By Medicine Hat News Opinon on October 11th, 2017
Well, the snowy weather and strong winds have sadly cheated us of the main part of our fall this year. With harvest almost over and the beautiful turning leaves usually makes for an enticing few weeks of autumn leaf gazing, idyllic hikes through nature’s last great ecstasy, and mild daylight temperatures which are a wonderful ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on October 7th, 2017
Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley has announced the first details of Alberta’s plans for selling marijuana once the product is legalized across the nation in July. This makes Alberta the third province, after Ontario and New Brunswick, to show its hand. Ganley announced enough details to satisfy those who want to know Alberta’s broader approach ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on October 7th, 2017
On Sept. 25 I underwent an eye operation in Calgary, which, while not fun, was a very beautiful experience. Over the past year my right eye had been developing a Macular Pucker, distorting the vision in that eye. That, according to some, might explain my leftist political leanings. I required a vitrectomy and a retinal ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on October 6th, 2017
When we talk about wielding power most of us think of people in positions of authority exercising that power over us, telling us what we can and cannot do. This week nobody, not even the prime minister, was a match for the weather when it came to dictating. Snow and wind collapsed trees, caused road ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 30th, 2017
The North Korean crisis has thrown Japan’s beleaguered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a lifeline. But it is a slippery one. Just three months ago, Abe was in the political doldrums. A series of scandals, including one involving a dodgy land sale, dogged him. His attempts to resuscitate Japan’s moribund economy had failed. Polling showed his ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 30th, 2017
The United Conservative Party leadership race is shaping up to be the Seinfeld of Alberta electoral politics. That is, a race about nothing. Instead of concrete policy proposals, the contest thus far has been more about broader themes than specific policies. It doesn’t help that one frontrunner, former PC party leader Jason Kenney, is openly ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 29th, 2017
We are two weeks away from electing our municipal politicians who will serve for the next four years. A commentator recently called it a democratic process to elect a dictatorship for four years. That may sound harsh but actually once they are elected we are stuck with them for good or bad until the next ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 28th, 2017
Democracy is more than a once-every-four-years exercise, but it is during elections that the act of voting is the clearest example. And at every election, pundits begin to fret about generally declining voter participation rates. Fewer people than ever, it seems, are taking advantage of their rights, it’s true. There are a number of theories, ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 27th, 2017
With municipal elections less than three weeks away, the campaign is in full fervour as candidates go out and make their pitches to voters. Some of these candidates simply bring with them a desire to serve, others see these elections ambitiously as a means to enter the power structure of our city and influence the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 27th, 2017
Sports and politics have intersected in nasty fashion, thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump withdrew his invitation to the star of the National Basketball Association’s Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry. He tweeted that Curry was no longer welcome at the White House to celebrate the team winning the NBA championship because Curry was hesitant ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!By Medicine Hat News Opinon on September 25th, 2017
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s proposals for tightening tax breaks associated with private companies is generating several kinds of response on social media and in mainstream media. The most evident is an impressive deluge of evidence-free rhetoric claiming that the proposals are an attack on everything from the middle class to maternity leave for female ... Read More »
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