Politics Archives - AB Pol Econ

Elizabeth Smythe- Democracy in Alberta – Interview

1Jun

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Politics

Elizabeth Smythe- Democracy in Alberta – Interview

For the video, click here. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Smythe speaks about her course on democracy at Edmonton Lifelong Learners' Association (ELLA) this past May. She discusses western political scientists' views on democracy, including ideas about "exporting" democracy. She explains the evolution of government authority from absolute monarchy to today's representative system as well as direct democracy. Representative democracies are not purely democratic, however because voter franchises expanded only after significant push by those representing under-represented groups like women or men without property. In addressing democracy in Alberta, she notes a decided trend toward the cabinet (executive) making decisions rather than representative elected bodies. Democratic b...

Is Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 4- ‘My fellow Albertans’

25May

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Energy, Environment, Government Finances, Intergovernmental, Investment, Politics

Is Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 4- ‘My fellow Albertans’

“Separation, if necessary, but not necessarily separation” Introduction Premier Danielle Smith’s 5 May 2025 address followed by one week the Liberals’ near-majority re-election. Smith chose to deliver Her update on the ongoing war with “Ottawa.” “Ottawa” is code for the federal Liberal Party elite and is frequently used word to disparage the federal government. Smith used Ottawa 15 times in this address. Smith, ever the articulate, telegenic leader is a consummate communicator who has learned on the radio talk circuit as well during Her political career, didn't disappoint. She comes across as a voice of reason and the mainstream listener may not fully understand the underlying coded messages. In this analysis, I examine the text of Her address as well as watching/listening to...

Is Danielle Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 3- Survey results

17May

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Energy, Government Finances, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Is Danielle Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 3- Survey results

Note to readers: The comments section below is now functioning. Please feel free to comment on any of my scribbling. I would like to hear what you think. In this part I examine recent and some historical polling data on Alberta separatism. In subsequent parts I will review Premier Smith’s “address” to Albertans and her salvo of fury over Mark Carney’s cabinet choices. Smith has clearly gone on the offensive since revelations in early February about suspicious procurement practices at Alberta Health Services surfaced. As a former colleague of mine at ATB used to characterize changing the narrative, Smith and her communications staff have embarked on a massive “head fake.” Recent polling by the Angus Reid Institute show that 48 per cent or roughly half of a randomized sample of...

27Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Banks, Energy, Environment, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Presentation to Philosophers’ Cafe- Mark Carney’s book Value(s)

Updated 1 May 2025. On Saturday 26 April, I was invited to present to the Philosophers' Cafe on Mark Carney's 2021 book Value(s). It was a pleasure to present this to an exceptional group of engaged, mostly seniors. This invitation from Professor Emeritus Martin Tweedle was prompted by a book review I can written in May 2021 on Carney's "Magnum Opus." You can access my dressed up speaking notes in the PDF file below. The discussion was spirited at times with many questions coming back to who is this man? Can he be trusted given his corporate connections? Unlike the book review, my presentation made some additional points about the book. First, Carney left the Bank of England (BoE) at the end of February 2020 and yet he had the final 600 -page manuscript to the publi...

2Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Government Finances, Health, Opinion/Research, Politics

Chronology of Events- AHS CEO’s Statement of Claim

This detailed chronology is drawn from the statement of claim by Athana Mentzelopoulos (SOC), statements of defence (SOD) from the Government of Alberta /Adriana LaGrange (GOA) and by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Mentzelopoulos's reply to the statements of defence (REP). The chronology should be read in conjunction with Smith, LaGrange, Alberta public service face grave test and Mentzelopoulos: AHS, Government defence and plaintiff's reply. This litigation is extraordinarily complex and allegations have not been proven in court. Perceptions differ among the participants and what one says versus what is heard to said may be completely different. The Government and AHS's narrative focuses on Mentzelopoulos's failure to lead the reorganization of AHS into Acute Care Alberta. It also r...

