The Conservative Game plan for survival and you alternatives

We have elections coming up in less than 2 years.  Investors are showing no interest in
Alberta's tar sands as evidenced by the extremely  low bids on the last land leases.

The Conservatives are spinning every little thing into a bigger, more promising picture that simply does not exist.  The new Tar Sands projects (India's will be announced shortly if the new west coast pipeline is a go.

They are hanging their hats on a rash of empty promises; out right lies in many cases.  They need to create 15 thousand jobs by the time the election is called.  And, not just any job but high paying oil jobs.  Most of the new workers finding shallow low paying jobs are foreigners.  Their earnings go home to families abroad it doesn't stay in Alberta!

The Wild Rose Party a twin to the Conservatives except for their more extreme ideas which involves dismantling Canada and isolating Alberta are like the Conservatives spinning stories of glory with no substance at all.

Any new projects started won't be in the construction stage for over 5  to 10 years! Long after they have tried to survive another election.

The Conservatives tried to steal 8 billion dollars in pension money from the largest union in Alberta. They played this close with AIMCo  who happened to declare a 7 billion dollar loss due to bad investments.  And, the Conservatives said it was lost money attributing their 6 billion dollar expenditure on a make work program for the oil patch as coming from taxpayers.

Canada's largest union said "keep your hands off our pensions" and threatened to sue the Government and Aimco.   The result was, the Conservatives did more of their slight of hand book keeping and now say there is a shortfall in pension funds of 8 billion dollars.  Which means taxpayers are on hooks for it which is as it should be!    Caught in a bald face lie and a case of outright thievery they finally relented.

The Conservative plans have not worked out at all.  Both federally and provincially they have proved to be utter and total failures.  Attached you will find some graphs put out by a Doctorate in Economics.  Which shows just how bad their failure is!

This does not include the 700 billion dollars ripped from the Heritage Trust fund and put into general revenues making the ridiculous 10% flat tax possible.

Yes, it is a good time for Harper and Redford to spend time aboard trying to look like they are doing business with countries who have nothing to answer.

On the other hand the Alberta Liberals have met point on point every problem thrown up and have produced realistic policy changes to set this province on a correct course!
Reduce funding to Private schools (now get the majority of funding as Conservatives press to do away with the public school system

Do away with the mega health board  that will curtail greatly the privatization of medicine in this province and secure the ever failing universal coverage.

Protect and properly market the petroleum and gas shipped from this province.

Rail?  Shipping oil by rail cost between 2.00 and 2.50 per barrel!  Shipping the same material by pipeline costs 1/5 of that amount!  Take control of the rate of expansion of the tar sands.

Get involved in tuition for Grads and students in general.

And there is much more.  Take the time to look at the Liberal agenda! http://liberalopposition.com/

While you are at it consider the oil industry paid off the 700 thousand dollar debt accumulated by Mr. Taft.

The Liberals are so blessed by oil; you have nothing to fear there either!

You have nothing to fear as far as your jobs are concerned.  Typically at election time the Conservatives having no policies and a history of failure  will simply rant "jobs, Jobs and Jobs!"  Oil companies  will run adds for various professional and non professional positions but if you apply for those same positions you will be told nothing is going to happen for several years, just collecting names.

The Conservatives got a majority Government and the Wild Rose Nutters http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2012/08/alberta-putting-aside-fear-what-do-we.html  because only 21 % of the people who could vote, voted.

There is talk recently about Norway's success.  And, a lot of Conservative BS surrounds that conversation. 

The facts are that Norway has a large segment of their population educated with University degrees.  Not so Alberta.   Because they are educated they turn out to vote. Turn out is over 70%  They keep their Government honest.

If just 1/4 of the protesters (who are living in Alberta) voted you could throw the Conservative trash out!

The NDP is simply a vote splitter now;  they have not put out a policy on anything.  Big move is "to come up the center"   When I asked them their views on shutting down the oil industry such as I have heard their answer  was "We cannot be responsible for what our members say!  Scary!

'RCMP should have been contacted earlier,' CATSA admits after airport pipe bomb discovery | CTV News

'RCMP should have been contacted earlier,' CATSA admits after airport pipe bomb discovery | CTV News

This is a lot to do about nothing.  The kid had a pipe for all intent and purpose an empty pipe that he adequately explained.

People watch too many American Movies!  There is a great difference between the US explosives laws and the Canadian Laws!  It's not like the movies!

In Canada if you were to mix baking soda and water in a jar the purpose being to blow up your house, you can be charged under the explosives act!   It is the intent that makes it an explosive in Canada; not the success or the lack of it!   This I think, is a good thing.

Don't forget that it is the intent, admitted, that at some point he and his friends were meddling with a pipe bomb like any normal kid in today's society.  Making rocket fuel or doubling up rocket motors to make a bang same thing; you can be charged under the explosives act.

No one was negligent at this airport; they used common sense.  This is a piece of pipe, nothing more, nothing less and you can't take it on the plane so, you get rid of it; it is not up to us to clean your garbage from your bag.

Lighten up people and take the time to know what you are doing and saying before you start.  That, is called responsibility.

