The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux - Alberta’s APOLOGY WARS

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.

00:00:09.220 Nah, it's a new trend. Wrinkled chic.

00:00:12.100 Feel the aero bubbles melt. It's mind-bubbling.

00:00:27.680 Hey everyone, welcome back to the Alberta Roundup.

00:00:29.820 I'm your host, Rachel Emanuel.

00:00:31.500 I hope you're having a great weekend so far.

00:00:33.720 And of course, the best is right about to come.

00:00:36.000 So what we're going to be taking a look at today on the Alberta Roundup.

00:00:39.600 Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has announced her first cabinet.

00:00:42.780 As well, the UCP government is calling on the Alberta NDP to disavow someone they've invited to speak at their party convention this weekend.

00:00:50.200 Meanwhile, Daniel Smith has apologized and it's not enough for NDP leader Rachel Nolley.

00:00:54.860 As well, another province has joined opposition to the Trudeau Liberals' gun grab scheme.

00:00:59.080 And finally, just wait until you see what Calgary wants to spend your money on.

00:01:03.840 All that and more happening now on the Alberta Roundup.

00:01:06.420 Okay everyone, Daniel Smith has announced her first cabinet as Premier.

00:01:09.880 Almost all of her UCP leadership opponents were included in that cabinet list except...

00:01:14.340 Can you guess?

00:01:14.900 That's right, Lila Ahir was excluded from the list. 0.98

00:01:17.920 As you know, Lila Ahir was a vocal critic of Daniel Smith during the campaign.

00:01:21.380 She told UCP memberships at a liberal event with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and...

00:01:25.400 She was the first to fall off the ballot in the UCP leadership contest.

00:01:29.080 Jason Kenney was also not given a role.

00:01:30.760 As you know, Daniel Smith says she has not been able to get a hold of him since she was crowned the victor of the UCP leader and Alberta's premiership.

00:01:37.080 And Jason Nixon, who was briefly finance minister under Kenney and was his house leader, was also excluded from the list.

00:01:42.900 But Travis Taves will maintain his position as finance minister.

00:01:46.120 Meanwhile, Brian Jean, who placed third in the leadership contest, will be the minister of jobs, economy, and northern development.

00:01:51.660 Rebecca Schultz, who placed fourth, she'll become the municipal affairs minister.

00:01:56.320 She moved over from children's services.

00:01:58.380 And Todd Lowen, you guys might remember Todd Lowen, was in the UCP leadership contest as an independent.

00:02:02.260 He was kicked out of the party during Kenny's tenure for criticizing Kenny for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

00:02:08.380 He has become the minister of forestry, parks, and tourism.

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00:02:25.520 Smith will also have two deputy premiers, Casey Maddow and Nathan Newdorf.

00:02:32.680 In a statement, Smith said there's a lot of work to be done.

00:02:35.280 Quote,

00:02:35.500 Our team will work every day to gain your trust, make bold changes, and continue to build the most innovative, entrepreneurial, and welcoming province in the world.

00:02:43.500 I want to thank our entire team for their tireless dedication to Albertans, and we're looking forward to the days ahead.

00:02:48.820 Okay, guys, the UCP government is calling on the Alberta NDP to condemn a speaker they've invited to speak at their convention in Calgary this weekend.

00:02:57.580 The speaker in question is none other than Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kanu, who pled guilty to assaulting a cab driver in 2004 along with refusing a breathalyzer test.

00:03:06.840 He also faced two domestic violence charges following allegations from an ex-partner.

00:03:10.840 Let's dive into this story a little bit.

00:03:12.280 In a statement to TrueNorth earlier this week, UCP MLA Dan Williams said Rachel Notley should practice what she preaches and condemn Kanu as well as uninvite him to the party's convention.

00:03:22.440 Quote,

00:03:23.040 Rachel Notley never does the right thing when push comes to shove.

00:03:26.560 She is always the first in line to cast moral judgment on others, but when it comes to violent and abusive figures within her own party, she has nothing to say.

00:03:34.080 Now, let's dig into these charges a little bit more.

