Oh Alberta...Separation?

 

The following is reproduced from a social media post.  Note the original author, Robin Kers.

© Robin Kers. This is original content. Please do not repost without attribution.

1. “Listening to Albertans”—But Which Ones?

Premier Smith said Albertans feel ignored by Ottawa and deserve to be heard. Fair enough. But Alberta is home to a wide range of voices—urban and rural, Indigenous and settler, conservative and progressive, young and old. Not all share the Premier’s vision.

Oddly, the same government asking Ottawa to respect Alberta voices has often sidelined those it doesn’t agree with—from environmental advocates to school boards and Indigenous leaders.

Mini-reflection: You can’t demand recognition from the outside while denying it inside. Listening should be for all Albertans—not just the ones who already agree.

2. Turning Disagreement Into “Attacks”

Smith accused the federal government of attacking Alberta’s way of life, especially through climate policies like carbon pricing and net-zero energy mandates.

Let’s be clear: these policies are national. They apply to all provinces. And the Supreme Court has upheld Ottawa’s right to implement them. Alberta has options for tailoring its response but hasn’t always taken them.

Mini-reflection: Calling something an “attack” doesn’t make it so. It’s a strong word meant to rally people, but it doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

3. The Four Demands—and Four Problems

Smith outlined a set of demands for Ottawa:

1. Guaranteed coastal access for Alberta’s exports

2. Cancellation of federal clean energy mandates

3. Veto power over federal tariffs

4. Elimination of equalization payments to more populous provinces

Each of these is thorny.

• Coastal access can’t be imposed on BC by Ottawa—there are legal, environmental, and Indigenous hurdles.

• The clean energy mandate isn’t just federal—it’s tied to Canada’s climate commitments, and provinces have room to negotiate implementation.

• Tariffs fall under federal trade authority. Giving Alberta a veto rewrites Canadian federalism.

• Equalization isn’t a cheque Alberta writes—it’s a redistribution formula embedded in the Constitution. Ending it would require major reform and likely broad provincial agreement.

Mini-reflection: These aren’t simple asks. They’d require major constitutional shifts, legal battles, or policy reversals with national consequences.

4. The Referendum Gambit

Smith said she won’t stand in the way of a referendum on Alberta’s future if enough citizens sign a petition. That’s a calculated message—meant to sound democratic, but with serious implications.

According to the Supreme Court’s 1998 ruling on Quebec, a referendum—even a clear majority—does not give a province the legal right to leave Canada. It would only compel negotiations involving all provinces and the federal government.

Current polling doesn’t show anywhere near majority support for separation in Alberta. And most business leaders, Indigenous groups, and moderate voters aren’t on board with going down that road.

Mini-reflection: Referendum talk can stir emotions, but it doesn’t create an exit ramp. It’s more political pressure than legal plan.

5. “Let Alberta Be Heard”—Already Is

Smith argued that Alberta is being ignored by Ottawa. But the province has significant representation in Parliament. It’s also been front and centre in national debates for years—especially on energy, climate, and federal spending.

The issue isn’t whether Alberta is being heard. It’s that it doesn’t always get its way. That’s how federalism works.

Mini-reflection: Not agreeing with someone isn’t the same as ignoring them. Disagreement is part of democracy.

Final Thought:

Premier Smith’s speech was strong in tone and clear in intent. But underneath the emotion are demands that are legally murky, politically risky, and often based on half-truths.

The question isn’t whether Alberta matters. It absolutely does. The real question is whether escalation and threats are the best way to make progress in a country built on compromise.

Author’s Note

In anticipation of the usual accusations of bias, misinformation, or betrayal of Western values and concurrent vitriol, let me clarify the following:

This article was not written to cheer for Ottawa or to dismiss legitimate Albertan concerns. It was written because facts matter—and because responsible leadership requires more than slogans and threats.

If you think this is “federalist propaganda,” I invite you to do your own damn research. Read the Constitution. Read the Supreme Court ruling on Quebec. Read the Clean Electricity Regulations. Most of all, read the room: bluster isn’t a plan, and sabre-rattling doesn’t build pipelines or pay bills.

Constructive dialogue demands honesty, not theatre.

Sources Consulted and Cited

1. Alberta Government Newsroom

Official transcripts and policy statements from Premier Smith’s May 5, 2025, address and related legislative actions.

Source: Government of Alberta, alberta.ca/news

2. Global News

Coverage and analysis of Premier Smith’s announcement and public response to the proposed Alberta Accord and separation referendum.

Journalist: Phil Heidenreich, Global News, May 5, 2025

3. Supreme Court of Canada Reference re Secession of Quebec (1998)

Landmark ruling establishing the constitutional framework for any province seeking to secede from Canada.

