Sunday afternoon grab-bag

Yes, we realize we should be outside with the rest of Edmonton enjoying this glorious July day instead being cloistered in a stuffy library reading stale Alberta-related news stories of questionable relevance. And yes, we realize that most of you aren't pasty mutants like us and probably won't read this until tomorrow anyway. Neither of that is of concern to the AGRDT team.

With that out of the way:

1. "Alberta envy" is on the rise, according to this story in the Calgary Herald (h/t Grandinite) that interviews the three premiers preceding Stelmach (Lougheed, Getty, Klein; listed in order of chronology and exponentially descending competence) to get their opinions on the matter. The piece in itself is largely short on insights, but has a telling passage at the end, when the former premiers are each asked what they think should be done to deal with this "Alberta envy."

Lougheed argued Alberta must extend the olive branch to the rest of Canada...

"The more you can come up with some pro-Canadian initiatives," Lougheed said, "the more the people understand what we're trying to do is be positive about Canada and not selfish about Alberta."

Klein doesn't necessarily agree with that approach.

He said the government should get out of the business of being in business and shouldn't be too worried about launching projects that appease other provinces.

The contrast of those quotes is, to me, a pretty good metaphor for the festering and decay of the once vital, creative, and outward-looking PC party into it's current putrid and depleted state. The PC party of the mid-70s is a party I would support, and is, I think, the party that David Swann, Joe Anglin, and everyone else attending Democratic Renewal Town Hall meetings wants (and needs) to create.

2. Crime in almost every category is down across Canada, according to this CBC story. The categories in which there weren't drops? "Drug offenses," thanks to "an increase in arrests for cannabis possession," and impaired driving, which rose 3% nationally "largely because of a 19 per cent surge in Alberta."   

Yes, this could have very likely have been because of an increase in enforcement measures within the province, which would be a good thing. But is anyone else starting to dread the release of any kind of statistical study comparing the provinces in which Alberta will invariably be at the bottom, unless it's about money, pollution, or knife crime, in which case we'll be right at the top? Why can't we ever be, like, 6th place on something?

3. I've got a beef with Edmonton mainstay the Sugarbowl on 87th ave. For those of you who haven't been, they have an extensive beer list, tasty eats, friendly staff, good music, and some of the best restaurant/cafe/lounge space in the city. My problem: the coffee is brutal. Dear Sugarbowl: please improve your coffee.   

Comments

[Lexington]

You can always count on the Calgary Herald for another feel good story about how Alberta is God's green acre. The propagandistic subtext of course is that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sure, we have the highest inflation rate in the country, but that's ok, cause we're all filthy rich. Skyrocketing rents? Rental housing is just a cesspool for transient Eastern scum anyway. Oilsand development destroying a boreal forest the size of Florida? Don't worry, there will still be plenty of useless forest left.

We are so blessed in fact that the rest of Canada longs to break free of the shackles of their socialistic oppressors and flee to the one place in Canada where being a right wing loon means you're in the political "mainstream". I have to say I personally haven't noticed this "envy" thing among my non Albertan friends, but I bet they just hide it really well. Three former Conservative premiers can't be wrong.

Anyway, if God didn't love red meat conservatism he wouldn't have given us all that oil-like stuff, would he?

Suck on that you destitute, welfare queen coddling pinkos in Toronto!

[daveberta]

I actually like the SugarBowl coffee.

Also, I believe it does have the best beer selection in the city...

[jk]

Lexington: I think that's probably the best comment we've ever received in the short history of this blog.

Dave: I find it watery. But we should probably stop talking about this, lest a tory read this and construe it as evidence of our "latte-sipping" tendencies.

[eh]

Wow, I was just going to recommend you drink their espresso-based beverages instead, as they are enjoyable...never mind, I guess.

[daveberta]

I quite enjoy lattes.

I will try one of their espresso-based bevy's when I'm there later this week.

[Aaron]

please improve your coffee

Yeah, the coffee's not bad, but have you tried the Euro? It's very good, especially with some bread pudding.