Tuesday Link List - Alberta Election 2019

My People! We've reached the stage in this election where regular (aka "not political", aka privileged) folks are complaining about the state of their social media feeds! BWAAAHAHAHAHAAA! 

Now, I'm not sure if this is a specific part of their platform, but in the first two years of their mandate the Alberta -NDP have cut child poverty in half. Why aren't more people talking about this?!

Benefits help slash Alberta's child poverty rate by Trevor Tombe on CBC
(Click here for an interesting juxtaposition to the previous conservative government who didn't do anything to reduce the poverty rate in over 20 years)

Well, if there is one thing I know for certain, people really hate it when a policy directly impacts women positively. I mean, shitty people hate it, and then they get on Twitter and tell the whole world. The NDP instituted a subsidized daycare program a few years ago, and vowed to expand it as part of their 2019 platform.

NDP vows to subsidize all child care spaces in the province by Bill Kaufman, Calgary Herald

From what I could tell, those shitty people's main concern was that "if you can't afford kids, don't have them" and also, "I'm not paying for your kid's daycare." Oh! Can't forget my favourite: "it costs too much." Oh geez, have I got news for you! There are loads and loads of evidence that subsidized daycare more than pays for itself simply in getting moms back into the workforce sooner. Here is one such article!

Quebec-style child care could boost economy: Bank of Canada Head on CTV

Twitter got all fired up, and there were lots of folks - parents - sharing their #whatIpayforchildcare stories. This thread in particular is excellent:

Read the whole thing here.

And what do the UCP have to say about daycares? They want to "remove red tape for operators" aka less regulations on daycares. Is that seriously a thing people want?!

NDP child care plan shows vast gap with UCP policy by Don Braid, Calgary Herald

The Alberta party wants to introduce a voucher program for child care. When I hear "voucher" I think of the voucher program in the states for "school choice", aka pouring more money into charter schools and leaving the public system underfunded, so I don't have high hopes that this policy will get the money to the folks who need it most. But I've only heard bits and pieces about it. I will say that with the heat between the UCP and NDP, I've barely heard anything related to the other party platforms.

In addition to all the policy announcements, I cannot even keep track of how many racist, homophobic, misogynist UCP candidates we've seen ousted from the running. It's a lot, but there are still more! And lots of them are still running! Friendly reminder that Caylan Ford thinks white supremacists are hard done by, and Eva Kiryakos thinks transgender folks trying to use the bathroom are "brainwashing kids into accepting perversions as an alternate lifestyle".  To note: it's not a "smear" when people are just reporting things you actually said. The people who have replaced these candidates in their ridings aren't any better, so don't get too excited.

And the media continues to do a poor job in calling out this crap. Macleans recently published a related article about media and their role in "both sides" reporting when it comes to white supremacy.

The moral cowardice of Canadian media is leaving racism unchallenged by Andray Domise (Macleans)

Well, that's probably enough for now! I'm going to put out another one of these next week, and then I'm off on vacation for about 8 days! Nothing exciting will happen in that time, I'm sure....right?!

Please make sure you are registered to vote. Click here to register - or to see if you already are!

xo

Tuesday Link List - It's Election Time Again

The writ dropped today! It's election time again here in Alberta. I think we can all safely say that everyone is in campaign mode and have been for some time - ugh, it's already long enough at 28 days thank you -

The theme of today's post is minimum wage, especially as it relates to the Restaurants Campaign that was launched back in February, that Jason Kenney and the UCP latched right on to and have now made lowering the minimum wage for folks under 18 part of their platform, and all of this makes me want to pull out all of my hair.

Restaurants Canada new Restaurant Realities campaign exists in an alternate reality by Kristy Koehler on the Gauntlet

Edmonton food shops clarify positions on minimum wage after backlash over Restaurants Canada campaign by Kevin Maimann on The Star Edmonton

Alberta hikes minimum wage adds food service jobs third straight year by Ian Hussey on National Observer

Jason Kenney's labour reforms are arbitrary and ridiculous workers rights advocates say on Press Progress

Restaurant lobby launches campaign to elect UCP, roll-back $15 minimum wage by David Climenhaga posted on Rabble

Teenage workers deserve same minimum wage as adults by Ricky Leong on Calgary Sun

This is the article more sympathetic toward the restaurant lobby. Sending it back: Restaurants Canada launches critical campaign ahead of Alberta election by Travis McEwan on CBC.

I'm sorry, but the mainstream media is going to have to ask a lot tougher questions, like: "Who stands to benefit from this policy? Show how." "What evidence do you have that this is a good idea?" I'm watching the media during this election cycle as much as the politicians and their campaigns.

And finally, listen to Combating Alberta's restaurant lobby | Worker-driven workplace inclusion on Rank and File.


Most importantly, please make sure you are registered to vote. Click here to register - or to check to see if you already are!

November 9, 2016

posted to Facebook this morning in response to the results of the US election yesterday.

Dear Canadians,

Okay people. Yes, be grateful you live in Canada, and have Tim’s coffee and poutine or whatever. But remember that we are not immune to what happened to our neighbours last night! We are always a few years behind the trends in the US, and I for one don’t want the Canadian version of Trump ruling our election cycle at all ever thank you very much.

