Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

One of my wife’s former students killed themself a couple days ago. They came out as trans a couple years back and their parents said if they change their name they can no longer live at home. At school they found somewhat of a safe space, teachers and students called them whatever name they asked to be called, and life was slightly more manageable.

The recent rule changes resulted in teachers no longer being able to use their preferred name, could no longer talk to them about everything, and resulted in school no longer being a safe space.

It would be nice if all parents would help their children with these scenarios, but the reality is that not all of them do. Schools used to be a place where kids could turn to for help, and our government has taken that away.

It makes me sick to my stomach.

Absolutely tragic, and utterly predictable that this is exactly what would happen. Here's a post I made from over a year ago about this exact scenario:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

When a vulnerable LGBTQ+ teen is forcibly outed by their school to their non-supportive parents and is then cast out of their home, physically abused, or even murdered, that teen's blood is on the hands of the UCP government and every Albertan who voted for them. And make absolutely no mistake, it's a matter of when -- not if -- this scenario will happen.

This is what you voted for, UCP supporters.

[Fuzz]

It's OK though, we should probably just ignore the Chistofacist takeover of our government implementing their fear-based moral code, using taxpayer funded indoctrination through religious schools to have "soft supporters" in the future who can hum and haw about these things, because they've been taught from a very young age these very morals. That includes all you folks who pretend sending your kids there saying it isn't really bad because there isn't much preaching.


Don't worry, it won't affect you though, I'm sure. Just let them keep chipping away at it...one day...

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Absolutely tragic, and utterly predictable that this is exactly what would happen. Here's a post I made from over a year ago about this exact scenario:

It’s just so sad.

And a reminder to all those parents who trotted out the line “Well, I have a right/want to know what’s happening at school”: If you’re a good parent, you have nothing to worry about. You never did. Supporting policies that do direct, measurable harm to children by removing safe spaces and places where your children can feel comfortable in their own skin and feel love and acceptance to mask your shortcomings as a parent is repulsive.

If you’re worried that your child is going through something they aren’t open or honest with you about, don’t seek to harm them and other children as a response. Look inward and figure out why that is. The problem was never supportive schools, teachers, guidance councillors, GSAs, or children getting called their preferred name. The problem is and always was parents. And through your own selfishness, you helped dismantle one of the few reprieves many LGBTQ children have.

Maybe the student Big Chill mentioned could have been saved. But you’d rather children commit suicide than face your own shortcomings as a parent.

[KelVarnsen]

If you can't support your own child when they come out to you. You are not only a terrible parent, you are also a terrible person.

[aaronck]

Disaster of a presser today for Marliana....I can't believe people voted for this dullard.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1900646502437187816

https://twitter.com/user/status/1900652465797664884

[puffnstuff]

Health officials are warning the public about a measles outbreak in northern Alberta that now includes six confirmed cases and they're worried about the potential for the virus to spread.

"This is a dangerous virus."

Jenne said that because measles is extremely infectious and difficult to contain, it requires about 95 per cent of people in the community to be fully vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

However, childhood vaccination rates have dropped in recent years. According to provincial#data, in 2023,#69.3 per cent of Alberta children were fully vaccinated with two doses of the measles vaccine by the age of two. In several parts of the province, the immunization rate was well below 50 per cent.

"[That's] not remotely close to the levels we need," Jenne said.

Measles can#linger in the air for hours after an infected person leaves#a room, Jenne said.#As few as one to two individual virus particles can#cause an infection.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ases-1.7484241

[puffnstuff]

People at several locations in or near Airdrie at several dates and times this month may have been exposed to measles.

Alberta Health Services says a case of measles has been confirmed in the area.

The locations, dates and times of potential exposure include:

Superstore at 300 Veterans Blvd. N.E. in Airdrie, on March 8 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
New Horizon Mall (Sky Castle Family Entertainment Centre, cafeteria) at 260300 Writing Creek Cres. in Balzac, on March 9 between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Airdrie Urgent Care at 604 Main St. S. in Airdrie, on March 11 between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
One Health Associate Medical Clinic at #201 836 1 Ave. N.W. in Airdrie, on March 12 between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/artic...irdrie-balzac/

[troutman]

Corb Lund, Katie Morrison, and Bill Trafford Challenge Premier and Ministers to Debate Controversial Coal Policies

https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/co...ate-challenge/

Over the past five years, Albertans have voiced their displeasure with the government’s handling of the coal issue. In fact, polling – such as that recently done by the Pekisko Group of Ranchers and Livingstone Landowners Group – consistently shows that at least 70% of Albertans oppose new coal exploration or development in the Eastern Slopes, given the serious and long-term risks it poses to water quality and quantity, as well as human health.