00:03:35.940 In September 2004, Kanu pled guilty to refusing a breathalyzer man, assault, failing to report for bail supervision, and reaching a court-ordered curfew.

00:03:45.700 Then, in 2017, Tara Hart of Winnipeg told APTN, the news outlet, she was in a common-law relationship with Kanu in 2003 when she became the alleged victim of domestic assault.

00:03:56.960 Hart alleged that Kanu threw or pushed her across the room, and she suffered rug burn on her legs and hands.

00:04:02.680 Kanu denies the assault.

00:04:03.860 The charges were stayed by the Crown in 2004, meaning Kanu's guilt or innocence was never determined.

00:04:09.780 Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Daniel Smith has said her government will move ahead with amendments to the Human Rights Code to make it illegal to discriminate based on COVID-19 vaccination status.

00:04:20.300 She, of course, first signaled these intentions during the UCP leadership campaign.

00:04:24.420 Take a listen to her comments now.

00:04:25.560 So, one of the things that we'll be coming through with in the fall as well is a change to the Human Rights Code to make it illegal to discriminate against anyone on the basis of their COVID vaccination status.

00:04:39.740 Now, I recognize that there are still some organizations and some businesses in Alberta that is doing that, and I just want to sort of give you fair warning that we are going to be making a serious pivot in that regard.

00:04:55.120 And I would just ask if you would work with us to align your policies with the direction that we want to go in Alberta, because we want to send the message to the community and to the world community and to the investment markets that this is a place that is open for business, that this is a place that believes in freedom.

00:05:11.700 This is a place that believes in free enterprise, and this is a place where we are not going to be making arbitrary decisions that are going to disproportionately impact the small and medium businesses in this province.

00:05:23.820 Okay, guys, moving into the controversy of the week.

00:05:26.680 Daniela Smith apologized this week for her past comments on Ukraine.

00:05:30.460 Let's take a little look at what she said.

00:05:32.480 We have to go back to April, when Daniela Smith was very active on the social media platform Locals.

00:05:36.960 In an April live stream, Smith said that Ukraine should maintain neutrality to end the war with Russia.

00:05:44.900 Quote, I think the only answer for Ukraine is neutrality.

00:05:48.040 There are thriving nations that have managed with neutrality, Smith said in the live stream.

00:05:52.200 These comments have people absolutely outraged, but who greater than the NDP, both federally and provincially?

00:05:59.060 In fact, take a listen to federal NDP MP Charlie Angus' comments in the House of Commons earlier this week.

00:06:04.140 So we see, I mean, if you want to talk disinformation, the front face of the conservative movement in Canada right now, Danielle Smith.

00:06:11.880 I mean, oh my God, where to begin?

00:06:14.040 You know, we find out now that she's been promoting pro-Russian, pro-Putin separatist propaganda.

00:06:20.560 That's unacceptable.

00:06:22.140 When we see the horrific death rates and torture and killing and rapes happening in Ukraine,

00:06:27.240 and yet she says that those who didn't want to wear a mask were the most discriminated against people in the history of Canada.

00:06:34.060 We need to see all leaders in this country standing up against Putin because the economic devastation that's happening around the world is impacting us here.

00:06:42.660 And we also, from a basic human rights point of view, need to stay focused.

00:06:46.800 But again, I mention it because this is the politics of disinformation that the conservatives are opting for to cover for the fact that they're not delivering real results for people.

00:06:59.820 So when we came in and said we were going to double the GST tax credit...

00:07:03.560 I just want to dive into Angus' comments a little bit because he did get a couple things wrong.

00:07:07.380 For starters, Daniel Smith never said that the unmasked were the most discriminated against in Canada.

00:07:11.520 However, if you ever went into a store without a mask on during the mask mandates,

00:07:15.440 whether it was because you had a medical exemption or you forgot your mask or maybe you just didn't want to wear one,

00:07:20.400 I certainly wouldn't know anything about that.

00:07:22.340 You might have felt like you were the most discriminated person in Canada.

