Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[kermitology]

I got the same one today. Living in BC with a 403 number is annoying during elections.

[PepsiFree]

I just reported it as spam.

[Muta]

I sent them a pic of the host from Tales From the Crypt.

[dsavillian]

Originally Posted by Dion

Not sure what the background on this but it doesn't look good by Notley. That said i'm sure if someone knows the history, they will tell me.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1648404674742222852

My favourite part about this story is about how Bexte pretended to be handcuffed.

Standard

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Dion

It's true that the gotcha headline got me thinking but I also asked at the same time for members here to fill me on what I was missing. We have some smart people on this thread and I give credit to Fuzz and others for filling me on what I was missing. I'm here to listen and learn. FWIW you can still educate an old fart like me on Politics.

If you have to question it, don't post it!

You still owe us for posting all the pro-ucp crap last election....

[Johnny Makarov]

Woah! The UCP finally did something right.... They bought the Smart building and are converting it to a high school for Charter Schools in Calgary. You can't build a new school for $118mil. My son is starting STEM Academy there in Sept and my daughter is going there too for Connect Charter. Classroom sizes were always smaller than regular CBE schools and kids had no where to go after Grade 9 except back to regular CBE high schools. Now they expect to have 2,000 students at this hub and the location is great. The Brentwood Wendy's is going to be crazy busy!

Alberta Education has confirmed a $76-million investment to purchase the building, and charter school officials estimated up to $42 million will be spent over the next two years to renovate and reconfigure office space into classrooms, labs and a school gym.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...erta-announces

[Flames0910]

Call me a cynic, but $76M to purchase an office complex that needs another $42M in renovations? Seems like somebody at SMART wanted out of their building and got the UCP to buy them out (also I'm pretty sure that much of their staff is international now, IDK how many local employees they have left).

[Hockeyguy15]

How about they fork over some money to build regular schools for kids?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

Call me a cynic, but $76M to purchase an office complex that needs another $42M in renovations? Seems like somebody at SMART wanted out of their building and got the UCP to buy them out (also I'm pretty sure that much of their staff is international now, IDK how many local employees they have left).

I am not sure why that much in renos. I was there a few years ago when SMART was the primary occupant and it was well kept, unless it was totally gutted it since then. It was certainly in much better condition than any current CBE high school at least, I can’t see it being worse. That really seems like a lot to reconfigure some space for classrooms and a gym.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I am not sure why that much in renos. I was there a few years ago when SMART was the primary occupant and it was well kept, unless it was totally gutted it since then. It was certainly in much better condition than any current CBE high school at least, I can’t see it being worse. That really seems like a lot to reconfigure some space for classrooms and a gym.

Oh for sure it's still in great shape. But they have to add like chem labs and they are building a brand new gym in the field.

Also the location is key as the old Stem school was already in Research Park and they have joint programs with the U of C. Also it's a 5 min walk to Brentwood Station. I can't think of another High School other than the new Ernest Manning next to a C-Train station.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Woah! The UCP finally did something right.... They bought the Smart building and are converting it to a high school for Charter Schools in Calgary. You can't build a new school for $118mil. My son is starting STEM Academy there in Sept and my daughter is going there too for Connect Charter. Classroom sizes were always smaller than regular CBE schools and kids had no where to go after Grade 9 except back to regular CBE high schools. Now they expect to have 2,000 students at this hub and the location is great. The Brentwood Wendy's is going to be crazy busy!



https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...erta-announces

I'm not sure what you meant by this, are you implying that $118 million is too much to spend to build a school, or not enough?

The project to build North Trail High School - opening September 2023 was estimated to cost 70.5 million to construct. https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/det...gh-School/4318

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Oh for sure it's still in great shape. But they have to add like chem labs and they are building a brand new gym in the field.

Also the location is key as the old Stem school was already in Research Park and they have joint programs with the U of C. Also it's a 5 min walk to Brentwood Station. I can't think of another High School other than the new Ernest Manning next to a C-Train station.

Father Lacombe, Bishop O'Byrne, Saint Mary's and Our Lady of the Rockies (Bishop Grandin) are all schools within the same walking distance to the train as the Smart Building.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I am not sure why that much in renos.