Despite this clear mandate, the Government of Alberta has plowed ahead with a new Coal Industry Modernization Initiative, which not only allows new coal mining in the Eastern Slopes but exclusively consults with industry. Albertans will not be engaged on the new initiative.

“The rationale for the Government of Alberta’s decision to time and again ignore the wishes of the vast majority of Albertans is completely and utterly unclear. They’ve stated that they want to ‘listen to Albertans,’ but it seems our message is falling on deaf ears. They owe it to Albertans to be accountable and transparent, and that’s why we’ve issued this challenge,” says Katie Morrison.

I doubt the UCP has the guts or permission from Northback to participate.

[Fuzz]

When Alberta's United Conservative government contracted out community medical lab testing to a private company in December 2022, it said it would save tens of millions of dollars.

Two weeks before that contract with DynaLife Medical Labs was set to take effect, the company told the province it needed additional funding.

Less than three months later, DynaLife's owners said the company was insolvent and needed an additional $70 million. They soon asked the province to buy DynaLife, which it ultimately did at a cost of almost $100 million.

These revelations come from documents obtained by CBC News through freedom of information requests, including Alberta Health emails and briefing notes prepared for Premier Danielle Smith and health ministers Jason Copping and Adriana LaGrange.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...show-1.7483023

Ah, the finest examples of Conservative fiscal management and the success of privatization. Exactly what Alberta voted for.

And I didn't even realize this bit:

In late February 2023, DynaLife's owners — Labcorp, a large American health-care company, and OMERS, a municipal employee pension plan in Ontario — "informally flagged financial concerns" about the company, according to the briefing note to Smith.

So they begged for government money when their parent company had at least $15 billion in market cap. Taxpayer welfare for an American corporation. ####ing stunning.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

####ing stunning.

Sadly it isn't

[Point Blank]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to update you all on the state of things in public education. I work for the CBE and it’s been really tough.
- Elementary schools have roughly lost two months worth of learning because of the sheer amount of assessments mandated by the provincial governments
- Lack of classroom space has led the combining classrooms with 2 teachers. Some elementary classrooms can have up to 40-50 kids, this leads to one teacher having to manage 5-10 disruptive students and the other teacher managing the other 30+ students
- Hardest hit are special ed classrooms as principals have to choose teachers or Ed assistants
- Elementary and Jr high school teachers are regularly evacuating classrooms due to student meltdowns, and have told me that they would ideally love to spend sufficient time to help those students develop strategies to navigate their feelings, but can’t because they don’t have the proper support and can’t leave the rest of their class unattended.
- I teach in a high school, almost every high school in the northeast is full. High schoolers in the NE designated for North Trail, Mandela or Pearson have to bus down to Fowler or Crescent Heights. Students in the far South have to bus to Beaverbrook.
- Classroom sizes in high school can be in the high 30’s to low 40’s. I spend entire weekends just marking as a result of massive class sizes (imagine having to mark 3x35 essays). We’re running out of space and have been converting cafeterias and storage spaces into classrooms.
- We’re told to print less because we don’t have the budget, but then at the same time to print everything we give because some students don’t have access to digital devices.We have no money to serve students in an equitable manner.
- Lack of funding leads to schools relying on parent council to fund new equipment, leading to inequities (schools in the NW and SW generally have a much more active parent council than schools in the NE)
- students are increasingly complex and administration is literally spending all day dealing with fights, students vaping in the bathrooms, disrespectful behaviours, and vandalized bathrooms (which btw aren’t getting fixed as quickly right now due to the CUPE strike)

Sometimes I can’t stop thinking about how our current government is intentionally sabotaging public education so that they can continue to vilify us with single issues such as pronouns and preferred names so that they can push for privatization.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

- Elementary schools have roughly lost two months worth of learning because of the sheer amount of assessments mandated by the provincial governments

My wife was talking to me about how much time is spent on those assessments and it is just bonkers. Then the results are things the teachers already figured out about the students and could have spent that time addressing.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

Sometimes I can’t stop thinking about how our current government is intentionally sabotaging public education so that they can continue to vilify us with single issues such as pronouns and preferred names so that they can push for privatization.

