Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Just as weak as the posters in this thread saying they will leave if Smith wins?

Didn't you just post an article complaining that business will leave if the NDP wins? What's the difference?

[Fuzz]

OK, in a shocking surprise, Smith misrepresents the findings of the report. She was in no way vindicated. She comes across looking like a moron who listened to Ezra Levant for advice, should have hung up on Artur, and attempted to get Shandro to do something about it.

In my opinion, Premier Smith contravened s.3 of the Conflicts of Interest Act in her interaction with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General in relation to the criminal charges Mr. Pawlowski was facing.

At this point, I make no recommendations with respect to sanctions against the Premier for consideration of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta but reserve the right to make recommendations once the Legislative Assembly is back in session.

The only finding she can be happy about is the lack of evidence for the CBC's direct claims. It doesn't mean it didn't happen. It could also simply be becuase Smith doesn't know the difference between her justice minister and crown prosecutors. Like, she's doing victory laps becuase the reporter may have got it wrong becuase of her ignorance. That's not something to celebrate, you moron.

Clearly unqualified. Worth reading the report if you care to understand just how ignorant and incompetent this person is.

[Yoho]

Surprised usually this stuff comes out after an election and the damage is done.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1659235417994960901

[Wormius]

Cool. An unsourced screenshot from a True North contributor. What does Times Post Millennial have to say?

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Surprised usually this stuff comes out after an election and the damage is done.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1659235417994960901

“Absence of Evidence does not mean Evidence of Absence”, an old quote by Dr Carl Sagan, means, in a very simple term, that, if there is lack of evidence of presence of a thing, does not always conclude to the absence of that thing totally.

[Fuzz]

Sure, you can pick the stuff she wasn't found explicitly guilty of, but read the ####ing report before you do victory laps. She was found GUILTY of contravening the conflict of interest act, and behaved in a manner completely unbecoming of a premier.

I couldn't imagine celebrating this as a win. You'd have to have the intelligence of a spaghetti squash to conclude that after reading the report.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sure, you can pick the stuff she wasn't found explicitly guilty of, but read the ####ing report before you do victory laps. She was found GUILTY of contravening the conflict of interest act, and behaved in a manner completely unbecoming of a premier.

I couldn't imagine celebrating this as a win. You'd have to have the intelligence of a spaghetti squash to conclude that after reading the report.

What have you got against spaghetti squash Fuzz???

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Torture

What have you got against spaghetti squash Fuzz???

Nothing, they are great to eat, becuase I don't have to worry about harming something with mental abilities.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

My take-aways:
1. Ezra Levant is an idiot.

Marshall Smith received the email directly from Ezra Levant which surprisingly, from
someone legally trained, advocated direct interference by the Premier by having her order a stay in prosecutions. The Premier also received this letter directly from Mr. Levant

2. No evidence that Smith contacted the Crown Prosecutors directly, but...
3. She absolutely interfered inappropriately in the administration of justice.

Speaking to an Attorney General about a specific ongoing criminal case, in the way that Premier Smith did on the call with Minister Shandro, is not acceptable. Just as was the case with Prime Minister Trudeau in the SNC-Lavalin case, Premier Smith was the only person who, by virtue of her position, could clearly exert influence over the Attorney General and had the power to remove Minister Shandro from his position as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. I believe that Minister Shandro must have felt considerable pressure and concern for his tenure as Minister as a result of the call.

In the whole scheme of things, it is a threat to democracy to interfere with the
administration of justice. It is the first step toward the type of judicial system often found in a non-democratic or pseudo-democratic country where members of and friends of those in power are shielded from prosecution or are acquitted by the courts on the instructions of those in power. As well, those opposing the Government face trumped up charges and are convicted based on political instructions to the judiciary which slavishly follows the government agenda in order to keep their positions. This independence is a cornerstone of any democratic society and democracy will fail without it.

But yes, please, don't take my word. Read the report everyone. It isn't that long.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Shandro should have resigned, were he a person of professional integrity.

Naturally he did not.

[Fuzz]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1659246260749225985


And if the UCP win, she'll be welcomed back a week after the election. Or if the margin is 1 seat.

[Ozy_Flame]

Ah yes, the expelling of a candidate, only to not only vote in alignment with the expellers, but be welcomed back into the fold when the heat dies down them too, a la Pat Rein and Todd Loewen.

Such consequences, much justice.

[Fuzz]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1659242108111159302


A couple more to boot out. It's funny that she said she wouldn't be doing this anymore before the election, but then does it, and sets a precedent. So now, she pretty much has to do the same any time a clown takes off their flesh coloured makeup.

[woob]

Progress Report has put up an article on a report done by the Parkland Institude regarding the UCP's "Alberta Surgical Initiative." This was also reported on local CBC radio this morning.

Alberta Surgery Wait Times Up, Total Surgical Volumes Down Since UCP Privatization Deal

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Ah yes, the expelling of a candidate, only to not only vote in alignment with the expellers, but be welcomed back into the fold when the heat dies down them too, a la Pat Rein and Todd Loewen.

Such consequences, much justice.

I'm not defending what she said (by any stretch of the imagination), but out of curiosity, what would you have Smith do here? Like what other consequences can she impose?

[Major Major]

The modern Alberta conservative identifies with:

1. Big government
2. Ethics violations
3. Weekly apologies from the leader

I used to have a boss that would send weekly emails that were meant to clarify, re-word, walk back or apologize for his other weekly email. We laughed at him and would have accepted any other boss. Even someone who is orange. He had no sycophantic supporters. What's happening in Alberta needs to be studied and put in the DSM.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Slava

I'm not defending what she said (by any stretch of the imagination), but out of curiosity, what would you have Smith do here? Like what other consequences can she impose?

Condemn the statements, and impose a lifetime ban on re-joining her party. Zero tolerance policy for any scum behavior like this. Her public statement is soft as butter.

Although we all know that's not going to happen.

EDIT: I need to add what belsarius said too. REMOVE her as the UCP candidate. Find another person that isn't a complete disgusting chud. Condtionally expelling her but still getting to use the UCP brand name and election machine is absolutely vile and cowardly.

[surferguy]

So what list is longer:

UCP candidates that have said pretty brutal things?

or

UCP candidates that have not said pretty brutal things?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by surferguy

So what list is longer:

UCP candidates that have said pretty brutal things?

or

UCP candidates that have not said pretty brutal things?

or


Pretty brutal things the UCP leader has said.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Slava

I'm not defending what she said (by any stretch of the imagination), but out of curiosity, what would you have Smith do here? Like what other consequences can she impose?

Is it too late to remove her as the UCP candidate? It doesn't smell right letting her continue to campaign under the UCP banner and get elected as a UCP with only a promise that she would be expelled. Should she not be immediately expelled?