Inviting a foreign power to collude in influencing a Canadian election is shocking, but on brand for our Premier. The moral and intellectual dearth in the UCP leadership reveals itself more and more every day.
On CBC, the Green Party co-leader, Jonathan Pednault just stated that clearly. And then Elizabeth brought the emotion to meet the moment unlike Mark Carney.
I'll vote Liberal of course, but am much consoled by what these two said, starting with their unique example of "co-leadership," unlike Singh's standard, except even MORE deluded than usual party line. Cancelling the agreement with the Liberals was the beginning of them spiralling downward, as they deserve to.
As a perfect example of what is missing when women leaders are absent, Elizabeth used the prevailing sport/guy "Team Canada" idea in service to MORE voting to ensure a "progressive parliament."
It was consoling because a reminder that even a Liberal minority COULD work, as it already demonstrably DID, as long as the NDP face reality and get their heads out of their asses after the election....
But having said that, a majority would still be pure balm to our troubled minds, but are we ever fortunate to have Elizabeth's voice there.
I just read this on Breitbart a little while ago and was particularly horrified by "Very much in sync with, I think…the new direction in America. And I think we’d have a really great relationship for the period of time they’re both in (office).” From an *ostensibly Canadian premier this is far worse than tone deaf. It's dangerous. Alberta holds too much economic clout to be off the page.
Where are the Albertan demonstrators in front of the Alberta Leg denouncing Smith and her MAGA enthusiasms? The rest of Canada imagines Albertans are all in with the UCP treasonous ways.
Many Albertans have gathered and protested - and written and organized - but we’re also dealing with a “flood the zone with sh—t“ issue: UCP continue to attack on all fronts. AB support school workers have been/will be on strike, 2 million people have their water at risk from the UCP wanting to open coal mines on the Eastern slopes, health care is in crisis, trans people are having basic rights taken away, especially children…. And there is no AB advantage - we pay a lot more for energy, insurance, etc., and so cost of living concerns displace some people’s reactions to this.
I don’t disagree with you - we should be far more vocal, and this should take priority! But I do want to emphasize stuff is happening. The UCP just work very hard to ignore us and to silence us.
We have gathered and protested multiple times. At the ledge more than once. Edmonton elected no UCP candidates - and we did that intentionally. Edmonton is smarter than the rest of the province but the UCP only have an 11-seat majority. Smallest conservative majority in the history of Alberta.
I believe that foreign action, if openly acknowledged, is called "influence" and is legal.
That includes supplying money, within limits. (Whether it's ethical is a different question.)
It's called "interference" if it's hidden, and that makes it illegal.
I further believe (I haven't tried to check) the same rules apply in the US. That's why Canadians can travel there and participate in US election campaigns. Whether we can fund American politicians, say by campaign donations, is something I don't know.
Smith’s admitted attempts to influence our federal election via a foreign government seems to me to require a high level security investigation with a view to laying the charge of treason. It seems she is in the United States colluding with people close to the Trump government, and only back in Alberta to announce another horrific order to further destroy the healthcare system or cut disability income for the disabled.
Smith has made it abundantly clear that she will only support a unified Canadian approach to dealing with Trump’s threats to our economy and our sovereignty if her Alberta separatist-style demands are met.
I think actively working on behalf of a foreign nation is called 5th Column and Danielle Smith fits the description.
Perhaps it’s time to call on Lieutenant Governor Lakhani to exercise her right to call a public inquiry into the allegations of corruption in the Smith government or dissolve the Legislature and mandate an election.
As usual, this is a really important analysis of Danielle Smith’s actions! Who is she working for anyway? If I was a highly placed Conservative operative, I’d be sending her that First Class plane ticket to Panama City now. Don’t know who or if she listens to any brass in the CPC but I imagine a number of them want a little “chat” with her. She cares more about the sound of her own voice than she does about the effects of the message she broadcasts.
Totally in line with everything else Smith has said about the current context. I'm still waiting for the light to go on with the media and Smith's assertion that extorting the ROC to submit to her/energy companies demands or face a 'national unity crisis', in the middle of the most serious existential threats to the country in decades, is a good idea. Demands Poliviere thinks are 'reasonable'.
Smith seems to have thrown in the towel here; it HAS been a long winter after all, and the plodding Adriana has REALLY become a drag....
