Hey-hey, we’ve warmed up a bit out there. -4C/-10C wind chill. We never get away from the wind chill when it’s winter here in Alberta.

As we speak the Alberta election campaign is in full swing. We go to the polls I think March 3rd. So today up there in Fort McMurray Ed Stelmach is politicking talking Green. So this environmentalist at the raised podium is looking up at Ed animated about the environment. This is all caught on tape. So here’s Ed looking down to his right at the guy only a few feet away (Where’s security?) “Alright, you’ve had your turn.” Ed says being gracious and composed and went on with his campaigning. Meanwhile, this idiot was still squawking like a plucked chicken.

The thing is there doesn’t seem to be one issue that stands out amongst the rest in this campaign. There are several issues: Affordable housing is a huge issue here. In the early 1980’s the Province took away a housing rebate program. We need that back again. We’re still paying health care premiums here in Alberta against what the rest of country that don’t. We should be on board with the rest of the country and omit Alberta health care premiums. I shouldn’t have to pay for my insulin out of my own pocket when the rest of the country gets it for free. Attracting more Doctors and Nurses to live here is also an issue. More so in Rural Alberta then in the Cities. The economy is another issue. Even though oil is at $92 and change right now there is the risk of companies moving out of Alberta to China and India because of labor shortages here. The company I work for and others are bringing in more foreign workers. Dell can move it’s call center operations over to India all it wants to but with about 30% of the labor force not trained and skilled it won’t take long for those people to realize that for the same job they are doing at a buck a day their counter parts in Canada are getting paid $20. It’s a better quality of life as well. That’s why people are coming here. We need our jobs here-not in India. It doesn’t do both of us any good. Their people and ours. There are other issues as well and each one of them want their issues to be front and center.

The 3 major political parties are the Progressive Conservatives (Republicans) Ed Stelmach. The Liberals (Opposition) Kevin Taft. The New Democratic Party (far left/Green) Brian Mason. Oh and The Green party but I don’t care about those flakes. One things for certain, I’m not going to vote NDP. Probably the lesser of the 2 evils will be Kevin Taft. I don’t have a lot of confidence in Ed Stelmach. Kevin Taft even less but it’s time for a change here in Alberta. The Tory’s have been here for 50+ years. The thing is Ed Stelmach doesn’t have a plan for Alberta. Taft doesn’t either. He’s just reacting to Ed. Taft and Ed want to introduce a carbon capture strategy for the oil industry to help the environment and I like that idea. But what will Taft do when companies pull out of Alberta due to labor shortages? Will he stand by and do nothing or will he take a pro active stance? There is one thing all these candidates have in common: They make promises.

At 4pm I’m going out of here to get my 2 books at Audrey’s and to my job. Rob’s hanging around waiting for me. I can just feel it. He gives me shit squawks a bit and I go back on my dialer. I mean for God’s sake it was -31C in the morning with a minus -40C wind chill. If he’s got nothing else to complain about he’s nuts in the head.

Basically not much going on right now, like I said in the last entry

SF Signall has an intersting poll about television shows viewers missed because of the writers stike. I voted the last one because I don't watch a lot of TV.

Next Monday is Family day. My favorite holiday of the year. For those not in the know, Family Day was conceived by the, then Premier Don Getty in 1990 when his son was killed in a car crash. Getty felt that a day off for families was needed. It’s a move I totally agree with. Most likely we’ll get to work Saturday and Tuesday to qualify for the stat pay. Most people get the long weekend.

The only problem for me is that Family Day falls on a Monday. That week is also a lodge night. So I’m left with a bit of a decision to make here. I might not go to the lodge meeting because of that but we’ll see.

Anyway, that’s all for now.

e. Jim