Alberta
CFL faces very difficult future
This is an unpleasant reality: The Canadian Football League faces an extremely difficult future.
In truth, it may not have a future at all.
In the few days since commissioner Randy Ambrosie finally confirmed the obvious that the 2020 season had been only a figment of many imaginations, there has been a rush of both critics and devout supporters to explain at least partially the many reasons for the CFL’s arrival on the edge of final, fatal league disappearance.
Most of the observers are content to point out that large markets such as Toronto and Vancouver lost their way after National Football League franchises were established in nearby Buffalo (the Bills) and Seattle (the Seahawks),creating a painful reduction of several million dollars in gate revenue each year.
If only that were true . . . but it is not.
Much more damage has been done through simple — but very thorough — disrespect of the game by the owners and presidents and general managers positioned to grow Canadian football rather than to destroy it.
At one point, the Canadian brand of football was vastly different from the U.S.-based game although both admittedly grew from the foundation of British rugby.
In the 1950s, after decades of evolution, the biggest obvious disparity remained the difference in on-field lineups: 12 in Canada, 11 in the United States. The extra players provided more blocking and, often, more of a ground attack. Although imports had been approved, there were still more Canadians — many more — on every roster.
At that time, the Americans allowed unlimited blocking on every play; in Canada, no legal interference was allowed more than 10 yards downfield. Blocking on pass plays was a non-no in this country for many years.
This space, and many more, have wallowed in the old truth that Canada once paid U.S. imports more than the NFL did. Witness,for example, all-time Edmonton Eskimo great Jackie Parker; he and other imports signed here because the Canadian dollar had more value on the market than the American buck did.
Former Calgary Stampeders stars Earl Lunsford and Don Luzzi — all-star fullback and two-way tackle — entered the CFL a few years later for similar reasons. They played when the single point had strategic importance. Now, it is considered both unique and insignificant.
Veteran punt returners like 5-foot-8 Gene Wlasiuk of Saskatrchewan boasted wryly that they entered the league as six-footers but shrank when swarmed by tacklers. No blocking on punt returns, back then.
During this general time frame, U.S.- trained coaches and general managers became a majority. Jim Finks in Calgary, himself once a starter at quarterback in the NFL, heard claims that the CFL players were “too small”: to be real football players. He countered by pointing out the NFL had finally followed the CFL in using elusive runners and receivers; he was right. By and large, Canadians didn’t notice.
Hugh Campbell created a dynasty in Edmonton by making sure Canadian players had some ability, and then using them in every situation.
Through it all, import limits grew from a handful to today’s situation where rosters are clogged with more unknown U.S. college kids and pro failures than ever before. Alleged experts present the obnoxious theory that the CFL should openly become a farm system for NFL teams.
Misguided commissioner Ambrosie saluted his entry to the new job by proposing that the CFL should be loaded, as quickly as possible, with citizens from Greece, Germany, Scotland, or any other nation with strong, well-conditioned athletes who might be better than the kids graduating year after year from Canadian universities.
History shows that the CFL has spent so much time emulating the NFL and seeking “gimmicks” to boost profits that the road to any future was lost entirely. The most devastating example of contempt for their own product came when Herb Capozzi, a former B.C. Lions player, wrote a nationally-syndicated weekend column in which he insisted “Canadians Play Lousy Football.”
Later, he operated the Lions franchise and ultimately the entire league.
No further questions needed.
From LifeSiteNews
Imagine if it was a conservative minister making fun of Mohammed on an important religious feast day
The leader of Alberta’s socialist New Democratic Party (NDP) has been taken to task by the ruling United Conservative Party for appearing to mock Christians in a moment caught by a hot mic at a press conference in the province’s legislature.
On Wednesday, NDP leader and former mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi, who does not hold a seat in the legislature despite being leader of the opposition, drew the ire of UCP Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Dan Williams for appearing to mock Jesus Christ.
“Yesterday, right here in the legislature, Naheed Nenshi, the leader of the NDP, mocked Christians along with the media. They laughed at us,” said Williams in an X post video Thursday.
In the video, Williams shows a clip of Nenshi walking away after Wednesday’s press conference saying, “I wanted to say the UCP hates baby Jesus.” Immediately afterward, members of the media burst into laughter.
It is not clear what Nenshi was asked by the legacy media, or why he made the response he did, but it was perceived by Williams and others to be a mockery of Christians who support the UCP.
