AB Today – Daily Report August 14, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Women make up the majority of the teaching profession, but Jason ​ Kenney and Adriana LaGrange chose to not put a single woman on their ​ ​ ​ panel and they managed to find room for a racist who used to work for the premier.”

NDP LGBTQ and Women’s Issues critic Janis Irwin slams newly appointed advisors to the ​ ​ curriculum review panel, particularly Chris Champion. ​ ​

Today in AB

On the schedule The house is adjourned until August 27, when Finance Minister Travis Toews will deliver a ​ ​ fiscal and economic update.

UCP criticized for appointing ‘racist’ to curriculum advisory group The UCP has appointed eight men to advise the province’s curriculum review panel, including Premier Jason’s Kenney’s former staffer Chris Champion. ​ ​ ​

The group will give advice, but not necessarily recommendations, on the curriculum review.

The NDP is taking issue with the new advisors, in particular Champion, who publishes the controversial Dorchester Review and worked for Kenney during his years in Ottawa. ​ ​

The Dorchester Review published an article questioning how history is taught in Canada, ​ ​ opining its “preoccupation with victimhood [that] has mostly centred on Japanese Canadians and residential school ‘survivors.’”

LGBTQ and Women’s Issues critic Janis Irwin called Champion “a racist” and demanded ​ ​ he be removed from the advisor role. Irwin wants the government to come clean on why he was selected to provide input on the curriculum.

She also wants more diversity on the advisor list (the UCP says francophone and ​ Indigenous representatives will be added).

The UCP also defended Champion’s appointment, citing his background in academia and the armed forces. A government spokesperson said the Dorchester Review publishes a ​ ​ diversity of voices and noted that editors can allow pieces to run they don’t personally agree with.

The new group is in addition to the curriculum review panel appointed by the UCP in August ​ ​ 2019. The Alberta Education ministry is continuing its work reviewing the recommendations from eight working groups that have been redrawing the province’s educational curriculum.

The curriculum overhaul is a drawn out affair that dates back to the PC government. The UCP paused much of the progress the former NDP government had made soon after taking office.

Residential school survivor Lena Wildman and University of Alberta social studies education ​ ​ professor Dr. Carla Peck also condemned the makeup of the advisory group during a news ​ ​ conference hosted by the NDP Thursday.

Wildman accused the UCP of trying to shut down the teaching of the country’s legacy of residential schools. “If you keep turning a blind eye, nothing is going to change,” Wildman said.

Peck said it is “astonishing” no women were appointed advisors and questioned why Champion made the cut since he has no experience in curriculum development or teaching.

See below for a full list of the new advisors.

Today’s events

August 14 at 2:15 p.m. — Lacombe ​ Premier Jason Kenney and Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish will make an announcement ​ ​ ​ ​ with Shaw executives about rural high speed internet at a housing development in Lacombe.

August 14 at 2:30 p.m. — Lacombe County ​

The UCP is holding its first ever UCP MLA Horse Race with Premier Jason Kenney, a sold-out ​ ​ fundraiser at the The Track on 2 Horse Racing and Event Centre.

Topics of conversation

● Alberta reported 76 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. The province now has 1,036 active cases, a decrease of eight. ○ Three more people have died, bringing the provincial death toll to 220. ○ There are currently 50 people hospitalized, including 12 in intensive care (down one). ○ Alberta Health Services will be bringing back parking fees starting August 31 for employees and September 1 for the general public. AHS had waived fees on April 3 in an effort to reduce spread of COVID-19 via the high-touch surfaces on the parking metres.

● Postmedia has pulled all of its journalists from the Alberta press gallery amid a legal ​ ​ battle with The Rebel, which was denied accreditation following a vote by gallery ​ ​ members. Last month, The Rebel launched a lawsuit against the media company, ​ ​ ​ ​ alleging its reporters were keeping The Rebel out of the gallery for anti-competitive ​ ​ reasons. A simultaneous social media campaign asked supporters of The Rebel to ​ ​ cancel their National Post subscriptions and chip in for the legal fight. ​ ​ ○ In a Thursday night editorial, Postmedia noted The Rebel’s “dubious standards” ​ ​ and “disgraceful” and “dangerous” attacks on other journalists, but argued the press gallery should not be in the business of excluding reporters from accessing the legislative building.

