Dion Gunning for Alberta
January 12, 2007 · By Aaron Unruh
Stephane Dion’s Alberta “tour” has wrapped up. It’s been a disaster, so much so that I am inclined to wonder about the intentions of the trip. Take, for example, this mind-boggling aggressive statement:
“All these workers living too fast for the easy money in the north,” the prime minister-wannabe blasted as Liberal-appointed senators Tommy Banks and Grant Mitchell looked on. “It’s not good for the economy.”
Dion’s provocative tour appears to have been a flop, but was it really? Or is Dion simply priming the national populace for another Liberal anti-Alberta assault in the next election?
In 2000, Chretien wrapped his anti-Alberta rhetoric in the health care debate. In the next election, Dion will wrap his in the environment. Where does the fault lay for increased emissions? Alberta’s oil patch, of course, not to mention all those little bastards headed into the north to make “easy money.” Naturally, the emissions of Ontarian manufacturing plants will be neatly ignored by the Liberal smear machine, just as that machine ignored Quebec’s violations of the Canada health act in 2000 in order to concentrate their attack on Alberta.
Afterthought: I wonder if anyone in Alberta besides lowly bloggers will be standing up to defend those northern oil patch workers against Dion’s snide remarks? God forbid that the premier of Alberta would do so. He’s much too busy, after all, hob-nobbing at $5000-a-table fundraisers.
Update: Commenter Durward at DMB:
He insulted every single tradesman/tradeswoman in Canada with that remark.
Straight from university to Parliament, the little weasle has never done an honest days work in his life.
…
Anyone got a pie?
yay, another press clippings blog. dick.
In fact, Dion’s tour continues today in Calgary. There was a town hall in Edmonton yesterday, and one coming up in Calgary today. (7pm Epcor Centre)
As for Liberals being friendly to the oil patch, a Liberal government helped encourage the initial investments in the oilsands. A liberal government set up the Trust tax structure for resource businesses. A Liberal government created the massive tax exemptions and capital cost allowances to encourage greater oilsands production.
The emmissions from Ontario aren’t ignored. That province has a plan to phase out coal power by 2015, which by itself should meet the reduction targets for Ontario under Kyoto.
I thought Neil Waugh made a good point in the Edmonton Sun today about how Dion is full of solutions for the oil patch, but seemingly has nothing to say about a $4 billion hydro project/ environmental disaster in the making approved for Quebec’s James Bay.
The first part of this project will only divert “up to 70 per cent of the flow of the Rupert River” to electrical generating stations in northern Quebec, and will flood a mere 400 square kilometres of land.
No biggie.
“hob-nobbing at $5000-a-table fundraisers”
Um - think he cancelled that $5000.
Oh - and Jeff, sweetie, I see you are your usual charming self - swinging by, throwing out asinine comments that don’t mean anything, then throwing in a bit of the usual leftie name calling.
Why can’t you ever back up your comments will facts. Could it be that you are just a little pissed that your illustrious leader is falling flat on his face and resent it being brought up by bloggers. Hmmmmmmm
Alberta Girl:
$5000 a table still holds true, They are holidng dinners where tickets are $500 a plate. One could assume that “steady Eddie” has an event where tables are 10 seats.
If he was wrong to hold the $5000 dollar private access fundraisers in the first place, that he couldn’t intervene before they were set up, that he hasn’t set a moral standard for the party he leads, why is it virtuous that he has now cancelled them?
How can leftists ignore the coming black skys over China as it ramps up massive numbers of hugh coal fired electric generating plants?
All that protects us is the Pacific Ocean which is wide open.
Thanks Kyle - I just heard the blip on the radio - made the assumption that he had cancelled the dinners. oops - thanks for the clarification.
alberta girl, just leaving aaron the same message he left me…he called me a schmuck, i consider him a dick.
Dion is against nuke power for oilsands too, according to Herald.
“Dion is against nuke power for oilsands too, according to Herald.”
Of course. Non-polluting nuclear power would remove the moral justification for Dion’s NEP II.
Are you crazy cons scared or something?
hehe
Should Albertans be scared of a Dion government?
no not albertans, just conservatives.
A huge number of the workers making fast money are from Ontario, NFL, Nova Scotia. They should be outraged!
“Are you crazy cons scared or something?
hehe ”
Well Johnny- after hearing out illustrious “lider of da opposison” speak to Dave Rutherford today, scared isn’t exactly what I am feeling. More like disgust that once again Alberta becomes the whipping boy for another eastern politician to try to make political hay in order to look good for the voters back east.
The guy doesn’t have a clue about Alberta, Alberta workers or Alberta’s economy and by your statement, it proves you don’t either.
Alberta girl is correct in her assessment of Dion. I listened to the Dave Rutherford show, and even though Dave asked very specific questions about the Kyoto plan, how it would work, how it would actually help the climate, etc….(typing fast because the hockey game is back on)….Dion couldn’t explain it. If this is the best that the Liberals can do, then anyone who has a brain should shake it if they want to vote for the Liberals again.
Kyle Olsen wrote::A Liberal government created the massive tax exemptions and capital cost allowances to encourage greater oilsands production.’
Yes, and these are the so-called SUBSIDIES that all the enviro turds & Dippers want stopped !!.
We’ve emptied New Brunswick of the truly ambitious young people… now at least what is left is either old or identifiable as willing to live off the state’s welfare. We should be able to catch, tage and release them easier now.
The Culture of Dependency continues apace.
(Celine) Dion is opposed to nuclear plants in Alberta which will reduce greenhouse gases but it is entirely OK for Ontario to expand their existing nuclear facilities. Eastern hypocracy again!!
With the emergence of Dion and his anti-oilpatch stance - maybe Ted Morton is starting to look a little prescient….
Pie? That’s too Belgian and French for us out here. We have buckshot.
[...] See Aaron’s take on the same quote. [...]
Has anyone seen this story anywhere else in MSM? I canot find it anywhere other than Waugh’s column.
[...] On the heels of Dion’s triumphant Albertan tour comes the latest rendition of Liberal/Toronto Star chest-thumping: Dion should run in an Albertan seat in the next election. h/t [...]
Dion Gunning for Alberta 20-01-07, 12:54 pm @ The Politic