@tim4hire's Threads
This is true, but subject to very important caveats. Public servants provide advice and information, but the Government (Cabinet) makes the decisions. This can include deciding to ignore the advice provided.
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Government will also provide broad direction on policies. Public servants are left to find the best way to implement those directions, but sometimes that just means finding the least bad option in cases where no good choices exist.
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It is entirely possible, therefore, that the Government of Alberta directed the new policy on PSE and did not obtain any advice on whether or not the broad policy was sensible. In other words, ideology may have dictated this policy, not expertise from the public service.
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How much of your body do politicians own? According to these folks, not your firearms (which I had not realized were body parts until just now). I wonder, however, if they have the same view about the uterus...
These gun-rights advocates appear to have some interesting take when it comes to making signs.
The prior quoted tweet was deleted and then retweeted to give original poster credit.
<thread>
Since Ontario’s not-quite booming nuclear power industry is back in the news, I thought I would provide a very basic overview of nuclear safety by design.
The design is based on the concept of defence-in-depth.
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Since Ontario’s not-quite booming nuclear power industry is back in the news, I thought I would provide a very basic overview of nuclear safety by design.
The design is based on the concept of defence-in-depth.
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The first element in the design is the reactor design itself. Power reactors are ideally designed to have negative void coefficients at all power levels. CANDU reactors do have a slight positive void coefficient at low power levels, but this is still acceptable.
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A negative void coefficient means that under many circumstances, the tendency is for the reactor power to decrease. In other words, the reactor would eventually shut down if the operators weren’t actively trying to keep it going.
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All right. In lieu of mocking, perhaps I should engage in a little pro malo publico service. So, allow me, for a moment, to propose a comms strategy for the Government of Alberta.
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I would propose that, instead of going all anti-globalist, which makes you seem a wee bit squirrelly and thus has limited audience to which it may appeal, a more dignified response is in order.
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Instead, I would say something like:
“Had the Committee spent more time reviewing the rigorous and thorough processes used to propose, plan and develop projects, it would see how its rushed judgment was wrong.
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“Had the Committee spent more time reviewing the rigorous and thorough processes used to propose, plan and develop projects, it would see how its rushed judgment was wrong.
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Anne-Marie Edward
Loved skiing so much that she was buried in her École polytechnique ski team jacket. After her murder, her teammates wore patches with her initials on their uniforms.
#16days #16jours #MontrealMassacre #SayTheirNames #VAWG
#WomenInSTEM
Loved skiing so much that she was buried in her École polytechnique ski team jacket. After her murder, her teammates wore patches with her initials on their uniforms.
#16days #16jours #MontrealMassacre #SayTheirNames #VAWG
#WomenInSTEM
Barbara Kluczik-Widajewicz
Had fled (communist) Poland with her husband 2 years earlier. They were together when she was murdered. Her husband later said they had come to Canada because they believed it was the safest place.
#16days #16jours #MontrealMassacre #WomenInSTEM
Had fled (communist) Poland with her husband 2 years earlier. They were together when she was murdered. Her husband later said they had come to Canada because they believed it was the safest place.
#16days #16jours #MontrealMassacre #WomenInSTEM
Maryse Leclair
Her father, director of public relations for the Montreal police, found her body. She was wearing the sweater she had worn at her last family dinner.
#16days #16jours #MontrealMassacre #WomenInSTEM
Her father, director of public relations for the Montreal police, found her body. She was wearing the sweater she had worn at her last family dinner.
#16days #16jours #MontrealMassacre #WomenInSTEM
<thread on #Bill22>
I have had the chance to review a document purporting to be a justification for the pension amalgamation that happened under Bill 22. This is the same document @yomeeks has been reviewing, and his comments on it are also informative.
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I have had the chance to review a document purporting to be a justification for the pension amalgamation that happened under Bill 22. This is the same document @yomeeks has been reviewing, and his comments on it are also informative.
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The document has three parts:
(1) An overview/analysis presumably by Ministry of Finance officials;
(2) A “business case” prepared by AIMCo; and
(3) A 2012 “Report from the Pension Investment Advisor to the [Ontario] Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.”
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(1) An overview/analysis presumably by Ministry of Finance officials;
(2) A “business case” prepared by AIMCo; and
(3) A 2012 “Report from the Pension Investment Advisor to the [Ontario] Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.”
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The context for the last item was addressing Ontario’s roughly 100 smaller public sector pension plans. These funds held in aggregate over $100 billion, but 75% of the funds held under $1 billion each. This high degree of fragmentation limited the potential for many funds.
