Rob Ford will go down in infamous history as the most remembered mayor in Canadian history. Naheed Nenshi might go down in history as lesser known but one of the best mayors in Canadian history.
Nenshi spent 11 years as mayor of Calgary, announcing he would not run again in 2021. Nenshi was known as a true independent, going so far as to wear purple, a combination of red and blue.
Calgary and Edmonton, the largest cities in Alberta, elected mayors of note. Jyoti Gondek will be Calgary's first female mayor. Amarjeet Sohi will be the first mayor of colour in the Alberta capital. Both are the first Punjabi mayors of major cities in Canada.
Gondek previously served as a city councillor in Calgary for 4 years; Sohi is a former Liberal federal cabinet member.
While Alberta is primarily rural and conservative (small c conservative), their largest cities are much more progressive (small p progressive).
The Current with Matt Galloway had a really good interview with Mayor Nenshi earlier this month on his legacy. If you have felt cynical about Canadian politics, whether that may or may not be from our political coverage, listening to Nenshi's pragmatism might make you feel more hopeful.
We wish good luck to the new mayors in the largest Alberta cities. You have a lot of amazing challenges ahead.
Alberta dials back COVID-19 tracking to dangerous levels
Jason Kenney, Alberta United Conservative Party launch Canadian Energy Centre propaganda site
Alberta goes back to its conservative ways by electing the UCP
We don't enjoy focusing on the numerous mistakes of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. We would rather use space to talk more about more less cynical politicians. When the United Conservative Party came into power in 2019, Kenney had a number of ways to "fight back" against those who he felt besmirched the oil and gas industry.
Kenney took taxpayer money to launch the Canadian Energy Centre propaganda site. Instead of spending money to help those who were suffering from the cutback on oil and gas, Kenney and his cronies wanted to show the extensive foreign influence of environmental groups.
You would think Kenney would be right up front when the report was released. Just like his very long vacation in the summer of 2021, Kenney was nowhere to be found.
The $3.5 million budget produced a report that, like Seinfeld, was pretty much about nothing.
Steve Allan, an accountant who led the inquiry, noted in the 657-page report no findings “that participation in an anti-Alberta energy campaign is in any way improper or constitutes conduct that should in any way be impugned.”
Energy minister Sonya Savage did publicly respond about the report. "So is it illegal? No."
"Was it wrong? I think the majority of Albertans would say it was wrong, and they want to know how it happened, who was involved."
The New York Times Canada Letter weighs in on the report:
The report, however, offers little support for her analysis. While it concludes that environmental campaigns had some effect on Alberta energy projects — though it does not quantify how much — the report also says: "There is no doubt that these campaigns have occurred in an environment of reduced investment in oil and gas projects, at least since 2014 when global oil prices fell by almost half and other economic factors were at play."
You can be certain that the UCP won't mention this report or the Canadian Energy Centre in the 2023 election, whether Kenney is still the premier or whether someone else is in charge of the province. Former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is the opposition leader, a rare moment when a premier has lost and remains in the legislature as a party leader.
The rhetoric and reality of the anti-Alberta energy campaigns report (Front Burner CBC Radio)
Alberta has lots of solar power and wind power, natural forms of energy. They have an educated workforce on energy issues. Playing the oil and gas card as the only card in the deck isn't going to help those who want desperately to work.
Those new big city mayors need strong, focused leadership on the provincial level and aren't getting much help. Nenshi, in particular, has been highly critical of the Kenney government.
The outside bogeyman concept might have convinced people in a more long-ago time. The Alberta people are smarter than they might appear. They are attracted to a conservative, leave us alone approach to most concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic, where Kenney has also failed on leadership, and the decline of the oil and gas industries offer challenges that don't fit neatly under that conservative umbrella.
Kenney got some "bad news" yesterday with the Justin Trudeau cabinet shuffle. Steven Guilbeault, who had been stuck as heritage minister, was shifted over to be the minister of environment and climate change.
Given that the Quebec MP once worked as a senior member of Greenpeace, Guilbeault has the background for this portfolio.
Calgary voters say no to 2026 Winter Olympics
Construction money and jobs could have been pouring into Calgary to build new facilities and revive older structures for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Calgary was the favourite before a non-binding plebiscite where 56.4% of the 40% (22.6% of registered voters) who voted said no to the Olympics.
The Saddledome, the NHL Calgary Flames home built for the 1988 Olympics, was going to be replaced by a new arena. The CFL Calgary Stampeders team was going to get a new home under the Olympic plan. Ironically, those weren't introduced into the official plan, which caused some confusion.
Even without the Olympics deal, the Calgary Event Centre is being built as a new downtown arena. Construction won't start for a few more months. There is no plan to replace McMahon Stadium, home of the Stampeders, at this point.
The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver were considered to be rather successful.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
CanadianCrossing.com Alberta coverage
Alberta recently had a non-binding referendum question on equalization payments. Elections Alberta reported that nearly 62% of voters said "yes" to the equalization question.
"Should Section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 — Parliament and the Government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments — be removed from the Constitution?"
The idea of equalization payments is that provinces doing better financially pay into a fund to help those provinces not doing as well. Alberta is one of the "haves" even with its recent financial woes.
The vote was close in Edmonton with 51.9% saying no; voters in Calgary said yes with 58.2%.
The anger against Ottawa isn't necessarily aligned with the numbers.
Symbolic gestures are fine but they don't pay the rent or put food on the table. We've seen this strategy in Ontario with Doug Ford as well as Jason Kenney in Alberta: nothing is ever our fault.
photo credit: CBC News
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