LETHBRIDGE HERALD – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

The ongoing battle of property rights is Fabian Society ploy or conspiracy. The Fabian Society is an organization founded in England in 1884 to spread socialist principles gradually by peaceful means.  Democracy is entrenched in the ownership of property. It is the very backbone of its existence.  The 1960 Bill of Rights, a federal document, provides a legally acceptable summary of the law of property in all provinces. Some 100 sections of the Criminal Code deal with “offences against rights of property.”  MP Jim Hillyer, in a recent mailout, stated four laws — Bills 19, 24, 36 and 50 — allow Cabinet almost unlimited authority.  I would suggest the Alberta government abide by the Trespass Act in the Criminal Code, a federal statute which is a legal statute.  “Any law enacted by either federal or provincial governments that comes into direct conflict with any existing law, that new law must be set aside,” by law.  The last paragraph of the Constitution or the B.N.A. Act states “forever and always, and can only be changed by the will of the people.”  Pierre Trudeau’s Charter of Rights, an agreement by nine men, without the authority and without debate in the provincial legislatures or our Parliament, none of them had been authorized by even an election to do what they did. We never authorized them, nor did we ratify it and it has no legal basis according to British law.  In reality, socialism, theory and philosophy only exist in the parameters and confines of our universities and don’t work in the real world.  Apparently there are three principles that can’t be taught — wisdom, intelligence and common sense. Any individual with at least one of these mindsets knows that socialism doesn’t work or won’t work as there is no incentive to produce. Socialism is not driven by politics, but is about power and control. It is driven by emotions, the three that control the human mind — greed, hate and jealousy. And, of course, “share everything I ain’t got.”  Any country that is under socialism or communism is trying to get out, yet we have an incessant battle mainly in our universities, who peddle this crap. You drink our milk and honey, enjoy the rights and freedoms of a democracy, are paid five times more than in a socialist country and you want to take away our bread and gravy. Get a job in the real world and get a life.
Dean Oseen
Lethbridge

94.1 CJOC

Monday, September 15th 2014 14:41

Changes in the Alberta Cabinet. New Premier Jim Prentice has announced his new inner circle and Greg Weadick is not on that list, out as Municipal Affairs Minister.

Lethbridge West MLA Greg Weadick is no longer an Alberta Cabinet Minister. New Premier Jim Prentice announced his inner circle Monday (Sept. 15). Weadick, who’s been holding down the Municipal Affairs portfolio, is being replaced by Diana McQueen. Weadick tells CJOC News that decision was made by the Premier. He says it was a bit of a let down for him to not have someone in Cabinet from south of Calgary. Only a few members of the previous cabinet remain in the inner circle, including Ric McIver, who will be the Provincial Jobs Minister. Weadick says regardless of being in Cabinet or not, he will continue to work hard to represent the interests of people in Lethbridge. – Pat Siedlecki

New Alberta Cabinet Positions:

Jim Prentice
Premier, President of Executive Council, Chair of Agenda and Priorities, International and Intergovernmental Relations, Aboriginal Relations

 Robin Campbell
Finance, President of Treasury Board

Stephen Mandel
Health

Diana McQueen
Municipal Affairs, Government House Leader

Frank Oberle
Energy, Deputy Government House Leader

Gordon Dirks
Education

Manmeet Bhullar
Infrastructure

Verlyn Olson
Agriculture and Rural Development

Heather Klimchuk
Human Services

Kyle Fawcett
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development

Jonathan Denis
Justice and Solicitor General, Deputy Government House Leader

Jeff Johnson
Seniors

Don Scott
Innovation and Advanced Education, Deputy Government House Leader

Maureen Kubinec
Culture and Tourism

Wayne Drysdale
Transportation

Stephen Khan
Service Alberta

Ric McIver
Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour

Teresa Woo-Paw
Associate Minister of Asia Pacific Relations (Reporting to the Premier)

Naresh Bhardwaj
Associate Minister of Persons with Disabilities

(Reporting to the Minister of Human Services)

David Dorward
Associate Minister of Aboriginal Relations (Reporting to the Premier)

Mountain View Gazette

News/Opinion/Letters

In an attempt to justify the takeover by foreign company Berkshire Hathaway, a senior executive of AltaLink stated that “While billions of dollars of investment have been required in AltaLink to keep pace with Alberta’s growth, none of this investment has added any debt to the government of Alberta’s balance sheet.”

He neglected to point out that these billions of dollars were paid by the customers through the transmission charges included in their monthly electricity bills.

The transmission of electricity is a monopoly; there are no other lines that the customer can choose to use. Since customers are being charged for the capital cost of the lines, they should own the lines.

