April 1, 2025

I was quite disappointed and very unimpressed with a letter which Rob Hill wrote in the March 25 edition of this paper.  I have one question for you, Mr. Hill. Which job are you saying that Mark Carney is applying for? All of  his experience, which is impressive, is perfect if he was applying to be the finance minister.

If he wants to continue being the prime minister of Canada, he better show that he can lead our country through these difficult times for the next four years. Mr. Hill, you wrote, “He could literally get any job he wanted in financial circles anywhere in the world,” a quote by Don Drummond, a former TD Bank chief economist who also said, “Carney is a giant on the international front.”

My second question is how can the role of prime minister and the role of financial advisor be the same? May I remind you that Carney has no experience as a political person. Will you hire the bookkeeper of a company as the CEO of a company? The Liberals might have been fooled into voting this man with only 150,000 of the 400,000 possible voters within the Liberal membership. Does this bother you that something is going on behind the scenes? Your reasoning for why Carney is the perfect selection in my view is out to lunch along with the rest of the Liberal party who placed this man at the helm of their sinking ship.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose
 

April 1, 2025

Thank you, Mr. Hoff, for your thought provoking take on the election of Mark Carney to the position of Canada’s 24th prime minister and for voicing your concerns about the future of our country.

It is unclear what you mean exactly by “woke ideologies” of French Canadians and the Great Lakes hub threatening western Canada. I have never fully understood the meaning of the word woke, nor how the word itself has come to be used so pejoratively by so many people. I did some digging and have learned that woke has its origins in early to mid-century US vocabulary among Black Americans, referring specifically to racial discrimination. UBC political science professor of race, ethnicity and politics, Dr. Terri Givens explains that woke originated as a term of vigilance. Growing up black in Spokane, Washington, Dr. Givens explains that woke meant “we need to wake up to the fact that discrimination is happening to us.” Unfortunately, the term has since become a “blunt instrument of the right.” Woke is now used mockingly when referring to broader social issues such as sexism, poverty, white supremacy and challenges facing LGBTQ people, to name a few (www.cbc.ca/news).

Are these the woke ideologies that you are referring to, Mr. Hoff? I would be more concerned about the enthusiastic endorsement of Trump’s hate-filled, anti-woke ideologies by Alberta’s premier, and the leader of the CPC. These are the real threats to the future of Canada. Elbows up, Mr. Hoff.

Janet McGeer,
Camrose

April 1, 2025

According to the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, “carnage” is “the killing of many people, animals, usually with much bloodshed.” The letter does not explain why such a cruel and ridiculously inappropriate adjective should be applied to our new prime minister.

The letter claims that while Mark Carney was governor of the Bank of England (2013-20), the value of the British pound (vs. the US dollar) fell from 1.55 to 1.30, a drop of 30 per cent. No. A drop of 0.25 from 1.55 is 16 per cent, about half of what the letter claims.

The letter claims that when Carney became governor of the Bank of Canada (2008), the Canadian dollar was about on par with the US dollar, but when he left the Bank of Canada (2013) the Canadian dollar had shrunk to about 0.70. According to xe.com, the Canadian and US dollars were about on par during the whole time Carney was governor of the Bank of Canada [with the exception of time of the financial crisis (2008-09)].

Currency exchange rates are set by supply and demand.  The money market is a whimsical, but potentially high-stakes, game played by rich people who could be doing much more socially useful and beneficial things with their money. The Bank of Canada/Bank of England/etc. takes actions, including providing information, that attempt to influence–but do not determine–the relative strength of its country’s currency. As the letter indicated, the currency exchange rate cannot be said to be the result of the bank’s, or its governor’s, actions. The slight decline of the value of the British pound occurred primarily during the economic upheaval caused by Brexit and may well have been minimized by bank governor Carney.

John Olson,
Camrose

April 1, 2025

Imagine you as being the person to diligently save up a down payment for a home, or using your retirement savings to methodically search for and choose a quiet residential-zoned neighbourhood in a residential park-like area of the City of Camrose for your next stage of life. Now imagine the day when the City notifies you with their intent to rezone the desirable and peaceful area you call home to allow multiple Atco-style trailers to be moved into your neighbourhood for up to a ten-year period.

Such is the case for many people/families in their chosen Elizabeth Heights Park area of Camrose. Now, think of the vehicle impact to you and your neighbours with student drop-offs/pickups by students and from staff who use vehicles daily. (Please note that your own prized neighbourhood could be equally chosen for rezoning from Parks and Recreation District to an Industrial District). Can you see how your property would be less desirable for resale, or everyday living?

CSCN is poised to move multiple trailers into the Elizabeth Heights Park residential area of Camrose during summer 2025, from Sherwood Park, for the purposes of their temporary school. These trailers would remain in place until funding can be successfully sourced to build a permanent school; location and timeline uncertain.

This rezoning of this area (or any other area of the City) does not stop at the prospect of oilfield style, industrial-looking trailers, dozens of students and usual school-day traffic. Post rezoning of this area, or potentially yours if Elizabeth Heights Park doesn’t become the approved “home” for this initiative, opens the door for a place for slurpies, a pub on the corner, another pizza place or, as a current Camrose resident, use your own imagination and insert other future possibilities here.

I contest that the onus should be on City council and administration to allow this school to be situated on land already zoned for such an initiative.

If you agree with logic, or want to support logic, protect your own residential neighbourhood from being rezoned for CSCN’s ambition, or simply feel the need to learn more yourself on this matter, please attend the information session at City Hall at 5 p.m. on April 7. Or call any Camrose council member. The clock is ticking on this important community matter.

Richard Riexinger,
Camrose 

March 25, 2025

I am not a member or supporter of any of the major political parties. I don’t like any of them. However, I do value intelligent political discussions, as long as they are based on facts. In the March 18 Booster there was a letter that was a rant against “Carnage” Carney and given how far wrong this writer was on solar panels, I thought I should check some facts. It turns out that the writer’s statement that during Carney’s time as governor of the Bank of Canada, the Canadian dollar collapsed is just plain wrong. So I dug further, and discovered that Carney has a pretty impressive resumé. Carney got a scholarship to study economics at Harvard and, even though he was playing on the varsity hockey team, he graduated with high honours, allowing him to get a scholarship to study at Oxford, where he got a Master’s degree and a PhD.

Then his career in the business world skyrocketed.  In 2004, he was named as senior associate deputy minister for the department of Finance Canada, which is an advisory role to the minister of finance, the global financial crisis hit in 2008, he had been in the role of governor of the Bank of Canada since 2007 in the Conservative government of Stephen Harper and, when the financial crisis hit in 2007, he made him governor of the Bank of Canada.

“He’s handled the financial crisis brilliantly,” said Donald Guloien, chief executive officer of Manulife Financial Corp. Chris Ragan, associate professor of economics at McGill University said, “I’m going to give him an A+.”  Carney was named “Central Bank Governor of the Year 2012” by the editors of Euro- money magazine. (Who knew there was such a thing?) During the financial crisis, Carney was named one of Financial Times “Fifty who will frame the way forward.” In May 2011, Reader’s Digest named him “Editor’s Choice for Most Trusted Canadian.” Former TD Bank chief economist Don Drummond said Carney is “a giant on the international front. He could literally get any job he wanted in financial circles anywhere in the world.”

Harper thought so highly of Carney that he asked him to be finance minister. Carney turned Harper down. In 2013, Carney was made governor of the Bank of England, the only foreigner ever to hold that position. There he managed the British economy through the difficult times of Brexit and the beginning of COVID-19.

Rob Hill,
Camrose

March 25, 2025

Dave Gosse wrote a very thoughtful letter which was published in the March 18 edition of this paper. I agree with Mr. Gosse fully what he has written about Mark Carney. I would like to add what he wrote about Mark Carney by writing three questions which I wrote indirectly to the Liberal party through the Edmonton Sun. What sort of mind altering drugs are you on, Carney and are they legal in Canada? My third question is why in heaven’s name does the Liberal party think that Canadians want the same people who advised Trudeau back for another four years? Trump wants him as our leader. After all he wants Canada as a 51st state. Carney has moved his Canadian business from Canada to the United States. Actions do speak louder than words.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

March 25, 2025

A recent letter to your column suggested that if the Liberals are re-elected that many westerners may opt to join the United States. As I watch the government south of our border descend into chaos and autocracy I have to ask “Why?”