Replacing all those SMART boards with something that works isn't cheap.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Father Lacombe, Bishop O'Byrne, Saint Mary's and Our Lady of the Rockies (Bishop Grandin) are all schools within the same walking distance to the train as the Smart Building.

William Aberhart is as well.



Fowler and Crescent Heights are just off a BRT line, too, for what that's worth.

[Faust]

@YYCCowboy

Well.. Since AHS has cut back reporting, I've been trying to find things to keep busy with.. I've been watching @JasonOnTheDrums take on Rob Anderson, and enjoying every single minute of it.. So I decided to do some digging for the hell of it... /1

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...112533504?s=21

Jason Kenney filed his expense reports on the AB Legislature Page as always.. You'd see his normal Edmonton Accommodation Allowance Claim.. Some coffee etc. from his office folks.. Nothing mind blowing by any means.. So I decided to check out Danielle Smith's reports /2

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...869930497?s=21


Well.. For her 'First' Expense report of October to December.. It's pretty empty.. 1 claim for $636 for a banquet meal at a local hotel in Brooks.. No Edmonton Accommodations.. No office expenses.. 214KM for Office staff mileage.. /3

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...463761920?s=21

So I decided to check out the 'Travel and Expense Disclosure table'.. And Lo & Behold.. There's all the claims for 'meetins (Must be a new thing LOL) & meetings".. Charging up the Daily Per-Diem in Country, Daily meals & hotels in EDMONTON.. /4

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...931776514?s=21

There's over 116 claims already since taking office! Well why not check out good ole Rob Anderson I thought.. Looks like he had to claim a hotel, for a one day meeting with the Ethics Commissioner! He's got plenty others as well.. $800 at the Westin Edmonton too! /5

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...810808322?s=21

So I decided to check the Office of the Premier's expenses.. Only one issue.. They stopped updating in January 2023.. But that month alone they spent $26,270.69 (17K in meals, travel & hotels).. December was a whopping $30K ($22K Travel/meals/Hotels) & November $23K /6

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...790532096?s=21

When Kenney was in office, his office claims were generally under $20K and some months even as low as $10K.. None of Smith's staff contracts are posted, so you really have to wonder what they're hiding.. Kenney at least had all of his clowns up even when they got fired! /7

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...266927105?s=21

For those wondering about Kenney's Travel & Expense disclosures.. Here's an interesting difference.. He never claimed for hotels in Edmonton.. Never daily per diem's in country either.. /8

https://twitter.com/yyccowboy/status...410220549?s=21

[Faust]

Thomas A. Lukaszuk @Lukaszukab

Tension in UCP caucus meeting. Calgary ministers and MLAs don’t want Danielle Smith picture or name printed on campaign lawn signs.
#ableg #yyc

https://twitter.com/lukaszukab/statu...587593728?s=21

[puffnstuff]

I got a NDP mailer yesterday, its all about naming ds on one side and NDP stuff on the other. Making it all about smith seems the plan.

And the ucp basically running away from their leader.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Faust

Thomas A. Lukaszuk @Lukaszukab

Tension in UCP caucus meeting. Calgary ministers and MLAs don’t want Danielle Smith picture or name printed on campaign lawn signs.
#ableg #yyc

https://twitter.com/lukaszukab/statu...587593728?s=21

"Our only hope at survival is to pray that potential Conservative voters are so dumb they forget who leads team blue lawn sign."

That's a ringing endorsement.

[Fuzz]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1648829875971854336


Is this the healthcare they were bragging about that they fixed?

[Ozy_Flame]

More evidence that the UCP is trying to weasel their way into power and not actually interested in representing the people. They are too ashamed of their own party leader and her antics, but really want those sweet Leg positions, pay, and benefits.

The fact that supposed party moderates like Sawhney and Schulz continue to act as sycophants for the UCP as their party of choice (with Schulz even campaigning before the writ is dropped, not sure that's allowed) shows just how selfish some of these people really are.

I'd have more respect for these Calgary MLA's if they just came out and said they're Wildrose by another name.

What a mess.