Citation: [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217

4. Canada Constitution Act, 1982

Relevant sections on federal trade powers (s.91(2)), environmental authority, equalization (s.36(2)), and intergovernmental relations.

5. Bill 54 (Alberta, 2025)

Alberta’s amendment to its Referendum Act reducing the signature threshold and extending the petition period for citizen-initiated referenda.

6. Federal Clean Electricity Regulations (2023 Draft)

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s proposed regulatory pathway for a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.

7. Polling Data (Various)

Public opinion trends on Alberta separation and federal-provincial relations. Notably: Angus Reid Institute, Abacus Data, and Léger (2023–2025).

The RFK Jr Problem

 

By now, everyone ought to know who RFK Jr is, especially after he was appointed (by Donald Trump) as the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

RFK Jr has written a number of books with a similar anti-vaccination theme.  One in particular caught the attention of Malcolm Gladwell, the host of Revisionist History and the author of several books himself, including The Tipping Point and Revenge of the Tipping Point.

The book that caught Gladwell's attention was this one:

The thing that caught MY attention was Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History, and the episode The RFK Jr Problem.  Gladwell's podcast quoted a paragraph from RFK Jr's book which went approximately like this:

"The best evidence indicates that Dr Offit's Rotavirus vaccine causes negative net public health impacts ... almost certainly kills and injures more children in the United States than the Rotavirus disease killed and injured prior to the introduction of the Rotateq vaccine".

Rotavirus causes severe intestinal reactions in very young children.  Following the introduction of a vaccine against this virus, Rotavirus virtually disappeared as a condition similar to what happened to Measles.

Gladwell had, as one of his guests, a drug researcher of many years, and between the two of them they went through the vaccine's package insert which showed the vaccine's trial data.  After looking at the data, Gladwell asked his guest for his reaction to the quote from RFK's book.  "Complete and absolute bullshit" was the response.

The rest of the podcast was spent trying to understand why RFK Jr was so against a vaccine that was clearly so safe and so effective.

The best thing would be to listen to the complete podcast, but I can give away the conclusion Gladwell came to.  The reason RFK Jr is so against the Rotateq vaccine is because it's so successful.

And this is the person responsible for public health in the USA these days.

RFK Jr has been one of the primary purveyors of vaccine disinformation (let's just call them lies, to be clear) since the early 2000s.  More about this person can be found here.  One notable quote from that source:

"An epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health, said putting Kennedy in charge of a health agency would be like "putting a flat earther in charge of NASA".^[167] As of January 24, 2025, more than 80 organizations had voiced opposition to Kennedy's nomination."

Election Aftermath I

 

Copied from Canadian Politics Daily - News for Working People

A great review - Wise words from a page follower

"If anyone’s wondering — I’ve voted Conservative, Liberal, and even NDP when the local representative was the best person running. I’ve always tried to vote for the person and the plan, not just the party.

Some of my old friends might be surprised by the tone of this post. Maybe even uncomfortable. That’s okay. I’m not here to convert anyone — I’m just offering some perspective from someone who’s seen governments come and go.

I’m not frustrated by disagreement — that’s healthy. I’m frustrated by the mindless reposting of memes, by empty slogans instead of actual solutions, and by the constant blame game that replaces responsibility with outrage.

Polls show that older Canadians are more likely to support the Liberals and there’s a reason for that: we’ve seen governments come and go. We remember the Petro-Canada era, the National Energy Program backlash, the Mulroney cuts, the Chrétien surpluses, the Harper austerity, and the COVID-era interventions. We’ve lived through it — not just read about it online. What that history teaches you is that governance isn’t about slogans. It’s about outcomes.

So if we’re going to talk about the last 9 years, then let’s be honest and look at the last 30. You can’t understand where we are without knowing who brought us here.

Here’s how I see things. You can agree or disagree — that’s democracy. But let’s stop shouting and start thinking.

1) Taxes

The GST? That was Mulroney’s Conservatives. The HST? Brought in and expanded under Harper. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s government lowered the middle-income tax rate from 22% to 20.5%. So no — taxes haven’t gone through the roof for most Canadians. Let’s keep the facts in the room.

2) Scandals

Every government has them. The difference is how they’re handled. Under Trudeau, ministers who violated ethics rules resigned. The Ethics Commissioner’s office was expanded. By contrast, Harper’s government was found in contempt of Parliament — an unprecedented event in Canadian history.

3) Crime

Despite the headlines, serious crime is lower now than it was in the 1990s. Yes, there have been spikes in specific areas and categories, but the long-term trend is clear. Let’s stop pretending we’re living in some lawless dystopia.