I love Canada. I moved from Manitoba to Alberta in the ’70s under Peter Lougheed’s government. I believe that Lougheed loved our country too, but stood firmly for provincial rights. I also believe that Pierre Trudeau had a vision for the country as an economically and energy independent country and bungled negotiations with the province, badly. A man ahead of his time.

That said, this dispute has led to talk of separation in some circles, more recently fueled by social media “bots” funded by foreign interests and amplified by followers. It has also led to extreme partisanship where voters do not always look at the facts but tend to support the political party they always have. Unfortunately, today’s CPC party is nothing like yesterday’s Progressive Conservative Party.

I hope voters will look long and hard at the character of the candidate they vote for. I believe that honesty, decency, showing respect and compassion are all qualities we need in a leader. Party leaders also need to have a long-term vision for our country. We need friends that have our backs so that we can rebuild our military quickly.  We need a plan to stabilize and grow our economy, with new infrastructure and new markets. I also want a leader that will look out for the interests of all Canadians; seniors, the vulnerable, immigrants and indigenous people, the working class as well as the wealthy. Government needs to work for everyone. I want someone willing to work across party lines for the good of our country and in the best interests of us all.

Further observations: Mark Carney has been portrayed as part of Justin Trudeau’s government; he was not. Carney was a financial policy advisor to the Liberals. Advice given is not necessarily advice taken. Why has Pierre Poilievre not gotten his security clearance? What will happen in the event that he becomes our next prime minister and requires security briefings? And why is he not talking to the press? He and his team are selective in who is included at his events and the questions he is asked only come from “friendly” media outlets.

Delphine Doerksen,
Ferintosh

March 25, 2025

Everyone is feeling it now. The gnawing anxiety of an uncertain  future, the abrading dissonance of betrayal, unresolved anger, terminal exhaustion from the whip-sawing and endless parade of talking heads weighing in with their opinions. It’s life during war time.

Let’s be crystal clear. A predatory America has always been expansionist and always will be. They covet what isn’t theirs and if they can, they’ll take it. We’re now living in the rabid, slobbering jaws of a new Manifest Destiny.

Oh, there’s a lot of the blame game of how we painted ourselves into a corner (over-opiated by the easy play), the finger-pointing and airing of the grievances, but thankfully all that becomes meaningless now. A swing and a whiff.

Canada will persist as a sovereign nation and a beacon of light in a very dark world (RIP Alan Kurdi). Our country offers a promise of hope for the dispossessed, persecuted and marginalized. Let’s pull together, put aside our petty differences, keep working on our long-standing problems and sort this out. We have the grit, critical resources and talent to do this, for we must.

Andy Stephen,
Heisler

March 18, 2025

The City of Camrose has given first reading to consider rezoning Elizabeth Heights Park (West of 66th Street and South of 44th Avenue) from Parks and Recreation District to Institutional District to construct a temporary school.

My understanding is that Elizabeth Heights Park will remain designated as municipal reserve. However, there is no guarantee that the zoning will revert back to Parks and Recreation once (or if) the temporary school relocates again. If the park gets redistricted to institutional, it may be subject to other permitted or discretionary uses in the future–assisted living facility, community facility, government services, retail store, utility structure, bar/pub, restaurant to name but a few.

If you, or your family or friends, use this park or enjoy it in any way with the original Parks and Recreation designation, I encourage you to attend a drop-in style open house on Tuesday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Rose City Baptist Church, 6406-44B Avenue, Camrose, to gather more information. (If you are reading this letter after the open house, it’s not too late to voice your opinion.) In addition to attending the open house, consider sending comments via email to legservices@ camrose.ca or by mail: City of Camrose, Legislative Services, 5204-50 Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 0S8, no later than March 31.

I also encourage you to attend the public hearing (in person or virtually) scheduled for April 7 at 5 p.m. at Camrose City Hall, when second and third readings may be considered.

Even if you don’t make use of this particular green space, but you care about any green space in Camrose, consider attending these meetings and/or writing letters to voice your questions and concerns. If rezoning can happen to this park, it could happen to any park.

Carol Green,
Camrose

March 18, 2025

If the ‘pundits’ are correct, our new Prime Minister is Mark “Carnage” Carney, the eco-socialist bank governor. Mr. Carney has had a rather interesting career. Contrary to reports of his “brilliance” as an economic manager, a closer look at his record raises questions.

His five years as Governor of the Bank of Canada (2008-13) culminated with the collapse of the Canadian dollar. When he was appointed, the CAD was hovering around par with the USD, in his final year (2013) it dropped to .93 and continued to drop until it settled around .70 (2015). About a 30 per cent drop in value.

Carnage Carney then moved to the Bank of England (2013-20) where a similar pattern emerged. In 2013 the GBP was around 1.55 USD. By 2020 it had dropped to 1.30, and in 2022 it was at 1.11 USD. About a 30 per cent drop in value.

It would be difficult to prove that Carnage Carney was directly responsible for the collapse of the Canadian dollar and the British pound, but former British PM Liz Truss, who worked closely with Carney for years, thinks he was.

For many years, at least since 2020, Carnage Carney has been an unofficial advisor on economic policy and development to Justin Trudeau. If you are hoping for change, you will not find it here. Like Trudeau, Carnage is a committed globalist, net-zero carbon extremist, and socialist ideologue. If anything, Carnage Carney will live up to his nickname and cause even more damage.

Dave Gosse,
Camrose

March 18, 2025

In response to Dave Gosse’s letter in the February 18th edition of The Camrose Booster: I do agree with Mr. Gosse on one thing: that most traditional Canadian news media is dominated by big corporate interests (besides CBC). The majority are owned by (American) Post Media, while the other major player is Canadian Woodbridge (Thompson family).

Yet the Conservative party and Pierre Poilievre, want to defund the CBC, an organization that is the envy of many countries for its independent journalism. I don’t agree that traditional news media can’t be trusted. Journalists have a code of conduct and facts are facts. Editorials can be slanted, but we always need to be alert for biases.

Most of the younger generation get their news on-line these days and from who knows what sources. And once you start reading publications that slant a particular way, algorithms feed you more of the same. And social media is another factor. American dominated and often hate filled with foreign and domestic “bots” and paid influencers I believe it is the number one threat to our democracy.

Look what has happened in the USA with Elon Musk and X. So, what do we do about it? I have started reading articles on Substack, some from journalists and other pieces by political scientists, politicians and thinkers. One Stack is called “Letter from a Maritimer” and they have posted a very thoughtful read called “Securing the Future of Canada’s Media.” Too long for me to summarize, but it certainly offers some good ideas as well as a call for action. I urge people to read it.

I also don’t agree with Mr. Gosse’s view that Mark Carney is “an agent of globalism.” Let’s face it, we live in a world of international trade. We can’t close our borders and expect to counter Trump’s threats against our businesses, industries and our sovereignty. We can loosen our ties to the USA by boycotting American goods, stop travelling to the States, protect our food and water supply and our farmers, and look to reliable world partners in the UK, the EU, Asia, South and Central America, Australia and NZ. And who is better placed to get us there than Mark Carney? He is an economist and has contacts worldwide. He understands how the corporate world works, where corporations get their power and how to take it away from them.

Delphine Doerksen,
Camrose

March 11, 2025

Everybody knows we are living in an age of disinformation and we need to be alert so we’re not taken in when it comes our way.  The subject of an earlier letter was coal mining, until it went off on a bit of a tangent into climate change denial.

The letter seemed to be about coal mining on the eastern slopes, but referred to the four Teck mine sites on the western slopes in BC and claimed the rivers and valleys were “pristine.”  Not quite. For example: It’s taken the Ktunaxa Nation 12 years to convince the US and Canadian governments to convene the International Joint Commission to look into the pollution (especially selenium and calcite) in the Elk and Kootenay Rivers caused by the mining of coal.

The letter said that renewable energy sources require far more land than coal mining, and claimed that a 2,000-kilowatt solar farm would occupy 80 square kilometres (about 20,000 acres; that’s 80 km x 1 km, or about 9 km x 9 km, not 80 km x 80 km as claimed in the letter!).  But, I’ve got a 332 square foot 5.3-kW solar array on the roof of my house; expand that to 2,000 kW and we’re up to almost three acres (nowhere near 20,000 acres).

