The Day After

Norman Wiebe

Published

6 years ago

4 minute read

Well our respective leaders have expressed their concerns both for Alberta and Saskatchewan to our Prime Minister.

Premier’s Kenney and Moe both informed Mr. Trudeau of issues that must be resolved to help our provinces get back on their feet. The problem for us though is how much can Trudeau give without offending eastern Canada or the environmentalists. the big ticket items are: cancel the carbon tax, renegotiate equalization, and to let us build pipelines.

We all know that the carbon tax isn’t going away. I suspect Trudeau has spent millions of tax dollars on carbon offsets in his many attempts to sell himself to the world as a climate saviour. The Paris accord meetings alone cost us millions, never mind all the rest. Unlikely he backs down on this and angers his environmental friends.

If equalization is renegotiated in our favor, the cash flow to eastern Canada will have to shrink or stop altogether. This would send the budgets of those provinces into deficit territory fast, especially Quebec as they are the largest recipient. I don’t think we’ll get much political support down east for this idea as much as we might want it. Trudeau will not jeopardize the support he so desperately needs from the BQ to keep his agenda rolling.

How about building the Trans Mountain pipeline. Now that Trudeau has nationalized it, perhaps he’ll actually try to get it built. I can see SNC Lavalin consulting on the project, oops never mind that joke; it’s quite likely though that Trudeau uses it to his best advantage.

Allowing this one pipeline to be built, and at the same time assuring his supporters that no more pipelines will ever be built again due to Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, might be just what he needs to placate Albertans (for a time) and the environmentalists. Owning it, he can always force a shut down of production, so sort of a win all around for him.

The global investment community already knows that Canada is closed for business. Unless the government gets out of the way, the only pipelines built in our future will be done by the federal government. They will control our oil production forever. Trudeau’s plans for Phasing out the Oil Sands is already underway.

As I’ve said before, Independence for Alberta is the only reasonable option I see left to us. Everything else leaves us at the mercy of a system of government that exploits us, and keeps political power firmly vested in the east.

Once we’ve overcome the sentimental reasons to remain at the mercy of Ottawa, and embraced the logic of taking control of our own affairs, we can become an Independent nation. After that we can move forward working together as equals.

After our success, we can reach out to neighboring provinces to join us in our new nation, with a constitution that is based on Liberty, equality, and individual rights.

I really do hope that we can bring all western provinces on board, and maybe our eastern friends will change their ways, develop their economies and stand on their own two feet.

Some day, Alberta truly will be Strong and Free. In the course of us creating this new nation, we could possibly save all of Canada.

Click here to see Norman Wiebe’s post “What Now?”

Norman Wiebe

Norm Wiebe is a local Financial Advisor and political policy enthusiast. He and his wife Lera, live in Red Deer with their two children. Norm uses facebook to promote ideas, so look for him there. https://www.facebook.com/norman.wiebe

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The Day After

Alberta

Emissions Reduction Alberta offering financial boost for the next transformative drilling idea

Published on December 1, 2025

Todayville

From the Canadian Energy Centre

$35-million Alberta challenge targets next-gen drilling opportunities

‘All transformative ideas are really eligible’

Forget the old image of a straight vertical oil and gas well.

In Western Canada, engineers now steer wells for kilometres underground with remarkable precision, tapping vast energy resources from a single spot on the surface.

The sector is continually evolving as operators pursue next-generation drilling technologies that lower costs while opening new opportunities and reducing environmental impacts.

But many promising innovations never reach the market because of high development costs and limited opportunities for real-world testing, according to Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA).

That’s why ERA is launching the Drilling Technology Challenge, which will invest up to $35 million to advance new drilling and subsurface technologies.

“The focus isn’t just on drilling, it’s about building our future economy, helping reduce emissions, creating new industries and making sure we remain a responsible leader in energy development for decades to come,” said ERA CEO Justin Riemer.

And it’s not just about oil and gas. ERA says emerging technologies can unlock new resource opportunities such as geothermal energy, deep geological CO₂ storage and critical minerals extraction.

“Alberta’s wealth comes from our natural resources, most of which are extracted through drilling and other subsurface technologies,” said Gurpreet Lail, CEO of Enserva, which represents energy service companies.

