All Stories

Joe McWilliams “June is the best month,” I wrote in this space several years ago. I’m not sure what I was thinking. It’s certainly the best if you don’t like sleeping. Because with the sun coming up at 4 a.m.,…
· by ·

Jeff Burgar “I’m entitled to my entitlements.” So famously said David Dingwall when questioned by a parliamentary committee investigating a severance package he got for quitting his government job. The incident came to mind when Big Lakes County councillors voted…
· by ·

Richard Froese Another school year will soon come to an end as high school graduates pursue a new stage in their life. Graduates are usually in the spotlight in May and June when schools, families and communities celebrate the young…
· by ·

Jeff Burgar Money, money, money. That’s all it takes to make the world sit right. Following in the footsteps of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his mostly welcomed wheelbarrows of cash is popular. Our own Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is…
· by ·

Jeff Burgar We don’t usually say “oldtimers,” “geezers” or “geezettes” or other titles that indicate, in a sort of condescending tone, their advanced years. These days, it’s something like “seniors” or “elders.” But a polite name doesn’t mean they automatically…
· by ·

Alberta is going through real hardship right now. Unfortunately, many of the problems Albertans are facing today have been made worse by political decisions made by the Government of Alberta. Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced dramatic changes on our communities,…
· by ·

Jeff Burgar “The whole system was designed to produce quality products at the most reasonable cost possible. So you don’t go and add a lot of extra cost to go handle a once-in-a-100 year situation.” So says Steve Meyer, an…
· by ·

Pearl Lorentzen On May 13, the Alberta government announced a royalty rate for helium because of “soaring helium interest.” In the not so distant past, oil was in demand. Years earlier, coal was the hot ticket item. Now, it might…
· by ·

Jeff Burgar By some reports, 70 per cent of all cattle processed in Canada goes through one of the two plants in Lethbridge or Brooks. The Cargill Lethbridge plant alone was putting through 4,500 animals each day. COVID-19 troubles at…
· by ·

Chris Clegg Day after day during her news conferences, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, likes to say, “We’re all in this together.” Medically speaking, yes. Economically, no! A big fat no! I find it insulting that…
· by ·

This pandemic is leading us in many new and surprising directions. Last week, I called someone I hadn’t spoken to in perhaps 25 years. She had been my “best friend” in high school, and we had roomed together during our…
· by · 1

Jeff Burgar People used to actually volunteer to be at the top of local governments. Heck, they basically even “volunteered” to run for office to be a Member of the Legislature. Payment for going to meetings and looking after things…
· by ·

Jeff Burgar On the surface, based on what little facts we have, Albertans should be absolutely disgusted with ongoing, and also recent, activities of Alberta Health Services. It is more than just the handling of COVID-19 hotspots, like the Manoir…
· by ·