4) Immigration

Yes, the international student surge put pressure on housing and services but reforms are already in place — caps, tighter oversight, and new criteria.

At the same time, many of the people complaining about immigration were also the ones yelling about labour shortages. Immigration isn’t the problem. Mismanagement was — and it’s being corrected.

5) National Debt

Yes, the debt grew during the pandemic. But that spending kept businesses open, families afloat, and supply chains functioning. Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio is still the lowest in the G7. So while we need fiscal discipline, we’re not teetering on the edge like some would have you believe and who might you want in a leadership position to manage that?

6) Housing Crisis

Housing is a provincial and municipal responsibility. The feds can help with funding and incentives — and they have — but zoning, permitting, and approvals are in the hands of cities and provinces.

If you’re sitting in a home that’s tripled in value and complaining about housing affordability, maybe take a second look at the system that helped you and is now hurting others.

7) “Run Government Like a Business”

Government isn’t a business. You can’t cut the sick, the poor, or the unprofitable. You don’t get to fire your “bad customers.” Government is supposed to serve all of us, not turn a profit.

Fortunately, we’ve got someone with the right mindset: Mark Carney — Harvard and Oxford educated, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, and the guy who helped steer the global economy through the 2008 financial crisis. He understands spending, restraint, and sustainability — and he does it without screwing over the people at the bottom.

8. Military

The Harper government slashed defense spending to its lowest levels since WWII. Bases closed. Veterans were ignored.

The current government has increased spending, committed to modernization, and started rebuilding our global reputation. It’s slow — but it’s real.

9) Freedom of Speech

The last real gag order in this country was under Harper, when government scientists were forbidden from sharing research that the government didn’t agree with.

Now, Conservatives are openly discussing using the Notwithstanding Clause to override Supreme Court rulings. That’s not freedom — that’s control.

10) Conservatives and Republicans

Are Canadian Conservatives the same as U.S. Republicans? No. Are they increasingly aligned? Yes.

They belong to the same international party alliance, use the same culture war tactics, and have increasingly adopted U.S.-style talking points on immigration, media, and identity.

11) Homelessness

Homelessness didn’t just pop up overnight. Mental health issues have been exacerbated by decades of cuts — especially by Conservative provincial governments that closed psychiatric hospitals and reduced access to services.

Many people end up self-medicating just to survive. And for those saying “just get a job” — if you’re fighting for survival every single day, it’s tough to think about anything else. A job interview isn’t step one — stabilization and treatment are.

We need systems that treat the root, not punish the symptom.

12) Health Care

The feds have increased transfers — $198.6 billion over 10 years, with a $3.1 billion deal signed with Ontario alone. But the Financial Accountability Office says Ontario is underfunding health care by $21.3 billion.

So ask yourself: where’s that money going?

13) National Infrastructure

The Trans Mountain pipeline? Purchased and completed by this government. The Coastal GasLink LNG pipeline to Kitimat? Operational.

Pipelines got built. Quietly. Without press conferences and bumper stickers.

14) Quebec / Jurisdictional Realities

Housing, health care, education — these are provincial responsibilities. The Bloc leader was absolutely right to call it out. I love Quebec’s culture, the way they approach business internationally. Canada is stronger with Quebec at the table WITH us.

If we want real progress, we need federal leadership that brings all levels of government together, not just one that tweets demands from Ottawa.

15) Alberta

Oil and gas make up 21% of Alberta’s economy, but only 3.2% of Canada’s GDP. Alberta matters — but it’s not the whole show.

Its Heritage Fund sits at $22.9 billion. Norway’s oil fund? $1.7 trillion.

Had we stuck with a national energy strategy — like the NEP — Alberta alone could be getting $8 billion a year in transfers, covering its infrastructure budget.

Who killed the NEP? Mulroney’s Conservatives, under pressure from Alberta and U.S. oil interests. I’ve always enjoyed my time in Alberta and Canada is stronger WITH Alberta at the table.

16) Experience & Leadership

Mark Carney isn’t a career politician. He’s a globally respected economist with Harvard and Oxford degrees, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Governor of the Bank of England, and chair of the Financial Stability Board during the 2008 crash.

He’s guided entire economies through disaster. He doesn’t need applause — he needs a mandate.

So where does that leave us?

We need to stop electing people who appeal to anger and nostalgia, and start supporting those who understand the complexity of the world we actually live in. It’s time to vote for intelligence, collaboration, and leaders who put people over slogans, substance over showmanship, and public service over self-interest.

We change and evolve over our lifetime — and so does the world around us

The Lost Liberal Decade, eh?