● A quarter of Albertans say the province’s pandemic restrictions go too far, the highest in the country, according to an Angus Reid Survey. ​ ​ ○ One in four Albertans say Covid restrictions are too harsh, while 27 per cent say they don’t go far enough and 48 per cent think they are just about right. ○ Albertans are split on Premier Jason Kenney’s Covid response performance, ​ ​ with 51 per cent endorsing it and 47 per cent giving it a thumbs down. ○ That is a big drop from the 67 per cent of Albertans who approved of Kenney’s pandemic handling in April and July, and puts him at the bottom among the six premiers Angus Reid polled on.

● The premier and environment minister sent letters of support to Valory Resources Inc., an Australian coal mining company with development plans in Alberta, months before the UCP rescinded regulations ensuring land use protections in the Rocky Mountains, the Tyee reports. ​ ​ ​ ○ Valory Resources Inc., which hopes to build a metallurgical coal mine near Banff, is using the warm reception it received from UCP MLAs in its pitch to investors. ​ ​

● The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling for a 20 per cent reduction in ​ ​ compensation for Alberta’s deputy and assistant deputy ministers. ○ According to their report, deputy ministers earn an average of $327,297 per year, while assistant deputy ministers take in about $234,084. ○ The ask is modelled after a move by New Zealand, where public sector brass took a 20 per cent cut in solidarity with struggling public sector workers.

● Housing starts in Alberta have rebounded slightly but are still down compared to last year, according to Statistics Canada data compiled by ATB Financial. ○ In June, housing starts were at their lowest since October 1991, but the number had increased by 52 per cent in July. ○ Starts were down by 22 per cent in July 2020, compared to the same time last year, and down 12 per cent in the first seven months of the year compared to the same time the year before.

● The Alberta Energy Regulator laid charges against Land Petroleum and its president, ​ Bill Fung, for hindering an AER inspection dating back to August 2018 near Ponoka. ​ ○ Fung and the firm are due back in court on September 4.

Funding announcements

Community Initiatives Program Project-Based Grant ● A popular arts grant, the Community Initiatives Program Project-Based Grant, has been reinstated, with the next intake on September 15. ○ In May, the province combined the May and September intakes of the operating grant, channelling money from the project-based grant into the operating stream.

Appointments and employments

Curriculum review advisory group ● The government’s new curriculum advisors and their specialities are as follows: ○ George Georgiou, literacy; ​ ○ David Chorney, wellness; ​ ○ Vladimir Troitsky, math; ​ ○ Chris Champion, social studies; ​ ○ William French, arts and literature; ​ ○ Cameron Macdonell, science; ​ ○ Marvin Washington, diversity and pluralism; and ​ ○ Onookome Okome, diversity and pluralism. ​

Lobbyist registrations

Consultants who registered as lobbyists from August 7, 2020 – August 13, 2020

● Luke Ouellette, 352654 Alberta Ltd. ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Fire & Flood Emergency Services Ltd. ​

● Doug Noble and Justin Smith, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: USD Terminals Canada II ULC ​

● Jordan Pinkster and Randy Pettipas, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Arts Commons ​

● Elan MacDonald and Yonathan Sumamo, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: PWC ​

● Justin Smith, Danielle Cruz, Doug Noble and Brian Senio, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Gibson Energy ULC ​

● Nick Koolsbergen, Brad Tennant and Trisha Rinneard, Wellington Advocacy Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: KPMG LLP ​

● Mark Taylor, Mark B Taylor Consulting Inc. (Taylor Energy Advisors) ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Indian Resource Council ​

● Brent Kossey, Zoe Keirstead, Danielle Par and Rosa Ellithrope, Navigator ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: BioWare ULC ​

● Jeff Johnson, Course Consulting Ltd. ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Portage College ​

● Michael Lohner, Gail Kelly, Marina Banister and Hal Danchilla, CSG Canadian ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Strategy Group Inc. o Clients: Homeward Trust Edmonton ​

● Amber Ruddy, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. ​ o Clients: Tourmaline Oil Corp. ​

● Shay Purdy and Kate Harrison, Summa Strategies ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: DeepMind Technologies Limited ​

● Votham Anastasiadis, Philippe Johnson, Leo Piquette, Jon Wescott, Zack ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Ziolkowski, Bronte Valk, Pascal Ryffel, Shayne Saskiw, Cam MacKay and James ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Johnson Alberta Counsel ​ o Clients: Municipal District of Opportunity ​

● Aaron Singleton, Philippe Johnson, Keith Pridgen, Bronte Valk, Pascal Ryffel, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Shayne Saskiw, Jonathon Wescott, Lindsay Lahey, Zack Ziolkowski, Cam MacKay ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and James Johnson, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: The Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation ​

