By Collin Gallant on October 26, 2024.

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The Alberta Bill of Rights will be on the agenda when the Legislative Assembly resumes Monday, which should add more than cream to the coffee of the “Black Hat Gang” in Medicine Hat. This mysterious group is credited with focusing Premier Danielle Smith’s agenda on strengthening what is largely an ambitious document without much precedence or legal authority. We don’t think Smith should be pushed very hard. Positioning Alberta as a more important part of the confederation equation was task No. 1 for the United Conservative leader. Enter the Black Hatters, whose identity is easy for any Hatter with eyes to decipher, judging by reports this summer about the push to add property rights and guns, “life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness” and “informed information.” consent” on medical matters, probably code for vaccines. If the photos are to be believed, the group includes long-time local politician Ian Parkinson and former MP Lavar Payne (who never fails to get shout-outs from Smith when she addresses a crowd with the hat ), as well as Scott Payne, the MP’s son, among others. The group has become a little camera shy since a CBC columnist first detailed this push in August, but beyond the “no official comment” stance, your author discerned that the work stems from ‘a sort of coffee shop chatter that happened during the pandemic. Some conservative actors noted a long time ago that constitutional conventions (those things that are not specifically written, but put into practice) could be changed or eliminated, so why not add some? The gang’s political work appears to be based on the work of former Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton, who is enjoying a recent revival and was here not too long ago. Morton was part of the “Calgary School” of conservative academics in the political science department at the University of Calgary, who helped write the so-called “firewall” letter with then-researcher Stephen Harper . The department also claims Smith, Pierre Poilievre, and Ezra Levant as alumni (as well as Naheed Nenshi, by the way, and in the interest of transparency, your author). Local Characters This issue includes a lovely tribute to Fred Beaupré, former Zamboni operator at the Medicine Hat Arena years ago, whose memorial service is planned for Sunday. This reminds me of a good saying from another old Medicine Hat character, Pete Mossey, who said in an article on the 100th anniversary of the News in 1985 that one constant is that “newspapers are about people.” This also raises a good question: There are TV channels dedicated to fireplaces, aquariums, sunsets, and even roast turkeys, so why not Zambonis? A look ahead The initial business plan for the city’s power generation units will be the focus of a long-planned city committee Wednesday, about a week after a mid-year financial report showed a sharp decline in the power plant’s dividends. A “community wellness plan” ordered by council in Budget 203-24 will be discussed at Monday’s utilities committee. A list of actions is expected before the end of the year. The Provincial Legislative Assembly also resumes its work on Monday. Perhaps a warm weekend offers one last chance to tidy up the garden. Halloween is Thursday, so Boo! 100 years ago, modern technology would strengthen the ties between Canada and further unite the regions as one, Prime Minister MacKenzie King said at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Medicine Hat on October 30, 1924. The packed crowd at the Cecil Hotel heard from the Prime Minister in pre-election fashion that the Liberal Party would protect the interests of all Canadians as traditional geographic barriers to trade fell in the coming modern era. King also gave a speech at the Empress Theater and visited the high school during the tour’s stop in the city. The Medicine Hat Junior Barber Poles would compete within the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association in the upcoming season, while a local municipal loop could bring together four teams. A meeting of farmers in the Rural Municipality of Excelsior, around Medicine Hat, suggested canceling four-year liens placed after seed loans as a relief measure given the ongoing drought. “When you’re tired and thirsty, drink Silver Spray Beer – the healthy drink! » available at the Medicine Hat branch, the Standard Bottling Co. on Park Drive. Collin Gallant covers municipal politics and a variety of current affairs topics. Contact him at 403-528-5664 or by email at [email protected]. 30
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