Call for Public Inquiry on Data Breach Grows Louder
In a recent exchange, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff, Rob Anderson, told NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to 'get a grip' regarding concerns over a data breach. However, critics argue that Anderson has it backwards. The controversy centers on the Centurion app, which was allegedly built using illegally obtained data. UCP caucus staffers reportedly saw former Premier Jason Kenney's address on a screen during a meeting about the app weeks before authorities were notified. Anderson claimed staffers could not have known the app's data was illicit, but many find this defense lacking.
Max Maudie of Blairmore wrote that anyone familiar with data privacy and Alberta politics should have been alarmed. The idea that senior staffers saw Kenney's address and did nothing is absurd. This is not about political point-scoring but about accountability, which the UCP seems to avoid. Maudie calls for a public inquiry.
Public Transportation and Zoning Parallels
Dave Greenlaw of Edmonton drew a parallel between open zoning bylaws and bus fleet renewal. The city claims it needs 75 new buses annually to keep up, but Greenlaw suggests that if over-massing is acceptable for zoning, why not for buses? He proposes that wider and taller buses could reduce the number needed to 20 per year.
Growing Weariness with Separatism
Rob Kotyshyn of Edmonton expressed fatigue with Alberta's separatist movement and the UCP government's implicit support. He argues that resources are wasted on this crusade while provincial issues like education, healthcare, and homelessness suffer. Kotyshyn condemns the underlying racism and privilege among separatist supporters, reminding that Canada is a top country to live in, and Alberta is the most affluent province. He urges Albertans to get over the idea of separation, as it alienates friends and family.
Brent Jewell of Sherwood Park echoed this sentiment, noting that over 400,000 Albertans do not want to separate. Separation would leave Alberta landlocked and more dependent on the U.S.
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