Furthermore, renewables, like wind and solar, can be compatible with agriculture; also, the renewable installation stays put, unlike coal extraction, which depletes one area and expands to mine another.  The Elk Valley mines in BC already have a footprint of about 113 square kilometres (as of a few years ago) and are expected to expand beyond that. In Alberta, coal companies have leases to explore, and potentially mine, 1,880 square kilometres of land. The land disturbed for coal exploration and development is immense in comparison to renewables.

The letter’s comments about atmospheric carbon dioxide are so preposterous I don’t really know what to say. Sure, 0.04 per cent doesn’t sound like much, but Earth’s atmosphere is pretty big and there are lots of carbon dioxide molecules to allow the sun’s visible wavelengths in but prevent some of the resulting infrared radiation from leaving, and this causes increasing temperatures. The carbon tax cannot “tax us into poverty” because it is set up to refund the tax to those who cannot afford it; even I, who could afford it, get back, I’m sure, more than I pay.

Everybody knows that “do your [own] research” is a euphemism for “don’t trust/believe science.” I say, if you can’t trust/believe science, who can you trust?

John Olson,
Camrose

March 11, 2025

Danielle Smith promised to fix Alberta Health during her campaign of almost two years ago. That hasn’t gone well.

Albertans have every right to expect their government to fully support public health. However, the UCP uses Alberta taxpayers’ money to sign contracts with private providers. I have heard reports that doctors are moving to private clinics, while operating spaces in hospitals are underused.
Now, the UCP has  fired the entire health board for the second time as well as the CEO. The firing came at a time when the CEO was going to the Board to discuss concerns regarding practices used to secure contracts as well as whether there should be a report to RCMP.

Serious allegations have been brushed off by Danielle Smith and her Minister Adriana LaGrange  who deny any wrongdoing. Premier Smith wants us to believe she had no idea what was going on in Alberta Health Services, in spite of the fact that she was supposed to be fixing it.

The Premier has hired an unnamed private party to investigate complaints. The unnamed party will report to the Premier. This is not appropriate as allegations are directed at the Premier herself.
In the meantime, Peter Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure has stepped down. He raised concerns regarding the Government of Alberta procurement practices across all departments including Alberta Health Services. He recommended that LaGrange step down.

The idea that an unnamed party will investigate and report to Smith is not acceptable. We need a public inquiry to conduct a full investigation and provide full details and transparency to Albertans. In the meantime, Minister LaGrange should step down.

Arlene Hendrickson,
Camrose

March 11, 2025

If the recent polls accurately indicate Canada’s future government, I am forced to consider that Mark Carney may be our next Liberal Party leader.
If the next election proves this to be true, I predict that the western separatist spirit will react with a vengeance.

Once again the French Canadians and the Great Lakes hub will form the majority of government positions and dictate to the west all of their woke ideologies that predictably keep us economically and culturally to having minimal influence nationally.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s references to Canada as the 51st state, might it be possible that western Canada feels a greater kinship to the mid-west and western States than it does to the east. If Trump were to offer us some incentives would we in the west find his ambitions of annexation more palatable.

If the west were to go, would Quebec hold fast to Ontario? Unlikely. Nor would the Atlantic provinces stand by and suffer complete dominance by Ontario. In other words, Canada would be splintered four ways.

My warning to Canadians, especially those in the greater Toronto area, nationalists who wrap themselves in Canadian flags and boo the American anthem, is that if they want Canada to remain as is, they’d best make sure that we elect a Conservative government.

Ken Hoff,
Camrose

February 25, 2025

Regarding Ms. Walker’s concerns about coal mining on the eastern slope of the Rockies, I would like to thank her for raising the issue and commend her concern for the environment.

The eastern slope is beautiful country, I have driven through there dozens of times in the past few years. So is the western slope through the Crowsnest Pass and into Sparwood. The mountains, rivers and forests are wonderful.

From the entrance to the Crowsnest Pass all the way through to Sparwood is coal country. Four huge open pit coal mines employ nearly 5,000 people. The valley and river are pristine. Modern mining and reclamation methods mean we can access resources in a manner that preserves the environment and provides high paying jobs for Canadians.

Consider also the Genesee Power Station and coal mine. The generators have been refitted for natural gas and the mine site has been rehabilitated. Genesee earned the Alberta Chamber of Resources’ 2019 Major Reclamation Award for its comprehensive land reclamation plan, that includes the re-establishment of wetlands and natural creek bodies and the development of wildlife corridors, as well as restoring multiple end-use capabilities similar to those that existed prior to mining.

Compare this relatively minor imposition on the environment with a 2,000 kw solar farm. It would require nearly 80 square kilometres (20,000 acres) for the solar panels. An area that would stretch from Camrose to Edmonton and just as wide. The land cannot be ‘reclaimed’ unless we dismantle the solar farm, it’s a permanent installation.

Finally, despite what you have been told, carbon is not a pollutant. Carbon is the single most essential necessity of life. Without carbon there is no life. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is .04 per cent and has virtually no impact on global temperatures. However, our fear of CO2 has given our government an excuse to tax us into poverty and regulate us into slavery. Rather than encourage development and thousands of high paying jobs they frighten us into submission. Do your research and see for yourself.

Dave Gosse,
Camrose

February 25, 2025

I just wanted to give you guys a big shout out. Firstly, you produce a great local paper, but even in these frigid temperatures, my paper showed up. (Yes, I could read online, but there’s something about sitting down with a paper and a coffee.)

So kudos to your delivery people and staff in general.

You are appreciated.

Mike Enright,
Camrose

February 25, 2025

This letter is about Pierre Poilievre’s directives and it is intended for anyone who has been adversely affected by addiction, or knows someone who has. I imagine this touches a large number of your readers. In view of Mr. Poilievre’s stated approach to fentanyl users, I urge them not to give this man the power to carry out his plan.

In a 2022 article in the National Post, Mr. Poilievre stated that people struggling with addiction belong in treatment, not prison.

Yet more recently, he has referred to safe injection sites as “drug dens” that a conservative government would eliminate.

One way of telling whether a government actually cares for drug abusers is to see their policy regarding saving their lives. Every time a health professional staffing these sites administers a necessary dose of Narcan, that is another life saved to add to the large total number of lives saved in these sites.

You can draw your own conclusions about whether Mr. Poilievre actually does care about these individuals.

Currently, he has stated “that anyone caught trafficking, producing, or exporting over 40 mg of fentanyl” would be classified as a “fentanyl kingpin” and receive a mandatory life sentence in prison. 40 mg is about the size of half an aspirin tablet. An article by Mo Amir in the Feb 11 Tyee (incidentally I urge everyone to read the Tyee) describes the typical drug dose process in the lower East side of Vancouver.

Users often pool their resources to acquire a dose, which is typically about 250 mg. They then distribute parts of this dose amongst users. This practice means that virtually every person using drugs there would be sent to prison on a mandatory life sentence as a fentanyl kingpin because they “dealt” over 40 mg of fentanyl.

This recalls a time when in the USA unbelievably harsh laws were passed by various states between 1956 and 1969. For example, in some states the possession of a narcotic, including marijuana, led to a mandatory sentence of 20 years in jail, with no possibility of parole or probation.

In distinct contrast, in Virginia during this period, the crime of first degree murder carried a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years, and rape was punished by a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

Let me finish by challenging those supporting him to counter this letter and defend this policy.

Tim W. Parker,
Camrose

February 25, 2025

I have watched Danielle Smith’s negativity toward and refusal to even shake hands with Justin Trudeau. She claims her attitude shows strength and that she is standing up for Albertans.

As we  approach threats of tariffs from US President Trump, attention turns to  the TranMountain pipeline first proposed in 2012. Neither Steven Harper nor provincially elected conservative parties (including the UCP), were able to get the project off the ground.

Rachel Notley was roundly criticized by the UCP for negotiating with the Justin Trudeau government to build the Trans-X Pipeline. They claimed she was in his pocket.

It was the Liberal government, investing tax payer money from all Canadians, who bought the pipeline and paid for construction. Notley and her government proved they were not in the pocket of Trudeau, rather they left Albertans with an ace in our pocket, as we now have the option of a pipeline to tidewater in response to US aggression.

