ECA Review - 2022-09-29

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6 September 29'22 HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB. ECA REVIEW OPINION The opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of this newspaper. R R R R R Published by Coronation Review Limited Subscriptions: $52.50 in Canada; $98.70 in US; $183.75 Overseas. 72 pt East Central Alberta EVIEW 60 pt 48 pt 36 pt Website ECAreview.com Office Hours Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm R 30 pt 4921 - Victoria Avenue Tel. (403) 578-4111 R 24 pt Mail: Box 70, Coronation, AB Canada, T0C 1C0 EDITORIAL The Quebec playbook: Is that what Alberta’s economy really needs? Brenda Schimke ECA Review Why do Albertans want to be Quebec? We have so much more going for us yet Premier Jason Kenney and leading contenders for the UCP leadership seem more focussed on being Quebec than growing or governing Alberta. Alberta has been so successful within confederation. With our young and highly educated population, a renowned entrepreneurial spirit, provincial wealth, developed natural resources and the skill-set to become leaders in high tech and green “ innovations, we should envy no one. Quebec on the other hand, with a much larger geographic footprint and an abundance of natural resources still languishes as a ’have not’ province. Much of the Quebecois attitude goes back to their defeat by the English, even though English Canada has bent over backwards to support their language, culture and traditions. In 1969, Canada became officially bilingual, but it wasn’t enough to stop the explosion of anger in Quebec during the 1970s—kidnappings, an assassination, violence and the subsequent enactment of the War Measures Act. Nor did it stop two independence referendums in 1980 and 1995, both of which narrowly failed. More changes were made in 1995 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. His government passed a resolution granting French-speaking Quebec special status as a ‘distinct society’—reinforcing civil law in Quebec and gave the province primary authority over cultural affairs, education and broadcasting—key issues in Francophone Quebec. The resolution also gave all 10 provinces specific provincial control over natural resources, primarily forestry and oil and gas production and called for future ‘self government’ for Indigenous and Inuit peoples. Prime Minister Mulroney, as a leader of all of Canada, said at the time, “it represents the government’s best calculation of what the various sections of the country want.” He didn’t treat every province the same, but gave in areas most important to everyone. That’s important to remember – Alberta was also given more powers over natural resources, when Quebec was designated a ‘distinct society’. It was in 2006, however, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government passed a resolution to recognize Quebec as a nation within Canada. The Liberals were totally opposed to such a move, yet voted with the Conservative government for political reasons—Quebec seats are a necessity for Liberal electoral success. The Harper move opened up a can of worms and today it has led right-wing politicians in Alberta and Saskatchewan to demand that they, too, become a nation within a nation. On reflection, we now clearly understand Harper’s hidden agenda in his 2006 proclamation for Quebec. It was the opening salvo to devolve an increasing number of federal responsibilities to the provinces and fulfill his long-time goal to Americanize Canadian federalism. In Canada, the federal government has been given powers and responsibilities in matters that concern all Canadians, most notably matters that cross interprovincial and/or international borders. These include immigration, criminal law, banking, national defence, citizenship and trade with other countries. Provincial governments have jurisdiction in matters of local interest and local well-being including primary and secondary education, social services, property and civil rights, provincial and municipal courts, health care. Then there are some areas that have overlap between federal or provincial laws such as transportation, policing and the environment. Quebec, thanks to Stephen Harper, has now gone far beyond its recognition of a ‘distinct society’ and is forging ahead assuming powers that were never intended at a provincial level— including immigration. So how has this been working out for Quebec? I would argue from an economic and human rights point of view, not very well, at all. In 1950 Quebec’s population was 88 per cent of Ontario’s. After each separation referendum, Quebec’s population continued to decline. In 1980 Quebec’s population was 75 per cent of Ontario’s, by 1995, 67 per cent and in 2021 Quebec’s population is only 60 per cent of Ontario’s population. This divergence of population directly affects Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or economic output. Statistics Canada reports that in 2019, Ontario had the largest Alberta is not a distinct society, we are not a defeated people, we are not poor. “ LETTERS POLICY • Letters to the Editor are welcomed • Must be signed and a phone number included so the writer’s identity can be verified. • ECA Review reserves the right to edit letters for legal considerations, taste and brevity. Letters and columns submitted are not necessarily the opinion of this newspaper. MEMBER OF: economy in Canada, making up around 38.6 per cent of Canadian GDP. In contrast Quebec represents 19.9 per cent of national GDP, virtually half the output of Ontario. Consider as well, Alberta has only half of Quebec’s population, yet our GDP today only lags theirs by 4.6 per cent. Political unrest and governance by ideology unsettles businesses and investors or those looking to relocate for work—all critical components for the economic health and wellbeing of any jurisdiction. In June 2019, Quebec passed Bill 21 that makes it illegal to wear religious symbols at work including hijabs, niqab, burkas, turbans, and skull caps. Supposedly Catholics aren’t allowed to wear crosses either, but how easy a cross is to hide under clothing. Bill 21 is simply religious persecution of Muslims, Sikhs and Jews, something that is illegal in the rest of Canada. Then there is Bill 96 passed in June which makes significant amendments to the Charter of the French language. Newcomers have six months to learn French, then they