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This directive power means that the Alberta government can, at any time, interfere with the management of pension or other funds under AIMCo’s management to further some political purpose.
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I have contrasted the lack of independence that AIMCo has with the CPPIB which manages the $400+ billion Canada Pension Plan. The CPPIB is arguably the gold standard for independence from political interference of any sovereign wealth fund anywhere in the world.
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Most concerning is that the directive power in section 19 of the AIMCo Act gives unchecked power to the Alberta government to intervene. This is particularly apparent when compared to the directive power the federal government has over most federal Crown corporations.
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This paper is so bad, its obvious weaknesses should speak for itself. However, perhaps to save some readers the time and the pain, I will parse through a number of the errors made by @Gerard_Lucyshyn which ought to have resulted in this work never being released.
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First of all, the @FrontierCentre paper considers whether access to the sea (or tidewater as used in the paper) is a right, referencing international law. In particular, the paper wrongly cites the 1966 UN Conference on Transit Trade of Land-locked Countries.
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Canada is not a signatory to it, and thus none of the obligations contained in it apply to Canada. However, Canada *has* ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Part X of UNCLOS deals with the right of access of land-locked states to and from the sea.
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One of the misconceptions going around the Internet is that international law guarantees that Alberta, were it to separate and form its own country, would have access to tidewater to ship its oil.
Few should be surprised that this is not true. Here is a brief explainer why:
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Few should be surprised that this is not true. Here is a brief explainer why:
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The relevant international law is the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The full text is online at un.org/depts/los/conv….
UNCLOS has specific provisions for landlocked states in Part X. A quick look at the relevant articles provides a clear answer.
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UNCLOS has specific provisions for landlocked states in Part X. A quick look at the relevant articles provides a clear answer.
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At first, Article 125 might look a little promising as it provides land-locked states with “the right of access to and from the sea” and “freedom of transit through the territory of transit States by all means of transit.”
But you also need to read the rest of the article.
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But you also need to read the rest of the article.
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<thread>
There has been some discussion on responsible choices and reducing carbon emissions recently. In particular, some people have made a big deal about how some pro-environmental people are making some decisions that result in GHG emissions.
I have a few comments.
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There has been some discussion on responsible choices and reducing carbon emissions recently. In particular, some people have made a big deal about how some pro-environmental people are making some decisions that result in GHG emissions.
I have a few comments.
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First, it is impossible to go to zero actual emissions. We will always emit some GHGs. What we can do, however, is:
(a) reduce GHG emissions where it is feasible to do so; and
(b) support processes, including the biosphere, that take GHGs out of the atmosphere (eg forests).
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(a) reduce GHG emissions where it is feasible to do so; and
(b) support processes, including the biosphere, that take GHGs out of the atmosphere (eg forests).
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Government policy can (and should) work towards reducing our net GHG emissions.
Essentially, there are two ways governments can do this:
(a) command-and-control measures; and/or
(b) market-based measures.
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Essentially, there are two ways governments can do this:
(a) command-and-control measures; and/or
(b) market-based measures.
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Wow. A lot to unpack from this comment by @jkenney. But fundamentally he has misstated the role of the Crown in fulfilling its duty to Indigenous peoples, to the point of adopting a paternalistic colonial view.
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First, there is the subtle attempt to change the message. Mr Kenney speaks about how Indigenous peoples have not benefited economically from the development of resources on their traditional territories.
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This is true. We have a long history of exploiting resources without compensating, or with only minimally compensating, Indigenous peoples. Canada is a nation rich in resources and yet the original peoples whose land was taken to develop those resources remain very poor.
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@acoyne This is a complete misread of @DavidHamer_1951. The Doctrine provides that the AG must act in prosecutorial matters independently of political reasons. It does not, however, rule out even the unsolicited provision of advice from ministers.
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@acoyne @DavidHamer_1951 Sir Hartley noted that, particularly in situations where advice was unsolicited, there was risk that the advice would be political. The AG must disregard any political advice received. Best practice is for ministers to avoid giving political reasons.
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@acoyne @DavidHamer_1951 At the heart of Shawcross is that the AG must feel free to make the decision. The AG must not be directed, nor can there be coercion such as the explicit or implied threat that the AG’s future (in Cabinet/as an MP/etc.) depends on the decision made.
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@FairQuestions @RachelNotley TMX is on hold because the initial approval failed to meet legal requirements. The statutory regime under which the approval is being done was enacted in 2012.