Notley got the job done to the economic advantage of Albertans and she got it by working with the Liberal government and the province of BC. Strength is the ability to see a problem and work the way to a solution.

I encourage Smith and her party to abandon the Alberta First attitude and work with the feds, our provinces and  our territories to stand together in support and allegiance to our country, Canada.

Arlene Hendrickson,
Camrose

February 18, 2025

Besides CBC, almost all news, entertainment and information come from four private companies, and their stock is owned by major Canadian banking and business oligarchs.

These are the “established media.” In my opinion, these media oligarchies have been shaping news to their own advantage and to our detriment. I no longer trust them.

The established media are painting Mark Carney as the “saviour of Canada” and heir apparent to Justin Trudeau. They say Mr. Carney can stand up to the “American Bully,” Trump. They say Mr. Carney will reverse Trudeau’s pernicious policies and rebuild our country. But who, exactly, is Carney?

For decades, Mr. Carney has been an agent of globalism, the movement that promotes transnational bureaucracy and undermines national independence. Is this the man who will keep Canada free?  He is a founder and co-chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, an organization committed to halting economic development. Is this the man who will build the Canadian economy?

Since 2020, he has served as a senior advisor to Trudeau. Both Carney and Trudeau subscribe to an extreme anti-development ideology. They have both done untold harm to Canada. Carney supported and praised Trudeau’s carbon tax (until he didn’t). He applauded the Liberal government blocking $157 billion in energy investment (until he didn’t). He has shaped and supported the Liberal agenda (until he didn’t).

This is not the resume of the man who will build a strong Canada and defeat the American bully.

Dave Gosse,
Camrose

February 18, 2025

I am writing to express my extreme distaste for the UCP’s recent lifting on the ban of coal exploration in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

Coal mining is an outdated practice, and is extremely harmful to the environment. Never mind the fact that we get most of our drinking water from the Rocky Mountains, which coal mining will serve only to pollute. We are in the midst of a climate crisis, and the UCP is dragging its feet in every possible way to deny the reality of our situation.

Fossil fuels are not renewable resources, and we are overconsuming them in every sense of the word. Nature does not overuse resources for fear of ecological collapse. We are the only species that takes more than nature can sustainably offer, and we are certainly not exempt from its laws.

It is the time to look towards renewable energy, perhaps in the form of solar or wind power, not archaic energy in the form of fossil fuels. To see the UCP take such a drastic step away from progress is wholly disheartening, and it goes to show that what they care most about is the lining of their pockets, not the wellbeing of this fine province.

In summation, I encourage you to write to your MLA to tell them why you do not support coal exploration in the eastern slopes.

Gabrielle Walker,
Camrose

February 11, 2025

As countries retreat and borders harden, the recent pandemic shows us the folly of thinking we can seal out the world, especially when it comes to diseases that have threatened humanity for millennia.

While the new zeitgeist seems to keep everything and let the other guy rot, decades of public health has shown us we are all in this together, regardless of how much razor wire lines our borders.

As governments retreat from the international stage, funding for GAVI, the international vaccine alliance, is coming due.

It’s critical that Canada does not founder in our long role of providing medicines and vaccines to the world’s poorest. The cost of this funding is paltry when compared to that of diseases left to run riot across the world, in lives lost and the inevitability of another pandemic.

Nathaniel Poole,
Victoria, BC

February 11, 2025

As the temperature drops, there are a number of people living here in Camrose who do not have a place to live.

Last year, there was an attempt to get a warming centre set up, however, City council has rejected that idea stating that the areas offered were not zoned for that purpose.

 Homelessness is not going to go away. This is an issue which our City council needs to address and solve.

My question to the mayor is, when will the City council look at setting up a homeless shelter, which will look after all of Camrose’s homeless needs and not just abused women and youth under 24 years old?

We cannot send them all to Edmonton or to Wetaskiwin. There has to be some sort of accountability here in Camrose.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

February 4, 2025

In 1976, then-premier Peter Lougheed enacted a policy limiting coal development on the eastern slopes of the Rockies because open pit coal mining has a terrible track record of polluting rivers and the rivers originating on the eastern slopes provide all our water needs across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Albertans supported this common sense precaution.

Then quietly, on Friday afternoon before the long weekend in May 2020, the UCP government released a statement saying that they had rescinded the 1976 policy. Documents have since shown that the government was in talks with foreign coal companies about rescinding the 1976 policy for months even as they were keeping those talks secret from Albertans. As opposition to opening the eastern slopes to coal mines grew from environmentalists, cities, rural communities and farmers, the government announced that they would hold hearings to determine what Albertans really think. Do you think they should have held hearings before they rescinded the 1976 policy?

Albertans paid $2 million for the hearings that told the government the obvious: that Albertans were united in their opposition to open pit coal mines on the eastern slopes and the 1976 policy was reinstated. The whole mess stinks of incompetence and waste and looks like government corruption. I am not saying that this actually is government corruption because I am not wealthy enough to be sued. But I am being sued. Along with all Albertans, I am being sued for $16 billion by the coal companies because our government first gave them and then took away an economic opportunity. Does it seem unfair that Albertans have to pay for the government decision that we had no input or even any knowledge of?

Now our government is again reopening the eastern slopes to coal mining. We should be outraged. When rivers are polluted and the coal companies close up shop and move away, the costs to our children will be much more than $16 billion.
The government has severely messed up. The mess will cost us a lot, but whatever the cost, we must protect Alberta’s rivers for our children. I suggest that we all contact our MLA to let her know how we feel. Make an appointment to see her in person. And we should remember this waste, incompetence and what looks like corruption at the next election, because we get the government we ask for.

Rob Hill,
Camrose

February 4, 2025

I’ve heard reporters ask, “Why is Trump threatening Canada when 90 per cent of the drugs and criminals are crossing through Mexico?” I can answer that in two words, “Justin Trudeau.” Mr. Trump and Mr. Trudeau have a history and Mr. Trudeau has made clear his disdain for Mr. Trump.

Trump appears willing to work with anyone, like them or not. He’s a pragmatist. If working with Trudeau will get him a secure border, so be it. But Trudeau is an ideologue. Trudeau is committed to the post-national ideology of open borders and unrestricted migration. He won’t cooperate under any conditions.

Rather than suggest, “Let’s work together for a secure border,” Trudeau has made it clear he doesn’t want secure borders. As an open borders ideologue, I have no doubt Trudeau climbed up on his self-righteous soapbox and told Trump, “You’re not the boss of me!”

And now Trudeau, who once described Canada as the “first post-national state” with “no core identity,” has wrapped himself in the Canadian flag and declared war on the US. We are expected to sacrifice our future on the narcissistic altar of his personal ambition.

Shame on those politicians who hope to profit by imitating his fake patriotism. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is already planning to convert this fake crisis into another election. This is a stupid, malicious tactic, which will only serve to injure an already wounded Canada. Ford and Trudeau will never pay a price for their political opportunism. That price, as always, will be paid by us.

Truly, patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Dave Gosse,
Camrose

February 4, 2025

Over the past few months, all what we Canadians have been hearing is about are the tariffs which USA President Donald Trump wants to put on Canadian lumber and on our auto industry.

Now, Trump declares that there is nothing which America needs from Canada. He has stated that Canada has a weak military and depends on the United States for protection. We as a nation spend less that two per cent on NATO military spending.

One thing we as a province could do is to open more refineries so we do not have to depend on the states to refine our oil. In my view Canadians as a whole like to be too dependant on our neighbours to the south. Maybe we should grow up and become more independent from the United States.

Lorne Vanderwoude,
Camrose

January 28, 2025

My dream of a “former Prime Minister” Justin Trudeau was a little premature. His fake resignation and prorogation of Parliament has allowed him a couple more months in office and further opportunity to destroy our once great country.

Few people realize that Mr. Trudeau and the Liberal Party have been systematically destroying Canada.  It sounds absurd, and it took a very long time for me to come to this realization, but I believe it is true.

At one time I just thought they were stupid, because they kept making stupid decisions. Then I realized that those decisions are only stupid if you want the best outcomes for Canada. These are not stupid people. Many of them are highly intelligent, highly educated, professionally accomplished people. So, if they are not stupid, and they are consistently making decisions that are harmful to our country, they are malicious. They want to destroy the wonderful country that our forebears laboured so hard to build.