For those of you who don’t believe that it could happen here, please look to what is happening in Alberta right now. Two very smart, and qualified women were just grossly bullied out of the PC leadership race, people are calling our Premier a “c**t” and threatening her life, racists attacking cyclists, and citizens brandishing confederate flags at an anti-carbon tax rally. And in terms of our federal politics, we need look no further than Kellie Leitch and her “values test”. The US rewarded a racist, misogynist, bully with no political experience, with their highest elected office, and racist, misogynist, bullies everywhere are cheering. We can point fingers and wring our hands all we want, but the truth is, it could happen here.

Now, my privilege allows me a little bit of a step back here, but there will be people who are immensely effected by this who can’t just “ignore the bad stuff” and have the strength to abide the things they can’t change. My privilege also affords me a little more wiggle room in how I can respond to this. This is not a time to just complain and be complacent. We must take action.

Start by donating whatever you can to organizations in your community who fight for things you believe it. Whether they be political organizations, grassroots, community assistance programs, or whatever! Not only do our most vulnerable people need charity during these tough times, there are organizations in a position to oppose the hateful, divisive politics and ideas that people like Trump espouse. And if you can afford to help them out, please do so in whatever way you feel most comfortable. We vote with a ballot as much as we vote with our dollars and with our voice. Please ensure that those organizations that best represent your values get your support, in order to continue doing their good work.

Call out racist and sexist and other–ist shit when you see it! Do you have a racist uncle-cousin-high school friend, telling rape jokes, and cheering for the bully? Don’t let them get away with that shit! If you feel safe doing so, call them out. Ask them why they think it’s funny, ask them why they support those positions. Our silence emboldens them, and makes them think that everyone feels the same way they do. Well, I for one don’t and I am not afraid to say so. If you don’t feel safe confronting them (in person or online), please don’t endanger your safety…you don’t owe anyone that.

And finally BE KIND TO PEOPLE! Don’t call someone an idiot just because they voted a different way from you. This election was about fear. Fear for jobs and the economy, fear about the war happening in Syria. People voted the way they did because they thought it would help them, and they don’t deserve your condescension because that looks a different way than what you wanted. We need to work together if we are going to make it out of this alive, but please keep in mind my point above. Remember that some people voted the way they did because they hate women and couldn’t stand to see one in the White House. And remember that some people voted the way they did because they hate black people, and want to take the country back to a time when POC and women weren’t allowed to vote, had no rights, and were treated like property.

When a man like Trump sees the success he has, it emboldens the darkest corners of his supporters. And they have come out swinging, literally, at POC, at women, at gay & trans people. At anyone who doesn’t look like them (straight white American males you’re probably still doing okay!), and anyone who doesn’t agree with their hateful message. Be kind to minorities, to immigrants, to people of colour, and to LGBTQ+ in your lives and in your communities. They are going to feel the brunt of this decision, and things are going to get a lot worse for them real quick. They need allies, and support, and love right now.

If this election cycle has taught me anything, it is that there are elected officials out there who are still full of love and hope for their country and for their citizens. And I intend to do everything in my power to make sure those people hear my voice and have my support up here. We’ve got our work cut out for us. Love Trumps Hate. 

Clear My Browser Tabs

When people post idiotic memes on Facebook, I am of two minds:
1. WTF?! Do people not THINK before they post these ridiculous hateful/ignorant/racist/uninformed/fake images and comments? Is it supposed to be "funny"? Cause it's mostly just wrong. Memes aren't news!

and 2. YAY! They've just given me a starting point to do some INTERNET RESEARCH! aka Google shit until I find something relevant. I live for this!!! Thank you thank you thank you!

And on that note, I thought I would share the contents of my current browser tabs.

In response to: a meme that instructed me to turn off the power to my house if I didn't "support oil and gas workers" (ugh...I have SO MUCH to say about this one...)
I am reading:
So you use oil? No, that doesn't make you a hypocrite

In reponse to: An acquaintance posted a year-old article about Montreal's problems with releasing untreated sewage into the St. Lawrence River, and then proceeded to comment with misinformation about how equalization payments work, and stereotypical bullshit about our French neighbours.
I am reading:
Raw sewage: 101 Quebec municipalities dumping into waterways (this is the article that started it all, actually)
Montreal's waste water to be cleaned using ozone  starting in 2018
Montreal building $100million waste water treatment facility
Ottawa suspends sewage dump in St. Lawrence River
Montreal controversy shows cities regularly dump sewage into rivers
Alberta doesn't send oil money to have-nots, and Ontario contributes more than Alberta - this is now my go-to article when someone blasts bullshit about how equalization works

In response to: The image above, posted without comment on a high school friend's page. And really, the constant bullshit about pipelines and climate change (it never ends really).
I am reading: 
Bill McKibben: Trudeau can't charm his way around the mathematics of climate change
Iron & Earth's Worker's Climate Plan
220 'significant' pipeline spills already this year exposes troubling safety record
Spills are more common thanks to aging pipelines
Dakota Access Pipeline explained: what you need to know
Oilsands growth makes it nearly impossible for Canada to meet Paris Agreement targets
Oil industry group opens doors to renewable energy companies