Are you suggesting pipelines should not have to comply with the law governing their construction?
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Are you suggesting pipelines should not have to comply with the law governing their construction?
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@FairQuestions @RachelNotley Or, are you saying that the government under Mr Harper was beholden to foreign anti-oil organizations when they introduced the EA regime in 2012. A regime which was unsuccessfully challenged in court by a number of First Nations.
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@FairQuestions @RachelNotley Line 3 and KXL have the necessary Canadian approvals in place. Construction of the Canadian portion of Line 3 is nigh-complete.
They are held up because they do not yet satisfy all US legal requirements. Should the US portions be exempt from complying with US law?
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They are held up because they do not yet satisfy all US legal requirements. Should the US portions be exempt from complying with US law?
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To me, this issue is a double-edged sword. Obviously, if Mr Kenney was a party to illegal conduct, his role as leader should be questioned. But his role should also be questioned if illegal conduct happened without his knowledge.
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The UCP is not far-removed from being the lake of fire party. The only reason the more SoCon elements in the party would not implement their agenda is because the leader would stop them.
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Whatever Stephen Harper’s other faults, he wielded an iron-fisted control over his party and prevented these issues from coming to the floor.
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<thread> So, somewhat belated, but a few comments on the Kitimat LNG protests.
The proposed natural gas pipeline would cross Wet’suwet’en traditional lands. A number of Indigenous people, represented by hereditary chiefs, oppose the project. Others support it.
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The proposed natural gas pipeline would cross Wet’suwet’en traditional lands. A number of Indigenous people, represented by hereditary chiefs, oppose the project. Others support it.
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The land in question is unceded Aboriginal land. This means that there has been no treaty signed which cedes title to it. Nor has the Crown unilaterally extinguished Aboriginal rights to it (prior to the enactment of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Crown could do this).
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However, the land is still under Canadian jurisdiction. Federal law as well as provincial law of general application still apply, both on reserve land and any land to which Indigenous peoples hold Aboriginal title.
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I wanted to emphasize one aspect of @jkenney’s plan that @EmmaLGraney noted: Mr Kenney’s announcement that he will hire people now to draft Orders in Council so that they’re ready if and when he forms government.
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An Order in Council (OiC) is a legal instrument. It is how Cabinet (the executive branch of government) exercises power. OiCs can be relatively mundane (appointments to some positions) or significant (approve TMX).
irwinlaw.com/cold/order-in-…
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irwinlaw.com/cold/order-in-…
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Unlike statutes or even regulations, most OiCs are relatively simple to draft and they themselves can actually be written fairly quickly. The (now quashed) OiC that approved TMX was 3 pages long despite being in both official languages.
orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php…
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orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php…
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<thread> It is always unfortunate when politicians present plans that are sadly lacking in reality. There are a number of fundamental issues with what Mr Scheer announced that make his plan unworkable.
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Mr Scheer calls for “emergency legislation” to get around the failure of the NEB to formally consider the impact on the critical southern killer whale population. This is possible, but not necessarily advisable.
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The obligation to consider the impact is from legislation, & clearly enacted new legislation can override it.
However, this would amount to Parliament saying it doesn’t care about the orcas. If you had considered prior protests to be bad, imagine what this would do.
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However, this would amount to Parliament saying it doesn’t care about the orcas. If you had considered prior protests to be bad, imagine what this would do.
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<thread> As there is a lot of confusion arising out of the recent TMX decision, I thought a quick primer on the duty to consult would be helpful. I will attempt to keep this at a very high level, and, if I’m not clear, will try to respond to questions asked.
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The duty to consult comes from s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and from a principle called the honour of the Crown. It is *not* part of the Charter nor is it part of the division of powe; hence neither the notwithstanding clause nor POGG et al. applies to it.
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Section 35 protects both aboriginal and treaty rights. So, any treaties entered into by the Crown with any Indigenous peoples has constitutional protections (this includes both historic and new treaties). Aboriginal rights are traditional rights that have never been ceded.
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As usual, it's that time of the month again...
Labour Force Survey!
Grab your coffee & try to stay awake for this (or mute thread) 1/
Labour Force Survey!
Grab your coffee & try to stay awake for this (or mute thread) 1/
AB unemployment rate fell from 8.1% to 7.9% in September. Good news? Not entirely. As usual, one needs to look past the headline number. 2/
Overall, jobs in AB declined by 7,800 (0.3%). Full-time jobs did grow by 2,300 (0.1%) but part-time fell 9,900 jobs (2.4%). 3/