 

If you're at all active on "social media", you will have seen some version of this:

Most probably scanned the list, either nodded or shook their heads and moved on.  But I'm wondering...how much in this list is actually true and how much can be laid at the feet of the federal government of the past 10 years?

"Worst housing affordability ever"....  Not sure about "ever"- I haven't tried to look up housing costs over past decades, but I certainly remember having to save for years before we bought our first home.  In fact, we didn't buy our first home until we'd been working for perhaps 15 years.  Housing costs are caused by the interplay of supply and demand.  More people want houses, increasing demand.  Builders aren't making enough houses, reducing supply.  Those two realities cause prices to go up.  Not sure how the Federal government controls this, other than how many people it decides to let in, which increases demand.  Municipalities also have a role in freeing up land for housing development, putting in the needed infrastructure, assessing current housing with increasingly higher valuations...  Not all on the Feds.  But if you feel the Feds should be more involved, explain how, and how much money should they pump into whatever strategy you suggest.

"Skyrocketing National Debt".... Take a look at Canada's debt to GDP ratio, either gross or net.  Canada is pretty average compared to other industrialized countries and lower than some.  Remember that Canada is a sovereign country (for now!!) and has its own currency which gives it some leeway to manage debt in ways that individuals can't.

"Rampant Inflation"....  Compared to who?  Every country in the world has been dealing with inflation over the past few years.  It's back down to Bank of Canada target levels now (around 2% more or less).  Between COVID, supply chain issues and so on, it was a problem, it's not as much of a problem now and the Federal government has very little control over it, other than to raise interest rates.

"Homelessness and Tent Cities"....  Yes, this is a problem.  Cities, other municipalities and provinces do have a problem here.  The only role for the Feds in this, as I see it, is perhaps handing out more money to the levels of government to help them deal with this.  But that means more spending (see "Excessive Government Spending" below).

"Violent Crime Rates Soaring".... This is the same narrative the Conservatives always use.  Scare people by going on and on about how dangerous their country/province/neighbourhood is.  Some quick checking will show that crime rates generally are lower then they used to be in past decades although there has been an uptick in some violent crimes more recently.  The criminal code is written by the Federal government and enforced/managed by each province.  I suspect crime rates generally are a reflection of other problems in society.  And, as much as Conservatives won't want to hear it, gun regulations (or, more specifically, illegal guns) DO have an effect.  Come up with a solution instead of just claiming, as some Americans do, that more guns makes us safer.  They don't.  And if simply locking more people up for longer solved crime rates, then the USA should be one of the safest places on the planet.  It's not.

"Opioid Deaths on the Rise"....  Drug-related deaths are highest in the US, Scotland and Canada.  In Canada, it varies quite a bit between provinces, but overall, Canada has 18.2 deaths per 100K population (2024 numbers).  In the USA, opioid deaths rose from 8.2/100K in 2002 to 32.6/100K in 2022.  Some states are higher than that, individually.  The USA has had a "War on Drugs" for several decades.  I'll leave it for the reader to decide.  Has it worked?  Yes, there is a problem.  Since tossing people in jail hasn't seemed to work, what will?  Alberta is bringing in a program to force people into treatment.  Time will tell if this is a winning strategy, but past experience would suggest it won't be.

"Healthcare System Breakdown"....  The Federal government transfers funds to each province to support healthcare, which is run by each province.  There are impediments for healthcare workers moving between provinces.  That needs to be fixed.  There have been too many restrictions on how many people are allowed into training institutions (nursing and medical colleges), but that's been a known problem for decades.  It needs to be fixed too, but it won't have an effect for a number of years.  The COVID pandemic put huge stress on our healthcare system.  Helping to reduce that stress was behind many of the restrictions and recommendations (and, eventually, vaccinations) that were brought in by provinces.  It's interesting that some of the same people complaining about "Liberal failures" and "Healthcare system breakdown" are the same people supporting the convoy people who were protesting the very restrictions that were attempting to reduce strain on the healthcare system.  Go figure.

"Bank Account Freezes During Protests"....  Let's be clear here.  Under the Emergencies Act, in an attempt to bring an end to the occupation of Ottawa, some 200 accounts were frozen, 253 Bitcoin accounts were frozen and $3.8 million with a payment processor was also frozen.  Once the protestors were ordered to pack it up and go home, and they refused, they were acting illegally.  That's when accounts started being frozen, in most cases only for a short time.  There was also evidence that large amounts of funding was coming in from outside Canada.  Essentially, foreign actors funding anarchy in Canada.  I'm having trouble feeling much sympathy for people organizing this particular protest.

"Ethics Scandals".... Every government, every political party, has issues here.  No party has any moral high ground on this issue.  Whether it's the gazebo "scandal" or the "Fake lake" issue, or the "robocalls", or SNC, the "In and Out" scandal, the best we can seem to do is hold whoever is responsible accountable.  That's often difficult.  Note that just because a government does something you don't like, doesn't make it a scandal.