So now she's focused on setting up her next gig with MAGA. Clearly the novelty has worn off with this whole "governing" thing, and who knows, maybe those crazy Wild Rosers finally just wore her down with their relentless religious crap.
(Cults aren't really tolerable unless you're a true believer after all, and even uber-Catholic Kenney thought they were nuts, which of course they ARE.
Which is why it was truly disappointing today to hear that Carney is a Catholic.)
So it looks like Smith's former job as an oil/gas lobbyist beckons; it had to have been a lot more fun.....
Yes, although what "practising" means may vary as well. I did read that PET "lost" his "faith" after his son died which is understandable, but on the other hand what took him?
I continue to marvel at the persistence of this massive delusion, even as it seems to be the perfect example of a "gateway drug" for this destructive "post-truth" era.
What was Premier Smith thinking about? Breitbart News is a cesspool of alt-right conspiracy theories. A recent article accused Disney of grooming children to be gay. It reads like a parody … but it’s not.
Maybe some of her more rabid anti-vaxx or Christian fundamentalist base would find Breitbart credible; most Canadians would find it laughable or nauseating.
Smith talked to the Breitbart mob because they're fellow travellers. Smith is a Q-adjacent conspiracy junkie, Trump suck-up, and--despite acknowledging her affliction--STILL has no crazy radar. In short, she's right at home with the Breitbarts and the MAGAts.
Inviting a foreign power to collude in influencing a Canadian election is shocking, but on brand for our Premier. The moral and intellectual dearth in the UCP leadership reveals itself more and more every day.
Tell me with a straight face that there is no international conservative collusion/conspiracy under way.
On CBC, the Green Party co-leader, Jonathan Pednault just stated that clearly. And then Elizabeth brought the emotion to meet the moment unlike Mark Carney.
I'll vote Liberal of course, but am much consoled by what these two said, starting with their unique example of "co-leadership," unlike Singh's standard, except even MORE deluded than usual party line. Cancelling the agreement with the Liberals was the beginning of them spiralling downward, as they deserve to.
As a perfect example of what is missing when women leaders are absent, Elizabeth used the prevailing sport/guy "Team Canada" idea in service to MORE voting to ensure a "progressive parliament."
It was consoling because a reminder that even a Liberal minority COULD work, as it already demonstrably DID, as long as the NDP face reality and get their heads out of their asses after the election....
But having said that, a majority would still be pure balm to our troubled minds, but are we ever fortunate to have Elizabeth's voice there.
Agree with you 1000%.
Hillary tried to warn people about that "vast right-wing conspiracy"
Share the message with as many friends and family as possible, and encourage them all to vote.
Team Canada
I just read this on Breitbart a little while ago and was particularly horrified by "Very much in sync with, I think…the new direction in America. And I think we’d have a really great relationship for the period of time they’re both in (office).” From an *ostensibly Canadian premier this is far worse than tone deaf. It's dangerous. Alberta holds too much economic clout to be off the page.
Where are the Albertan demonstrators in front of the Alberta Leg denouncing Smith and her MAGA enthusiasms? The rest of Canada imagines Albertans are all in with the UCP treasonous ways.
Many Albertans have gathered and protested - and written and organized - but we’re also dealing with a “flood the zone with sh—t“ issue: UCP continue to attack on all fronts. AB support school workers have been/will be on strike, 2 million people have their water at risk from the UCP wanting to open coal mines on the Eastern slopes, health care is in crisis, trans people are having basic rights taken away, especially children…. And there is no AB advantage - we pay a lot more for energy, insurance, etc., and so cost of living concerns displace some people’s reactions to this.
I don’t disagree with you - we should be far more vocal, and this should take priority! But I do want to emphasize stuff is happening. The UCP just work very hard to ignore us and to silence us.
We have gathered and protested multiple times. At the ledge more than once. Edmonton elected no UCP candidates - and we did that intentionally. Edmonton is smarter than the rest of the province but the UCP only have an 11-seat majority. Smallest conservative majority in the history of Alberta.
Sheryl Campbell: The UCP's majority is slimmer than that. It's shrinking, because of internal strife.
True for sure. Think they’re down to a 9 seat majority as they lost one cabinet member and another who chose to sit as an independent.
