Opinions
Laying It Out: Living with COVID was a bad idea then, and it’s a terrible idea now
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on May 8th, 2021
For more than a year we’ve heard leaders talk about “flattening” or “bending” the curve of COVID-19. And before a year of living in a global pandemic, plus talking to epidemiologists, ER doctors, developmental biologists and more, it even made sense. “We have to live with the virus.” At that point, when everyone from the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!City Notebook: CCDA breathing new life as vote to kill it looms
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on May 8th, 2021
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant The fate of the CCDA goes to the ballot box next week, with voting by the members of the downtown business association on whether to dissolve the near-40-year-old group that seems to have some momentous internal struggle at least twice a year. But even a ‘no’ vote this week likely won’t mean the book ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Alberta in Confederation
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on May 6th, 2021
It is quite evident that Canada’s Confederation is not working harmoniously. Ottawa is failing the regions outside 1867 Canada [Ontario and Quebec]. Such assessment warrants examination. A 2020 publication, Moment of Truth, includes numerous articles which have been compiled by Jack M. Mintz, Ted Morton and Tom Flanagan, the School of Public Policy, University of ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!City Notebook: And so it continues
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on May 1st, 2021
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Today is May 1, which most of the world celebrates as Labour Day, and though the North American labour day is still on the other side of summer, it might be wise to use this as a sort of target as we move into an unwanted new phase of the pandemic. Sure we all ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!McCuaig: Conservative politics at a crossroads in Canada
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 27th, 2021
he conservative political movement in Canada is at a particularly difficult crossroads as it tries to find its footing in the shifting ground caused by supporting policies with wide national appeal that won’t alienate its base. The fault line of this situation runs along what many Canadians interpret as the flag-bearer of conservatism – the ... Read More »
2 responsesCity Notebook: Budgets and donations have election talk front and centre
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 24th, 2021
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant This week’s federal budget is widely described by its critics as an election budget. That means politicos figure Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau could seize upon poll numbers and a free-spending effort to improve his minority government’s seat count. That may be in the fall when the pandemic is a far-sight more in hand (hopefully). ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying It Out: A million reasons for childcare, but one is enough
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 24th, 2021
The average Albertan owes more than $28,000, not including mortgage. Total household debt in Canada combines for 112% of the country’s GDP. And businesses nationwide are in jeopardy of shuttering doors unless they hit the ground sprinting once we actually leave this elongated health crisis behind. No matter what you think of the economy, or ... Read More »
1 responseSaying goodbye: Publisher leaving with memories and a message
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 19th, 2021
Twenty-one years ago, I began a new adventure as a journalist ready to take on the world around me. My first day I entered through the front doors of the Medicine Hat News and today I will walk out the back doors one last time, bringing to a close an amazing career. I have spent ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!MLA Report: Rural marginalization is real
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 16th, 2021
I don’t think anyone disputes that there is rural-urban divide in our society, and over time it has grown more polarized. Both economically and politically, often it seems like rural and urban folks live in two completely different worlds. This divide is not new, but over the past several years I think it has become ... Read More »
1 responseFor What It’s Worth: Democracy doesn’t end in a pandemic
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 15th, 2021
Seventeen UCP MLAs, including two from the Gas City, made headlines and controversy last week by signing a letter criticizing the government’s decision to downgrade our COVID status from Step 2 to Step 1. Members of the opposition, media and general population have called on Jason Kenney to boot these members out of caucus. Rachel ... Read More »
1 responseCity Notebook: Alberta the ungovernable
By Medicine Hat News Opinion on April 10th, 2021
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant There are times when politicians point out the importance of debate and how a certain decision is “a great day for democracy.” That’s more often than not a sure sign they’ve either lost said debate or suffered a great thumping but don’t want to say so. That’s the split decision apparently suffered by Premier ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!
