Opinions
Business Beat: Businesses bracing for new enhanced public health measures
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on November 25th, 2020
Once again COVID 19 puts pressure on the Alberta economy, small business in particular. On Nov. 13, the Alberta government instituted targeted public health measures. Communities with more than 50 active cases per 100,000 people, became subject to enhanced public health measures to control the spread. Medicine Hat’s numbers have increased to 90+ (147/100,000) in ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying It Out: Show your value or be accused of abuse
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on November 21st, 2020
In a Postmedia article Thursday headlined “Audit demanded after more than 800,000 ineligible people get CERB,” Conservative MP Kelly McCauley demands an explanation for the “remarkable” $1.7-billion “cost to the taxpayer.” CERB was meant for tax filers who made $5,000 or more in 2019, and according to records from Canada Revenue, 823,850 people who hadn’t ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!National Affairs: Premiers accountable to voters, not PM
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on November 18th, 2020
With COVID-19 cases on the rise across much of the country, pressure is once again on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to use the Emergencies Act to take full control of the management of the pandemic. But is the option really the silver bullet some of its proponents believe it is? Here are three reasons why ... Read More »
1 responseCity Notebook: Will the city alter its stance on masks as cases spike?
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on November 14th, 2020
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Ever since the spring, Medicine Hat’s top elected official has maintained that it’s not his job to determine health regulations, and that things seemed to be going well without local mask restrictions. Both have been technically correct, up until 3 p.m. on Friday. Without a confusing mashup of numbers, figures and long retelling of ... Read More »
3 responsesLaying It Out: We can’t afford to add more stress; time to do our part
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on November 14th, 2020
I think Premier Jason Kenney is a poor leader whose ideological loyalty is going to leave Alberta scrambling for decades to regain respectability within this province, throughout this country and across this globe. But when he says it’s important that Alberta avoids a complete COVID lockdown, I couldn’t agree more. And when he suggests people ... Read More »
2 responsesLaying it Out: We need a future before we can saddle it with debt
By Scott Schmidt on November 7th, 2020
Honestly, if Premier Jason Kenney’s government was delivering to Albertans a single benefit promised in the two-year lead-up to the 2019 election and the 18 months since, I could almost wrap my brain around an acceptance of widespread austerity. After all, this is conservative heartland. If there’s one place where budget cuts and fewer services ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying It Out: Non-stop hits, never their fault
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on October 24th, 2020
You know it’s a big news day when the premier is isolating because one of his cabinet ministers has COVID and the story ends up on page 5. But, such is the life of a layout editor living in present-day Alberta – you don’t know what each day will bring, you just know it’ll be ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying It Out: At least have the guts to stand up for your bad ideas
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on October 17th, 2020
When the government hurriedly announced health-care cuts on Tuesday morning that will eliminate 11,000 jobs in yet another shift toward private-sector service delivery, a majority of Albertans were none too impressed. Even in Medicine Hat, where both United Conservative MLAs would surely win an election held tomorrow, most seem to realize that continuously going after ... Read More »
1 responseCity Notebook: Lend a hand, fill the gap
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on October 17th, 2020
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant The United Way’s payroll deduction program is about as easy as it gets, so easy that most donors probably overlook the monthly outlay that adds up to a whole lot for the local agency. You may have forgotten about it in a time of seemingly shrinking budgets where every paycheque counts. What you may ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Comment: Mental health issues a slippery slope made worse by a pandemic
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on October 10th, 2020
It is a scary time in Alberta. There’s constant negativity in regards to politics on every level; people are losing their jobs, federal assistance funding is running out for others who needed it as a way of supplementing themselves when COVID hit and house foreclosures and repossessions of other items made the economic situation difficult. ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying It Out: What will it cost to police a province?
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on October 10th, 2020
Even if the United Conservatives decide not to replace the RCMP following a $2-million panel taking a look at it, Albertans who live where they patrol will soon pay 13 times what they do now. If, however, the UCP decides to go through with its plan to start up Alberta’s very own provincial police force, ... Read More »
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