The Alberta government should enact the Alberta Energy Cooperative Act, which would transfer the ownership of AltaLink to the Alberta Energy Cooperative (AEC) after paying SNC Lavalin the amount they paid for the company, that is, $800 million, not the $3.2 billion Berkshire Hathaway has offered to pay.

Customers would own AEC. Payment to SNC Lavalin would be accommodated by a low-interest loan from the Alberta Treasury Branch. The loan would be paid by the transmission charges that are currently being billed to the customers.

The Alberta government should postpone a decision on whether or not this foreign takeover should be approved until after the next provincial election. The proposed takeover should be debated during the election campaign and possibly a referendum on ownership options for Alberta’s electricity transmission system could be held along with the election.

Len Skowronski

Leader, Alberta Social Credit Party

September 15, 2014 Updated : September 15, 2014 | 2:50 pm

By Staff The Canadian Press

September 15, 2014

By Staff The Canadian Press

EDMONTON – Alberta is to officially get a new premier today.

Jim Prentice is to be sworn in as the 16th leader of the province this afternoon by Alberta’s lieutenant governor during a ceremony at Government House in Edmonton.

His cabinet members, whose names have yet to be revealed, will also be sworn in.

Dave Hancock has been premier since Alison Redford stepped down in March.

Prentice says his priority is to clean up the scandals of the Redford era and get Alberta back on track.

Alberta is about 16 months away from its next legislated election, which must be held in the spring of 2016.

Lethbridge Herald

By Letter to the Editor on August 25, 2014.

In an attempt to justify the takeover by foreign company, Berkshire Hathaway, a senior executive of AltaLink stated that “While billions of dollars of investment have been required in AltaLink to keep pace with Alberta’s growth, none of this investment has added any debt to the government of Alberta’s balance sheet.” He neglected to point out that these billions of dollars were paid by the customers through the transmission charges included in their monthly electricity bills.

The transmission of electricity is a monopoly; there are no other lines that the customer can choose to use. Since customers are being charged for the capital cost of the lines, they should own the lines. The Alberta Government should enact the Alberta Energy Co-operative Act, which would transfer the ownership of AltaLink to the Alberta Energy Co-operative (AEC) after paying SNC Lavalin the amount they paid for the company, that is, $800 million, not the $3.2 billion Berkshire Hathaway has offered to pay. Customers would own AEC. Payment to SNC Lavalin would be accommodated by a low-interest loan from the Alberta Treasury Branch. The loan would be paid by the transmission charges that are currently being billed to the customers.

The Alberta Government should postpone a decision on whether or not this foreign takeover should be approved until after the next provincial election. The proposed takeover should be debated during the election campaign and possibly a referendum on ownership options for Alberta’s electricity transmission system could be held along with the election.

Len Skowronski

Leader, Alberta Social Credit Party

Calgary

Written by Jessica Hallam

on Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Premier Dave Hancock kicked off his press conference Tuesday with a sweeping apology for former premier Alison Redford’s inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

“I want to start by apologizing to Albertans on behalf of our government,” he said from the Alberta legislature’s media room. “There has been lots of talk about who’s responsible, who’s to blame, who’s accountable … There’s no question that Albertans feel let down by their government, and that means all of us. As elected members of our government, it’s our responsibility to rebuild the trust that we’ve rightly lost, and stand up and say, ‘We are accountable.'”

It was the first time Hancock spoke publicly about the findings presented in the Alberta’s auditor general’s scathing report, released nearly two weeks ago, which details Redford’s misuse of public resources.

“Each of us knows the rules and it’s up to each of us to make sure we’re adhering to those rules at all times,” said the interim premier.

Hancock said the Alberta PCs plan to rebuild the public’s trust by following the recommendations laid out in the auditor general’s report by clarifying internal policies and providing more oversight on travel spending.

HORNER

Treasury Board President and Minister of Finance Doug Horner also spoke at the presser, providing an update on policy changes enacted so far.

“Today’s changes will increase accountability,” he said.

Horner said the Treasury Board Committee will keep a closer eye on the premier office’s expenses and implement a number of aircraft-related policies immediately.

“Invited guests must now be pre-approved by the minister responsible for the government airplanes,” said Horner, referring to himself. “The request must show what reasonable government business requirement is being met. If the invited guest is a family member, it must be shown that they have been invited to attend the government meeting or function.”

As well, Horner said all requests for use of government aircraft must identify commercial options, their approximate price and other logistical information to justify their request.

“The fleet will continue to be grounded for all out-of-province travel,” said Horner. “Our new premier can consider whether out-of-province travel is warranted.”

As well, Horner said the government will provide quarterly updates to Albertans on the cost of flights on top of their regular monthly report of manifests.

The press conference was followed up with Hancock taking part in the ice bucket challenge on the steps of the legislature. – See more at: http://okotoksonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25309&Itemid=33350#sthash.36lkQ7ne.dpuf