"Censorship of Citizens" ....  Really?  Tell us where this is being done by the Federal Government.  I do know that during the Harper regime, government scientists were muzzled, prevented from attending conferences or talking to the media about what they know.  That's censorship.  

"Foodbank Use at Record Highs" ...  True.  Economic conditions are difficult for many people.  Wages have not kept pace with living costs.  Just remember that there has been an attack on unions and endless pushback against raising minimum wages from those on the right.  It's even worse in the USA.  I suppose that a federal government could impose higher wages, strike down any attempts by more regressive provinces to get rid of unions, and punish corporations that don't pay their employees a living wage, but wouldn't that be government over-reach?

"Excessive Government Spending" ...  So, you either don't spend and risk being accused of not doing enough for housing, defense, crime prevention or healthcare OR you spend more on those things and are accused of driving the country into penury.  Which is it?  Once again, look at Canada's debt to GDP ratios compared to other industrialized countries.  Are we about average, worse or better?  And remember that, ideally, government spending is usually aimed at programs that make our standard of living better.  If you don't agree, be prepared to explain what government spending you'd cut.

"25-year High Interest Rates" ...  If you don't like high inflation rates, the standard way to deal with that problem is to raise interest rates.  This slows demand for money and inflation comes down.  Remember, most countries were suffering from higher inflation post COVID.  Since wiggling your nose doesn't usually bring down inflation the way we'd like it to, the Central Bank is forced to boost interest rates.  The system usually works, but it does take some time.  Just note that American tariffs are likely to cause a spike in inflation which will likely mean higher interest rates over the coming year or so, unless, of course, the Oval Office comes to its senses.  Feel free to blame the Liberals for Oval Office madness if you want, but it's unlikely many will take you seriously.

"Reckless Immigration Policies" ...  Yes, Canada has had a large influx of immigrants.  There were several things pushing this - a war in Ukraine (refugees), a labour shortage here in Canada (solution - import more people to work those jobs Canadians don't want to do), various other crises like climate change, military dictatorships and such (driving many people to flee to other, safer, places to live).  As the climate crisis worsens, expect more climate refugees.  There will be millions trying to come here.  So, if you don't like refugees or immigrants, figure out a way to make their homelands safer, more productive and free from climate, military and economic disasters.

If People Were Like Cats

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15ezkQHzsF/

Funny.  I'll tidy up later.

One Perspective on How We Got Here

 

Copied and pasted from Facebook, mostly to preserve it for whatever poses as posterity in this digital age.  It was originally written by Brad Stuart and posted here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GzHWNi93t/

I’m really not a fan of political posts. We didn’t talk about politics in the past.

It was considered private — something you kept to yourself unless you were around family or close friends. That’s obviously changed. These days, politics is everywhere — and unfortunately, the quality of the conversation hasn’t kept up.

If anyone’s wondering — I’ve voted Conservative, Liberal, and even NDP when the local representative was the best person running. I’ve always tried to vote for the person and the plan, not just the party.

Some of my old friends might be surprised by the tone of this post. Maybe even uncomfortable. That’s okay. I’m not here to convert anyone — I’m just offering some perspective from someone who’s seen governments come and go.

I’m not frustrated by disagreement — that’s healthy. I’m frustrated by the mindless reposting of memes, by empty slogans instead of actual solutions, and by the constant blame game that replaces responsibility with outrage.

Polls show that older Canadians are more likely to support the Liberals and there’s a reason for that: we’ve seen governments come and go. We remember the Petro-Canada era, the National Energy Programam backlash, the Mulroney cuts, the Chrétien surpluses, the Harper austerity, and the COVID-era interventions. We’ve lived through it — not just read about it online. What that history teaches you is that governance isn’t about slogans. It’s about outcomes.

So if we’re going to talk about the last 9 years, then let’s be honest and look at the last 30. You can’t understand where we are without knowing who brought us here.

Here’s how I see things. You can agree or disagree — that’s democracy. But let’s stop shouting and start thinking.

⸻

1) Taxes

The GST? That was Mulroney’s Conservatives. The HST? Brought in and expanded under Harper. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s government lowered the middle-income tax rate from 22% to 20.5%. So no — taxes haven’t gone through the roof for most Canadians. Let’s keep the facts in the room.

⸻

2) Scandals

Every government has them. The difference is how they’re handled. Under Trudeau, ministers who violated ethics rules resigned. The Ethics Commissioner’s office was expanded. By contrast, Harper’s government was found in contempt of Parliament — an unprecedented event in Canadian history.