Take, for example, US President Donald Trump’s threat of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports. What the Canadian news media have failed to report is those tariffs are conditional on Canadian government stopping the flow of illegal migrants and drugs across our border. I don’t know about you, but I happen to think a secure border is a good idea. Not only will it help to protect our closest neighbour and largest trading partner, but it will protect us as well. Yet Trudeau and his party, along with nine out of 10 premiers, have decided that it is better to enter a trade war with the United States than it is to stop the flow of contraband and undocumented migrants across our border.

From my perspective, this is stupid. From Trudeau’s perspective, it seems to be a good idea. But what can Canadians expect from a trade war with our closest neighbour and largest trading partner, especially when that trading partner is the single largest economy in the world?  It will be a disaster for our economy, for all of us and for our children. Yet Trudeau and nine out of 10 premiers have decided to pursue this policy, rather than secure our border to stop the flow of contraband products, drugs, and human beings. Kudos to Premier Danielle Smith for having the backbone to stand up for all of Canada by opposing this suicidal madness.

Dave Gosse,
Camrose

January 28, 2025

Until this point, I’ve never felt compelled to write to The  Booster with concerns that I’ve had about my community and how it’s being managed.  But I’m writing today to express my disappointment and concern over the delayed opening of Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic High School.

Being a ‘born and raised’ Camrosian (with two children in Grade 8 and Grade 11 at Our Lady of Mount Pleasant High School), I was excited to hear about the new Catholic high school finally coming to fruition and the benefits it brings to our community.  Unfortunately, the repeated delays in the project’s timeline have left myself and many other parents feeling lost, frustrated and disappointed.

I understand that in a project of this size delays do occur, but the constant push-backs have made it extremely difficult for families, teachers and school administration to plan for the future. The lack of a clear and definitive opening date has created uncertainty, particularly in students (like my kids), who are looking forward to attending the new high school in September 2025.

As a community, we’ve had no reliable information or a clear understanding of the new high school’s status. Instead, we’re forced to try and find some semblance of truth in a pool of rumours, half-truths and innuendos about ‘infighting’, ‘back-room deals’ and ‘finger pointing’ regarding the delays in the school’s opening. As a city, we should pride ourselves on a commitment to education and providing our students with a top-notch facility.  The impending delay in opening the high school not only affects the students, but has a ripple effect on all of Camrose. These now very public issues reflect poorly on our reputation as a city. Our City manager, our mayor and our City council look unprepared, unprofessional and unserious, as they’ve struggled to find solutions to ultimately getting this school open. I have serious doubts that they’ve considered the concerns of our community and are too obtuse to see how this whole affair is an embarrassment to Camrose’s reputation. I pray that all groups involved can still find a solution to getting this project back on track. I hope that rather than being viewed as villains…our City manager and council can re-focus on finding a solution to this boondoggle and how they’ll be remembered when their time in civil service is over.

Dr. Davin Wilcox,
Camrose

January 28, 2025

The 1988 federal election was the last in Canada to be fought over a big, overarching, national idea–in this case, free trade with the United States. It featured a gripping and passionate televised debate between John Turner and Brian Mulroney, who would ultimately become PM.

Turner’s impassioned argument that free trade with the US would undermine our economic independence and make us vulnerable to capricious policy makers in Washington. While some would argue that 30 years of tighter economic integration was worth the price we must now pay; economic observers on both sides of the border must now admit Turner was right as the USA benefitted to a much greater degree than Canada...as was Pierre Elliot Trudeau when he warned.

“Living next to you [the US] is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”

Like the US is about to learn, elections have consequences. Even if they are not immediate. Not the first time Canada has been outsmarted...Canada paid 75 to 80 per cent of the cost of upgrading the St. Lawrence Seaway in the late 1950s and received 10 per cent of the benefit.

Mulroney and Pat Carney’s signed NAFTA which demolished Canada’s ethical pharmaceutical industry who packed up lock, stock and barrel and left Canada. Mulroney also sold Connaught Labs to a private investor (including the patent rights to insulin) for a pittance. Connaught Labs was one of the three top virology labs in the world along with the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Lister Institute in London. Some 35 years later, any wonder Canada was not able to compete producing an anti COVID-19 vaccine?

Trump’s tariffs are no more than a tax because the USA needs the money and sly old Donald sold it as an MAGA slogan and Hilary’s “deplorables” were easily fooled. Gives all new meaning to the expression…“Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.”

Lynn Clark,
Camrose
 

January 14, 2024

Canadian Citizens are demanding an election.

The Liberal party can try all kinds of tricks like proroguing/asking PM to step down/leadership race or whatever trick they think will change their future, but the consequences will just keep getting more severe.

The parliamentarians, senators, civil servants, bureaucrats, judges and contractors all made choices to defraud, deceive and lie to Canadian Citizens. Citizens are becoming more outraged so they will vote accordingly and call for criminal charges with full recompense.

Duane Keller,
Edmonton

January 14, 2025

As the 2024 Kettle Coordinator for The Salvation Army, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who contributed to the success.

To our dedicated volunteers, your selfless commitment and countless hours spent ringing bells and spreading holiday cheer have made an incredible impact on our community. Your enthusiasm and kindness did not go unnoticed, and we are so grateful for your time and effort in making this campaign a success.

We would also like to express our deepest thanks to everyone who generously donated to our Kettles. Your contributions play a vital role in supporting our programs and services throughout the year, ensuring that we can continue to help those in need within our community. Your kindness and compassion are truly appreciated.

A special thank you goes out to the local stores who graciously allowed us to set up our kettles on their premises. Your support of our mission and willingness to partner with us during the holiday season made a significant difference, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of your community spaces.

I am thrilled to announce that not only did we meet our ambitious goal of $95,000, but we exceeded it. Thanks to your combined efforts, we raised a total of over $112,000 during this year’s Kettle Campaign. This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without your unwavering support and we are incredibly thankful for your contributions.

Together, we have made a positive difference in the lives of many individuals and families in Wetaskiwin, and for that, we commend you. As we move into the New Year, we look forward to working alongside you to continue our mission of serving those in need.

Thank you once again for your generosity and support. Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed New Year.

Amanda Billings,
Kettle coordinator
The Salvation Army, Wetaskiwin 

January 7, 2025

With Donald Trump taking power and political and economic chaos in Canada, 2025 may be a difficult year. These are my thoughts to help me so I hope they might help you. It’s impossible to predict how it will all end but each of us can do a few things.

The first is hunker down, don’t borrow or spend recklessly. If Trump puts tariffs on Canada then things will become more expensive so you’ll need your cash. Things can get even worse if Ottawa, with Ontario and Quebec approval, taxes energy and that may really cripple the Alberta economy. Albertans need to understand that this will pass. The oil will still be here and if the Conservatives are elected, things may improve. Also, the US needs our oil and they won’t want to pay more for it.

The second is to stay calm. Canadian politics will be crazy for a while and the media will go into an even bigger frenzy. Remember Alberta is Canada’s golden goose and even though the East doesn’t like the goose poop (emissions) they do like the golden eggs (transfer payments). Canada has changed because oil is Canada’s major export by far (about $400 million every day), but Ontario and Quebec have the populations to elect the federal government and they want the money. Albertans need to support our provincial government and we need to use the Quebec model. This means bringing every responsibility and service we can under the provincial government. Albertans need to be united.

The third is to try to enjoy the break. The Justin Trudeau government has caused great damage and it will take time to repair it.  In the meantime, be happy with the things you have and enjoy them. For those of us that remember the early 1980s with Trudeau senior and the NEP, times were hard, but Alberta recovered as strong as ever. Unemployment may rise but if we share with the unfortunate we can get through this. Alberta’s oil production has doubled since 2010, so even if production falls 50 per cent we need to remember 2010 was not that bad a year. The world today uses more oil than ever so, in time, our turn will come.

Fourth and lastly, don’t worry. What Canada does will have no impact on climate change so here we have to accept the choices of the rest of the world.

Tony Hladun,
Camrose

January 7, 2025

Being a politician in today’s overloaded social media world must be one of the toughest jobs going. So I don’t understand why UPC backbenchers are trying to make it easier to eat at the feed trough, a relaxed ethics policy would make available.

