Brookman: Alberta Next panel needs to focus on right questions
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The company called a meeting of its executives to see what the problem was and, during the heated discussions, a young assistant said, 'Gentlemen, the dogs won't eat it. I have a dog and it doesn't like the food.'
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The current UCP Alberta Next panel reminds me of this story. It sounds good — a group of politicians and UCP supporters visiting Albertans to hear their opinions — but the people are not buying what they are selling.
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Living in Canada's richest province and enjoying the lowest taxes, the idea of separating from Canada is not only nonsensical, it is a non-starter with the vast majority of the public. Proud Albertans are also proud Canadians, and while we have our issues with Ottawa, separation appears to make no sense whatsoever except to a very small group of people who will never be happy.
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Each time someone tries to talk about an independent Alberta, I keep thinking of Boris Johnson and Brexit. None of us wants that outcome.
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But this Alberta Next panel has a great opportunity to do some excellent work as long as they are not trying to convince everyone that we need a new pension plan, a new police force and a separate country. Hopefully, they use this opportunity to learn what it is that the majority of Albertans are really hoping to emerge from these discussions.
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This past week, a good friend had to go to Saskatoon for back surgery. Now, there is a subject for panel debate.
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After so much study by both Conservatives and NDP, after billions of dollars invested and working for years to appease unions, why are we still having long wait times for surgeries, long lineups at emergency departments and Albertans having to travel to other provinces, the United States or even Europe to get much-needed work done? What does the panel have to say about that?
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Just throwing more money at this situation has not solved it, but somewhere there must be a solution or at least the seeds of a solution. Let's open that subject for debate.
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Canada News.Net
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The Province
7 hours ago
- The Province
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The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors In a joint statement, federal Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Saturday that Canada will not tolerate what it describes as an attempt for Hong Kong 'to conduct transnational repression abroad.' The statement came after Hong Kong police announced Friday warrants and rewards for 19 activists for 'suspected contravention' of its National Security Law for their roles in promoting self-determination in the Chinese special administrative region. Some of the activists named, including Canadian Victor Ho, already faced warrants stemming from an announcement from Hong Kong in December and have a HK$1 million reward for information for their arrests. 'The new warrant … will help to draw more attention for (the) international community to realize that the transnational repression of (China) is so toxic and dangerous to normal people on exercising freedom of expression and speech,' Ho said in a text message to The Canadian Press. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ho added he was not surprised to hear his name on the new warrant list again, and the best policy on handling the situation is 'to keep everyday business as usual as possible.' The new list of 19 people added at least three other Canadian residents to the list with rewards of HK$200,000 offered, including Vancouver-based activist Keung Ka-wai. Keung said while he is somewhat concerned about his safety, he does not plan to stop his work in the Hong Kong democratic movement as he has already been arrested nine times and jailed twice for his participation before leaving for Canada. 'It is very important to us because that is our dream,' Keung said of the pro-democracy movement. 'And we have to do what must be done to develop the democracy of Hong Kong. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I think it is really important to me and to every Hong Konger.' Hong Kong police said in its announcement that they are calling on those on the wanted list to return and turn themselves in instead of 'making more mistakes,' but Keung said he has no plans to do so. 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Back in December, Ho responded in a Facebook post to his name being on the then-announced wanted list as the 'best Christmas present.' 'A Canadian citizen like me … has the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and exercised his right to the freedom of speech,' said Ho, who is the former editor-in-chief of the Sing Tao Daily newspaper. Ho helped launched a plan in Canada to elect an unofficial 'Hong Kong parliament' in 2022, and the organizers' Facebook page says voting wrapped in June and garnered 15,702 total votes. — with files from The Associated Press Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Vancouver Whitecaps BC Lions Vancouver Whitecaps News NHL
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