Smith had spent more time in Florida the last few weeks than in Edmonton. What does she care about protests?
She has invited foreign interference. In Canada that is a criminal offence.
Albertan’s who are not UCP are mortified.
Apparently it's an offense only if it's done in secret. Which seems bizarre to me, but who would have imagined this scenario?
I believe that foreign action, if openly acknowledged, is called "influence" and is legal.
That includes supplying money, within limits. (Whether it's ethical is a different question.)
It's called "interference" if it's hidden, and that makes it illegal.
I further believe (I haven't tried to check) the same rules apply in the US. That's why Canadians can travel there and participate in US election campaigns. Whether we can fund American politicians, say by campaign donations, is something I don't know.
When is the next Alberta election? It can’t come soon enough.
2027.
Good thing. We need to wake up the opposition here.
Smith’s admitted attempts to influence our federal election via a foreign government seems to me to require a high level security investigation with a view to laying the charge of treason. It seems she is in the United States colluding with people close to the Trump government, and only back in Alberta to announce another horrific order to further destroy the healthcare system or cut disability income for the disabled.
Smith has made it abundantly clear that she will only support a unified Canadian approach to dealing with Trump’s threats to our economy and our sovereignty if her Alberta separatist-style demands are met.
I think actively working on behalf of a foreign nation is called 5th Column and Danielle Smith fits the description.
Perhaps it’s time to call on Lieutenant Governor Lakhani to exercise her right to call a public inquiry into the allegations of corruption in the Smith government or dissolve the Legislature and mandate an election.
Excellent piece!!
As usual, this is a really important analysis of Danielle Smith’s actions! Who is she working for anyway? If I was a highly placed Conservative operative, I’d be sending her that First Class plane ticket to Panama City now. Don’t know who or if she listens to any brass in the CPC but I imagine a number of them want a little “chat” with her. She cares more about the sound of her own voice than she does about the effects of the message she broadcasts.
Spot on Lisa Young!
Totally in line with everything else Smith has said about the current context. I'm still waiting for the light to go on with the media and Smith's assertion that extorting the ROC to submit to her/energy companies demands or face a 'national unity crisis', in the middle of the most serious existential threats to the country in decades, is a good idea. Demands Poliviere thinks are 'reasonable'.
With supporters like this Polievre doesn’t need opponents.
Smith seems to have thrown in the towel here; it HAS been a long winter after all, and the plodding Adriana has REALLY become a drag....
So now she's focused on setting up her next gig with MAGA. Clearly the novelty has worn off with this whole "governing" thing, and who knows, maybe those crazy Wild Rosers finally just wore her down with their relentless religious crap.
(Cults aren't really tolerable unless you're a true believer after all, and even uber-Catholic Kenney thought they were nuts, which of course they ARE.
Which is why it was truly disappointing today to hear that Carney is a Catholic.)
So it looks like Smith's former job as an oil/gas lobbyist beckons; it had to have been a lot more fun.....
I think Trudeau is also a practicing Catholic (as was PET).
And I heard Carney say yesterday that he absolutely believes in women's right to choose.
I did too, so ok, bottom line.
Yes, although what "practising" means may vary as well. I did read that PET "lost" his "faith" after his son died which is understandable, but on the other hand what took him?
I continue to marvel at the persistence of this massive delusion, even as it seems to be the perfect example of a "gateway drug" for this destructive "post-truth" era.
Spot on Lisa Young!
What was Premier Smith thinking about? Breitbart News is a cesspool of alt-right conspiracy theories. A recent article accused Disney of grooming children to be gay. It reads like a parody … but it’s not.
Maybe some of her more rabid anti-vaxx or Christian fundamentalist base would find Breitbart credible; most Canadians would find it laughable or nauseating.
Yup, the story has 'legs'.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/lets-just-put-things-on-pause-alberta-premier-under-fire-for-breitbart-interview/
Looks like CPC is going to need a stratgey for 'Smith Inflicted Wounds'.
Smith talked to the Breitbart mob because they're fellow travellers. Smith is a Q-adjacent conspiracy junkie, Trump suck-up, and--despite acknowledging her affliction--STILL has no crazy radar. In short, she's right at home with the Breitbarts and the MAGAts.