the feds.” I fear the entire population of Alberta may become collateral damage in Ms Smith, Mr Anderson, & Mr Parker’s war with the feds. This government seems more unhinged and incoherent every day.
Look what they did with Athabasca University. And I heard, only ONCE, that post-secondary religious institutions weren't cut?
I don't think it's a tentative "yes" to freaking out; I think we're running out of time to get our act together against these psychos. There was a meme on Facebook recently that asked, "Have you ever wondered what people were doing before Hitler came into power? Look around." I realize that raising Hitler is a sign of losing an argument, but in our slavish adherence to the "low-drama narrative" we have clearly lost the thread here. There's our current zeal for "having a conversation" that almost everyone now says repeatedly while steadfastly ignoring the fact that certain conditions are prerequisites to any meaningful "back and forth" or negotiation, like basic respect for the concept. Sounds like more "woke" crap doesn't it? (We HAVE become a bit precious on the left, maybe as an over-reaction to the ever more doctrinal religious right; the GOP's most unholy alliance.)
Sam Harris says that "there's no living with jihadists," and the same goes for any people who are insane or fanatical, or, increasingly, ANYONE who still identifies as a conservative after what's happened with them. We've had years of warnings but have refused to call them out in our misguided Canadian enthusiasm for fairness and inclusion, thinking they'll either be tempered or go away, but they haven't and now all our democratic institutions are threatened, along with civilization as we have known it. Note the root word, and how that was the first to go.
Naheed Nenshi offers hope but we have THREE more years of this unprecedented chaos (those people put in hotels as a form of "health care" was shocking) so we also need to contemplate an unprecedented reaction. What are the actual options when we're faced with such destruction and gross incompetence? Might a political science prof have any ideas?
Absolute spot on Tris !
Tris Pargeter: Very well said.
The total incompetence and utter stupidity of the UCP is terrifying!
Yes it is, but if u think Smith may be bad, watch Poilieve
It’s unfortunate the Alberta government uses its time and taxpayers resources to fight with “Ottawa”. Since the time of Lougheed, conservatives have promised to diversify the Alberta economy. There are real priorities that need tending. Conservatives should actually do something productive.
Should and productive are unknown words to our government
I would guess Smith herself wants to block any research that might disturb the oil industry in their unrealistic expectations of the near future; so climate change and the transition to clean energy.
Her advisors might want to block anything about harm reduction, since they would rather let Albertans die than change their minds on how best to treat people with addictions.
Then there are various social conservative views they may want to impose on Alberta kids...
Harper fired three thousand scientists and destroyed their work and the libraries which contained the work just because of the word MIGHT
I think it would help if we reminded people at every turn about the alarming importance of religion to this government. They don't mention it themselves because they remember how the "lake of fire" incident sunk them AND Smith back when they were still calling themselves the Wild Rose Party, but a rose by any other name....
So we could at least be honest enough to say RELIGIOUS views instead of the weasel term "social conservative" views. Why are we even doing that when you think about it? I'd say because most of us are uncomfortable with it, wanting a democratic government, not a theocratic one. Especially as we watch the U.S. careening ever closer to that.
Our mistake is in continuing to publicly fund a "separate" (another weasel word, read Catholic) school system. Alberta is one of only three provinces still doing that; even Quebec no longer does.
Smith herself is apparently not religious, which doesn't stop her from sucking up to religious extremists and throwing vulnerable minorities under the bus.
Trump isn't religious either but there's a horde of evangelicals backing him; shows the continuing social utility of religion when it comes to gaining and holding political power.
So why do you suppose that publicly subsidized churches aren't ENOUGH for "believers?" They often have schools too, and hospitals catering to their alternate reality; I've even seen a credit union, oh and there are bookstores....
I've heard lots of people say that they're fine with religion as long as it's not "shoved down their throats," but WHY else do they want the power of government then, if not to do just THAT? Religious belief dwells in their personal imaginations as an idea, a myth introduced during their childhood, like Santa Claus, except you're not expected to "grow out of it." Kind of the definition of "extreme" and/or a cult.
I'm fine with religion as a personal comfort like any ritual, but it should remain personal, not public. Separation of church and state is the only rational response to masses of people insisting on any myth being true for whatever reason, but we're straying very far from that of late.
Valerie Jobson: Cancer and other medical research would also not get the proper attention they deserve. Premier Horse Paste, and Davey Boy Parker would see to that.
Where's a good Freedom Convoy when you need one? Talk about government overreach!
Except the Freedom Convoy we experienced is comprised of Smith followers and likely pressed her to doing "something to stop the potential liberal influence "
“War with the Feds” implies that both sides are fighting.
Kenney was at “war with the Feds” his entire term, but he was smart enough to mostly keep the propaganda separate from actual policies.
Smith can’t tell the difference between her propaganda and actual consequences for the province.
Of course we should be “freaking out”. It is laughable how liberals think that democracy and, indeed, human civilization itself is safe from today’s conservatives. They are Nazis, pure and simple. A political science professor who does not understand that should resign immediately. In shame.
The Second World War taught us the only way to deal with fascists. We must get them before they get us.
John A. Turner. B.A.(Hons.) M.A. LL.B.
The research could also be reviewed based on who the researcher is vs the topic or subject of the research. Are they politically aligned with UCP or are they critics? Appointments to provincial entity boards are already reviewed to ensure only UCP friends and supporters get the roles.
What do you want to bet that the Minister of Advanced Education, Ms. Sawhney has not one clue how research dollars are allocated.
Yes, it's time to freak!
These nutjobs are totally and completely incompetent. Any sane person should be ashamed of any sort of association with them.
We are now well into what it looks like when you elect a lunatic for a premier.
So it appears the Far Right's plan is to lobotomise Alberta in order to spite the Feds. That should go well...
So now we have the Premier saying: 'They (the federal government) fund in a certain way based on a certain ideology and that's what we're going to be able to determine once that becomes a lot more transparent,"
The Advanced Education Minister saying: 'right now there is no grant that I know of, that I am aware of, that will be problematic,'
These are mutually exclusive statements that only align in their ignorance of how the grant systems in this country work. One can safely assume this level of ignorance about the post secondary sector is matched by their ignorance of the municipal sector.
So yes, it's time to freak out, either because they know what they're doing, or more likely, they have no clue, and don't care.
Then there's this: 'The only ray of hope in the Minister’s tweet is the statement that she would be consulting with the post-secondaries to ensure that the government’s process aligns with the institutions’ priorities.'
I know where you're coming from Prof. Young, but this is the same government that promised to 'consult' on their plan to trash the CPP. Now they're refusing to release much of the information collected in that consultation and are looking for ways to achieve their goal through subterfuge and deceit. This process will no doubt work and look much the same.
To @RaganJShaw History reveals the University has influenced the many accomplishments in our society.
The French Revolution dismantled the University 1793–1806 using financial central control during political turmoil - is this what you’re doing in a unique @ABDanielSmith way?Afraid of new ideas?
Is this Smith blaming the federal government for what she really dislikes, namely social and healthcare research? I recall that it's the granting councils (in the province, for various areas of research) that give the grant money, and it's the feds who provide funds to the councils. Is Smith that smart, to use the federal government as a handy stalking horse for pesky research? Probably not, but she is that vindictive. Maybe I'm not understanding all the issues. I'm sorry for Alberta.