Opinions
Opinion: Energy war room an expensive joke at best
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 14th, 2019
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel “You can’t fight in here, this is the war room,” Peter Sellers says in the classic 1964 apocalyptic political satire “Dr. Strangelove.” I’m reminded of this joke by Premier Jason Kenney’s announcement this week, unveiling a kinder, gentler war room than the vitriolic inquisition against “foreign-funded” environmentalists he promised on the campaign trail. The ... Read More »
16 responsesOpinion: Everyday Albertans will lose in this battle
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 13th, 2019
Hindsight is 2020, but perhaps health care reform should have been looked at far sooner than 2020. Jason Kenney government is keen on reducing the deficit in individual budgets, subsequently wanting to create future surpluses and then reduce the province’s accumulated debt. According to statistics from the inaugural and now infamous 2019 provincial Alberta budget ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Guest Column: ATA invites others to join in defending public education
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 12th, 2019
Last week, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released results of international assessments that showed Alberta’s public education system remained one of the very best education systems in the entire world. Our system ranked third in the world in reading, third in science and eighth in mathematics. Since the OECD’s Programme for International ... Read More »
2 responsesGuest Column: The cost of unpaid caregivers for Alberta’s seniors
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 10th, 2019
As part of our ongoing work, the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) took a fulsome look at the role of unpaid caregivers of seniors with declining health. We set out to measure the impact and value in terms of costs avoided by our health system. Our goal was to better understand how Albertans who ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying it Out: Yes, Virginia, there is a health-care cut
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 7th, 2019
If I gave you $1,000 to care for 100 people, you could spend $10 per person. If next year I give you $1,050 to care for 110, you could spend $9.54. That’s how a population increase can turn a budget increase into a cut. If the cost of one person is $10 and I give ... Read More »
7 responsesMP Report: A strong Canada needs a strong Alberta
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 6th, 2019
Since October’s federal election Canada’s Confederation appears more fractured than ever with large splits in different regions of our great country. The return of the Bloc in Quebec, the strength of Conservatives in the West, and Liberals in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Splits along cultural, geographic and economic lines driven by a divisive Liberal campaign ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Opinion: Provincial review of photo radar is unnecessary
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 6th, 2019
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade We already have all the data we need to determine whether photo radar is being used as a cash cow or to improve safety on our roads, there is no need for a two-year review. Ric McIver, minister of transport, recently announced the government’s planned review, noting that guidelines needed to be refined. It ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Opinion: Bond rating agencies don’t play politics
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 5th, 2019
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@collingallant If beauty is in the eye of the bondholder, then Alberta should probably take another look in the mirror. On Wednesday, bond rating agency Moody’s edged down Alberta’s credit rating, the first since Albertans elected the United Conservatives on a get-back-to-business platform in the spring. Albertans will well-remember how the UCP and their predecessor ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Laying it Out: An open letter to Alberta’s NDP
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on November 30th, 2019
Well that didn’t work, hey? Just when you figured Albertans were starting to understand what they are truly dealing with under the United Conservatives, you threw away the momentum on a silly, unnecessary gaffe. Someone uncovers another juicy tidbit of UCP selfish arrogance in the form of a $35,000 liquor purchase and in perfect 2019 ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Time to show our seniors the respect they deserve
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on November 29th, 2019
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade It appears the courtesies of a civil society do not currently extend to seniors. There was a particularly abrasive “Tickled Pink” entry in the News this week. “Glad the whining old seniors can go back to Veiner Centre! Do not let the door of Crestwood Pool hit you on the way out.” The individual ... Read More »
1 responseNational Affairs: Freeland’s portfolio has vague mandate, no vision
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on November 25th, 2019
@hscoffield Justin Trudeau frittered away a full month after the election to come up with a new cabinet. During that month, Premiers Jason Kenney and Scott Moe mobilized their anti-Liberal supporters, amplified the animosity left behind by the Liberals in the campaign and deftly set an agenda for the prime minister that now borders on ... Read More »
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