The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux - June 29, 2024


UCP sets sights on Nenshi


Episode Stats

Length

14 minutes

Words per Minute

168.88112

Word Count

2,415

Sentence Count

134

Misogynist Sentences

3


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 The Alberta government announced this week that it would opt out of the federal dental care program.
00:00:04.860 It's the right choice, of course, in the days since long-time business owners and dentists
00:00:09.740 have been reporting that the program is creating chaos at their places of work.
00:00:14.580 It's also being reported that the plan will create confusion,
00:00:17.580 which happens basically any time the Liberal government puts forward new legislation.
00:00:21.940 Justin Trudeau's Liberals are trailing the Conservatives by 20 points,
00:00:25.380 and this week faced a devastating loss in the once-liberal stronghold of Toronto St. Paul's.
00:00:31.700 But until an election is called, we're all just buckling down
00:00:34.680 and praying that the damage done to our country can and will be undone by a strong Conservative government.
00:00:40.480 The reason an election hasn't been called, of course, is the cowardice of Jagmeet Singh's NDP,
00:00:45.300 who make a big show about supporting the working class,
00:00:48.040 even when it's clear the working class no longer supports the government the NDP upholds.
00:00:52.700 Singh is simultaneously one of the most useless politicians,
00:00:55.920 who's also wreaking the most havoc on our country,
00:00:58.820 if you can wrap your head around that seeming paradox.
00:01:01.540 In fact, it's his party that's been pushing for a national dental care program
00:01:05.080 in return for supporting the Liberals.
00:01:07.180 But instead, the Liberals offered him this watered-down plan that Alberta doesn't want,
00:01:11.160 because even Trudeau doesn't respect him.
00:01:13.500 So it should come as no surprise that the new Alberta NDP leader wants to distance himself from Singh.
00:01:18.680 And if the effort to divorce the Alberta NDP from Singh's unpopular federal branch is successful,
00:01:23.960 it could spell a headache for Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party.
00:01:27.820 I'm Rachel Emanuel, and this is the Alberta Roundup.
00:01:30.900 Rachel Emanuel brings the news each day
00:01:35.280 On Alberta Roundup, she has her say
00:01:39.900 Okay, everyone, taking a look at our first story here,
00:01:43.760 Alberta is opting out of the federal dental care program
00:01:46.260 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told the federal government this week.
00:01:49.100 In a letter, she said the plan infringes on provincial jurisdiction.
00:01:53.140 She wrote, quote,
00:01:54.360 If a new health program was to be developed by the federal government,
00:01:57.600 it should be done in full collaboration with provinces and territories,
00:02:01.280 and discussions should have occurred before these intentions are announced.
00:02:05.020 Unfortunately, this did not occur.
00:02:06.840 The Premier also said that Alberta is still expecting its monetary portion of the federal program,
00:02:12.140 which they would then use to help low-income Albertans afford dental care.
00:02:16.980 She added, quote,
00:02:17.840 We anticipate our respective officials can negotiate mutually agreeable terms within a two-year time frame
00:02:23.240 and plan to opt out by 2026.
00:02:26.060 Last December, Ottawa promised to spend $13 billion over five years on the plan.
00:02:30.940 Canadians who filed a tax return earning less than $90,000 per year
00:02:34.600 and have no access to dental care insurance are eligible.
00:02:38.020 The program already covers kids under 12 and seniors over the age of 65,
00:02:42.860 and it's now been expanded to cover those under the age of 18,
00:02:46.800 as well as those with a valid disability tax credit certificate.
00:02:50.260 The Alberta Dental Association president-elect said the program creates a lot more paperwork.
00:02:55.340 He added, quote,
00:02:55.980 On top of that, though, there is just such an unknown.
00:02:59.540 We don't quite know who is even covered.
