MLA for Calgary-Buffalo, Minister of Finance 2015-19, five-term YYC Councillor 1995-2010. Music lover, runner & beer snob. NDP Shadow Min. for Arts and Culture.
Danielle Smith is now inviting Trump advisers to meet with Alberta officials. It's becoming clearer by the day that she lacks the judgment needed to be Premier.
#ableg
I'm incredibly relieved that the illegal Coutts blockade is finally over, but don't forget that
@jkenney
and the UCP sat by (or openly supported) a blockade that caused up to $48 million in economic damage PER DAY. That's a total of $864 million over the 18 days.
#ableg
Wow. Auditor General reports just dropped. $4B in COVID spending and the UCP don't know where it went or what was achieved. They can't account for the $1.3B from Ottawa. They don't even know what was spent on PPE, contact tracing and rapid tests. This is fiscal competence?
#ableg
Just a reminder that Danielle Smith forced a byelection in Brooks-Medicine Hat, disappeared for two weeks, came back, violated the Elections Act and then knocked on doors in the wrong riding.
#ableg
#medhat
RT if you think
@jkenney
should scrap the $30-million "war room" and spend the money on providing two N95s to every student, teacher and school staff member, every single week, for the duration of the school year.
(And he'd still have $10 million left over.)
#ableg
#abed
Here's what Danielle Smith wrote about Health Spending Accounts: "Once people get used to the concept of paying out of pocket for more things themselves then we can change the conversation on health care."
Make no mistake, the UCP want to dismantle public healthcare.
#ableg
Danielle Smith wants to hijack your CPP, set up an Alberta Police Force, make Albertans "get used" to paying for healthcare, and give herself the power to unilaterally amend provincial laws.
Hands up 🙋🏼 if you want an election before she does any of this.
#ableg
Don't let it be lost on you that
@jkenney
has again gone silent, at the height of an historic crisis. He has no words for healthcare workers as ICUs are overwhelmed, no words for Albertans as we watch this unprecedented disaster.
A total vacuum of leadership.
#ableg
#COVID19AB
Tyler
@shandro
, who faces a hearing to decide whether he broke the Law Society’s code of conduct, has just been named Alberta's Justice Minister. Words fail me.
#ableg
Kaycee Madu attempts to interfere with the administration of justice and he's made Labour Minister. Tyler Shandro is under law society investigation and he's made Justice Minister. Verna Yiu does her job and she's fired. That's the UCP's Alberta.
#ableg
#abhealth
UCP MLA Shane Getson said he's glad
@jkenney
is stripping local government powers because municipalities are the "children of the province" and "it’s time for someone to get spanked".
I can't believe this is an elected official. I can't believe
@jkenney
is supporting him.
#ableg
Don't forget that the UCP were completely united when it came to fighting a war on doctors, laying off healthcare and education workers, opening the Rockies to coal mining, selling off parks, raising your insurance costs and parks fees, etc.
It's not just Jason Kenney.
#ableg
.
@shandro
just said "the virus moved the goalposts." No. The goalposts are in the same place. It's just that you and
@jkenney
left the field and went on vacation.
#ableg
Danielle Smith says we could set up an Alberta Revenue Agency "tomorrow if we wanted to".
No.
It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and create enormous, pointless hassle for people and businesses.
We need a serious Premier.
#ableg
#abpoli
#yyc
#yeg
Let's be clear about what happened:
@shandro
saw a doctor post a meme that he didn’t like. Instead of focusing on
#COVID19
, he then went to the doc’s house and screamed at him in front of his kids. An astounding act from a Minister. He should resign
#ableg
Congratulations to
@RachelNotley
for receiving the honour of a blanket and headdress from members of the Blackfoot tribe. A well-deserved honour to Braveheart Woman, her gifted name.
#abndp
#ableg
Wow. The UCP just voted down a motion that would have prevented utility companies from disconnecting Albertans who have fallen behind on soaring utility bills.
They really don't care about struggling Albertans at all.
#ableg
Happy Friday, everyone. Don't forget that UCP MLA Grant Hunter supported and attended the illegal Coutts blockade. Or that UCP MLA Shane Getson encouraged law enforcement to disobey orders and protect those who break the law. Or that
@jkenney
is still silent about both.
#ableg
Trailers are being set up outside Alberta Children's Hospital. Healthcare workers are being pulled from the bedsides of children in palliative care to help with the crisis. Yet Danielle Smith spent the weekend focused on amending her disastrous Sovereignty Act. Incredible.
#ableg
Doctors in Red Deer are talking about complete system collapse due to staffing shortages. An injured 14-year-old lay on the ice, waiting for an ambulance that never came. Obstetric services are closed in communities across Alberta. This is the UCP healthcare crisis.