Mentzelopoulos: AHS, Government defence and plaintiff’s reply

2Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Budget, Health, Opinion/Research, Politics

Mentzelopoulos: AHS, Government defence and plaintiff’s reply

Note: this post should be read in conjunction with "Smith, LaGrange, Alberta public service face grave test" which examined the Statement of Claim brought by the former President and CEO of Alberta Health Services, Athana Mentzelopoulos against AHS, Adriana LaGrange and the Government of Alberta. In addition a Chronology of Events provides a detailed timeline based on the statements filed at the Court of King's Bench. No allegations have been proven in Court. The full Statement of Claim (SOC) is found below. Government of Alberta (GOA), Adriana LaGrange Statement of Defence (filed 18 March) The statement of defence (SOD) may be found below. Health Minister LaGrange and the Government of Alberta are represented by Bennett Jones LLP (Munaf Mohamed KC). The GOA defence r...

Smith pivots- her new scapegoat is Mark Carney

17Mar

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research, Politics

Smith pivots- her new scapegoat is Mark Carney

Note to readers: The comments section below is now functioning. Please feel free to comment on any of my scribbling. Alberta governments have a history of painting the federal government as a malevolent force. An early and legitimate beef was the lack of control and ownership of natural resources which wasn't rectified until 1930. Readers are familiar with the rise of the Social Credit movement and its five year fight over banking with the Dominion government. The most recent fight since today's skirmishes was the battle over provincial government power over the setting of resource pricing, commonly known as the National Energy Program, It is a canon of Alberta political science that successful premiers fight Ottawa. For an excellent note on western alienation/separatism...

3Mar

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Budget, Capital Spending, Fiscal History, Government Finances, Opinion/Research, Politics

Alberta Budget 2025- deficits return

On 27 February Treasury Board President and Minister of Finance Nate Horner tabled the budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 and as required by law the budget sets out targets for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28. I was privileged to be the guest of NDP MLA for Edmonton-Goldbar, Marlin Schmidt. For over 40-years I have been able to attend budget addresses, work on about 10 budgets while at the Treasury department, and attend half a dozen budget lock-ups while at ATB Financial and the Institute for Public Economics. I have watched the performance of many finance ministers under 9 premiers (excluding the caretaker David Hancock). I note that no finance minister over these 40-years has ever become premier. Notable were Jim Dinning, Doug Horner, Ted Morton, and Travis Toews’ challenges for t...

23Feb

By Bob AscahNo Comments

ATB, Budget, Capital Spending, Fiscal History, Government Finances, Opinion/Research, Politics

Budget 2025- Matters to watch for

The budget on 27 February is watched very closely by the usual suspects which include think tanks, credit rating agencies, government lobbyists, and provincial agencies (e,g, Alberta Health Services), the education, health care sector and post secondary institutions). Oil prices As is customary the number that will be focused on is the assumption for bitumen prices and the value of the Canadian dollar. Analysts will also look at the forecast for the fiscal year ending at the end of March. A key consideration in the broader economic forecast is whether U.S. trade policy will cause a recession in this country and how Alberta’s fossil fuel exports will fare. Even with the Trans Mountain extension, most Alberta oil and natural gas flows to the United States. We can expect e...

Smith, LaGrange, Alberta public service face grave test

17Feb

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Budget, Government Finances, Health, Opinion/Research, Politics

Smith, LaGrange, Alberta public service face grave test

Updated 18 February 2025 On 5 February 2025, Carrie Tait of the Globe and Mail broke the story of the dismissal of Athana Mentzelopoulos who was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Alberta Health Services (AHS). Since that date Ms. Mentzelapoulous has entered a statement of claim at the Court of King's Bench seeking: a. Judgment for pay in lieu of notice in the amount of $583,443.00, less applicable income tax; b. Judgment for bad faith, aggravated, and/or punitive damages, in the amount of $1,116,557.00; c. In the alternative, judgment for damages for breach of contract in the sum currently estimated at $1,700,000.00, less applicable income tax, being the balance of the compensation owed under the Employment Agreement, or such further and other amount as this Honourable Cou...