ERA funding for the challenge will range from $250,000 to $8 million per project.

Eligible technologies include advanced drilling systems, downhole tools and sensors; AI-enabled automation and optimization; low-impact rigs and fluids; geothermal and critical mineral drilling applications; and supporting infrastructure like mobile labs and simulation platforms.

“All transformative ideas are really eligible for this call,” Riemer said, noting that AI-based technologies are likely to play a growing role.

“I think what we’re seeing is that the wells of the future are going to be guided by smart sensors and real-time data. You’re going to have a lot of AI-driven controls that help operators make instant decisions and avoid problems.”

Applications for the Drilling Technology Challenge close January 29, 2026.

Alberta

New era of police accountability

Published on December 1, 2025

Government of Alberta

The Police Review Commission (PRC) is now fully operational, giving Albertans a single, independent process to file policing complaints and ensure accountability.

Alberta’s government is putting the province at the forefront of police oversight in Canada with the creation of the PRC. This new commission replaces the current patchwork of police investigating police with one independent body responsible for receiving complaints, conducting investigations and overseeing disciplinary hearings. By centralizing these functions within a single, independent agency, Alberta is ensuring complaints are handled fairly and consistently.

“The Police Review Commission represents a new era in how Alberta addresses policing complaints. These changes are part of a broader paradigm shift where police are no longer seen as an arm of the state, but rather an extension and a reflection of the community they serve. As an independent agency, it is committed to fairness, accountability and public trust, ensuring every complaint is investigated impartially and resolved openly.”

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

The Police Amendment Act, 2022 laid the groundwork for this new model, establishing a modern approach to oversight built on accountability, consistency and public confidence. The PRC will manage the full complaints process from receiving and assessing, to investigating and resolving complaints related to police conduct, including serious incidents and statutory offences.

“The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police welcomes the launch of the Police Review Commission as a meaningful step toward enhanced oversight and greater transparency in policing. By ensuring complaints are reviewed fairly and impartially, the Commission will help strengthen accountability and reinforce public trust in Alberta’s police agencies. Police leaders across the province are committed to working with the Commission and our communities to ensure every Albertan has confidence in the integrity of our police services.”

Al Murphy, president, Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police

A timely and transparent complaint resolution process is essential for both the public and police. That is why the PRC must complete investigations within 180 days, and if more time is needed, the chief executive officer must publicly report on delays and provide justification. This ensures clarity, predictability and accountability throughout the process. The commission will be arm’s length from government and police services, meaning people can have greater confidence that their complaints will be investigated and resolved impartially.

“Our goal is to build trust in policing by delivering timely resolutions and fair, consistent outcomes that put people first. Every complaint will be reviewed thoroughly and handled with the transparency and respect Albertans expect and deserve.”

Michael Ewenson, interim chief executive officer, Police Review Commission

The PRC can also initiate systemic reviews related to police conduct or emerging trends without the need for a public complaint, and these reviews must be made public. Together, these measures create a clear, accountable process that strengthens transparency, supports continuous improvement and enhances trust in how police oversight is carried out across Alberta.

“Public safety and the confidence the public has in our police services and service members are incumbent for effective and responsible service delivery. The PRC has been developed so that Albertans may have a responsible and impartial mechanism to voice concerns regarding delivery of policing services in Alberta. I am confident that the PRC will be an inclusive and diverse representation of the communities, so we may better understand the most appropriate and effective way to respond to concerns regarding police services. I look forward to the positive outcomes for the community.”

Teddy Manywounds, justice and public safety director, G4 Stoney Nakoda Tsuut’ina First Nations

The commission’s design was informed by engagement with Indigenous communities, law enforcement partners, municipal officials and community organizations, ensuring its structure and training reflect Alberta’s diversity and values.

Quick facts

The PRC will handle complaints in three categories:
- Level 1: Death, serious injury and serious or sensitive allegations involving all police services in Alberta, as well as peace officer agencies.
- Level 2: Allegations of criminal and other statutory offences involving all police services in Alberta.
- Level 3: Complaints about non-criminal misconduct involving officers employed by municipal and First Nations police services.
Complaints that fall outside the three categories will be referred to the appropriate bodies or agencies for review.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) will now operate under the PRC.