#ableg
Ron Orr, the man who said
@jkenney
"is the leader God raised up for these times" and that marijuana legalization could lead to a "communist revolution", is now the UCP's Minister of Culture. No words. 🤦
#ableg
This is disturbing. I just heard the full speech given by Artur Pawlowski at the Coutts blockade.
Are UCP MLAs really going to stand by and say nothing about
@ABDanielleSmith
getting on the phone with this man?
Here are some highlights from the speech. 🧵 1/4
#ableg
#abpoli
Imagine working in a hospital with 19-hour emergency waits, and then having
@ABDanielleSmith
tell you that staffing shortages have been "manufactured".
Maybe some healthcare workers could reply here 👇🏼 and tell her what that's like.
#ableg
#abhealth
Wow. An
@albertaNDP
freedom of information request shows that the UCP spent millions of dollars advertising to Albertans about affordability programs, some of which do not even exist.
They're spending your money to lie about how they're saving you money. 🧵 1/7
#ableg
#yyc
#yeg
Court of Queen's Bench justice Adèle Kent concluded that Kaycee Madu attempted to interfere with the administration of justice when he called the Edmonton Police Chief to discuss his own traffic ticket.
@jkenney
put him back in Cabinet. This is extremely serious.
#ableg
Jason Kenney just said his "primary responsibility is to protect the healthcare system, regardless of political consequences... We will not allow politics or political pressure to distract us."
Where do I even start?
#ableg
#COVID19AB
Can someone remind Danielle Smith that single people have bills, too?
Literally millions of Albertans are excluded from affordability payments thanks to the UCP's chaotic and unfair eligibility criteria.
#ableg
#abpoli
Trailers are being set up outside Alberta Children's Hospital, yet
@ABDanielleSmith
can't even bring herself to endorse the flu shot. She was asked four times at
#ableg
to do this and refused.
We need a Premier who believes in science.
#ableg
"Danielle Smith is no longer a radio host who can channel whatever strikes her fancy. She is the Premier now."
@RachelNotley
nails it. When Danielle Smith spreads misinformation and makes offensive remarks, it matters. There are real consequences.
#ableg
Danielle Smith was elected by about 1% of Albertans. She has no mandate for the radical, job-killing Sovereignty Act. We need an election.
#ableg
#cdnpoli
RT if you want Alberta to bring in vaccine passports.
Vaccine passports boost vaccination rates, allow businesses to open safely, and let vaccinated Albertans go on as normal.
Jason Kenney's plan is for blanket restrictions.
The choice is clear.
#ableg
Whenever
@jkenney
talks about inflation, please remind him that UCP policies make Albertans pay more for income tax, car insurance, tuition, electricity, education property taxes, vehicle registration, camping, phone bills, parks fees, school fees and more.
#ableg
#abpoli
Today
@jkenney
and the UCP blocked a motion that would have held Grant Hunter and Shane Getson responsible for their support of the illegal Coutts Blockade that caused about $800M in economic damage. What does this say about the UCP government?
#ableg
A whole street of Joe Ceci signs!
Today and tomorrow we are rolling out a record-breaking *50,000* Alberta NDP signs across the province.
#ABetterFuture
#ableg
#yyc
I don't know about
@ABDanielleSmith
but I would rather invest $20 billion in supporting Albertans than encouraging profitable corporations to clean up wells they are already legally obliged to clean up.
Who's with me?
#ableg
Just a reminder that these UCP MLAs were all for the war on doctors, parks selloff, pension hijack, open-pit coal mines, mass layoffs of healthcare and education workers, etc
The thing that turned them against
@jkenney
was... public health measures
#ableg
RT if you've had a shocking increase in your utility bills lately.
And remember: if the UCP hadn't removed the price cap on the Regulated Rate Option for electricity (implemented by the NDP govt), prices per KWh would be less than half of what consumers are seeing today.
#ableg
In advance of
@jkenney
's 6 p.m. press conference about his botched pandemic response, let's take stock of his disastrous record.
Spoiler: from the start, his entire approach to
#COVID19AB
has been defined by cruelty and incompetence.
#ableg
THREAD 🧵 1/24
BREAKING
Jason Kenney claimed that he removed the cap on insurance rates because the industry was struggling, but new documents prove that was a lie.
Now, thanks to the UCP, Albertans face ballooning insurance costs at a time when many people can't make ends meet.
#ableg
Wow. The UCP Environment Minister just admitted Danielle Smith's $20-billion corporate giveaway for cleaning up wells violates the polluter-pays principle.