⸻

3) Crime

Despite the headlines, serious crime is lower now than it was in the 1990s. Yes, there have been spikes in specific areas and categories, but the long-term trend is clear. Let’s stop pretending we’re living in some lawless dystopia.

⸻

4) Immigration

Yes, the international student surge put pressure on housing and services but reforms are already in place — caps, tighter oversight, and new criteria.

At the same time, many of the people complaining about immigration were also the ones yelling about labour shortages. Immigration isn’t the problem. Mismanagement was — and it’s being corrected.

⸻

5) National Debt

Yes, the debt grew during the pandemic. But that spending kept businesses open, families afloat, and supply chains functioning. Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio is still the lowest in the G7. So while we need fiscal discipline, we’re not teetering on the edge like some would have you believe and who might you want in a leadership position to manage that?

⸻

6) Housing Crisis

Housing is a provincial and municipal responsibility. The feds can help with funding and incentives — and they have — but zoning, permitting, and approvals are in the hands of cities and provinces.

If you’re sitting in a home that’s tripled in value and complaining about housing affordability, maybe take a second look at the system that helped you and is now hurting others.

⸻

7) “Run Government Like a Business”

Government isn’t a business. You can’t cut the sick, the poor, or the unprofitable. You don’t get to fire your “bad customers.” Government is supposed to serve all of us, not turn a profit.

Fortunately, we’ve got someone with the right mindset: Mark Carney — Harvard and Oxford educated, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, and the guy who helped steer the global economy through the 2008 financial crisis. He understands spending, restraint, and sustainability — and he does it without screwing over the people at the bottom.

⸻

8. Military

The Harper government slashed defense spending to its lowest levels since WWII. Bases closed. Veterans were ignored.

The current government has increased spending, committed to modernization, and started rebuilding our global reputation. It’s slow — but it’s real.

⸻

9) Freedom of Speech

The last real gag order in this country was under Harper, when government scientists were forbidden from sharing research that the government didn’t agree with.

Now, Conservatives are openly discussing using the Notwithstanding Clause to override Supreme Court rulings. That’s not freedom — that’s control.

⸻

10) Conservatives and Republicans

Are Canadian Conservatives the same as U.S. Republicans? No. Are they increasingly aligned? Yes.

They belong to the same international party alliance, use the same culture war tactics, and have increasingly adopted U.S.-style talking points on immigration, media, and identity.

⸻

11) Homelessness

Homelessness didn’t just pop up overnight. Mental health issues have been exacerbated by decades of cuts — especially by Conservative provincial governments that closed psychiatric hospitals and reduced access to services.

Many people end up self-medicating just to survive. And for those saying “just get a job” — if you’re fighting for survival every single day, it’s tough to think about anything else. A job interview isn’t step one — stabilization and treatment are.

We need systems that treat the root, not punish the symptom.

⸻

12) Health Care

The feds have increased transfers — $198.6 billion over 10 years, with a $3.1 billion deal signed with Ontario alone. But the Financial Accountability Office says Ontario is underfunding health care by $21.3 billion.

So ask yourself: where’s that money going?

⸻

13) National Infrastructure

The Trans Mountain pipeline? Purchased and completed by this government. The Coastal GasLink LNG pipeline to Kitimat? Operational.

Pipelines got built. Quietly. Without press conferences and bumper stickers.

⸻

14) Quebec / Jurisdictional Realities

Housing, health care, education — these are provincial responsibilities. The Bloc leader was absolutely right to call it out. I love Quebec’s culture, the way they approach business internationally. Canada is stronger with Quebec at the table WITH us.

If we want real progress, we need federal leadership that brings all levels of government together, not just one that tweets demands from Ottawa.

⸻

15) Alberta

Oil and gas make up 21% of Alberta’s economy, but only 3.2% of Canada’s GDP. Alberta matters — but it’s not the whole show.

Its Heritage Fund sits at $22.9 billion. Norway’s oil fund? $1.7 trillion.

Had we stuck with a national energy strategy — like the NEP — Alberta alone could be getting $8 billion a year in transfers, covering its infrastructure budget.

Who killed the NEP? Mulroney’s Conservatives, under pressure from Alberta and U.S. oil interests. I’ve always enjoyed my time in Alberta and Canada is stronger WITH Alberta at the table.

⸻

16) Experience & Leadership

Mark Carney isn’t a career politician. He’s a globally respected economist with Harvard and Oxford degrees, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Governor of the Bank of England, and chair of the Financial Stability Board during the 2008 crash.

He’s guided entire economies through disaster. He doesn’t need applause — he needs a mandate.

⸻

So where does that leave us?