will only receive services (health, public safety and justice) in the French language. Businesses with more than 25 employees must certify with the language police that French is the common language used in the workplace. Today, statistics show that only half of Montrealers work in French. Everyone knows it is nearly impossible to become fluent in a new Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. JOYCE WEBSTER Publisher/Editor publisher@ECAreview.com YVONNE THULIEN Marketing/Digital 403-575-9474 advertise@ECAreview.com language within six months, even more so for those working in technical fields such as biotechnology, aerospace, engineering, high tech, medical or aeronautics—all important industries in Quebec. Everyone knows there is a worldwide shortage of skilled and unskilled workers—immigrants are the answer to many first-world country staff shortages. Yet there are only 300 million French speakers worldwide, with the vast majority living on the African continent. Ironically Africa has the most devout Muslim or Christian followers in the world. Quebec also should remember how many Quebec-based corporations fled to Toronto during the era of separation talk and referendums. Quebec corporations, if unable to attract skilled French-speaking workers, will once again move their corporations elsewhere. Alberta is not a distinct society, we are not a defeated people, we are not poor, our citizens have always shown initiative and we understand the international competition for skilled labour is absolutely critical for economic success. Quebec has put the French language and secularism ahead of everything else. What, pray tell, is Alberta so bent on protecting that we are prepared to follow the Quebec playbook and lose our economic clout? Surely if we must emulate an eastern province, let’s pick a successful one like Ontario. JUDY WALGENBACH Marketing 403-740-2492 marketing@ECAreview.com BRENDA SCHIMKE Editorial Writer SHEREE BAILLIE Marketing 587-990-4818 contact@ECAreview.com STU SALKELD LJI Reporter 403-741-2615 reporter@ECAreview.com LISA MYERS-SORTLAND Graphic Artist R 18 pt
R R R R 72 pt 60 pt 48 pt 36 pt 30 pt 24 pt 18 pt ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB September 29'22 7 GUEST OPINION Woke ideology doesn’t belong in schools All students deserve a learning environment that is free of political indoctrination by Michael Zwaagstra If you’ve been around for a while, you probably remember the phrase “politically correct.” Being called politically correct was not a compliment. Instead, it meant that you had an unhealthy obsession with not offending anyone, even if you had to say some rather silly things in the process. For example, instead of saying husband or wife, you’d say partner so you didn’t imply that being married is better than living together common law. Or you might avoid phrases such as “ladies and gentlemen” so that you don’t offend the non-binary people in the room. Political correctness also meant tossing out classic books and authors that used unacceptable terminology by modern-day standards. The oppressive nature of political correctness was bad enough. Unfortunately, today we face an even greater threat to healthy intellectual discourse – woke ideology. Wokeness has become the new politically correct, except it’s far more demanding than political correctness ever was. Woke ideology places such a strong emphasis on personal identity that it sees everything through the lens of race, gender, and sexual orientation. This ideology makes it possible to call others privileged without knowing anything about them. Hence, we hear terms such as “white privilege” or “cisgender privilege.” Obviously, people are free to hold whatever woke beliefs they want. The PARLIAMENT problem arises when we try to make everyone else conform to our assumptions about identity. When woke ideology takes over our schools, it moves from being merely annoying to downright toxic. In addition, woke ideology tends to twist normal words and phrases into something completely different. For example, being anti-racist used to mean that you were opposed to all forms of discrimination based on skin colour. Now, anti-racism has become an ideology that sees all people through a racial prism. Thus, when anti-racist consultants conduct workshops, one of the first things they do is divide participants up according to their race. They want everyone to be acutely aware of the widespread prevalence of white supremacy, even if no one in the room has ever said or done anything racist. When anyone objects to being stereotyped in this way, the presenter accuses them of exhibiting “white fragility,” another common woke phrase. The irony is that woke ideology is supposed to be about inclusion. However, in many cases, it drives people apart. When a teacher sends the message that some students benefit from white privilege while others are ongoing victims of systemic racism, it’s hard to see how this creates a productive learning environment. The same is true of classrooms where teachers focus on gender identity by having all students declare their personal pronouns on a regular basis. Fixing Canada’s finances, bringing back accountability by Damien C. Kurek, M.P. Battle River—Crowfoot Parliament is sitting once again and Canada’s Conservatives are ready to get back to work on Parliament Hill. With our new leader, the Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Canada has a steady hand at the helm of His Majesty’s Official Opposition, and we are ready to address the issues that matter to you and your fellow Canadians. The role of the Official Opposition is to provide feedback on government policies and to ensure the ruling government is held to account. It’s in this role Conservatives have Kurek insisted action must be taken to curb inflation and address the affordability crisis. For years, we have signalled the Liberals’ agenda of overspending, business-killing red tape, and anti-oil and gas sentiment would suffocate the Canadian economy and contribute to inflation but… they ignored our warnings and are seeing the consequences of that. Many Canadians are facing hardship as their hard-earned dollars are worth less than they were a year ago as inflation eats up their money. Food prices are up 10.8 per cent, inflation is at seven per cent, and interest rates were raised to 3.25 per cent. With this adversity, there is no financial relief for Canadians as