This is by design, quality education is the enemy of the conservative movement. They want the dumbest populace possible so that they'll vote how they're told without asking any questions, just like down south

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

Hey everyone, I just wanted to update you all on the state of things in public education. I work for the CBE and it’s been really tough.
- Elementary schools have roughly lost two months worth of learning because of the sheer amount of assessments mandated by the provincial governments
- Lack of classroom space has led the combining classrooms with 2 teachers. Some elementary classrooms can have up to 40-50 kids, this leads to one teacher having to manage 5-10 disruptive students and the other teacher managing the other 30+ students
- Hardest hit are special ed classrooms as principals have to choose teachers or Ed assistants
- Elementary and Jr high school teachers are regularly evacuating classrooms due to student meltdowns, and have told me that they would ideally love to spend sufficient time to help those students develop strategies to navigate their feelings, but can’t because they don’t have the proper support and can’t leave the rest of their class unattended.
- I teach in a high school, almost every high school in the northeast is full. High schoolers in the NE designated for North Trail, Mandela or Pearson have to bus down to Fowler or Crescent Heights. Students in the far South have to bus to Beaverbrook.
- Classroom sizes in high school can be in the high 30’s to low 40’s. I spend entire weekends just marking as a result of massive class sizes (imagine having to mark 3x35 essays). We’re running out of space and have been converting cafeterias and storage spaces into classrooms.
- We’re told to print less because we don’t have the budget, but then at the same time to print everything we give because some students don’t have access to digital devices.We have no money to serve students in an equitable manner.
- Lack of funding leads to schools relying on parent council to fund new equipment, leading to inequities (schools in the NW and SW generally have a much more active parent council than schools in the NE)
- students are increasingly complex and administration is literally spending all day dealing with fights, students vaping in the bathrooms, disrespectful behaviours, and vandalized bathrooms (which btw aren’t getting fixed as quickly right now due to the CUPE strike)

Sometimes I can’t stop thinking about how our current government is intentionally sabotaging public education so that they can continue to vilify us with single issues such as pronouns and preferred names so that they can push for privatization.

Some of these issues are so incredibly difficult to solve though. Like I’m 100% a public education supporter and don’t like the UCP. But I’m not entirely sure what the government can do about class sizes immediately, or a lack of available space. The reality is that our population has increased significantly. It’s great to think that we’ll build more schools and kids will all be able to go to school in their communities, but I do wonder how feasible that is in the shorter term?

[Fuzz]

Piss poor planning. The UCP is reacting to population increases, not anticipating them. I'm sure it's all the NDP's fault somehow though, for those long four years when they should have fixed everything.


Even now they do the same thing with healthcare. Airdrie is getting a private medical clinic, when they should have a hospital under construction. South Edmonton's population continues to grow, and they put a pause on the hospital that should be well under construction by now, probably because they are trying to find ways to make it private.


Albertans are dumb, and apparently well on our way to getting much dumber.

[indes]

No better in Elk Island Public Schools. My kid is in a grade 3 class of 34 students and has to bus all the way across Sherwood Park. They built a new school a 4-minute drive away from us but it was immediately over capacity, so the zone boundaries are tiny and closed. There's another school that's a 6-minute drive and its boundaries are also closed as its over capacity as well.

The county had an area in our new community zoned for a school but they scrapped it and just put up more houses.

[puffnstuff]

Maybe theyll build a new religious...i mean charter school near you...

[aaronck]

Heavy is the head that wears the crown....

https://twitter.com/user/status/1901804327066624399

[woob]

Originally Posted by Slava

Some of these issues are so incredibly difficult to solve though. Like I’m 100% a public education supporter and don’t like the UCP. But I’m not entirely sure what the government can do about class sizes immediately, or a lack of available space. The reality is that our population has increased significantly. It’s great to think that we’ll build more schools and kids will all be able to go to school in their communities, but I do wonder how feasible that is in the shorter term?

Really? Difficult to solve? C'mon. The only reason it's difficult to solve is because the government chooses not to address many of the funding issues, teachers pay, etc. And they choose not to implement a PST to flatten out the peaks and valleys of funding provincial budgets.

Education funding and class sizes are not a new thing. Teachers get vilified on this very board when they seek more equitable pay. Poor funding, planning, and education is an issue which has been around for years. And yes, it's gotten even worse with the population increase, but it's been an issue prior to that.

[Muta]

I hate the UCP with a ####ing passion, but I will say that there are schools getting built (or existing ones modernized/expanded); my firm is currently leading the design on 10+ of these projects at this very moment, and that's only a small handful of them underway. There are also more public school projects scheduled to come out.

I cannot speak to the quality of education being delivered in the schools themselves, but I do know that there are quite a bit of public schools being built/renovated across the province at this moment.