We need to stop electing people who appeal to anger and nostalgia, and start supporting those who understand the complexity of the world we actually live in. It’s time to vote for intelligence, collaboration, and leaders who put people over slogans, substance over showmanship, and public service over self-interest.

We change and evolve over our lifetime — and so does the world around us.

Now is not the time to go backwards. It’s time to learn from our past, plan for our future, and act now.

Now if you’ll excuse me — I’m heading out to enjoy Easter dinner with my family.

Because when all is said and done, that’s what actually matters

The Fuckaissance

 I'm posting this lengthy comment from Carolyn R Parsons, who can also be found on Substack.

Welcome to the Fuckaissance! Political Round up, April 21, 2025!

Hello Ducker lovers! It’s the roundup, the gathering of the news of the week! It’s been another big one with the GROTUS idioting hard, being the tariffic president he promised he’d be! Meanwhile, the important news is north of the border. Canadian political party leaders were campaigning all over the country! And there were two debates! There is exactly a week left until election day! If you TL;DR this I will understand. It’s been a minute.

1. I wrote a FB post called “two roads diverged” that lays out the difference between the two key leaders took different paths to leadership of their respective parties. After being shared nearly 2000 times the post has attracted the attention of right-wing trolls. Fake accounts are what homely, lonely, middle-aged slugs with bobbed hair cuts, or tattooed dudes with dog profile pictures do. Stop it. Grow up. Get a real life.

2. Cutting the toll on the Confederation Bridge from PEI and the ferry rates to PEI and NL by 50% is a game changer for the island provinces! It will help tourism and with two kids in the Maritimes at university, one at UPEI, the cost of getting them home for holidays will be drastically reduced! This is a Mark Carney promise. Poilievre has promised straws will be plastic once more because like everyone else obsessed with plastic straws, he sucks.

3. That’s right, on April 18th, 2025, Trump said he will end the ban on plastic straw use by restaurants. Oh, wait, that was Poilievre. I get those two mixed up a lot. Trump signed his executive order on a return to plastic straws back in February. You’d think a copy and paste platform would be faster than a real one but here we are.

4. In an effort to distance himself from Trump, Poilievre has started bragging about the size of the crowd at his rallies. A can of orange spray paint and the adoption of accordion hands is all he needs to be a real puppet. Because he’ll never be a real boy.

5. Liberals, NDP and Green parties have all released a costed platform. Now begins the taking numbers out of context and lying stage of things.

6. Conservatives have the concepts of a platform and it’s coming Tuesday, the day after the advance polls close. Their platform page, as I write, is a 404 error. You can’t make this shit up. Perhaps there was a technical issue like they were brainstorming a platform and ran short of brains.

7. Last week Canadian reporter Katie Simpson asked PLUMP’s (according to his doctor he’s only 223lbs) press secretary, KKKaroline Leavitt, if Trump had changed his mind about the 51st state and she replied that she “would reject that the president's position on Canada has shifted” and that “he believes Canadians would benefit from becoming the 51st state.” Well, that Fugly Ucker believes he looks good in a bad combover and Bronzer from Walmart too so that’s how valid his opinion is. Elbows up, Canucks.

8. There were debates. The civility was refreshing but only one leader was mature, and didn’t interrupt. Who won? The Canadian people. Because they got to see who they’re voting for and what they stand for, or don’t stand for. I voted for the adult in the room.

9. Who lost? Also, the Canadian people. Because on night two the post debate scrum was cancelled when Ezra Levant, Poilievre’s mentor, and his band of racist grifters who pose as journalists, forced the CBC broadcast team to go to tape to deal with the chaos and mayhem they were causing. The scrum allows for leaders to expand on questions from the people through our media. We lost that. Canadians lost that.

10. I’m posting a link to the article about Ezra Levant’s connection to Poilievre in the Substack version of this post. You can find a link to SS here. (https://carolynrparsons.substack.com/) Essentially, back in the day “little man big PP” ran an election campaign for “little man bad Ezra” and they’re friends. Nowadays Ezra runs the misinformation arm of the conservatives in Canada, and Pierre runs the political arm. It’s like they’re having an affair. They can exchange glances across the room but dare not be seen together in public.

11. When asked at the debate what the greatest threat to Canada is right now Mark Carney, in a surprising answer, said, “China”. Not the US and Trump but China. WTF? I now wonder what he knows that we don’t. After all he has a Top-Secret Security Clearance. Like a good leader should. Pepsicola Particleboard said, “rampant crime wave” which is as fictional as his claim that he won’t take away anyone’s rights.

12. A Twitter friend reports she played a drinking game by downing a shot every time Skippy said, “lost liberal decade” and in thirty minutes she couldn’t see out of her left ear.

