Burma's Cyclone

Help out with relief efforts in Burma. Check out the story here. Donations can be made through the Canadian Red Cross.

No To Independent Duck Inquiry

This was a surprise.

Alberta's Environment Minister Rob Renner said that there would be no independent inquiry into the deaths of more than 500 ducks that became trapped after landing in a Syncrude tailings pond. The Minister also maintained his stance that the government is unable to monitor the environment, but rather would continue to rely on industry to report any such problems. This current incident was not reported by Syncrude, but came to light through an anonymous tip to the government.

Alberta's Rutherford Scholarship Expansion

Today, Alberta's Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner announced plans to allow for more high school students to receive the Rutherford Scholarship by expanding its eligibility. Currently, every Alberta high school student is eligible for the Rutherford Scholarship's $2,500 maximum if they have maintained an 80% average for grades 10, 11, and 12. This $2,500 scholarship is equivalent to roughly one semester's worth of tuition, with a full course load, at most Post Secondary Institutions within Alberta. The government plans to expand the scholarship by allowing students who have maintained an average between 75-79.9% to be eligible to receive $1,500. Overall, the province announced a $14 million dollar increase in scholarship programs for next year. This is obviously a step in the right direction in encouraging more Albertans to pursue a higher education but more needs to be done in terms of making higher education more affordable throughout a students Post Secondary career.

The Ducks

I'm sure you've heard about the story concerning the migratory ducks becoming stuck in a Syncrude tailings pond. Also, check out Alberta: Get Rich or Die Trying's view on the issue (here and here).

Thoughts on the "In & Out"

Here are some thoughts I had regarding the Conservative “In & Out” scandal:

• First of all, Harper seems to have played it completely wrong. Not just his “private meeting” with certain members of the media (and the subsequent fire escape chasing scene, which created a sense of guilt if there isn’t any actually), but more generally the strategy of attacking the credibility of Elections Canada. Personally, I don’t see this as helping the Conservatives at all. Painting themselves as victims to some giant Liberal/Election Canada conspiracy is not an argument that Canadians will readily accept, except for maybe their Conservative base (read: Alberta). Personally, I think Harper should have publicly admitted to have made a mistake and then pledge to make sure it would never happen again. It would have led to quicker end to the story and perhaps score points among the electorate for his candidness.
• Secondly, this seems to be a consistent trend among the Harper government। Anytime that the bureaucracy seems to have issues with the Conservatives, Harper has chosen to berate and discredit them, often publicly. This has occurred to bureaucrats within the Environment Ministry, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and now Elections Canada. Once again, I don’t know what the Conservatives hope to gain with this strategy but politicizing and publicly vilifying the bureaucracy (albeit certain individuals and elements), in simple terms, is BAD for democracy and the functioning of the state. In my view at least.

Fixed Election Dates/Bad Cops Get Off

St. Alberta MLA Ken Allred is pushing the idea of fixed election dates in Alberta. I've never been a big fan of it, but in light of the last Provincial Election perhaps fixed election dates would be valuable. Elections Alberta would have a predictable time frame to work with, allowing them to systematically update voter lists and logistically prepare for an election, in a more effective manner. Furthermore, I agree with Allred in thinking that fixed electoral dates would aid democracy in the province by providing Albertans voting predictability, which might spur greater electoral participation. How about even declaring election days a Democratic Holiday in which people are off work and given the whole day to vote, this is something that occurs in many other nations.

There are a lot of options we can consider in combating the growing disengagement within the electoral process. Although Premier Stelmach acknowledged that low voter turnout is a problem, there doesn’t seem to be a real drive from his government to address it. Props to Allred for attempting to spur some debate regarding electoral reform.
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I just watched American Gangster this week and when these two stories (here and here) came out, they resonated with me a bit more.

Who will police the police?... well, definitely not our courts/existing disciplinary system.

Stupid Comments

I hope this was a case of our Treasury Board President not thinking before speaking because justifying child poverty, and poverty in general, along the lines of it being an educational experience can only be characterized as a stupid, stupid mistake.

But then again this is Alberta.

And this guy has done worse and achieved more.