Even members of Danielle Smith's own cabinet know this is a terrible idea. 🧵 1/4
#ableg
#abpoli
#yyc
#yeg
Just thinking about how the UCP lost track of $4 billion AND raised the cost of income taxes, education property taxes, electricity, car insurance, tuition, vehicle registration, camping, parks fees, school fees and more. What a disastrous government.
#ableg
Jason Kenney is seriously saying it's safe for you to go to the mall, but not for him to go to the the Legislature.
This closure is about one thing:
@jkenney
avoiding questions about his disastrous handling of
#COVID19AB
.
#ableg
Wow.
@JasonCoppingAB
just confirmed that both Deputy Chief Medical Officers of Health have resigned.
The UCP-driven chaos in healthcare grows by the day.
#ableg
#abhealth
Unbelievable. Here is what we know so far. 15,000 Albertans are getting fired. Colleges and universities are getting a 14% cut. A dark day in Alberta. We are all paying for
@jkenney
's mistakes.
#ableg
Yesterday Danielle Smith's Finance Minister slipped up and revealed the UCP's long-term strategy to withdraw from CPP. It's simple: they want to ignore it until after the election—and THEN spring it on Albertans.
Your pension is on the ballot in this election. 🧵 1/2
#ableg
Last week, the Marda Loop Medical Clinic announced a $4800 fee for two-parent families to have access to their doctors.
Danielle Smith promised Albertans would never have to pay to see a family doctor.
#ableg
#abpoli
1/2
Yesterday, Danielle Smith’s deputy premier, Nathan Neudorf, said he hadn't bothered to read the eight-page, job-killing Sovereignty Act. I don't even know where to begin with this government.
#ableg
#cdnpoli
So "to keep Albertans safe"
@jkenney
will slash education funding and lay off thousands of people who work hard to teach our kids... but the ridiculous $82,000/day "war room" remains fully funded?
Right, thanks, got it.
#ableg
#COVID19AB
Yet again,
@jkenney
has gone missing.
He disappeared for 10 days during the 2nd wave. He jetted off on vacation as the 4th wave crashed into Alberta.
Now he's been in hiding for 5 days, as the 5th wave arrives. Has he learned nothing?
#WhereIsKenney
#ableg
#abhealth
#COVID19AB
Saddened, shocked and angry that racists’ rally in my city. Almost can’t believe that this goes on in Alberta, but it does, everywhere now in Alberta. 10, 5, 2 years ago, I don’t remember racist rallies taking place. What or who or why are they emboldened now?
#yyc
#yyccc
#ableg
Recently we've heard about the following job losses:
Nurses: 750
Teachers: 300 in YYC alone
UofC: 200
Public lawyers: 90
Co-op: 200
Lowes: 305
AB Innovates: 125
Husky: ?
Perpetual: 21
Now this.
@jkenney
's economic plan? Let's call it a failure
#ableg
Hey
@ABDanielleSmith
: if you really believe Albertans support your assault on our healthcare system, your plan to hijack their CPP and your dangerous Sovereignty Act, it's time for you to stop hiding and give them a say.
Call an election.
#ableg
#abhealth
#abpoli
#yyc
#yeg
We're all rightly angry about the arrogance and entitlement on display in the UCP vacation scandal, but remember that
@jkenney
's entire approach to the pandemic has been defined by cruelty and incompetence.
Here's a few main points.
THREAD 1/13
#ableg
Jason Kenney refused to disclose the names of donors to his leadership campaign, and now Danielle Smith and Travis Toews are following his lead.
This is a test of character. They should be upfront with Albertans and disclose their campaign donors.
🧵 1/4
#ableg
When you next see UCP leadership candidates talking about hijacking your CPP, think about this: AIMCo just lost another ~$1B of Albertans' money on a bad investment. The person who oversaw this was given a *$10M* severance package by Travis Toews last year.
#ableg
#yyc
#yeg
Danielle Smith just announced her Cabinet. One of her Deputy Premiers tried to interfere with the administration of justice. Her Justice Minister is under investigation by the Law Society. 99% of Alberta Teachers’ delegates voted no-confidence in the Education Minister.
#ableg
Unbelievable. The Sovereignty Act gives Danielle Smith the power to bypass the legislative assembly and unilaterally amend provincial laws. Virtually dictatorial powers.
#ableg
Over the last seven days, more people have died in Alberta than in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, PEI, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, NWT and Yukon combined. An appalling tragedy is taking place here.
#ableg
#COVID19AB
A reporter just told
@shandro
that Albertans are dying.
@shandro
's response? "That's good feedback."
This is not a homework assignment.
This is people's lives.
They just don't get it.
#COVID19AB
#yyc
#yeg
#ableg
The UCP is going to try to bury this:
We're just learning that 15,000 surgeries were cancelled during the fourth wave of
#COVID19AB
.