Highway 19 Enough of the Political Lies and Engineering incompetence!

There is a plan for highway 19 alright!  It is not to be worked on until 2 other highways are fully  completed one being highway 53 into Fort McMurray which will take at least 10 years and cost twice as many lives in traffic on highway 19.  There is no budget for highway 19 in the Governments figures, that’s how far away things are.   All communities involved are aware of this. Between them they keep the ball in the air.

But, rather than mitigate some of the traffic disasters they chooses to turn a blind eye.  Considering these disasters were caused by stop lights that were slammed into place for a visual political plus and no thought put into how they were going to operate.  They have never been synchronized.

George Rogers the one time MLA for Devon did absolutely nothing for this town in regards to that highway when the opportunity was there.  I'm sure he's still treading water he is very low on the Conservative totem! 

The big screw up is the lights at the intersection of Airport Road, the 711 store and West jet parking.   2 sets of lights not synchronized at all. No thought given to traffic only thought being having a visual traffic post show they did something.

The results are horrendous if you have to drive it. 

The West Light starts red with a sold line of traffic waiting to go through it.

This string of traffic reaches back to the East set of lights.

At the East set of Lights there are people coming from Leduc, Nisku and Highway number two trying to get into a precious slot of any kind!  They have pulled across the oncoming traffic lane solidly blocking it waiting for a light change where, just maybe traffic that comes in on the light change will allow them to finish making the turn.  Traffic shut down 3 ways for hours at times.

If the vehicle happens to be a large truck it will take 5 changes of lights before it gets lined up behind a light to go straight ahead.   Traffic both ways are block solid for 5 changes and catch-up is a game of nerves.

If you happen to work at the Airport as many in Devon and Leduc do, it is a case of driving in the ditch to get into the Airport and looking for a 2 count break in traffic to crash through to get home. 

Because of this Governments absolute lack of commitment  for this area it is a death trap waiting to happen (still again).

The article would not be complete without talking maintenance on that extremely high traffic road.   The service roads (36 St Provincial jurisdiction) are not sanded.   The whole highway 19 is a sheet of ice at the best of times with only a the very minimum  of effort and material put in to make the drive anything other than a death wish.   Fresh snow make a windblown skating rink and no sanders are ever seen on that road!

Industry from Nisku  traffic from Calmar and Devon use this highway and, it is the route given to permitted truckloads by the Department of Highways compounding the risks!   This invites the use of the large high powered pickup trucks with one person singing along, owning the road at 30 km faster than the general 80 km/hr the road allows.   On the gas and on the brakes.  Ignorant bastards inconsiderate of any one else on the road and on a daily basis leap-frogging traffic; cutting off a dozen vehicles every trip to Nisku with every impunity.

Where do you go in this Government to find accountability of the maintenance contractors or the sloppy planning of engineers capable of better?  Or of the acknowledgement that is is the Government that is killing people on that horrible stretch of road, not the drivers.

Map:

One light problem is at the 635-19 marker (above highway 2 North).  This access loop from 2 rushes in to close this light and will stay immobile for 7 or more light changes if a large truck is in play. (This is the preferred route for Alberta highways to permit large loads by)  Because of no synchronization all lights are compromised!

To the left; Range Rd 251B intersects with 36 St E across highway 19

Morning traffic  from Calmar Devon etc are trying for 2 destinations.  The main batch being Nisku; now blocked  by the light above.  Traffic at this point may stretch 15 km west along highway 19.   Vehicles at this point, (usually larger pickups bought for that reason) travel on the shoulder, partially in the ditch in a crush to get to the 36st turnoff into the Airport.

 In the evenings people trying to get home risk their lives;  yes! Really! To get onto highway 19 westbound.  Beyond the split second timing there is the problem of very poor maintenance on this road so there is no grit on the road either 19 or 36 st to provide traction for a quick and controlled crossing.

Devon AB Trails

Before walking we enjoy some wild life in our front yard.

:Loki in his winter coat investigates.

Town Trails even in this extreme snowfall are cleared.  That adds Quality of Life.

Snowshoeing has become popular in and around Devon!  Snowshoe enthusiasts keep trails open for family walks and adventure in the outdoors.

Devon Town trails are all designated "Dogs on Leash"  or "Lead" as some of us say. This is one of the many poop boxes for recovered efforts.  The other side of these containers has a small attachment for dog poop pickup bags.   Now, that is really quality of life!

There must be 30 km of walking trails around Devon.  I don't know the figure but have never run out of somewhere new to go!  And, kept beautifully! Thanks Town of Devon.

Think family outings as you view these pictures.  This is the start of the "Creek Trail" and is designated Dogs on Leash.  The pictures following are a progression down this trail.(one of several trails)

The ever active snowshoe people have broken trail in places that is hard to imagine!

Here, Loki is curious about a beaver slide trail going towards the creek.

This snowshoe trail is leading into the den area of the coyotes!  This person should have had some protests from the little guys.

 Loki is a breed called  "Giant Decker"  He loves the snow but hasn't got the hair for it.