The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux - November 26, 2022


Alberta tells Ottawa to fire RCMP Commissioner Lucki

Hosted by
Isaac Lamoureux
Mentioned
Danielle Smith Brenda Luckey Amarjeet Sohi Marco Mendicino Justin Trudeau Tyler Shandro Chair Martin Kennedy Alberta Sovereignty Adriana LaGrange Rachel Emanuel Freedom Convoy Randy Boscano Andrew Krapuschetz Travis Taves Rice Howard Bill C-63 Grinch
Smith fires Hinshaw and AHS Board Alberta stands up to feds, passes Sovereignty Act

Episode Stats


Length

11 minutes

Words per minute

171.87

Word count

1,943

Sentence count

126

Harmful content

Misogyny

1

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has banned mask mandates in schools and ended online learning, the Alberta government is forecasting a $12.3 billion surplus, and $14.4 billion will go to struggling families. An Edmonton area Liberal MP says Danielle Smith is stoking division, and finally the Alberta Justice Minister wants RCMP Commissioner Brenda Luckey to be replaced. All that and more happening now on the Alberta Roundup.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Hosts, guests, and mentioned names generated with spaCy (en_core_web_sm), reconciled against Wikidata.
00:00:00.000 When you let aero truffle bubbles melt, everything takes on a creamy, delicious, chocolatey glow.
00:00:06.320 Like that pile of laundry. You didn't forget to fold it.
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00:00:12.100 Feel the aero bubbles melt. It's mind-bubbling.
00:00:25.640 Hey everyone, welcome back to the Alberta Roundup.
00:00:27.720 I'm your host, Rachel Emanuel. Thanks so much for joining me today.
00:00:30.780 Let's take a look at what happened this week in Alberta politics.
00:00:33.620 Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has banned mask mandates in schools and ended online learning.
00:00:38.280 The Alberta government is forecasting a $12.3 billion surplus.
00:00:42.840 And $12.4 billion will go to struggling families.
00:00:46.000 An Edmonton area Liberal MP says Daniel Smith is stoking disunity.
00:00:50.520 And finally, the Alberta Justice Minister wants RCMP Commissioner Brenda Luckey to be replaced.
00:00:55.740 All that and more happening now on the Alberta Roundup.
00:00:58.580 Okay guys, up first.
00:01:00.160 Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has made good on her promise to end mask mandates in school.
00:01:05.180 She's also ending fully remote online learning.
00:01:08.160 The Alberta government says during the last two years, there were periods of online learning
00:01:11.720 and parents were often given little to no warning before being told they would have to provide at-home care for their children.
00:01:18.160 Daniel Smith says she's heard from parents and students alike and they desire a regular school year.
00:01:22.740 Through new regulations, the Alberta government will not allow schools to move to fully remote online learning.
00:01:27.440 They also won't allow schools to ban students who choose not to wear a mask.
00:01:31.440 Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says parents and students want stability, while school boards want clarity.
00:01:37.780 Quote, securing a face-to-face classroom environment means students can continue to learn successfully,
00:01:42.660 while allowing their parents to go to work.
00:01:44.900 It will also help to maintain and improve student mental health, while minimizing student learning loss.
00:01:50.500 During the 2021-2022 school year, the government funded a $45 million pilot project to undergo assessments for students.
00:01:58.600 Through literacy assessments, the province learned that about 70,000 students from grade 1-3 were about 11 months behind their grade level.
00:02:06.340 That period followed 17 months of on-and-off again at-home learning.
00:02:10.640 But after returning to consistent in-person learning from May to June 2022, the average learning loss dropped by 3.7 months.
00:02:17.820 The Alberta government has provided an additional $10 million to continue funding the learning assessments.
00:02:23.080 The province is also forecasting a $12.3 billion surplus, according to its fiscal update released on Thursday.
00:02:29.620 The province will save another $13.3 billion due to debt repayment.
00:02:33.820 The surplus is $1 million shy of the province's last estimate due to softening oil prices and demand.
00:02:39.460 Still, high oil and gas prices contributed to a total revenue of $76.9 billion, or $14.3 billion higher than the budget estimate.
00:02:49.260 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she promised to balance the budget so Albertans are on the hook for debt repayment,
00:02:54.280 with showing compassion to Albertans in need.
00:02:57.060 Finance Minister Travis Taves said the government's disciplined fiscal approach, combined with a focus on investment attraction,
00:03:03.120 economic growth, and improved commodity prices has resulted in material surpluses.
00:03:07.460 Quote, this is good news for Albertans, as it allows for a timely response to the affordability crisis many of our families are facing.
