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Alberta Diary

David Climenhaga, author of the Alberta Diary blog, is a journalist, author, journalism teacher, poet and trade union communicator who has worked in senior writing and editing positions with the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald. His 1995 book, A Poke in the Public Eye, explores the relationships among Canadian journalists, public relations people and politicians. He left journalism after the strike at the Calgary Herald in 1999 and 2000 to work for the trade union movement. Alberta Diary focuses on Alberta politics and social issues.

Blog - Alberta Diary November 27
Premier Jason Kenney at a news briefing. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Kenney government spins premier's meddling in pandemic response as tale of betrayal by leaker
David J. Climenhaga | CBC scoop shows how Alberta pandemic response has been guided more by political pressure and right-wing ideology than science and expert advice. A witch-hunt for the leaker will be launched.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 26
Former Alberta politician and envoy to Washington D.C. Gary Mar in 2018. Image: David J. Climenhaga
Veteran Alberta politician says likely only Trudeau can save Jason Kenney's Keystone XL pipe-dream
David J. Climenhaga | If incoming U.S. president Joe Biden nixes Keystone XL, as is widely expected, Alberta will be out billions and Kenney will be left with egg on his face.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 25
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Alberta replaces half-measures with slightly tougher half-measures to fight pandemic
David J. Climenhaga | Public health policy in Alberta appears to be guided by business lobby groups, not the chief medical officer of health.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 24
Retiring Alberta Liberal leader David Khan. Image: David J. Climenhaga
Two bright lights in Alberta politics announce their departure
David J. Climenhaga | Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan, 46, announced his departure on Sunday. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, 42, announced his yesterday morning.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 23
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Jason Kenney missing in action as Alberta's COVID cases soar
David J. Climenhaga | Alberta is in the midst of a pandemic emergency that grows more frightening by the day, but it's been days since the public has seen or heard from the premier.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 20
Miranda Rosin at a press conference earlier this month. Image: Miranda Rosin/Facebook
As Alberta's COVID-19 cases soar, MLA tells constituents pandemic is behind us
David J. Climenhaga | The United Conservative Party might be trying out a new talking point, with MLA Miranda Rosin's constituents as a focus group.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 19
AIMCo CEO Kevin Uebelein. Image: Screenshot of Legislative Assembly of Alberta video
Alberta Investment Management Corp. CEO who oversaw $2.1-billion loss leaves role
David J. Climenhaga | Did Kevin Uebelein jump or was he shoved? Albertans can be confident they'll never get a straight answer about why the pension executive chose this week to announce his departure.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 18
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole in Parliament. Image: Erin O'Toole/Facebook
Canada's progressive politicians need to pay attention to Erin O'Toole's pivot to unions
David J. Climenhaga | As prime minister, it's unlikely that Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole would be union friendly. That doesn't mean progressive politicians should assume union votes are theirs.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 17
Kenney in July. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Alberta's deadliest COVID day shows province has relied on good luck, not good management
David J. Climenhaga | Sunday was Alberta's deadliest pandemic day to date. Twenty people died from COVID-19, and the province recorded 860 new cases.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 16
University of Alberta campus in 2013. Image: IQRemix/Flickr
Corporate lobbyist and former Conservative aide appointed to University of Alberta post
David J. Climenhaga | The university leadership likely concluded that lobbyist Elan MacDonald has the connections necessary to work with Premier Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party government.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 13
Kenney at a press briefing in October. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Jason Kenney ignores doctors' calls for mandatory measures to curb COVID spread
David J. Climenhaga | The pandemic is quickly getting worse in Alberta with 860 new daily cases, 225 people in hospital including 51 in intensive care, and the province's ICU wards said to be overcapacity.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 12
Trump at a rally in October. Image: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
How long until Canadian Conservatives follow their American counterparts in abandoning democracy?
David J. Climenhaga | The Conservative Party of Canada and the Republican party in the United States increasingly resemble each other in disturbing ways.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 12
The Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary. Image: Twitter/Alberta University of the Arts
Alberta arbitration panel rejects pay cut for public college staff, orders raise instead
David J. Climenhaga | The panel rejected an employer demand for a two-per-cent pay roll-back, and instead ordered that non-academic staff at eight institutions receive a one per cent pay increase.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 9
U.S. Capitol building. Image: Andy Feliciotti/Unsplash
American election shows U.S. Senate should be abolished, not replicated in Canada
David J. Climenhaga | A U.S.-style senate in Canada would likely forge a permanent and undemocratic edge for social conservative and neoliberal parties based on support from underpopulated rural regions.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 6
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health during yesterday's daily COVID-19 briefing. Image: Screenshot of YourAlberta video/YouTube