00:03:01.900 Dr. Hans Herschen is one of the 60 to 70 percent of Alberta dentists not yet signed up for the program.
00:03:08.040 He's concerned over misinformation and said patients come in expecting free dental care
00:03:12.740 when they may still have to pay out of pocket.
00:03:14.880 Dr. Herschen also said, quote,
00:03:16.220 Meanwhile, president of the Canadian Dental Association said he's hearing reports of dental offices
00:03:27.500 where administrators are now spending up to an hour a day explaining the program to patients.
00:03:32.560 Dr. Joel Antle also said the program will limit patient choice, saying, quote,
00:03:37.000 You are also going to have people left in a very sad situation of having to go to dental office, to dental office,
00:03:43.680 asking, are you taking part?
00:03:45.200 Taking a look at our next story here, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says he's united with Alberta New Democrats,
00:03:51.680 even as that party's new leader seeks to distance himself from Jagmeet Singh's NDP.
00:03:56.780 On Saturday, former Calgary mayor Nahed Nanshi was crowned leader of the Alberta NDP in a decisive leadership contest.
00:04:04.000 And he quickly told reporters that he would be putting the question to his membership
00:04:07.520 of whether they should divorce from the federal party, something he first pitched during his campaign.
00:04:12.420 But Singh says the two parties remain united in their goal of defeating conservatives federally and provincially.
00:04:17.880 Take a listen.
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00:04:36.800 Right now, at the provincial level in Alberta, provincially in a lot of places, conservatives are a threat to the people.
00:04:50.120 Conservatives are directly attacking healthcare, education.
00:04:53.680 They're even attacking pensions.
00:04:55.480 So in Alberta, New Democrats are united with a very clear goal of defeating Daniel Smith, who is a real threat to Canadians, who is a real threat to Albertans.
00:05:05.640 And nationally, New Democrats are also united.
00:05:09.360 We've got to replace Justin Trudeau.
00:05:12.200 We've got to defeat conservatives.
00:05:13.760 Pierre Polyev also wants to do the same things as Daniel Smith.
00:05:17.580 He wants to cut healthcare.
00:05:19.160 He wants to take away people's services.
00:05:21.300 He wants to cut and gut the things that you need.
00:05:23.220 Members of provincial NDP branches automatically become members of the federal NDP.
00:05:28.420 That feature is unique to the NDP of Canada's major political parties.
00:05:32.500 And it's also something the United Conservative Party government has used to successfully attack the Alberta NDP,
00:05:38.720 considering Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's extreme unpopularity across Canada, but of course in Alberta as well,
00:05:44.820 and the fact that the federal NDP continue propping him up.
00:05:48.120 They are the reason we are not already in an election.
00:05:50.520 On Saturday, Nenshi told reporters,
00:05:52.480 Differences in party policy has created problems for the provincial party in energy-rich Alberta.
00:06:08.780 For example, Nenshi and former Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley both supported the Trans Mountain Pipeline project,
00:06:14.360 but federal leader Jagmeet Singh didn't.
00:06:16.840 Still, Notley told the Calgary Herald last week that plans to divorce from the federal party are, quote,
00:06:22.680 silly, superficial, and short-sighted.
00:06:25.280 It's been one week since former Calgary Mayor Nahed Nenshi was crowned leader of the Alberta NDP,
00:06:30.480 and already the United Conservative Party has released two attack ads about the new leader.
00:06:34.460 Those ads have criticized his record on taxes as the mayor of Calgary,
00:06:38.080 and his relationship to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
00:06:40.680 Take a look.
00:06:41.200 New NDP leader Nahed Nenshi is Justin Trudeau's choice for Alberta.
00:06:46.320 That's Nenshi helping Justin Trudeau defeat Stephen Harper in the 2015 federal election.
00:06:51.880 When asked about Nenshi running for the NDP,
