This statement is supposed to have originated years ago with American statesman Adlai Stevenson. Stevenson was the United States ambassador to the United Nations between 1961-65, when he died. The statement was used to describe Stevenson in some quarters. We use it here on Mark Carney, because it seems to fit Carney quite well:
“Mark Carney is the kind of guy who will cut down the biggest tree in the forest. Then climb up on the stump to talk about how many jobs he created processing the wood, how he helped the economy, how he improved the view by clearing the area, how he made room to build new homes, and then finish by giving another speech on how much he is doing for the environment and conservation.”
Sounds about right for Carney.
Although we should be paying lots of attention to Mark Carney, let’s not forget our favourite fellow down south. Who, by the way, just a few months ago, we were very happy to see him drive the Democrat Party (the equivalent of our Liberals here in Canada) into hysterics and hopefully one of these days, them and their wack ideas, into complete oblivion.
But then, it turns out, Trump is maybe going a bit overboard in his treatment of allies like, ummm, Canada and Mexico and the rest of the world. Seventy-five years ago, over Trump’s seeming love of Russia, he would have been tossed in prison. Today? His love affair with Putin is quite a jaw-dropper, isn’t it?
Once upon a time, Winston Churchill had his own strong critics. He was called rash, impetuous, tactless, contentious, inconsistent, unsound, and an amusing celebrity who was constantly out of step.
One member of the British parliament is reported to say to one of his critics, even as he was a supporter of Churchill, “We really don’t know what to make of him.”
The critic, a person named Lady Astor, smiled and said, “How about a rug?”
As has also been said, “History may not repeat itself. But it certainly rhymes.”
As Albertans well know, one can never tell what the future will bring when it comes to spring weather.
So of course, spring had already arrived a couple weeks ago. Almost shirt sleeves and shorts if you were out in the sun. March winds almost blowing you off the sidewalk if you were walking. Not quite ‘time for the birds to come north’ weather but darn close.
And then last week and this, here comes winter again! Well, just for a few days!
The saying goes, “March winds and April showers, bring the flowers that bloom in May.” We always say “April winds and May showers.” We’ve never figured out what comes next. But it does seem like springs are getting cooler and more dragged out. But fall is getting warmer, and also more dragged out too.
The MLA for Lesser Slave Lake, Scott Sinclair, is getting push back from UCP party members across Alberta. Even here in the north!
It sounds like the party members are saying Sinclair is not appreciative of all the wonderful doings of the UCP. And gosh darn, what the heck, just look at this long list of all the great things we are doing right here in rural Alberta!
This misses the point. Anybody paying attention knows what rural, and northern Alberta, is “getting” in the way of roads, bridges, hospitals, and, hmmm, day cares?
The point Sinclair is trying to make, how does that compare to what centres like Edmonton and Calgary, and bedroom communities around them, are getting?
And in fact, many of those bedroom communities are crying themselves for crikey’s sake. Although it has to be said, they are crying because they “can’t afford” to build water and sewer and roads for another 1,000 new houses. The north is crying because they can only wish they had such problems.
And even more to the point, where does the money to pay for all those cities and their needs come from? And the food? That’s correct! Rural Alberta!
It’s also a sad situation when rural MLAs like Dan Williams or Scott Sinclair have citizens having to drive three or four hours, one way, to get medical care. Or even to talk to them in person. In cities, it’s a step across the street. Or a five-minute ride on a bus or LRT. Or the same to drive.
We love northern Alberta. So do most of us who live here. That doesn’t mean we are happy being treated like second or third class citizens. Or are happy when reduced to thinking having a Costco or a Wal-Mart is the best thing ever, instead of great schools and hospitals and clean water.
Our annual trip to the Edmonton Boat and Sportsman Show the March 22 weekend was, once again, the best thing since a bottom bouncer replaced a Five of Diamonds or a Red Devil. Or even a plastic jig.
This year was just about the busiest we have seen in the past 35 or so years. And definitely the busiest since Covid actually shut down the show a few years ago. It’s been a long, slow recovery.
We have coming stories on the show for this newspaper and our online websites. We have photos of many of our northern Alberta exhibitors. These are mostly tourist operators or organizations but a few entrepreneurs, like the Crabbie Goat Distillery folks in Valleyview.
Unlike past years, all huge halls in Northlands or as it is now called, the Expo Centre, were in use. Boats? Of course! Wall to wall and elbow to elbow!
Most interesting, besides the $750,000 Nautiques and the $20 wakeboards, was that nobody knows what Donald Trump’s tariffs are going to mean to the recreation industry. Higher prices or the same for boats? ATV? Trailers? All products?
Maybe 25 per cent more this week? Maybe another pause?
Anyway, a great show! Coming up in High Prairie is the Gun and Sportsman Show in April and the Peace River renamed Northern Connections Show from the old Peace River Trade Show name at the same time. Put them both on your calendar.
Have a great week!