13. A loud and assholerish bunch of wingnuts are showing up with bullhorns and F*ck Carney signs to Mark Carney’s rallies. “They’re not the conservative party,” apologists for these whackadoos cry. Perhaps not but they’re voting for Poilievre because they see themselves in him and those with our eyes open do too. No Liberals or NDP voters are showing up at Poilievre rallies with hate signs and it’s not just because they can’t stomach him. This nonsense is purely conservative behavior.

14. To excuse their alignment with the party, low information, eager-to-believers of Poilievre are claiming there is no proof that Skippy will remove people’s human rights. After all, both him and Carney are Catholics and if Carney can set aside his beliefs on abortion and gay marriage etc., then so can Poilievre. Right? Except Carney is the leader of a party that has these rights embedded in its constitution while Poilievre has voted against every human rights bill tabled in the last twenty years including marriage equality, and abortion rights. The party with over 80 MPs who are anti-women’s right to choose and was part of the government that defunded women’s reproductive clinics. If you voted for Poilievre and didn’t check his voting record, and think he’ll protect the rights of the marginalized you’re as dim as you are dense.

15. Neil Young has endorsed Mark Carney while Americans are shocked to learn he’s Canadian! Keep on shocking in America and rocking in the free world, Neil.

16. Benjamin Perrin, former Harper legal advisor endorsed Carney saying that “under Poilievre the conservative party has embraced conspiracy theories.”

17. Conservatives are shocked to learn that elections Canada allows people to use pencils to vote because under Poilievre the conservative party has embraced conspiracy theories. They always provided pencils. And Pierre has always been a kook.

18. Poilievre Promises LNG Canada Approval. That should be easy because it’s already approved. It got its provincial permits in 2015 and federal export licence the following year. It includes permissions for phase two! Can’t wait to see how much that costs him in the fully costed platform he is set to release any minute now. Error 404.

19. Pullalever Pisspots has said he will suspend the constitution to ensure that the maximum penalty for mass murderers is life, not eligible for parole at 25 years. This is a solution that doesn’t have a problem. No mass murderer has ever been given parole. Eligible for parole doesn’t mean gets parole. But the dim in society will believe it. The same crowd who rambles on about freedom thinks its perfectly find to suspend the constitution to solve a non-existent problem. This is what happens when you get your morals and ideas from Hypocrites R Us.

20. JD Vance, decked out in his best Miss Loreal eye liner, met with the pope.

21. Pope Francis died.

22. Don’t. Go. There. Sidenote: What is the Catholic church's stance on Couches?

23. In 2015 women voted in large numbers for Trudeau and Conservatives accused women of voting for him based on his looks. Now women appear to be supporting Carney in even larger numbers. It’s confusing conservatives who don’t get that women are voting for men who don’t make them feel they have to cover their drink if they’re in the room. It was never the hair. It was the decency. With Carney there is character, education, intelligence as well. Harper and his protegee are creeps.

24. The most important question of this campaign has been answered. Carney’s cat’s name is Niko.

25. Conservatives have a new ad! It’s two rich white dudes golfing, one of whom paid their kid’s down payment last year, talking about the election and their hard times. The lost liberal decade sure has been tough for rich white men who golf. However, today’s important issue is if they can afford gas for their massive, small dick compensation F-750 pick up trucks. Poor things.

26. The acting in this particular commercial was like me twerking. It’s something that should never be done for an audience. But when you get your actors on Wish dot com this is the quality you get.

27. Noticeably absent is the Conservative’s best bad actor, Poilievre. Even his old ads have new voiceovers. Someone finally understands his repulsion factor and that much of this season’s Norwalk virus was the Poilievre pukes each time one of these spots aired.

28. Poilievre says he’ll defund the CBC in the first 100 days but keep Radio because that’s pandering…er…important to Quebec. So what about the rest of us? What about Francophones in other parts of the country? Imagine getting rid of the thing that connects us most as Canadians, the home of This Hour has 22 MInutes and The National.

28.Someone complained that they wanted it gone because CBC paid the executives large bonuses. Of course the people who support this will shop at Loblaws, bank at banks and load up their carts at Wally world. They’ll buy a membership to Netflix and Amazon and Costco, but at $33 per person, CBC is the problem? Go away with your non-Canadian nonsense. I’d pay that for the second season of North of North. Good Lord, Canadians, we said buy Canadian and you’re supporting the country by supporting the party who will drop the Canadian broadcaster. You’re both anti Canadian and half cracked.

29. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate Easter. We’re getting a winter storm on Easter Monday! So that’s bullshit.

30. Sincere thank you to those who have recently joined me on Substack. It inspires me to continue!