00:03:15.380 In the face of a potential global recession, Albertans can rest assured our province is in the best position possible
00:03:21.780 as a result of our focus on responsible fiscal management over the last three years.
00:03:26.720 Take a listen to some of his comments for yourself.
00:03:28.400 I'm just very pleased that we can be at a point where we can be discussing, you know, the tension between additional savings and additional debt reduction.
00:03:37.580 The surplus announcement came just days after Daniel Smith announced a $2.4 billion inflation-fighting package for struggling families.
00:03:45.240 In a broadcast of the province on Tuesday night, Smith promised $600 for each senior and each child under 18 every six months.
00:03:52.220 That will go to every family that earns less than $180,000.
00:03:55.720 The Premier also promised to reinstate Alberta's entire fuel tax relief for the next six months.
00:04:00.760 And the government will retroactively index all Alberta provincial tax brackets to 2022, meaning larger rebates for Albertans.
00:04:07.740 Furthermore, beginning in January, the government will index for inflation a host of benefits,
00:04:12.940 including income support, the seniors' benefit, the Alberta child and family benefit, and many more.
00:04:18.620 Take a listen to what Premier Smith had to say on Tuesday night.
00:04:20.960 I wish to address the inflation and affordability crisis.
00:04:24.720 The severity of this crisis has been primarily caused by years of record spending and debt by the federal government in Ottawa,
00:04:32.060 combined with a continual string of anti-energy policies that are driving up the price of fuel, electricity, heating, food, and everything else we need to live and raise our families.
00:04:42.760 But due to our strong fiscal position and balanced budget, we can offer substantial relief
00:04:48.020 so Albertans and their families are better able to manage through this storm.
00:04:52.780 That is why our government will be implementing a series of affordability measures to benefit all Albertans,
00:04:58.620 with additional targeted relief for seniors, the vulnerable, and families.
00:05:03.280 In that same broadcast, after announcing the measures she would take to fight inflation,
00:05:07.640 Danielle Smith said her proposed controversial Sovereignty Act legislation would be ready in about a week's time.
00:05:13.320 For the record, it's now being called Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act,
00:05:17.740 which is a change from the Alberta Sovereignty Act Danielle Smith first pitched during the United Conservative Party leadership race. 0.99
00:05:23.480 The Premier said some people are attempting to use this legislation to scare people into thinking that Alberta is planning to leave Canada.
00:05:29.780 She said, quote,
00:05:31.260 Nothing could be further from the truth.
00:05:33.120 Still, just after her broadcast on Tuesday night,
00:05:35.940 Federal Tourism Minister and Edmonton Liberal MP Randy Boscano accused Premier Smith of attacking Canadian unity.
00:05:42.740 He said, quote,
00:05:43.740 This act will not create a single job.
00:05:45.860 It will not help a single business, nor will it make life more affordable for a single family.
00:05:51.220 Unequivocally, it is an attack on Canadian unity.
00:05:54.260 As a proud Albertan and an equally proud Canadian, this is something I can never support.
00:06:00.000 It's the family and friends event at Shoppers Drug Mart.
00:06:03.240 Get 20% off almost all regular priced merchandise.
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00:06:07.520 Tuesday, February 24th and Wednesday, February 25th.
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00:06:16.020 Okay, guys, moving into the controversy of the week.
00:06:19.280 Edmonton Mayor Amarit Sohi has received racist attacks in response to a city decision not to install a Christmas tree this year.
00:06:27.160 We spoke about this a little bit last week.
00:06:28.960 The Edmonton Downtown Business Association has decided not to install a giant Christmas tree at their holiday light-up event this year.
00:06:37.360 That marks the first time since 1999 they won't install a Christmas tree.
00:06:41.480 And the City of Edmonton says it won't step in to supply the tree, citing the environmental impact of transporting a full-grown tree.
00:06:48.280 In a joint statement, Edmonton City Manager Andre Korbold and Edmonton Downtown Business Association or Chair Martin Kennedy said a small number of people are using the situation to make racist attacks on the Edmonton Downtown Business Association staff and Mayor Sohi.
00:07:04.420 Quote, these actions do not reflect the views of the vast majority of Edmontonians or the organizations we lead.
00:07:10.740 They are inappropriate.
00:07:12.060 We do not tolerate online hate and bullying and we will not be swayed by such behavior.
00:07:16.620 Mayor Sohi responded to the criticism in a rhyme he posted to Facebook.
00:07:20.380 We're going to play some of that for you now.