00:06:54.840 Trudeau called Nenshi a strong mayor and said we should welcome his candidacy.
00:07:00.100 Trudeau even tried to get Nenshi to run for his federal liberal party.
00:07:04.040 We've had enough of Trudeau in Ottawa.
00:07:06.360 We don't need one in Alberta.
00:07:08.340 Nahed Nenshi, Trudeau's choice for Alberta.
00:07:10.480 The Calgary mayor has responded in kind. Here's what he had to say.
00:07:14.320 You know what? They are nothing, if not predictable.
00:07:20.100 I've said for a long time that Danielle Smith and the UCP government only know how to do two things.
00:07:25.000 They know how to pick fights and they know how to waste money.
00:07:27.500 And now here they are, picking a fight with me and wasting big bucks on ads doing so.
00:07:32.540 What do you think they're so scared of?
00:07:34.900 They're trying to define me for you, but they can't do it.
00:07:38.060 Because you know me. I've been around.
00:07:40.160 And Lord knows no one has ever accused me of being quiet.
00:07:43.460 And I am proud of what we've built together.
00:07:45.460 Moving into our next story here, a new survey from the Angus Reid Institute found that Alberta Premier Daniel Smith is the fourth most popular premier in Canada.
00:07:54.160 She received the green light from 45% of Albertans, trailing Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furry,
00:08:02.900 and in first place, Manitoba Premier Wob Canoe, Ontario's Doug Ford and New Brunswick's Blaine Higgs tied for dead last.
00:08:10.480 Moving into our controversy of the week, while speaking at the Black Canadian Women in Action Conference in Calgary on Thursday,
00:08:16.560 Alberta Premier Daniel Smith said that the province has to address systemic barriers to entrepreneurs of colour to grow international and domestic trade.
00:08:24.720 The Premier said, quote,
00:08:25.660 We recognise that local businesses and entrepreneurs face challenges relating to this community,
00:08:31.140 and support for the Black community must extend beyond strictly business supports.
00:08:35.580 And we're happy to address anti-racism and systemic barriers faced by offering feedback that some face difficulty addressing capital.
00:08:42.660 Meanwhile, Calgary Mayor Jodi Gonick tried to draw commonalities between the water crisis in Calgary and women in sub-Saharan Africa dragging water to their homes.
00:08:52.560 She said, quote,
00:08:53.480 I am, of course, not surprised to see Calgary Mayor Jodi Gonick resort to race posturing,
00:09:15.500 although I do think it is quite ironic that she's comparing women who have to carry water to their homes to the crisis ongoing in Calgary,
00:09:23.140 which, of course, was caused by her government.
00:09:25.400 So please don't try to seem relatable on that front.
00:09:27.580 Maybe if your government was less focused on banning plastic bags and Canada Day celebrations,
00:09:32.960 you would have had a little more time to check out what's going on with our basic water infrastructure.
00:09:37.340 However, I was disappointed to see Alberta Premier Daniel Smith resort to this race posturing.
00:09:41.680 I think people are getting a little tired of it.
00:09:43.760 It's my question of the week for you all.
00:09:45.500 Do you think these comments are appropriate or are you, too, tired of the race pandering?
00:09:50.260 Speaking of Calgary Mayor Jodi Gonick, that brings us to what we're watching in the weeks to come.
00:09:54.600 There's only one politician in Canada who's less popular than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
00:10:00.320 and it's the Calgary Mayor herself.
00:10:02.500 According to new data from Think HQ, Calgary Mayor Jodi Gonick has an approval rating of just 26%.
00:10:09.000 That's two point less than Justin Trudeau, who sits at 28%.
00:10:13.360 Think HQ has been collecting data since 2014 when Hed Nenshi was the mayor.
00:10:18.860 And for context, he had an approval rating of 74% at the start of his term,
00:10:23.260 and that dropped to 57% by the time he left the role in 2021.
00:10:27.520 Think HQ President Mark Henry said,
00:10:29.460 Finally, moving into our weekly comment roundup, and make sure you stick around till the end