Really the only time you hear about ethics abuse is when the camera catches your favourite politician taking advantage of the graft or greed.

While it surely has not been the best system that MLA’s and their staff have had to live up to. It seems to have the bottom feeders under control. And right here, let me say most politicians are doing it because they want to make a difference, not because they are trying to enrich themselves.

If you want my respect and possibly even support do not make it easier to feed at the trough.

Pat Barott,
Camrose

January 7, 2025

This Christmas, as I delight in the gift of a Liberal Party in disarray and anticipate with joy the pending resignation of Justin Trudeau, I will share some thoughts on the character of his possible successor, Chrystia Freeland.

It must be understood that Ms. Freeland was a “loyal” Trudeau acolyte. She has held major cabinet portfolios, including deputy Prime Minister and finance minister, ever since Trudeau formed his first government. She supported the Prime Minister during the Agha Khan scandal, the groping scandal, the blackface scandal, the SNC-Lavalin scandal, the WE Charity scandal, and the ongoing Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund scandal.  She has participated in every decision made by the Trudeau government.

As the popularity of both her party and leader collapsed and faced with personally delivering a disastrous “economic update” on her own economic policies, Freeeland abandoned ship. Instead of presenting her (long delayed) update, she presented us with a carefully worded letter of resignation shifting all blame on Trudeau. “Et tu, Brute?” This calculated act of betrayal paved the way for Freeland’s questionable claim to be a voice of virtue and moderation.

If past action is the best indicator of future behavior, then Freeland would be a horrible choice for Prime Minister. Her key role in cabinet, active participation in key government decisions, and pretended loyalty to a corrupt, irresponsible government, followed by her calculated betrayal, blame-shifting and virtue-signaling reveal a person neither capable of leading a government nor deserving of our trust.

Dave Gosse,
Camrose
 

December 10

What are you up to Premier Smith? Even the editorial board of the New York Times is curious about what’s going on in little old Alberta.

Several direct quotes from the New York Times last week…“Without any advance notice, the government of Alberta last week fired all 10 directors on the board of its pension fund, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), along with its chief executive and three of his most senior employees. Then, this week, it announced that Stephen Harper, the former Conservative prime minister, would serve as the fund’s chairman.”

“In my history of being in this space, it’s unique,” Keith Ambachtsheer, emeritus director of the Toronto-based International Centre for Pension Management, described the purge as “Soviet style and the change at AIMCo, which manages $161 billion Canadian, shook the pension world.”

He stated, “It’s a departure certainly in the eyes of not just Canada, but the world. The Canadian pension model has become the global standard for how you should think about these things and now we have a government that is kind of stepping outside those rules.

“The Canadian pension model is based on the principle that funds should be managed independently of both governments and unions and free of political interference. It calls for independent boards whose members are experienced in investments and finance. ”

Ambachtsheer also believes the report commissioned by Alberta is “fundamentally flawed, further undermining the province’s case for pension separation and estimates the actual amount to be 15 per cent, not 50 per cent.”

Are these latest small, but incremental, steps part of Premier Smith’s unstated plan to move Albertans from the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) to an Alberta Pension Plan (APP) under the control of the provincial government?

AIMCo’s chequered history continues; in recent years, they posted a loss of $4 billion as they continually fall short of their investment goals plus their investments under perform when compared to the annualized return on investment (ROI) of the CPP.

PMs Chretien and Martin posted surplus budgets from 1997 thru 2006 followed by PM Harper who posted eight deficit budgets during the next 10 years that added more than $150 billion to our national debt.

I’m so old, it won’t affect my pension but…given Mr. Harper’s poor financial track record…what could possibly go wrong (for the sake of our children and grandchildren)?

Peter Lougheed and Lou Hyndman must be turning over in their graves.

Lynn Clark,
Camrose

December 10

 Thank you. Operation Christmas Child was a huge success in Camrose and area again this year, with more than 1,600 shoeboxes sent. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible. There’s still time to fill shoeboxes online at www.packabox.ca.

Glenda Strauss,
and the OCC Team

December 10

Alberta currently has the lowest per-student funding in Canada. This is not just an alarming statistic but a clear indication of the challenges our children, educators and future workforce face under the current system. The recent budget decisions by this government, including those that have led to significant cuts within our school system, such as the reduction of educational assistants, are deeply troubling. These cuts have placed additional strain on teachers and students alike, making it harder for children, especially those with unique needs, to receive the quality education they deserve. I fear that if we continue down this path, we are moving toward an outcome similar to the one seen in the United States, where the average overall reading level hovers around Grades 7 and 8. This lack of foundational literacy has undoubtedly contributed to a cycle of low-income employment and limited upward mobility for many.

These challenges raise a fundamental question: does this government truly value education as the cornerstone of our province’s success? It is hard to feel optimistic when our priorities seem misaligned with the future we want for Alberta.

Lisa Trach,
Camrose

November 26

Last summer there was a petition circulating in Camrose that urged the federal government to accelerate action to reduce carbon emissions. That petition was one of many similar projects across Canada being supported by Seniors for Climate. You may be interested to know that Seniors for Climate are working on plans for 2025.

In 2008, former prime minister Stephen Harper said that climate change was a threat to humanity and he said that Canada needs a price on carbon. Economists agree that a carbon tax is the least expensive and least disruptive of all the ways that we can reduce carbon pollution. The most expensive thing we can do is to do nothing. Doing nothing just means that costs will balloon and we can’t do that to our children.

Some people falsely believe that we still need oil and gas for jobs and our economy. Simply not true. Clean energy is more labour intensive. Researchers at Stanford University have calculated that transitioning the world to 100 per cent clean energy creates about 28.4 million more long term, full time jobs than lost.

The International Energy Agency has concluded that solar and wind, even with storage included, are now the cheapest sources of energy that we have ever had. Access to jobs and inexpensive energy will boost the global economy. Health Canada says that air pollution, mostly from the burning of fossil fuels, costs Canada’s health care system $120 billion each year plus 15,000 premature deaths. If we want health and prosperity for our children, we need to be transitioning to clean energy as quickly as possible.

Beata Caranci, chief economist at TD Bank Group said, “If we act now, we can accelerate the transition of our economy, as well as our investments in clean technologies and the re-skilling of the oil and gas sector’s workforce to create a vibrant future where the environment and the Canadian economy can thrive together.” We must act now.  Continued inaction is a terrible burden to leave for our children.

Seniors for Climate want a healthy and prosperous future for our children. Although it is organized by Canadian seniors, people of all ages are welcome to join. Perhaps you could visit the Seniors for Climate website. You could contribute to the planning process. I think you would be impressed by the knowledgeable and caring people who are already involved.

Rob Hill,
Camrose

November 19, 2024

It starts with righteousness, the quality of being morally right or justifiable. Canada was going to be the poster child for reducing climate change. We were going to be leaders on the world stage. To our naive federal leaders that was very noble. However righteousness (“I’m right, you should do what I say”) leads to the next step, which is arrogance, the sense of superiority and scorn. Canada would achieve its climate goals by simply eliminating anything that emits CO2 regardless of the consequences. Let’s just shut down the fossil fuel industries so we’ll appoint a federal minister who will be obsessed with doing that.

To the righteous and naive, that seems very reasonable, but it ignores the fact that people have to heat their homes, drive for work and have the lights on. So now comes the next step and that is everyone gets angry. The federal leaders are angry because people are stupid and won’t listen and the people are angry because the government’s obsession hurts. So with anger on all sides comes the last stage and that is hate. Hate is dividing Canada, causing us to look at the wrong things, and preventing us from doing something reasonable.

So what can Canada do? Many years ago, I took military leadership training and the definition of leadership was “the art of influencing others to achieve the aim.” That is not what our federal government is doing. Today there is no art (skill), there is heavy-handedness and the aim is economic hardship without visible benefit to the individual. Canada can’t stop global climate change, all we can do is our share with everyone else. Our leaders must show understanding and empathy for the lower and middle classes (the voters) and offer alternatives that improve their lives. Righteousness needs to be stamped out and replaced with humility and compassion.

In the US they have just turned to an autocrat, they’ve given Trump power. With Trump, people must simply obey, but they don’t need to feel guilty for what’s happening. Trump tells them others, not Americans, are to blame. Canada is too fragmented for that to happen, so the bickering and fighting between the federal and provincial governments will maintain a downward slide. Trump won by blaming others and Trudeau will probably lose because he blames us.

