It can be a delight to read one of David Climenhaga’s reports on Alberta politics. He seems to be a knowledgeable and fearless reporter of things political in Calgary and Edmonton. He does not seem to share the general public’s admiration for the Jason Kenney administration and its leader.
But dammit, I was waiting breathlessly for the report of Kenney’s Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns. It was like sitting outside the walls of Fort Zinderneuf in Beau Geste waiting for something to happen.
And what do we get? Nothing, nada, zilch. What do they always say: Follow the money?
Albertans paid $3.5 million for a 697-page report of nothing. In fact, Climenhaga was somewhat critical of the clarity of the prose. For the amount that Albertans paid for that report, it could have had some decent editing.
But I was waiting to find out who was paying money for critical commentary on Alberta’s foolish energy aspirations. I wanted my cut of the pie. Here I have been critical of Alberta tar sands operations all these years and never been offered a bribe to write more.
From the first time I saw open pit mining of the tar sands, I was revolted. Now that they are forcing bitumen up from the depths with steam and establishing vast acreages of settling ponds, I am even more revolted.
I have seen the warming of the glaciers, the rising of the seas, the swirling clouds of bitumen dust from the oil refineries, the smog of polluting coal smothering our cities and none of it offers hope for mankind.
And yet our ignorant world leaders are getting together for a soiree this next week in Glasgow to pat each other on the back and make stupid promises to be good and be kind to mother earth.
Meanwhile, back in reality, Kenney’s War Room carries on its expensive fight against truth, justice and the Canadian way—of ignoring the obvious.
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Copyright 2021 © Peter Lowry
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