00:07:21.740 There won't be a tree in the Churchill Square, but that doesn't mean the Mayor and Council doesn't care.
00:07:29.200 I've heard some people call me a Grinch, but accurate info can be found in a page.
00:07:35.940 The DBA is lighting up, down, down, down, on Rice Howard way this time around.
00:07:45.200 This is the project that they are taking the lead.
00:07:50.360 This Christmas, they will have just what you need.
00:07:55.060 Everyone's holiday traditions are great.
00:07:58.480 No matter what they are, I love to celebrate.
00:08:01.800 For years and years, we all loved the big tree, but there's so much more that Christmas can be.
00:08:11.400 Honestly, guys, don't like me less, but I thoroughly enjoyed that.
00:08:14.020 Have you ever seen anything so wholesome?
00:08:15.800 What we're watching in the weeks to come.
00:08:17.500 Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro is calling on the federal government to remove RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucky,
00:08:24.140 saying the province has lost confidence in her.
00:08:26.500 Shandro said Lucky failed to provide accountability at two major inquiries.
00:08:30.040 He's, of course, referring to the Public Order Emergency Commission,
00:08:33.760 which is currently studying whether the Trudeau government was justified in invoking the Federal Emergencies Act
00:08:38.640 for the first time in Canadian history to deal with Freedom Convoy protesters.
00:08:42.860 The second inquiry is the Mass Casualty Commission,
00:08:45.800 an independent investigation into the Nova Scotia massacre, which claimed 22 lives.
00:08:51.020 Shandro said Lucky failed to provide accountability at both these inquiries
00:08:54.320 and did not prove to Canadians that RCMP leadership could make changes
00:08:58.680 to ensure that errors of judgment would not happen again.
00:09:01.840 Quote,
00:09:02.100 So far, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has stood idly by,
00:09:06.880 while Commissioner Lucky has failed to meet even the most meagre of standards for the past two years.
00:09:12.200 This is an abrogation of the Minister's core responsibility to Canadians
00:09:15.720 and must be rectified before the RCMP's reputation
00:09:19.000 as Canada's Federal Police Service is further damaged.
00:09:22.660 For those of you who aren't aware,
00:09:24.100 Lucky's testimony at the Public Order Emergency Commission
00:09:26.780 revealed that the RCMP still had measures they could use
00:09:30.260 to remove Freedom Convoy protesters
00:09:32.080 before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act.
00:09:35.560 But Lucky failed to tell Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that
00:09:38.280 in her meeting with him just a few days before he invoked the Never Before Use Act.
00:09:43.340 Lucky acknowledged in her testimony that in hindsight,
00:09:45.420 she probably should have told the Prime Minister.
00:09:47.180 Lucky is also facing allegations from the Nova Scotia RCMP
00:09:50.720 that she pressured RCMP officers to release details
00:09:54.500 about the types of weapons used to kill 22 people
00:09:57.480 in the immediate aftermath of the massacre.
00:10:00.540 According to the allegations,
00:10:01.760 Lucky wanted the details released to advance the Liberals' gun control agenda.
00:10:05.860 Lucky denies the allegations.
00:10:07.580 Speaking of firearms,
00:10:08.740 there's one more story I'm keeping a close eye on.
00:10:11.880 After the Liberal government introduced an amendment
00:10:14.180 to ban hundreds more models of semi-automatic shotguns and rifles,
00:10:18.720 Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro says the government
00:10:21.440 wants to ban firearms ownership altogether.
00:10:24.680 This new amendment primarily focuses on semi-automatic shotguns and firearms
00:10:29.160 primarily used by hunters, farmers, and sport shooters.
00:10:33.140 Shandro says the Alberta government will be exploring
00:10:35.060 all available options in the coming weeks.
00:10:37.360 He's also accusing Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino
00:10:40.200 of not keeping his word of just seeking to restrict
00:10:43.080 what the Liberals call assault-style weapons.
00:10:45.800 Quote,
00:10:46.300 If the amendments are successful,
00:10:47.820 Bill C-21 will lead to the most sweeping and arbitrary ban in Canadian history.
00:10:53.100 The ban will not only be enforceable,
00:10:54.900 but will criminalize hundreds of thousands of Canadians.
00:10:57.900 That amendment is currently under consideration
00:10:59.760 at the House of Commons Public Safety Committee,
00:11:02.060 and I'll be sure to bring you an update when I have one.
00:11:04.140 Okay guys, that's all I have for you today.
00:11:05.660 Thank you so much for tuning in.
00:11:07.060 As always, please visit donate.tnc.news to show us your support.
00:11:10.660 And just a quick public service announcement,
00:11:12.120 there will not be a show next week as I'm out of the country.
00:11:14.540 So I'll see you guys in two weeks time.
00:11:16.180 Thanks so much, have a great weekend, and God bless.