● Philippe Johnson, Pascal Ryffel, Jonathon Wescott, Keith Pridgen, Cam MacKay, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Bronte Valk, Shayne Saskiw, Zack Ziolkowski and James Johnson, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Respiratory Homecare Association of Alberta (RHCAA) ​

● Philippe Johnson, Bronte Valk, Keith Pridgen, Pascal Ryffel, Jonathon Wescott, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Shayne Saskiw, Cam MacKay, Zack Ziokowski and James Johnson, Alberta ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Counsel o Clients: Alberta Environmental Rubber Products Inc. ​

● Jonathon Wescott, Bronte Valk, Zack Ziolkowski, Shayne Saskiw, Pascal Ryffel, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Aaron Singleton, Phipppe Johnson and James Johnson, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Metis Settlement General Council ​

● Jonathon Wescott, Shayne Saskiw, Pascal Ryffel, James Johnson, Bronte Valk, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Zack Ziolowski, Philippe Johnson and Aaron Singleton, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: City of Wetaskiwin ​

● Bronte Valk, Jonathon Wescott, Shayne Saskiw, Pascal Ryffel, Keith Pridgen, Rob ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Reynolds and James Johnson Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Rocky View County ​

● James Johnson, Jonathon Wescott, Shayne Saskiw, Keith Pridgen, Cam MacKay ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and Zack Ziolkoski, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Cashco Financial Inc. ​

● James Johnson, Zack Ziolkowski, Jenelle Saskiw, Jonathon Wescott, Aaron ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Singleton, Bronte Valk and Pascal Ryffel Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Northern Alberta Elected Leaders ​

● Philippe Johnson, Aaron Singleton, Zack Ziolkowski, Cam MacKay, Bronte Valk, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pascal Ryffel, Jonathon Wescott, Shayne Saskiw, Leo Piquette, Lindsay Lahey and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ James Johnson Alberta Counsel ​ o Clients: Lac La Biche County ​

● Philippe Johnson, Zack Ziolowski, Aaron Singleton, Jonathon Wescott, Pascal ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Ryffel, Shayne Saskiw, Bronte Valk and James Johnson, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: County of Grande Prairie ​

● James Johnson, Rob Reynolds, Keith Pridgen, Shayne Saskiw, Jonathon Wescott, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Philippe Johnson Alberta Counsel ​ o Clients: Woodland Cree First Nation ​

● Aaron Singleton, Zack Ziolkosky, Keith Pridgen, Jonathon Wescott, Shayne ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Saskiw, Leo Piquette, Pascal Ryffel, Bronte Valk, Cam MacKay, Philippe Johnson ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and James Johnson, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ o Clients: Town of Bonnyville ​

● Aaron Singleton, Keith Pridgen, Bronte Valk, Pascal Ryffel, Shayne Saskiw, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Jonathon Wescott, Zack Ziolkowski, Philippe Johnson, James Johnson, Alberta ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Counsel o Clients: City of Brooks ​

● Philippe Johnson, Aaron Singleton, Bronte Valk, Keith Pridgen, Jonathon Wescott, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pascal Ryffel, Shayne Saskiw, Cam MacKay, Zack Ziolkowski, James Johnson ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Alberta Counsel o Clients: Association of Alberta Registry Agents ​

● Pascal Ryffel, Zack Ziolkowski, Votham Anastasiadis, Jonathon Wescott, Shayne ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Saskiw, Philippe Johnson, Bronte Valk, Aaron Singleton and James Johnson, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Alberta Counsel o Clients: Zone VI Regional Council of the Metis Association of Alberta ​

● Philippe Johnson, Aaron Singleton, Jonathon Wescott, Pascal Ryffel, Bronte Valk, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Zack Ziolkowski, Shayne Saskiw, Voltham Anastasiadis and James Johnson, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Alberta Counsel o Clients: Alberta Irrigation Districts Association (AIDA) ​

● Zack Ziolkowski, Jonathon Wescott, Pascal Ryffel, Shayne Saskiw, Bronte Valk, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Aaron Singleton, Philippe Johnson and James Johnson, Alberta Counsel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ o Clients: Metis Nation of Alberta ​

Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from August 7, 2020 – August 13, 2020 ● Concrete Alberta ● Lundbeck Canada Inc. ● Canadian Fuels Association ● Association of Alberta Registry Agents ● EPCOR Utilities Inc. ● CNOOC Petroleum North America ULC ● Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. ● Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta ● Canada's National Brewers ● GlaxoSmithKline Inc. ● Alberta Wheat Commission ● Primerica Financial Services (Canada) Ltd ● Syngenta Canada Inc. ● Alberta Barley ● The Coal Association of Canada