Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I do agree that people need to be consistent with scandals or corruption and it looks like there’s a lot of smoke with Smith. That said I do wonder about what people consider “corrupt”.

The health care thing- it’s most troublesome she went and fired the CEO the way she did and all of that stinks massively. Agree. Seems like something super sketchy is going on and Smith SHOULD be held to account or canned if it’s all true.

BUT. The article sort of insinuates the “payment” (if you will) are “luxury tickets to an NHL hockey game” and I’m just not sure that really falls into the realm of like bribery / corruption or whatever. This happens literally all the time in the business world and I don’t think most people consider taking clients or people to a game as underhanded bribery or whatever.

Well there’s that little issue of them paying contracts to have patients stay for 2 days and being released after 11 hours (allegedly, and whatever the details are). The when the CEO was going to the AG and was talking about the RCMP she gets fired. It’s a lot more than some playoff tickets to see the worst team in the province fail to win the Stanley Cup.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I think it's more cronyism than bribery.

I think you’re right, but I think just about every political party does this now and this is like almost normalized. It is a huge issue though and a massive reason why so many people are disillusioned with politics.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well there’s that little issue of them paying contracts to have patients stay for 2 days and being released after 11 hours (allegedly, and whatever the details are). The when the CEO was going to the AG and was talking about the RCMP she gets fired. It’s a lot more than some playoff tickets to see the worst team in the province fail to win the Stanley Cup.

Fair. I guess I just didn’t like how the article (seemed to) portray these hockey tickets like some villainous bribe, when I read it I was kind of like shoulder shrug on that. The rest is super suspicious though for sure.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think you’re right, but I think just about every political party does this now and this is like almost normalized. It is a huge issue though and a massive reason why so many people are disillusioned with politics.

Yeah, there's definitely the "well, they all do it" angle, and to me, that's just ridiculous. While it does seem true that they all do, it shouldn't excuse fraud and corruption. If anything, what we (as a society) should be doing is throwing the book at these people and expecting better of our leaders.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Slava

Yeah, there's definitely the "well, they all do it" angle, and to me, that's just ridiculous. While it does seem true that they all do, it shouldn't excuse fraud and corruption. If anything, what we (as a society) should be doing is throwing the book at these people and expecting better of our leaders.

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

KuntyMcKuntface?

Bill Bumface has been saddled with his name and image for a long time now. It’s time he was rewarded for his sacrifice and given a new moniker.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

Yeah, these are reasonable business expenses. But, in my industry, things have gotten super tight regarding this kind of thing. It used to be ungoverned, and older guys went crazy, and these things were out of hand. (the boomers really did ruin everything!) Now, some firms have limits of $100 for this kind of thing, and it's enforced. To the point where you would have to log this and if the item is over $100, you cannot accept it or have to pay for it yourself. So, hockey tickets in decent seats are out, never mind the box. Rounds of golf, basically out. The pendulum swung hard the other way after some times of excess.

And it's also a situation where people think that they're above this and won't necessarily have their judgment compromised by this sort of thing. But let's just be honest...companies are doing this because it works.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

Not if you’re in the government and the gift is from someone who runs several shell companies that have received hundreds of millions of dollars in sole sourced government contracts and spent a very large amount of money paying people to support Smith in her leadership review.

Until Smith changed the rules of what kind of gifts she and any other MLA could receive, of course… after giving the person who gave her that gift a position at a crown corporation.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

Fairly common practice.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Bill Bumface has been saddled with his name and image for a long time now. It’s time he was rewarded for his sacrifice and given a new moniker.

In fairness Bill Bumface is/was a Legendary poster, he was here practically before the Internet. He was here almost before the internet. When he wanted to post his opinions he'd have to stand and Hail at the wail of the Internet!

You know what it sounds like.

And as such he didn't know what would happen and decided, at some point that having his real name out there was unwise. And I dont blame him. And he made a bargain which, I credit him for honoring. He's a good guy.

Yeah. Way back when? People didn't know what the internet was going to become. Who could blame them? It was The Undiscovered Country! Bill is not the first guy to ask his name to be changed from his real name to a handle, he didn't know it at the time.

But I'd wager he's the goddamned greatest! I mean...come on! Thats a great handle and he owns it like a Champ!

I'd say 2nd place goes to AC. Similar story but...lets be honest, 'Bill Bumface' is tough act to follow.

[puffnstuff]

Also, I dont think the final payment for the millions in contracts has been made yet. It will happen after someone leaves office and gets a gig in the private sector. Its not just the tickets. The tickets were 'just a taste' of whats to come.

[FacePaint]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

You have to look at the entire sequence. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't read the article but:
- she fired the board multiple times (she appointed them)
- fired the CEO multiple times
- multiple hockey games (possibly more gifts)
- she directed and pressured contacts including kids medicine (massive failure) and private surgical facilities
- when the latest CEO was about to meet with AG they were fired (2 days before meeting)
- when CEO went to board with concerns the board recommended RCMP investigation. As above... Board was fired.
- Smith appointment Deputy Minister as CEO with no board
- Smith refuses to answer media for days

This what we know to date and I haven't even covered all the info in the article. This isn't someone chugging a heroin beer after the Flames score a goal in game 7 OT.

[Fuzz]

Speaking of government waste, I wonder how much severance and legal costs are associated with all the hirings/firings at AHS over the past few years. I'm sure it's a big concern to our fiscal Conservative CP'rs, maybe they could compile a list.

[Fuzz]

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...tiate-private/


Well that makes it pretty clear who the buck stops with, and further indicates shady #### going down. Why take control of procurement, unless you are afraid the procurement procedure will not have the outcome you want?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

Private sector, sure, but public officials should be held to a higher standard by us, the taxpayers who may end up paying for an inflated contract because the premier and others got tickets.

[para transit fellow]

With Premier Smith, the "buck" does not stop... it does not even slow down.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Yes but I guess I’m asking more specifically. Do people think “luxury tickets” (I’m reading this as box seats?) to a NHL game are reasonable business expenses? Because I think they are.

I think it’s reasonable for a business to buy tickets for their employees or clients. Not sure I think it’s reasonable for them to be able to write it off as a business expense though. I certainly don’t think it’s reasonable for them to use that written off expense as a kickback for elected officials.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Fairly common practice.

Do you also fire any employee that has some corruption or HR concern before they can bring it up?

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by FacePaint

You have to look at the entire sequence. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't read the article but:
- she fired the board multiple times (she appointed them)
- fired the CEO multiple times
- multiple hockey games (possibly more gifts)
- she directed and pressured contacts including kids medicine (massive failure) and private surgical facilities
- when the latest CEO was about to meet with AG they were fired (2 days before meeting)
- when CEO went to board with concerns the board recommended RCMP investigation. As above... Board was fired.
- Smith appointment Deputy Minister as CEO with no board
- Smith refuses to answer media for days

This what we know to date and I haven't even covered all the info in the article. This isn't someone chugging a heroin beer after the Flames score a goal in game 7 OT.

Thing is gonna happen with this like all the politician stuff. All the sides have this stuff. No on one gives a fata when politicians gain $10MMegs in wealth while in power. Nothing will happen to Danielle and it will be forgotten in a few weeks. It always is and it is partisan blind.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Do you also fire any employee that has some corruption or HR concern before they can bring it up?

That’s unfortunately probably far more of a common practice than you may realize.