they are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Conservatives have made it clear that we are willing to work with the Government and any party that will acknowledge the challenges we face as a nation, such as showing fiscal restraint and a commitment to not raise taxes. Further, Canada’s Conservatives have outlined how we would tackle the affordability crisis. We would cap inflation-causing government spending with a Pay-As-You-Go Law requiring the government to find a dollar of savings for each new dollar of spending, scrap carbon tax to reduce the cost of fuel and remove red tape and gatekeepers to allow businesses, farmers and workers to produce more affordable energy, food and housing. These are all measures we can implement when we are in government and advocate for while we wait to be elected as your next government. I have heard it loud and clear from the people of Battle River-Crowfoot: life is getting more expensive. Conservatives have been listening to you, and we are finding solutions to help Canadians who are struggling and ensuring that your future is not held back by the shortfalls of government. By getting out of Canadians’ way, we can foster innovation and grow the economy so we can all live in a better society led by incentive and merit. It is my hope, with the solutions Conservatives have proposed and will continue to present, that Canadians will look to themselves and build with us to work towards a better future for all. It’s important to remember that while schools play an important role in society, parents remain the primary educators of their children. If parents feel that teachers do not respect their values or are constantly pushing woke ideology on their children, they will quickly lose trust in the school system. This is one of the fastest ways to undermine the public education system in Canada. There is nothing wrong with teachers ensuring that all students feel safe in the classroom. It makes sense to stamp out racist comments and educate students on the importance of respecting their classmates, including those with different gender identities. Bullying has no place in the school system and should never be tolerated by teachers or principals. All students have the right to a safe learning environment. However, pushing woke ideology on students is ineffective in combatting bullying. There is no need for all students to think the same way or hold RCMP the same beliefs. All that is necessary is a willingness to treat other people with respect. Good teachers have always been kind, yet firm, when it comes to upholding the basic rules of decorum. Students should never feel pressured to conform to any teacher’s political ideology or worldview. When teachers push woke ideology in their classrooms, they are indoctrinating students rather than educating them. Everyone knows there is a huge difference between teaching students how to think and teaching them what to think. Woke ideology doesn’t belong in schools. All students deserve a learning environment that is free of political indoctrination. Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher, a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, and author of A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning. Charges in drug investigation Submitted Drumheller RCMP entered into an investigation involving drug trafficking and weapons offences on Sept. 16 after an allegation was made that a male was assaulted and threatened with a firearm at a residence in the north end of Drumheller. As a result of executing a search warrant on Sept. 17, police assisted by the Calgary Police Emergency Response Team and Calgary Police Dog Services located fentanyl, methamphetamine, as well as several other items that were confirmed to be stolen. Lloyd Smith (56)of Drumheller has been charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, methamphetamine and property obtained by crime. He was released from custody and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on Nov. 25, 2022. Shane Pentelescu (37), of Drumheller has been charged with pointing a firearm, uttering threats and assault. Pentelescu was released from custody following a judicial interim release hearing and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on Oct. 21, 2022. Home invasion Wainwright RCMP responded to a report of a home invasion on Sept. 14 involving a firearm at a residence in Wainwright. The investigation determined that three individuals were involved, two known to the victim, and it appeared to be a targeted event. The suspects departed the residence in the victim’s vehicle. Wainwright RCMP notified area detachments of the incident on the following day Kitscoty RCMP observed the suspect vehicle at a rural residence in the Paradise Valley area with at least one of the suspects inside the vehicle. Kitscoty RCMP, with assistance from Vermilion Detachment, Vermilion Traffic Unit, EAD Crime Reduction Unit and St Paul Police Dog Service, were able to locate and apprehend all three individuals. As a result of the investigation, Skye Martin (29), of Paradise Valley, Corinne Chaisson (23), of Wainwright and Steven Brazeau (31), of Slave Lake, were charged with various offences including robbery with a firearm, assault with a weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle. Chaisson was subsequently released on bail with her next court appearance set for Oct. 20, 2022, at Wainwright Provincial Court. Martin was remanded in custody with her next court date set for Sept. 27, 2022, at Lloydminster Provincial Court. Brazeau was remanded in custody with his next court appearance set for Oct. 6, 2022, at Wainwright Provincial Court. It’s not too late to give your business a BOOST by participating in the Business Profile Magazine L CAL Buslnesses in East Central Alberta Get to Know Us Better: Community Automotive Services • Energy & Oilfield Services R REVIEW East Central Alberta R R B Section Business Profile 2022 East Central Alberta Review Farming Services • Retail & Professional Services & So Much More Here is your chance to promote your business to over 28,000 homes in east central Alberta. Judy cell 403-740-2492 Sheree 587-990-4818 marketing@ECAreview.com contact@ECAreview.com Yvonne 403-575-9474 advertise@ECAreview.com DEADLINE: Fri. Oct. 14
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ECA Review - 2022-09-29

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