00:10:49.200 as I have a very exciting announcement, as I promised you all, this week on Wednesday.
00:10:54.520 But first, taking a look at some of these comments, user Kevin Buswallo says,
00:10:58.220 If you have the best lawyers and an endless budget, then why jump to Trudeau's Bozo laws?
00:11:03.680 Confront them and challenge them in court.
00:11:05.700 This is lunacy.
00:11:06.780 That was, of course, in response to my question last week as to whether or not companies should
00:11:12.620 fight the Trudeau government when they infringe on our charter rights.
00:11:15.300 That was in response to news that Pathways Alliance had scrubbed their website
00:11:19.560 because of new legislation proposed by the Trudeau government,
00:11:22.920 which would force companies to prove their environmental record
00:11:26.100 against some undefined global standard.
00:11:30.480 Companies responded and said,
00:11:32.020 This is unclear, and we could be held liable for this.
00:11:34.920 So companies like Pathway Alliance scrubbed their website.
00:11:37.680 And I said, you know, maybe some people with the big bucks should stick around
00:11:41.160 and actually fight the Trudeau government.
00:11:43.020 I think this is a big problem that we have in Canada.
00:11:45.060 Nobody wants to put their money where their mouth is.
00:11:47.260 People are very apathetic.
00:11:48.480 They also don't want to put their time where their mouth is.
00:11:52.000 So they roll over and they comply too quickly with bogus policies and laws
00:11:56.860 when they should stand up and fight.
00:11:58.840 And that's the reason why our country looks the way it does today.
00:12:01.980 Finally, user Andy Nichols said,
00:12:03.920 Why are you living in Alberta?
00:12:05.640 You obviously don't understand the Western culture.
00:12:08.600 Albertans work hard and play hard.
00:12:10.660 The Stampede is a celebration of agriculture, ranching, and yes,
00:12:13.740 Indigenous contribution to the Western way of life.
00:12:16.220 If you think that the Midway is what it's about, you missed the boat,
00:12:18.720 or should I say the chuck wagon, when you moved here.
00:12:21.400 Calgary brings in the best Canadian and international country and Western musicians,
00:12:25.320 as well as popular music.
00:12:26.820 So put on a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and learn to square dance.
00:12:29.760 You might actually have fun.
00:12:30.800 He was responding to my controversial statement last week that I don't really enjoy the Calgary
00:12:35.560 Stampede.
00:12:36.640 I would prefer to spend my free time in a bit of a quieter and more relaxing environment.
00:12:42.160 Listen, this may come as a surprise to you, but not everyone moves to Alberta or even to
00:12:46.080 Calgary for the Calgary Stampede.
00:12:48.320 And some of us don't enjoy loud crowds and lots of drinking.
00:12:52.560 There are other ways to enjoy Western culture.
00:12:54.520 I would argue that if you want to get a true Stampede feel,
00:12:57.260 you're probably better off doing that in Pinocchio.
00:13:00.300 I definitely enjoyed seeing all the races like the chuck wagon races there a few years
00:13:05.960 ago, and I think I would prefer to drive up and check out their Stampede than be stuck
00:13:10.620 in busy and loud Calgary, but to each their own.
00:13:13.600 Okay, everyone.
00:13:14.260 And as promised, my big announcement for you all beginning next week,
00:13:18.020 I will be starting a new podcast on Wednesdays called Rachel and the Republic in which you
00:13:23.360 guessed it, I will be covering American politics, beginning with a close look at the US election.
00:13:29.880 I hope that you all caught Thursday's debate, but if you didn't, I'll be sure to have a
00:13:33.180 rundown for you on Wednesday.
00:13:34.780 So make sure that you are subscribed to True North so you don't miss that show.
00:13:38.320 Okay, everyone.
00:13:38.860 That's all we have time for today.
00:13:40.020 Thank you so much for tuning in.
00:13:41.100 As always, I hope that you guys have a great weekend and I will see you on Wednesday.
00:13:48.020 Thank you.