00:07:25.320 That being said, Daniel Smith said the unvaccinated were the most discriminated people against in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

00:07:31.720 And of course, they were barred from places of work, places of worship, from the gym, from restaurants.

00:07:38.100 So those were actual comments.

00:07:39.460 I think it's important to get that right.

00:07:40.560 I think especially when you're speaking in the House of Commons, it's important to get things right.

00:07:44.300 But clearly, that small detail wasn't important to Angus.

00:07:48.020 Now, let's continue on.

00:07:49.720 The comments didn't just come from Angus, but also, of course, from the Alberta NDP.

00:07:53.760 And the loudest of those voices was keyboard warrior herself, Rachel Notley.

00:07:57.300 Let's take a look at what she said this week.

00:07:58.940 She was on Twitter all week asking Daniel Smith to apologize.

00:08:02.500 I'd just like to note that neither Notley nor Angus bothered to explain how Smith's comments

00:08:06.960 were evidence of pro-Putin, pro-Russia propaganda.

00:08:10.460 Nonetheless, whether it was simply because the pressure was too high or because she actually

00:08:15.460 felt bad about her opinions and changed her mind, Daniel Smith released an apology on Tuesday.

00:08:20.600 In a clarification statement, she said,

00:08:22.200 Now, despite the fact that Rachel Notley was on Twitter all week begging for this apology,

00:08:40.060 it wasn't enough for her when she finally got it.

00:08:41.820 In response to Smith's clarification, correction, and apology, Notley said,

00:08:46.600 Quote,

00:08:47.460 Daniel Smith's comments about Ukraine damaged Alberta's international standing as a secure,

00:08:51.880 stable energy provider.

00:08:53.740 In the long term, that means less investment, less jobs, and less opportunity in our province.

00:08:59.020 An apology is one thing.

00:09:00.600 Now, we need a plan to fix it.

00:09:02.680 I just want to break these comments down a little bit.

00:09:04.360 I was just as surprised as you to see that Notley has suddenly decided to become

00:09:07.760 such a staunch defender of Alberta's energy industry.

00:09:10.580 Perhaps, during her tenure as Premier, she should have approved a pipeline in Alberta. 0.93

00:09:15.540 Maybe then, Europe, which is suffering from an energy crisis now,

00:09:18.440 could have some of this Alberta oil that she suddenly seemed so eager to boast about. 0.92

00:09:22.120 I'd also note that Saudi Arabia, and until recently Russia,

00:09:25.140 were some of the biggest providers of energy throughout the world.

00:09:28.740 And they have a pretty terrible track record on actual human rights abuses.

00:09:32.920 But it's Daniel Smith's comments on Ukraine neutrality that are really going to cause

00:09:36.540 Alberta's energy industry to crumble.

00:09:38.000 Nevertheless, Daniel Smith apologized,

00:09:39.780 and some of you, most of you, perhaps all of you,

00:09:42.780 seem to think it was the wrong decision.

00:09:44.940 I'm going to take a look at some of your comments this week,

00:09:47.340 underneath my article about Daniel Smith's apology.

00:09:49.700 She shouldn't have apologized.

00:09:51.180 Never apologize.

00:09:52.520 That's why you never apologize.

00:09:54.760 Another user wrote,

00:09:55.540 I'm still waiting for Nothead to apologize for nearly destroying Alberta. 1.00

00:09:58.820 Yet another wrote,

00:09:59.480 Daniel Smith needs to stick to her guns and become a straight-talking,

00:10:02.060 no-nonsense-taking, sharp-tongued, Judge Judy-type persona.

00:10:04.900 That way, she will rally her base while at the same time recruiting people to hear her brand and messaging.

00:10:09.560 Hopefully, Smith learned a valuable lesson not to cater to the woke mob.

00:10:13.600 Across Facebook and Twitter, all the comments I read pretty much seemed to say,

00:10:17.180 she shouldn't have apologized, and it was catering to the woke mob.

00:10:20.380 At least, among my viewership, that's how people felt.

00:10:22.840 But I'm curious to hear what you all think.