Tony Hladun,
Camrose

November 12, 2024

I must admit I never saw this coming. I write a letter to the editor on recording votes in council meetings and Brian Nelson responds by suggesting that I am a facilitator of harm to women, and a threat to democracy (The Camrose Booster November 5). Wow.

The facts–three persons commented (for not recording votes) on the motion at council–Banack, Hoveland and Murphy–and these three were included in my commentary. The odious implication of Mr. Nelson that I targeted the ladies is wrong and defamatory. Do your research.

Nelson refers to commentary by Tyler Gandam from Wetaskiwin to support his comments that somehow my desire for recorded votes has an impact on bullying of council members. Some correcting first. Gandam’s actual comments was that “he’s been a target of at least a hundred incidents in recent years.” Nelson reports this as threats in the last year and includes his family, which Gandam’s comments do not. Big difference.

The CTV article from which Gandam’s comments were sourced notes that social media appears to be the largest culprit of negative feedback. This is a universal problem related to social media. If politicians are posing their thoughts on social media, they certainly should be open to a variety of responses.

The City of Wetaskiwin is one of the few cities that, like Camrose, does not have recorded votes. Nelson’s use Gandam and Wetaskiwin to present a case is flawed.

Mr. Nelson’s comment of fewer people standing for public office certainly does not apply to Camrose, where there were 19 persons running for a council of eight members in our last Camrose election. No shortage here. Councillors are paid for their service.

As with the comments I heard at council, I find nothing in the comments from Mr. Nelson that would suggest that accountability of council with recorded voting should not be reinstated.

David W. Kotyk,
Camrose

November 12, 2024

This summer I was going past the golf course on 66th/68th Street southbound when I looked in my rear view and saw a guy right behind me...close enough all I saw were his shoulders and head. And no helmet. So imagine my surprise, considering I admittedly was speeding at 65 kilometres per hour.

Today I saw a scooter going past the Camrose Booster office on 48th going south...and in front of me an e-scooter going at least 50 km/h, but when he got to the corner of 48th and 48th, hopped on the sidewalk westbound because that obviously was more convenient for him.

He then rode the sidewalk until Scotiabank and jetted back onto the roadway and at Co-op, jumped into the freeflow lane to blow past all the vehicles on the road.

Personal e-scooters, as per Alberta Transportation, are not allowed on public roadways unless there are exceptions made through municipalities applying to Alberta transportation for the purpose of these shared e-scooter programs only.  And these scooters are limited to 20 km/h.

This does not include personal e-scooters.
Personal e-scooters have no registration, no licence and no insurance and are not speed governed.  Who is responsible for what in the case of a collision?  Who is liable for injuries? Who is culpable for failure to adhere to the laws of the road? I called the Camrose Police Service and they didn’t seem to know.

I think motorists have a right to know as well as those who may be unaware (giving the benefit of the doubt here) they are breaking the law and putting themselves and motorists potentially in a very difficult situation should something happen.

Jesse Luckhardt,
Camrose

November 5, 2024

Regarding the letter named Recorded votes in the October 22nd Camrose Booster, I found it interesting that Mr. Kotyk felt that recording the name of each councillor and how they vote on all motions at City council meetings in Camrose be done for accountability reasons. He is assuming that this would have value for all voters. I thought we already held them accountable at each election.
I do not have the time or the inclination to go through all the records of my municipal representatives votes to decide how I will vote four years from now. I pick people that I trust and respect, to spend the time researching and discussing the huge number of issues and hopefully choosing wisely.

Municipal councillors can already arrange to have the decision completely documented any time that one (or more) councillors thinks there is value in it (Municipal Governance Act section 186).

I did a bit of research on the rise of abuse and threats being received by our elected officials nowadays. In a CTV interview (June 20) with Tyler Gandam, mayor of Wetaskiwin and president of the Alberta Municipalities Association. He reported he received over 100 threats to himself and his family in the last year.

Female politicians receive a larger number than men and the threats are often more severe and of a more personal nature.  This is not holding politicians accountable, it is committing a crime. It is interesting to note that two of the three City councillors named in the letter to the editor are women. No wonder they feel the way they do.
I believe a far greater threat to democracy is fewer civic minded people are standing for public office. Who can blame them?

Brian L. Nelson,
Ohaton

November 5, 2024

Stupidity is learned and not innate. We as human beings, have evolved a fantastic brain. All human beings have this brain, but not everyone is equally endowed. The brain is the largest user of energy in our body.

Therefore thinking is divided into two categories, called thinking fast and thinking slow. Thinking slow uses much less energy than when using your brain to solve complex problems.

As humans, we have developed systems to save energy, by developing habits, jumping to conclusions, or following the thinking of others rather than thinking for ourselves in any deep way. In order to see the truth about the reality we live in, we must think in complex ways and we must learn techniques to help us find out what the nature of this reality is.

This is hard and requires an extensive education, usually lifelong learning. This also requires us to have lifelong curiosity. Unfortunately, our education system has a tendency to destroy curiosity and like most humans we are somewhat lazy. Therefore rather than study hard at school we take easy courses or quit school early and don’t get educated to the level needed to find out the truth about our reality. We must rely on those who are highly educated to lead us to whatever truth is out there.

Our human society has done brilliant things but won’t if we destroy our civilization.

We have let the vast majority of human beings opt out by default, choosing to let others think for them. In other words, they have chosen stupidity over the effort to learn how to think critically, relying on others to think for them or telling them how to think. Democracy will not work, when the majority of people have imposed upon themselves stupidity. Unfortunately, democracy requires an educated critical thinking public.

Those who think a fascist government will act in their benefit have no concept of the historical situation, which shows exactly the opposite. Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others. We have been trying out this experiment for thousands of years. We know a lot of the answers to our problems, but our problems are complex, and the solutions are often more complex than that. As bad as democracy is, it’s the only hope that any of us have to control the greed of our sociopathic elites who will do anything to gain power. If you give up your democracy now, you will have a great deal of difficulty ever recovering it back. Learn to think please.

Harry Gaede,
Camrose

October 29, 2024

Kudos to David W. Kotyk for his open letter to Just Sayin’ that outlined the shenanigans, by some councillors, at the June 10 meeting of Camrose City council who passed a motion that did not pass the smell test.

According to Mr. Kotyk, the May 27 meeting passed a motion, unanimously, to record in the minutes votes by each council member on all resolutions. A wonderful decision in the best interests for transparency and accountability in these times where it is becoming increasingly difficult to believe our elected representatives at all levels of government truly represent their constituents.

So what happened between May 27 and June 10?
One councillor became worried about divisiveness, while another became worried about weaponization (whatever that means) and a third does not want to be challenged in the street for accountability (or lack thereof)? Have they been watching too much news/entertainment?

Clarity is becoming increasingly important, and timely, as our premier is suggesting candidates for municipal governments should be aligned with political parties; a rather dictatorial notion that would truly be “divisive” using the words of one councillor.

Perhaps the premier’s (probably Preston Manning’s?) suggestion has been a driving force for the change of mind.

It is axiomatic that our elected representatives at all levels of government should be transparent and accountable…all votes should be recorded as “for” or “against” on all motions.

Thank goodness for the common sense shown by councillors Lana Broker, David Francoeur and Don Rosland who maintained that votes should be recorded.

Perhaps the five councillors who changed their minds between May 27 and June 10 have had sufficient time to reflect upon the error of their ways; change their minds once again and rescind the odious motion of June 10 or reinstate the motion of May 27.

Camrose City council,  what say you?

Lynn Clark,
 Camrose

October 29, 2024

As a volunteer driver with the transportation program under the auspices of Neighbor Aid, I am surprised that FCSS is planning to offer a duplicate service.

For many years, Neighbor Aid has offered free rides to those with medical appointments outside of Camrose, and also provides a daily shuttle to Wetaskiwin for dialysis patients. With the increased demand for the service, some requests cannot be met, but this is only because there are few drivers who are willing and able to navigate the roads, especially in Edmonton, to find the many different locations folks need to access.

In the winter, the number of drivers decreases as fewer are willing to risk uncertain driving conditions, although winter safety kits are provided.
I cannot comprehend how the time and effort to set up a second service is going to generate more drivers.