15,000!
During a fourth wave that could have been prevented if
@jkenney
and the UCP hadn't stuck their heads in the sand.
#ableg
#abhealth
Alberta: electricity prices are up almost 400% since the UCP took office and removed the Alberta NDP rate cap.
The UCP have directly contributed to this affordability crisis.
#ableg
#abpoli
#yyc
#yeg
Just received an email from a nurse who didn't see family and friends for months because they were caring for COVID patients. Meanwhile, UCP MLAs were jetting off to Hawaii, and
@jkenney
was hosting Sky Palace parties. And now he wants to cut nurses' pay? Beyond belief.
#ableg
Jason Kenney had a choice: force bars and restaurants to lose revenue by stopping service early - or implement a vaccine passport that would allow them to stay open safely.
He chose to hurt businesses yet again. Such a failure.
#ableg
Don't let it be lost on you that the UCP Justice Minister is calling the Police Chief to discuss HIS OWN traffic ticket, at the same time as he's removing Albertans’ ability to challenge traffic tickets without producing $150 on a week’s notice.
#ableg
Good morning. Alberta truck exports via the Coutts border crossing total USD$4.23B per year. That's USD$12M every. single. day.
The UCP could file for an emergency injunction and force action to end the Coutts blockade, but they refuse to do so. What is going on?
#ableg
Well done,
@jkenney
, your catastrophic decisions have made it into the New York Times.
"Alberta’s ‘Best Summer Ever’ Ends With an Overwhelmed Medical System."
The UCP: Disastrous for our province. Disastrous for our reputation.
#ableg
#COVID19AB
The Government promised that they would have 29,000 Albertans vaccinated by the end of the year. They've only managed to vaccinate 7,000.
Where was the person responsible for this failed rollout of the vaccine?
In Hawaii.
This is an unforgivable abdication of responsibility.
Never forget that
@jkenney
and UCP delayed signing a childcare deal until AFTER the federal election, because they hoped a change in government would get them out of it.
#ableg
#cdnpoli
Wow.
@ABDanielleSmith
and the UCP just blocked our attempt to freeze auto insurance rates for a year. This government is actively contributing to the cost-of-living crisis.
#ableg
Today I stopped to take a photo of the Calgary Cancer Centre - it is magnificent and soon it will be operational. Foresight, leadership and planning - that’s what our healthcare system needs. Rachel and Sarah did this ^^^
#ableg
#abndp
Pretty incredible that
@jkenney
is still talking about hijacking Albertans' hard-earned pensions in today's Throne Speech. News flash: no one trusts the UCP with their pension.
#HandsOffMyCPP
#ableg
Hey
@jkenney
, why is Grant Hunter STILL part of the UCP Caucus? Do you endorse his participation in a blockade that is causing tens of millions in economic damage every single day?
#ableg
#COVID19AB
Just watched
@jkenney
continue to defend genocide-denier Chris Champion during a press conference, while casually deriding teachers and the Alberta Teachers' Association. What a dreadful Premier.
#ableg
#abed
Almost three quarters of family doctors say the results of the election will impact how or if they decide to continue practising medicine in Alberta.
This election is profoundly important. 🧵 1/2
Wow. A leaked cell phone video has just revealed the true extent of Danielle Smith’s coordinated political interference in the justice system on behalf of those charged following the Coutts blockade.
🧵 1/9
#ableg
#abpoli
#yyc
#yeg
Hey Red Deer: in Feb 2020,
@jkenney
promised a “$100M redevelopment” of the Red Deer regional hospital. That $100M didn't show up in Budget 2020 or 2021. Now he's repeating his broken promise just when he needs people to turn up for his leadership review in... Red Deer. 🤔
#ableg
RE Danielle Smith's latest tweet: the UCP raised the cost of your income taxes, education property taxes, electricity, insurance, tuition, vehicle registration, camping, parks fees, school fees and much more. They are major contributors to this cost-of-living crisis.
#ableg
20,000 education layoffs: silence
11,000 healthcare layoffs: silence
Hijack of Albertans' pensions: silence
Parks selloff: silence
Open-pit coal mines in the Rockies: silence
Public health measures during a global pandemic: REVOLT! REVOLT!
#ableg
A press conference to announce that the Green Line is going ahead and
@jkenney
doesn't even bother to show up.
The
#GreenLine
is one of the most significant, job-creating projects for Calgary's future. That's how little this Premier cares about Calgary.
#yyc
#ableg
Quebec just raised the pay of 300,000 frontline healthcare workers.
Meanwhile in Alberta, disgraced Health Minister
@shandro
is slashing physician salaries, threatening critics + showing up at doctors' homes to scream at them. Everything is fine 🙃
#ableg