00:10:24.800 Reach out to me.

00:10:25.480 Let me know.

00:10:26.320 Okay, guys, what we're watching in the weeks to come.

00:10:28.680 Yet another province has voiced their opposition to the Trudeau Liberals gun grab scheme.

00:10:32.600 As you know, Alberta made waves weeks ago when they announced that they will not allow their provincial RCMP

00:10:37.700 or any other policing resources to be used to act as confiscation agents for the Trudeau Liberals gun grab scheme.

00:10:44.500 Shortly after that announcement, Alberta was joined by Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

00:10:48.620 Now, New Brunswick has also joined the chorus.

00:10:51.680 Looks like the Trudeau Liberals are going to have an awfully hard time

00:10:54.300 confiscating those guns.

00:10:55.920 It's been a pretty heavy show today.

00:10:57.960 We're going to move into something a little lighter to end the show.

00:11:00.460 This is especially for my viewers in Calgary.

00:11:02.620 Your government wants to borrow $168 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank for

00:11:08.000 zero emissions electric buses.

00:11:10.900 A corporate planning and financial services report on October 18th

00:11:13.860 recommended that the executive committee get first reading to a bylaw

00:11:17.140 which would authorize the city to incur indebtedness with the CIB for purchase of the buses.

00:11:21.900 The report claims that these buses will actually improve the quality of life for Calgarians

00:11:26.960 and provide opportunities to cleaner access communities.

00:11:30.440 The report also says the $168 million loan will promote fiscal responsibility by providing the city

00:11:36.280 with a flexible source of long-term financing at a significantly below market interest rate.

00:11:40.700 Sort of sounds like the argument that women use when there's a piece of clothing on sale that they 1.00

00:11:44.080 don't really need but they really want it and you know if they buy it now while it's on sale they're

00:11:48.480 technically going to save money for the future because they would have needed to buy something at some point in the future

00:11:52.320 at full price anyways.

00:11:53.880 Let me tell you if you do that a couple too many times you will find yourself cancelling a credit card.

00:11:58.240 I just want to talk about YouTube for a second.

00:11:59.800 If you guys are watching this show on YouTube today, most of you do,

00:12:03.000 please subscribe.

00:12:03.800 True North is hoping to hit 100k subscribers this month.

00:12:06.580 We have I believe under 5,000k subscribers to go last time I checked.

00:12:10.120 Please subscribe if you like the show or if this is your first time watching it,

00:12:13.100 you're not sure how you feel.

00:12:13.980 I'll win you over, I promise, and I do actually take a look at the comments underneath the show pretty regularly.

00:12:19.720 There were some funny ones the other day.

00:12:20.960 We're going to take a look at a couple of those right now.

00:12:23.500 All right, under my episode from two weeks ago,

00:12:25.920 there was a little bit in here about Edmonton wanting to spend $170 million on bike lanes

00:12:29.840 that a bunch of you got pretty riled up about.

00:12:31.780 Squeaky Wheel wrote, good show.

00:12:33.260 This is becoming the go-to show for weekly Alberta news.

00:12:35.900 I love the short format.

00:12:37.620 As a Gen Z with a terrible attention span totally ruined by memes and reels, 1.00

00:12:41.460 I'm right there with you, Squeaky Wheel.

00:12:42.820 Peter LaFontaine wrote, I'm a year-round bike commuter,

00:12:45.340 and I believe spending $20 or $170 million on bike lanes is not justifiable.

00:12:49.620 The current city councilors are out of touch with reality.

00:12:52.460 Okay, everyone, if you want to contact me, let me know what you liked about the show,

00:12:55.120 what you didn't like about the show, what you think I missed.

00:12:56.980 You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and as of recently, I'm back on Instagram.

00:13:01.300 I don't suspect I'll be there for too long, so catch me while you still can.

00:13:04.600 Thanks so much for tuning in.

00:13:05.700 I hope you have a great rest of the week, and God bless.

00:13:12.820 Bye.

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The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux - October 22, 2022

Alberta’s APOLOGY WARS

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