Month: April 2020

Kenney’s Hong Kong Friend

Jason Kenney, Alberta’s Premier, on April 20, 2020, called for the release of his friend Martin Lee who was arrested in Hong Kong.  Martin Lee, age 81, who helped draft the Basic Law guaranteeing Hong Kong’s special status, was arrested with 14 other moderate, and many senior, pro-democracy activists.

 Kenney was immediately criticized by the Chinese Consulate of Calgary who tweeted that foreigners should stay out of China’s affairs. Kenney said he couldn’t abandon an old friend and champion of human rights who was suddenly a political prisoner. 

It is important to credit politicians when they guard the truth. 

Recently the Liaison Office in Hong Kong representing China stated it had supervisory power and was not bound by the non-interference clause. When earlier negotiated agreements are ignored, citizens lose human rights. 

I love fiction but reality in politics and life is so important.

Truth is worth guarding.

  1. Dawson, T. (2020, April 22,). Chinese officials angry with Jason Kenney for supporting pro-democracy friend arrested in Hong Kong. Retrieved from National Post.https://nationalpost.com/news/chinese-officials-angry-with-jason-kenney-for-supporting-pro-democracy-friend-arrested-in-hong-kong
  1. AFP-JIJI. (2020, April 23.) Hong Kong political crisis deepens despite protest lull during pandemic. Retrieved from

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/04/23/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/hong-kong-political-crisis-pandemic/#.XqHn7i3My3V

Corona Masks

REALITY POLITICS

Canadian nurses reported in 2020 that their masks are defective and put lives at risk during the corona pandemic. We should be asking if this is true.

Did Alberta nurses say the masks they recently received didn’t work? 

If it is true, we need to fix it.

Let’s work together, examine and base our political decisions on reality.

When an official, like Steve Buick, press secretary to Alberta’s Health Minister, states the masks are safe then citizens should ask how he knows this.

Who told him? Has he tried them himself to see if they stay on? Would he want his nurse to wear them as she’s going from one covid patient to another?

Toronto recalled more than 60,000 masks at the beginning of April and  Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands have done the same earlier.

How do we know Alberta’s masks are safe? Jason Kenney said in a tweet that the masks were approved after testing. What do health professionals say when they have to wear them?

How can we work together to ensure safety? Could having masks made and inspected locally ensure greater safety?

Let’s work together and set aside earlier ideological grievances. Let’s  examine and base our political decisions on reality.

I love fiction but reality in politics is so important. Truth is worth guarding.

1. Rieger, S. (2020, April 18,). Alberta health-care workers say new masks don’t seal, cause rashes and headaches. Retrieved from

CBC News.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/mask-issues-alberta-1.5537345

2. Walsh, M.,  Stone, L., Morrow, A. (2020, April 8). Toronto recalls faulty masks as Canada works to secure more supplies. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-toronto-recalls-faulty-face-masks-as-canada-works-to-secure-more/