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Gil McGowan

@gilmcgowan

4 Oct

A UCP caucus member just called me to ask if there was anything the UCP could do to address the concerns of workers in Alberta. I told him the UCP has lost the moral authority to govern and that the best thing they could do for Albertans is to resign & call an election. #AbLeg

I also told him that his government’s reckless COVID policies are literally killing more than 100 Albertans a week, with a COVID mortality rate 4X higher than the Canadian average. And I told him to listen to doctors and experts calling for a #FirebreakAB.

I also told him that it’s clear that the UCP caucus is hopelessly paralyzed by the fight between anti-vaxxers and those who actually want to listen to doctors and experts. I said if they’re incapable of taking action to save lives, they should step aside for someone who can act.

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Gil McGowan

@gilmcgowan

21 Jul

One in five Albertans say they either won’t get the COVID19 vaccine or are reluctant to do so. This is twice the national average. Could it be that the UCP’s mixed messages and pandering to anti-vaccers is having a negative effect? 🤔#COVID19AB #vaccineAB #AbLeg #abpoli #cdnpoli

Here’s a link to the full poll from Angus Reid Research angusreid.org/covid-vaccine-…

The same poll also shows that the the vast majority of the unvaccinated are quickly and eagerly abandoning precautions. In other words, the most vulnerable among us are continuing to be the least cautious. 🤦‍♂️

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Gil McGowan

@gilmcgowan

9 May

On May 9, 1992, an underground methane explosion killed 26 miners working at the #Westray Coal Mine in Pictou County, NS. Despite overwhelming evidence, all attempts to prosecute the negligent employer failed. The lack of justice deepened the tragedy. #AbLeg #canlab #cdnpoli

@SteelworkersCA

This led the @SteelworkersCA & the Canadian labour movement to advocate for changes in the law. It took 11 years, but the lobbying eventually led to the passage of the Westray Act, which amended the Criminal Code so employers could be held criminally liable for worker deaths.

Here in Alberta, the AFL, our affiliates and our allies successfully lobbied the provincial government and 10 police forces to sign an agreement that they would use the Westray Act more often in cases of employer negligence causing worker deaths. jdsupra.com/legalnews/albe…

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Gil McGowan

@gilmcgowan

10 Mar

@SPhillipsAB

At a news conference this morning, the Lethbridge Police Chief said “only God can judge” if officers on his force are guilty of illegally stalking MLA @SPhillipsAB. 🤯 Really? I thought people judging people was the whole point of the justice system. #AbLeg #abpoli #cdnpoli

He also characterized the illegal surveillance conducted against Phillips as “mistakes.” These are not mistakes! They’re illegal acts!

He also said “this is an individual problem, not an organizational problem. Really? It looks like six officers were involved. And where did they get the impression that this would be okay for them to do in work time. This is not just a few bad apples. It’s a culture problem.

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Gil McGowan

@gilmcgowan

8 Mar

Women and COVID: “Women at the front-lines have been under immense pressure from Day 1. From mothers and health-care workers, to teachers and grocery clerks, this last year has placed a disproportionate burden on women.” #IWD2021 #AbLeg #abpoli #cdnpoli calgaryherald.com/opinion/column…

@ArmineYalnizyan

In addition to being disproportionately represented in front line jobs, women have also suffered a disproportionate share of job losses. As a result of what economist @ArmineYalnizyan accurately calls the “she-cession” women in Alberta have lost 30 years of labour market gains.

https://twitter.com/armineyalnizyan/status/1368306577854377988

A new report shows that almost half a million women who last their jobs as a result of the pandemic still hadn’t returned to the workforce by January 1. 200,000 are now classified as “long-term unemployed.” thestar.com/business/2021/…

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Gil McGowan

@gilmcgowan

10 Feb

Ralph Bucks 2.0? In about an hour, the UCP will announce that 300,000 frontline workers will each get one-time $1,200 cheques. Too bad it took months of shaming by Alberta unions and the media for them to get the cheques out the door. #AbLeg #abpoli #cdnpoli #canlab

Keep in mind, most of the money is coming from the federal government. It’s from a federal program announced last May that provides $3 if provinces agreed to pony up $1. The UCP has been holding things up for months because they refused to kick in their share.

So, we can put this under the heading “better late than never,” I guess. Things to watch for:
- who will the UCP deem eligible/worthy?
- will the money go directly to workers, or will it go to employers first (if employers, then how do we ensure it eventually gets to workers?)

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