Williams took issue with Nenshi’s comments, saying that what he said was “deeply inappropriate anywhere, especially here in our legislature, and it’s so deeply inappropriate for anyone to say, especially someone who believes that they should be the leader of our province.”
Not done yet, Williams accused Nenshi of making “fun of the majority of faith holders in this province.”
“To do it here, of all places, in the Rotunda. Friends imagine if the roles were switched. Imagine if it was a conservative minister making fun of Mohammed on an important religious feast day,” he said.
Williams demanded that Nenshi apologize for his “offhand joke.”
“He might not have intended it, but it is offensive and I hope Mr. Nenshi rises to the occasion and apologizes because I don’t think Christians want to stand for being made fun of by Mr. Nenshi or by anyone, and not in the house and seat of our democracy here in the legislature,” he said.
Nenshi is no stranger to advocating for the woke agenda that often stands in opposition to Christian values.
In 2021, Nenshi called COVID protesters, many of whom were Christians, “white supremacists,” and said last year that Canadian politicians should use their positions in parliament to combat the “radicalization of white people.”
It was also during Nenshi’s time as mayor of Calgary that the city’s council banned businesses from offering help to those with unwanted same-sex attraction, meaning that even if someone who suffered from such attraction wanted help in dealing with those feelings, offering such help was not permitted.
A new Construction Codes Working Group will explore changes to construction codes to help address housing affordability.
As Alberta’s population continues to grow, so does the need for more housing options. That’s why the province has been working to reduce barriers and empower its housing partners to get more shovels in the ground, and get more houses built for Alberta families.
Alberta’s government continues to look at all options to build more homes. To further this work, a Construction Codes Working Group has been created to explore how Alberta’s construction codes can be improved to speed up development while still maintaining the required high quality and safety standards. The working group includes members from government, municipalities and the development community.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our approach to increase housing options for Albertans. We have already collaborated to streamline some permitting processes, and by continuing to work together we will remove barriers standing in the way of housing options.”
“Albertans need more housing options as the population grows and it’s why we’ve been working to reduce barriers to housing construction. This working group is just another way that our government is working with housing partners and municipalities to accelerate homebuilding across the province.”
Using the expertise and experience of municipal and industry professionals, the Construction Codes Working Group will explore construction code amendments to accelerate the homebuilding process across the province and harness regulatory, municipal and industry expertise to tackle housing development complexities. Examples of code changes the working group may consider include those for secondary suites and single-stair apartments to make housing easier to build.
The Construction Codes Working Group will include representatives from Alberta’s government, the cities of Calgary and Edmonton, the Safety Codes Council, and the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) Alberta. The Safety Codes Council will ensure safety codes officers are trained on any new codes, inspections or approval processes. BILD Alberta will give insight into market conditions and development challenges.
“In the face of unprecedented population growth, we need an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach to build more homes and meet the growing demand. The Construction Codes Working Group unites experts to streamline construction processes while maintaining top safety standards. I look forward to the insights and recommendations from this working group and am confident a collaborative approach will help deliver more housing options for Calgarians.”
“The City of Edmonton is proud to be a member of the new Construction Codes Working Group. As Edmonton continues to experience unprecedented growth and an increased demand for housing, we are eager to explore new and innovative ways to streamline the development process to ensure every Edmontonian has a home.”
On May 1, Alberta formally updated its provincial building and fire codes to align with national codes and allow for improved energy efficiency in housing and small buildings, while still emphasizing consumer affordability. The Construction Codes Working Group will build on this work to address additional pressures and development challenges found in Alberta’s housing market.
“As a member of the Construction Codes Working Group, BILD Alberta is proud to support the development of solutions that balance building code requirements with housing affordability. By collaborating with key stakeholders, we aim to identify innovative, practical changes that prioritize safety, efficiency and accessibility while addressing the pressing housing needs of Albertans.”
Quick facts
- The 2023 Alberta editions of the building and fire codes and the 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings came into force on May 1, 2024.
- The creation of the Construction Codes Working Group supports the goals of Alberta’s Housing Action Plan by looking at ways to cut red tape that are creating delays in affordable construction.
- The 2024 Accessibility Design Guide that was recently released includes detailed information and context to help the public and construction industry understand and apply the provincial building code’s accessibility requirements.
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