The existing service is well administered with an established process for reimbursing drivers for fuel costs through a long-standing arrangement with Wild Rose Co-op.

The many years this program has operated has resulted in an excellent rapport between riders and drivers producing a high level of trust and comfort. I would urge the community to continue to support this important outreach program of Neighbor Aid.

Brian Hunter,
Camrose

October 22, 2024

I attended a council meeting on May 27, when council unanimously approved a motion to record, in the minutes, votes by each council member on all resolutions. This was a major change from the existing system where the minutes only recorded “carried” or “defeated”.

The good feeling that accountability and transparency would be back at council was, however, short lived.

At the June 10 meeting, a motion was made by Lucas Banack and seconded by Joy-Ann Murphy that council override the prior motion and direct that the bylaw revert to recorded votes only upon request, as had been done in the past (the option of requesting a recorded vote almost never occurs). This reversion was passed five to three with councillors Banack, Agnes Hoveland, Kevin Hycha, Murphy and DJ Ilg changing their minds from just the previous meeting. Councillors Lana Broker, David Francoeur and Don Rosland maintained that votes should be recorded.

I viewed the video of this meeting of council and found the discussion very unconvincing. Hoveland led the charge with her view that recording of votes could be divisive. Banack did Hoveland one better and said that recorded votes could both be divisive and lead to weaponization. Murphy was perhaps the most honest, and least democratic, in noting that she did not want anyone to meet her on the street and challenge how she voted.

I found the views presented above as self-serving, reflecting a desire to minimize an individual councillor’s accountability to ratepayers.

My vote in the next election is significantly impacted by the actions of each council member. Unfortunately, I cannot garner this information by reading meetings, but must go back to all the recordings of council meetings to view the voting.
How each councillor votes is significant in assessing what each elected official supports and what they do not support. There are five persons whom I will likely not be voting for.

Accountability by our elected representatives is essential and I urge council to institute recorded voting as a key measure in accountability and transparency to the residents. Camrose City Council minutes do not even record when opposing votes are cast. Just carried.

Carried, carried. If asked, it was council who made the decision and not the individual councillors.

David W. Kotyk,
Camrose

October 22, 2024

Do you ever wonder what goes on behind restaurant’s kitchen doors?

I know one thing for sure; whoever is preparing the food probably isn’t wearing a hair net, which costs about $10.

Tonight, as my family and I were enjoying some takeout food in Camrose, I pulled a very long hair from my mouth. Am I the only one who would find this disgusting?

Just a few weeks ago, we had indulged in take-out pizza from a place just down the highway. A long black hair was sticking out of a slice that I had just bitten into. That’s now two more restaurants on my list of “Don’t Go Back There”.

The worst place, in another city, actually served a hair ball hidden in my meal. Am I just picky about hair where it shouldn’t be? I suppose I could just floss my teeth with any one that’s long enough.

Leonard Matte,
Bawlf

October 15, 2024

The Council committee of the whole meeting of July 22 received a report from administration which requested the following direction from council, which council acceded to.

To prepare operating and capital budgets for 2025 and 2026 on the basis of a maximum six per cent increase in property taxes.

To increase franchise fees for electricity and natural gas by one per cent and five per cent, respectfully, raising the rates to 18 per cent and 32 per cent (this “fee” is “hidden” City taxes billed to and collected from the property owners by the electricity and gas provider and remitted to the City).

Subsequently, at the September 23 meeting administration received their requested direction that user fees be increased by five per cent in 2025 and another five per cent in 2026. It was noted, at the meeting, that there has been a five per cent rate increase in probably each of the last three or four years, so this would make it four or five years in a row.

Please understand that there is not any formal voting on matters at Committee of the Whole, just a nod and a wink. If there is not anyone that is willing to oppose the administrations direction requests, the operating mantra of this council is to not create any controversy, so approval is nearly automatic.

Payroll is more than half the operating costs of the City. The union contract expires on Dec 31. Council has not received any information on the status of negotiations. Any increases provided to the unionized personnel are almost automatically reflected in a similar increase to all non-union personnel.

The negotiating committee for the City consists of the GM infrastructure, GM corporate services and the HR manager. In other words, the employee contracts are being negotiated for by the employees. There are no City councillors involved and no member from the major shareholders, the Camrose residents.

Administration requested direction to budget six per cent increases in property taxes prior to the negotiating committee, made up of city employees, finalizing a contract.

For the sake of adding some definition, the inflation rate is now down at two per cent (not six per cent as is the tax increase proposed) and there is a real possibility of a coming recession–a reduction in the CPI.

What do you say to your councillor–I would say prepare the budget based on a two per cent rise in property taxes.

David W. Kotyk,
 Camrose

October 15, 2024

I was really impressed with Adan Shaikh’s article about Smoke Alarms on October 1.

Finally, someone is reporting the importance of having the two types of smoke detectors along with the CO detector. The fire and life educator Jeff Knopf outlines things right, but I wonder if most readers picked up on the subtle recommendation of having all three detectors installed in their homes.

I am writing to you because I think there’s room to push the subject further.

How many times have we heard that a house/condo/apartment was on fire and the occupants reported the smoke detectors did not sound? We read about it and roll our eyes with our first thought being “the batteries in the detector probably had never been changed” or “the detector was probably expired and no one checked”! What if the real reason was that the detector was the wrong kind to detect the type of smoke and therefore didn’t sound? This is a fact that is always left out of the reporting and therefore people assume then forget.

I was one of those who thought that way until 2012 when there was a fire at my brother’s brand new house. We were very fortunate that no one was injured. The detectors were never heard, never sounded.

Following the incident, my brother conducted his investigation as to why brand-new detectors did not wake them up (because of course it happened during the night). We started reading the fine print on manufacturers’ boxes and realized they all suggest installing both types. My brother contacted the manufacturers. He asked them why they did not make an all-3-in-one unit (ionization, photoelectric and CO). They obviously are aware of the issue, but responded it was up to “marketing” (basically the demand from consumers) to request that. But if the consumer is not aware to demand it, how is it going to change?

My brother also tried to get the building code changed to mandate the installation of all three types. It didn’t work so far. No change has been made on this subject.

In 2014, during a basement development inspection at my house in Edmonton, I was reprimanded no less, for installing two units side-by-side to cover all bases. I argued with the inspector and suggested he reads the fine prints for himself. Clearly he was not educated to know better.

My daughter is a red seal electrician. At no point during her education was there a mention of what would be best practice. They were only instructed to meet code.

In my opinion, the more emphasis put on the subject is the only way to reach more people and eventually get the code to save more lives.

– Chris Lemay-Dionne, Camrose

September 24, 2024

There has been some discussion recently about a climate change petition being circulated around Camrose as part of the national Seniors for Climate campaign.

I initiated the petition and I feel that it has been a positive experience for our community. The open discussion has been good. There has been some negative feedback and that is not surprising. What has surprised me is the number of very knowledgeable residents who have been eager to sign on to a message of hope.

They understand that our changing climate presents challenges and they also understand the opportunity that we have to build a healthy, prosperous world for our children.

Surely, a healthy and prosperous future is something we all want, and it is clear from economists and scientists that the best thing we can do is to accelerate the transition to clean energy and the worst thing we can do is to continue to delay.

The transition to clean energy is good for jobs, for our economy and for our health. The longer we delay, the bigger our problems become. This transition must be government led. In most German states, all new buildings must come with solar panels installed. In France, all parking lots with more than 80 spaces must be covered with a rack of solar panels. In Quebec, all new furnaces cannot burn oil or natural gas—a policy that the International Energy Agency recommends for the entire world by 2025.

Much of the world is moving ahead and Alberta is falling behind. I urge everyone to contact municipal, provincial and federal politicians and let them know that you will vote for the individual and party that has the best plan to speed up the transition to clean energy. Do it for our children.

Rob Hill,
Camrose

September 17, 2024

I was pleasantly surprised to see my name mentioned in the Looking Back Through the Pages of The Booster under the 25 years ago news.

I remember Dan Jensen coming to take the pictures. This past Monday, I baked eight loaves of whole wheat bread and a pan of cinnamon buns. Also, I made some cranberry jelly. Today, we ground flour.

My how time flies when you are busy on the farm.

Rosemary Snider,
New Norway