There seems to be some discussion on the #ableg feed today around Aussie-style covid lockdowns. I don't have an opinion, but here are Facebook pics from friends in three states back home (nsw, qld, vic), all taken in the last month. It's *wild* how normal this is on my feed.
Most are also planning family Christmas gatherings, a friend is sad b/c her daughters are off to an island for a week for a Brownie camp. Also this happened in my home city mid-November. Fun fact! I used to work at this stadium. theguardian.com/sport/2020/nov…
And yes I *know* I pasted creepy smiley faces on them all, but on reflection I... kinda like it and this will be my next Halloween costume.
Anyway, the point is: Australia, an island of drunk convicts, has managed to get pretty much back to normal. One day Canada will too. Whether it's sooner or later depends on a range of factors that essentially boil down to leadership and people not being absolute turnips.
OH! And here's a fun anecdote: I sent my parents facemasks with cute Canadian prints and they're just... keeping them as bizarre 2020 souvenirs because they've never had cause to wear them. This may all blow up in Australia's face, but for now, they're all quite happy thank you.
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Australia a police state?!? Scott Moe tried a line like this today as well, to which I say HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA nah. Life is basically back to normal and everyone’s at restaurants and bars and hanging out with friends and family. #ableg#skpoli
In fact I just got off the phone with my 91-yr-old grandmother (in remission from breast cancer) and she had to go because he ride was there TO GO TO THE DAMN GROCERY STORE. Sure. Yeah. Absolutely terrible job they’ve done, so that my grandma can go out shopping 🙄 #ableg#skpoli
The thing my grandma is most upset about with covid is she feels bad she might have not socially distanced properly every time she asked people to pat their dogs. She’s 91, “if I’d known I was going to live this long when my last dog died, I would’ve got another one.” #ableg
Having a bit of a cross-country tour today... from NL this morning where feds gave offshore O&G $320m back to AB this afternoon, where Minister Nixon is set to announce new methane emissions reduction programs funded by TIER (that's the carbon tax on large emitters). #ableg
... which also means I'm back listening to Vivaldi, the #ableg call-in hold music.
OK! Nixon is at Total Combustion Inc. to announce some new methane reduction programs. He says the gvt has a long history of partnering with the energy industry. #ableg
Minister O'Regan just announced $320m for the NL offshore oil sector... it'll go to maintenance and upgrades, R&D, environmental services and clean tech. That's in addition to the $75m for emissions reduction months ago. #cdnpoli#oilandgas#nlpoli
O'Regan says his government has "unrelenting support" for the offshore sector. This will help workers and support jobs, he says #cdnpoli#oilandgas#nlpoli
O'Regan also gives a shoutout to the NL government for pledging net-zero emissions. #cdnpoli#nlpoli#oilandgas
Kenney responding to Throne Speech. He says the energy sector pulled Canada through the financial crisis and it was thanks to Alberta's "generous transfers" that the nation remained strong. "Yet Alberta was not recognized in yesterday's throne speech," he says #cdnpoli#ableg
"It's not just about oil and gas," Kenney says, but all natural resource sectors, adds "go back to the drawing board on Bill c-69" (he likes to call the "no more pipelines law".) Also slams environmental reviews of 3 mines in AB. B/g: theglobeandmail.com/business/artic…#ableg#cdnpoli
Kenney's message thus far, basically: Ottawa is the worst and they don't thank Alberta for anything we do EVER and they're trying to destroy us and drive investment to other countries. #ableg#cdnpoli
Meanwhile, the #ableg government has struck a panel to "become a world leader in mineral resource production." Minerals include lithium, vanadium, uranium, rare earth elements for batteries and energy storage cells. Also? Apparently we have DIAMONDS.
Anyhoo, the new #ableg panel comprises experts in geology, resource development, Indigenous relations, regulatory and environmental affairs, and investor and industry perspectives. They'll consult for input on an Alberta minerals strategy. Again. Diamonds.
Did I mention Alberta has diamonds, y'all? I mean... it makes sense given diamond mining is a big deal in NWT, but still. I saw one of those at the 2010 Olympics and it had a polar bear engraved in it. So sparkly. #ableg