I keep seeing posts by people complaining about NDP doing their job as opposition and ‘always being negative’. This is a go-to UCP retort as well. Alberta has never really had an effective opposition in the last 50 years at least. This is what it looks like. 1/11
I worked as a tour guide in the #ableg. It was the summer of the Universiade games and we had a lot of international visitors. We had our memorized tour script, including little quips and bits of trivia (the portrait eyes that follow you, the rain echo from the fountain, 2/11
the palm trees in the dome, the carillon, the kinds of marble, how the gemstones on the mace start with the letters ALBERTA, etc.) One bit was to point out the ‘opposition’ seats. I think there were 4 at that time. People from all over found that astonishing (and strange). 3/11
One of the opposition members at that time was Rachel Notley’s father. He was universally liked and admired. But there is only so much that such a small group of people can do to hold the government to account. 4/11
We now have an opposition who have been government themselves, who know how things work, who know what questions to ask, who know which stones to look under, and who have people that are very smart, very capable, and very much looking out for ALL Albertans. 5/11
The people who are following UCP’s cue to complain about them should ask themselves this: “What kind of shady shenanigans would UCP be up to right now if no one was asking questions and challenging them? Would we even know about a fraction of it?” 6/11
UCP is *already* ramming things through in the middle of the night, lying about it, paying trolls to gaslight about it, etc. That’s where the negativity comes from. If UCP would be forthright, there would be less need to constantly challenge them and call them on their lies. 7/11
When NDP proposes an amendment to a law, UCP acts outraged that anyone is questioning them, refuses to actually answer any questions about it (they stick to their scripted talking points), and always votes it down, no matter what it is. I am grateful the amendments were 8/11
proposed, at least, because they are eye-opening about the real effects of legislation that is attacking workers’ rights, giving the government sweeping powers, wasting taxpayer dollars, etc. Some push back is working, like the situation of de-listing and selling parks 9/11
There is so much more where the pressure needs to stay on UCP, all the time. People complaining about opposition need to remember:
-that’s their job
-unlike UCP, they are actually representing their constituents
-UCP always says “we take no lessons”, but they should
10/11
-how do you think the pandemic would be going now if no one was pressuring UCP to do the right thing?
-would you like to have your pension stolen and not know a thing about it?
-do liars and cheaters deserve to act *without* opposition? 11/11

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More from @BarbLarochelle

29 Dec 20
Kenney and Shandro both sound uncomfortable during the covid update. They also sound like they’ve been coached to try to sound more like they care about this situation, rather than downplaying it as usual.
Buuuuuut. Now Shandro is bragging about what a great job they’ve done. Or, in an alternate view, justifying the choices they’ve made.
Shandro is talking about ‘web tools’ they have purchased to track things. This would be a perfect opportunity for a reporter to ask about #covidalert
Read 11 tweets
10 Dec 20
Jason Kenney disappeared for at least 10 days during his 2nd quarantine, then came back and introduced laughably inadequate half measures on Nov. 24 that were obviously never going to have an effect. 1/7
During that whole time the case numbers, hospitalizations, ICU patients & deaths escalated alarmingly. In his arrogance, he ignored science, examples from other areas, and hundreds of doctors *begging* for meaningful action. 2/7
We heard a lot of blather about ‘fundamental freedoms’ and a lot of reliving the past glory of being 1st & best with pandemic measures back in the spring (not sure that was ever true). He refused the most minimal, no cost actions like a mask mandate, enabling #covidalert or 3/7
Read 7 tweets
9 Dec 20
I’ll do what is asked and expected with the new health measures, even though I am really spitting mad at this whole thing. I was outside today for the first time in 2 weeks. We’ve been covid isolating because of a +covid case in our house. 1/7
This happened to us even though we’ve followed ALL the rules, since spring. The new measures will not change much for us. However, there is someone who won’t be able to come for Christmas dinner now. I will have to make a second dinner and figure out how to deliver it. 2/7
Like we did for Easter. And Thanksgiving. As teachers and a high school student, our family has too much exposure. My son in high school is also quarantined right now because someone in BOTH of his classes has tested positive. 3/7
Read 7 tweets
8 Dec 20
Kenney starts out by patting himself on the back and congratulating himself.
A long preamble about how the situation has become worse, all without acknowledging any responsibility for it whatsoever.
Now he is saying the measures they put in place in November were ‘significant’, even though it has escalated out of control. A dog whistle about the ‘secure government paycheques’.
Read 12 tweets
4 Dec 20
I don’t think I have it in me to listen to the covid updates anymore. I’m done hearing admonishments like “We must work together” when WE are so obviously not doing that, and when so much effort has gone into providing loopholes for people who refuse, but no consequences. 1/4
I’m sick of hearing ‘bend the curve’ when the goal always should have been to flatten it and then take it down to zero. I’m repulsed by the same people who equate the economy to the value of human lives lecturing me about behaviour that is not demanded of everyone. 2/4
It rings hollow to hear empty platitudes about personal responsibility and looking out for each other from the same people catering to others who are so selfish and weak that they can’t wear a scrap of cloth on their face for a few minutes or forgo their social activities. 3/4
Read 4 tweets
24 Nov 20
Evening #ableg sitting and emergency debate on the covid situation. Let’s see who actually wants to talk about the issue and find solutions and who wants to just keep playing politics.
Rachel Notley is pointing out that AHS can’t keep up with informing people at schools that they’ve been exposed to a case of covid-19 and that it’s deeply troubling to parents in Alberta.
It’s been 10 days since Kenney has made an appearance to say or do anything about the pandemic. 84% of the cases in Alberta have occurred while Kenney has been M.I.A. More than 5000 new cases since last Thursday.
Read 35 tweets

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