Alberta Health Services says most COVID patients must notify close contacts themselves
David Climenhaga | Only three categories of close contacts will now be notified by provincial health officials: health-care workers, children (whose parents will be informed) and people in communal facilities.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 5
Athabasca University president Neil Fassina. Image: David J. Climenhaga
'Poster boy' of Alberta government's post-secondary education overhaul moving to B.C.
David J. Climenhaga | Neil Fassina is about to leave his job as president of Athabasca University to lead Okanagan College in Kelowna, B.C.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 4
President Trump addresses supporters on election night. Image: Screenshot of Donald J. Trump video/Facebook
With votes yet to be counted, U.S. President Donald Trump prematurely declares election victory
David J. Climenhaga | If what is happening in the United States were taking place in another country, the American establishment would likely be denouncing the behaviour of President Trump as that of a tyrant.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 3
Jason Kenney responds to journalist Emma Graney's question at yesterday's news conference. Image: Screenshot of Government of Alberta video/YouTube
Alberta government's excuse for blocking federal COVID tracing app changes again
David J. Climenhaga | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with an Edmonton radio station Friday to urge the province to adopt the federal app, and stated that the United Conservative Party government was blocking its use.
Blog - Alberta Diary November 3
The White House. Image: David J. Climenhaga​
A message to American voters from a concerned Canadian
David J. Climenhaga | "If you haven't done it already, you know what you need to do today, for the sake of your Republic, our Dominion, and the rest of the planet as well. To wit: Vote!"
Blog - Alberta Diary November 2
The ad pictured on a Vancouver bus. Image: Garnett Genuis/Twitter
Alberta MP accused of sponsoring anti-abortion messaging in Vancouver bus ads
David J. Climenhaga | Conservative MP Garnett Genuis said his supporters crowdfunded the ads appearing on buses in Vancouver, and insists they're not attacking reproductive rights.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 30
Well-known earth scientist David Hughes. Image: David J. Climenhaga
Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will result in losses on oil exports, scientist finds
David J. Climenhaga | David Hughes concludes in a new study that if TMX is completed, it will result in a loss of at least US$4 per barrel shipped to Asia by that route.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 29
Image: Paul Lowry/Flickr
Alberta inquiry into 'foreign-funded' environmentalists gets another extension
David J. Climenhaga | Commissioner Steve Allan still hasn't managed to unearth any foreign funders of "anti-energy" campaigns.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 28
Image: Jeff Wallace/Flickr
Conservative propaganda about Pierre Trudeau's energy policy has become the dominant narrative
David J. Climenhaga | The National Energy Program was intended to ensure Canadian oil security, increase Canadian ownership of the resource, and capture for all Canadians some of the huge windfall increases in oil revenue.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 26
The message on the author's COVID Alert smartphone app, and yours too if you live in Alberta. Image: David J. Climenhaga
It's time to activate the federal 'COVID Alert' app in Alberta
David J. Climenhaga | COVID Alert can be turned on in Alberta immediately without waiting for the provincial government to solve the technical issues with its own failed app, which it has walked away from anyway.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 23
Premier Jason Kenney pictured on October 16, 2020. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Isolated Premier Jason Kenney blows off criticism of his government's approach to COVID-19 restrictions
David J. Climenhaga | New COVID-19 cases are soaring in Alberta, on Wednesday passing 400 for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 22
Premier Jason Kenney at the opening of the Mazak Edmonton Technical Centre on October 21, 2020. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Jason Kenney's handpicked advisors call for mention of residential schools to be erased from primary grades curriculum
David J. Climenhaga | Erasing mention of residential schools from curriculum "will perpetuate systemic racism," the Alberta Teachers Association's Indigenous education officer says.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 21
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. Image: David J. Climenhaga​
Jason Kenney's Alberta government launches ambitious legislative session with no time for COVID-19
David J. Climenhaga | The Alberta government is cramming up to 20 bills into the six-week legislative sitting.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 20
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney at a press conference on October 16, 2020. Image: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney emphasizes 'personal responsibility' as COVID second wave hits province
David J. Climenhaga | Alberta has now passed a significant milestone -- more COVID-19 cases than at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in the spring.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 19
Jason Kenney and Erin O'Toole converse at the UCP's virtual 2020 AGM. Image: United Conservative Party/Twitter
Jason Kenney admits Alberta must be seen to be taking climate action to secure bank loans for oil and gas projects
David J. Climenhaga | In an online Q&A, Kenney admitted that governments like his are going to have to be seen to be taking action on the environment if they expect bankers to loan any money to the oil and gas industry.
Blog - Alberta Diary October 16
Jason Kenney touting his staff's seven-per-cent pay cut during a press conference on October 15, 2020. Image: Jason Kenney/Screenshot of Twitter video
United Conservative Party government staffers to take pay cut as Alberta's health-care services plunged into chaos
David J. Climenhaga | The cuts will hit political staff working for the government of Alberta, including press secretaries, chiefs of staff, junior policy advisors and other staffers in the premier's office.

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