According to the Ethics Commissioner, Trudeau broke ethical guidelines on behalf of a big corporate entity, SNC-Lavalin, and as expected, it appears, everyone is calling for his resignation. I am confused, but hasn’t almost every politician of a major political party, for the last few decades, been advocating breaks for big corporations and the top 1%.

Didn’t Alberta elect a Premier who had to pay an ethics violation fine when he was a federal cabinet minister? Does he not lead a party who had issues with electoral fraud, kamikaze candidate and members issued $75,000 in fines by the ethics commissioner, due to actions during their leadership race?

Was it not a conservative government that supposedly just gave a $4.5 billion tax break to businesses? Was it not a conservative government that was supposedly lowering taxes for the top 1%? Was it not a conservative government(s) that was cutting services to everyone else to pay for these tax breaks?

Here in Alberta was there not lots of promises of jobs to rationalize billions in tax breaks for corporations only to find out that Alberta then subsequently lost 14,000 jobs in July alone?

I am not saying that Trudeau’s actions pressuring the Attorney General to give a deal to a big company is okay, but don’t they all do special deals for big corporations? Don’t we as tax payers subsidize the oil industry, cow tail to unions, pay homage to gun manufacturers, serve the auto industry, and placate the wealthy? The average voter just pays for them.

My wallet sure feels those political fingers. My costs keep going up, while my income hasn’t kept pace.

My mind has tuned out the politicians, and their desire to woo the rich and big corporations, and my heart is focused on the future, and my family.

Scientists and engineers have made great discoveries and given me some great things like cars, computers, cell phones and medical break-throughs but these same non-partisan intellectuals have also made huge unsettling discoveries, and given me causes for concern.

Issues like climate change, reminiscent of second hand smoke, are concerns to our health and our lives but are not given the same level of regard as tax breaks for the big corporations.

Second hand smoke was a major health care cost but tax breaks for cigarette companies and tobacco growers were the demands.

There is an election this fall and here in my riding there is no contest, as the conservatives will win, then become a seat warmer no one hears about, till the next election. My concerns will be ignored, my wallet will get thinner to placate the more well to do.

I do think it is about time to move on from focusing on the wallets of the few and focus on the health of the whole community. The person or party that can convince me that their focus is on the whole, for the future and not on big corporations and the wealthiest in a realistic manner, will get my support and vote.

Will my wallet survive the next election? I hope so, but I cannot be certain. I am worried we might get a Trump-like Prime Minister out of protest and the climate crisis will be pushed back and my wallet will be front and centre for political fingers for another few decades.

Is there another option?

The Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery is open daily 10:00am-4:30pm and open late on Wednesdays, until 8pm, every week.

#MeetYourMuseumRD

Visit a Red Deer interpretive centre or museum this August, tag the location you’re visiting and the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and be entered into a random draw for one of 3 gift baskets! Each basket is themed around the locations participating, plus there is an additional grand prize gift basket. Visit: Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Fort Normandeau, Sunnybrook Farm Museum, Norwegian Laft Hus, Alberta Sports Hall of Fame & Museum and the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG). Giveaway runs until August 31, 2019.

Click for details.

MAGsparks – Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Arts program connecting people with developmental disabilities to the Red Deer arts community.  $3/participant per class. MAGsparks annual memberships available for purchase.

August 14 – En Plein Air

Today’s Class: Weather permitting, today we’ll find our inspiration in the great outdoors. Rain or shine, we’ll have a great time!

August 19-  The Nature of Nouveau  

Today’s Class:  Looking at the works of Art Nouveau such as those by Alphonse Mucha, we’ll use organic and ornate patterns to express the beauty of the outdoors and the changing seasons!

The MAGsparks artists will show everyone how to create this week’s themed art project, so make sure to arrive by 1pm, and then there is free time to creatively work on your own artwork! An artist is always on hand for assistance with you art project.

For more details, contact us at 403-309-8405; email museum@reddeer.ca or go to the MAG website: www.reddeermuseum.com.

MAGnificent Saturdays  1:00 to 4:00 pm

August 17 – Mixed Media Flower Paintings

This project is a combination between mixed media collage and painting.  You’ll be creating a ground using all sorts of materials and then drawing your subject over the top.

Drop-in art making for the entire family in the Discovery Studio at the MAG. We supply the artist, the inspiration and the materials, you supply your imagination. Admission included with your Family MAG Membership or drop inadmission rates apply. Drop in rate of $10 per family for non-members.

For more details, contact us at (403) 309-8405 or email museum@reddeer.ca

Current Exhibits:

Unfamiliar Selves: Jude Griebel & Tammy Salzl

July 6 – September 29, 2019

In their paintings and sculpture, Jude Griebel and Tammy Salzl use the transforming body as a tactic to explore their relationships to the social and natural world. A shared Prairie background and mutual interests in narrative and affect come together in a detailed sense of storytelling through their chosen media.

Hot Mess: A Residency in Motherhood

By Erin Boake

July 20 – September 29, 2019

Hot Mess: a Residency in Motherhood, by Red Deer artist Erin Boake, explores and embraces the chaotic, cluttered and cyclical nature of motherhood.