In response to: Blah blah blah stupid NDP, dumb c**t Notley, Kudatah, etc. (gosh this one is getting boring...)
I am reading:
Braid: the NDP's headlong rush to overall Alberta by 2019
Varcoe: Royalty changes make Alberta make competitive than BC and Saskatchewan report finds

Actually, a comment along these lines ("stupid NDP...blah blah blah TAXES!") was posted on a cool video my BIL shared about burning garbage. (this video). So I posted a link with more info about Edmonton's Waste to Biofuels & Chemicals Facility.
And now I am reading:
Biofuels in Edmonton - How does it all work?

In response to: A really COOL link my uncle posted about a recent Tesla announcement
I am reading: No one saw Tesla's solar roof coming

And that's what my browser looks like today!

Well, in addition to these tabs: Audrey's Books, Pokemon merch, a visual list of all the emojis, 350+ climate movement, a potential location for future family vacations, a cookie recipe, an awesome "world music" band, and an art blog.

Eclectic tastes.
xo

p.s. I am that annoying person that might call out your bullshit in the comments section with links like the above! That's me!

Facebook Makes Me Cranky Sometimes

I was trying to find a "rebuttal" to a bunch of posts on Facebook about the state of Ontario's wind industry, and how that should really scare us Albertans in the face of our new NDP Government. Now, the NDPs don't specifically mention "wind turbines" in their platform. They reference a renewed interest and investment in all renewable technologies, and a re-focus on keeping oil and oil jobs in Canada. I was confused on all the hullabaloo about wind in Ontario (just as I was about roads in Saskatchewan, but that's another post...)

So I did what any good Internetter with a cause does...I Googled it! HA! But seriously...

And I found out that Ontarioans (am I saying that correctly) are really nonplussed about their new foray into wind turbine technology. It's noisy, it causes some sort of "wind turbine syndrome" (which I have to do more digging into), it's unpleasant to live by, etc. etc. I found a whole site dedicated to hating-on the wind industry there!

And I found this "woe is us" article on this site windontario.ca. I've quoted my "favourite" part below:

Gone are the days of beautiful Ontario….

“These wind projects will change this place more totally, more rapidly and more permanently
than anything in the past 10,000 years”James Corcoran, South Huron, Ontario
30 years experience, environmental assessments on behalf of developers.

The Human & Environmental Impact 

To appreciate the full impact of turbines on our people, please find the time  to read this:
http://www.southwesternontario.ca/news/public-fills-gallery-to-hear-wind-turbine-concerns/

Wind companies:

Pay a lower tax rate than other corporations.
Have farmers who sign lease contracts, sign a gag order.
Are exempted from municipal bylaws, building permits, proximity to highways, drainage issues.
Have weight restrictions on roads and bridges lifted during construction of wind projects.
May destroy protected wetlands.
May cause death or harm to endangered species.
Are exempt from the $10,000 fine in the event of destroying an eagle’s nest.
Override the Heritage Act.

Wind companies sue municipalities/persons who get in their way.

The government supplies lawyers to back a wind company;
but has never backed a municipality, group or person.

Municipalities have had all rights removed regarding wind projects.
Over 80 municipalities are “unwilling hosts” to turbines, but are not acknowledged.

July, 2014. MPP Jeff Yurek asked the Premier whether she will listen to constituents in
West Elgin and Dutton who have stated they do not want industrial wind turbine development.
This was her response:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouIhk07U9cU&feature=player_embedded

Every turbine destroys 3 acres of land; roughly 21,000 acres of farmland lost forever.
Ontario turbines are closer to people than any place in the world.
Turbine neighbours suffer from turbine noise and wind turbine syndrome which can be life threatening.
Residents are abandoning their homes at a unprecedented pace.
The fortunate are bought out by the wind companies, but must sign a gag order.
Rural Ontario areas are becoming ghost towns.

That's sad isn't it? Now, replace the word "wind" with "oil". Welcome to The Status Quo! I have to laugh. Renewable energy companies are finally getting the same special treatment as oil companies (some of which are actually the same companies), and we just can't stand it! Argh!

It's still bullshit, mind you, but I wonder if the author of the article above can see the irony.

It takes money, and time, and energy, and GUMPTION to test a new technology. I'm pretty sure the oil and coal industries didn't burst on to the scene all shiny and whole, with no kinks, no protests, no concerns... This is the wave of the future, kiddos. We don't have time to sit on our hands anymore, and wait for our Golden Ticket out of this mess (that we got ourselves into...sigh...). Put on your damn big girl panties, and get with the times.

I will continue to follow this, and other stories like this. I am NOT AFRAID of an Orange & Green Alberta. I know there will be sacrifices, and hard times ahead. But we're fricken Albertans! We got this! To tell you the truth, I am just so stinking excited about things to come!

Coincidentally, today marks the first day our new MLAs got to sit in their new seats! Go Team!