Blood Sport Observers Say Purported Emails Suggest Decline Of Alberta Politics

“Alberta τρέ’s current political culture is characterized by intolerance for the prospects of political opponents and is characterized by a policy of personal destruction,” said an email from Chaldeans Mensah, a political science professor at MacEwan University. “Politics in Alberta has become a blood sport and players will resort to any unpleasant practices to sideline their political opponents.” On Monday, the Canadian press reported a long line of emails, receipts and other documents showing that Jonathan Dennis, Alberta’s cabinet minister from 2010-15, hired an investigator to find out who had given information to a journalist in a story that his wedding reception may have violated COVID-19 protocols. The Canadian press has not been able to confirm the authenticity of the emails and other documents using accompanying data. Dennis, in an email from his lawyer, denied that he or his clients had contacted the self-proclaimed fashion designer, David Wallace. The e-mails suggest that Dennis was trying to protect his friend and political ally Mike Ellis, the current Conservative cabinet minister who was then thought to be running for mayor of Calgary. Ellis’s press secretary, Eric Engler, said Ellis had not hired Dennis for more than a decade and did not know or in any way participate in the efforts to obtain the journalist’s telephone records. “It’s a bad thing,” said Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, who said the action – if true – could violate both criminal law and a professional code of conduct. “He is not just a lawyer without a name,” he said. “This is someone he is still deeply attached to [Alberta Premier] “Jason Kenny and the United Conservative Party.” University of Alberta professor Lori Andkin said the alleged attempt could be seen as an attack on the media. “It looks like you are intimidating the press,” he said. “This is not democratic.” Adkin said the emails, if authentic, indicate an unhealthy feature of Alberta’s policy. “There is a very low level of tolerance on the part of conservatives for any kind of political criticism. She was always treated as illegal. “This reflects their sense of being the natural ruling party … it is indistinguishable from the will of the people. We often see them trying to discredit critics by saying they are enemies of the Albertans.” Mensah agreed. “This reflects the toxicity of Alberta’s current political culture, which is characterized by intolerance for the prospects of political opponents and is characterized by a policy of personal destruction.” Even that tone, as expressed in Denis’s alleged emails, is not limited to Alberta. Denny is closely associated with Pierre Poulier, the leader of the Federal Conservative Party. Until recently, Denis was a volunteer in Poilievre’s campaign. In 2004, the two co-founded a political communications company called 3D Contact and continue to co-own and operate a Calgary real estate investment company called Liberty West Properties. Bratt said the alleged documents and emails about the journalist’s phone logs make him wonder what else might have happened. “You wonder if things like this have happened before,” he said. “We are dealing with a legacy of 44 years of one-party rule.” Mensah is not optimistic about the tone of Alberta’s policy, which will improve soon. “As the province has shifted to a bipartisan system, the level of political polarization has deepened and minor disagreements are excessive,” he wrote. “This may require joint efforts by the leaders of the UCP and the NDP to encourage politeness in politics, to reduce harsh language, while maintaining respect for opposing political views.”

title: " Blood Sport Observers Say Purported Emails Suggest Decline Of Alberta Politics " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-22” author: “Judy Marchan”

“Alberta τρέ’s current political culture is characterized by intolerance for the prospects of political opponents and is characterized by a policy of personal destruction,” said an email from Chaldeans Mensah, a political science professor at MacEwan University. “Politics in Alberta has become a blood sport and players will resort to any unpleasant practices to sideline their political opponents.” On Monday, the Canadian press reported a long line of emails, receipts and other documents showing that Jonathan Dennis, Alberta’s cabinet minister from 2010-15, hired an investigator to find out who had given information to a journalist in a story that his wedding reception may have violated COVID-19 protocols. The Canadian press has not been able to confirm the authenticity of the emails and other documents using accompanying data. Dennis, in an email from his lawyer, denied that he or his clients had contacted the self-proclaimed fashion designer, David Wallace. The e-mails suggest that Dennis was trying to protect his friend and political ally Mike Ellis, the current Conservative cabinet minister who was then thought to be running for mayor of Calgary. Ellis’s press secretary, Eric Engler, said Ellis had not hired Dennis for more than a decade and did not know or in any way participate in the efforts to obtain the journalist’s telephone records. “It’s a bad thing,” said Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, who said the action – if true – could violate both criminal law and a professional code of conduct. “He is not just a lawyer without a name,” he said. “This is someone he is still deeply attached to [Alberta Premier] “Jason Kenny and the United Conservative Party.” University of Alberta professor Lori Andkin said the alleged attempt could be seen as an attack on the media. “It looks like you are intimidating the press,” he said. “This is not democratic.” Adkin said the emails, if authentic, indicate an unhealthy feature of Alberta’s policy. “There is a very low level of tolerance on the part of conservatives for any kind of political criticism. She was always treated as illegal. “This reflects their sense of being the natural ruling party … it is indistinguishable from the will of the people. We often see them trying to discredit critics by saying they are enemies of the Albertans.” Mensah agreed. “This reflects the toxicity of Alberta’s current political culture, which is characterized by intolerance for the prospects of political opponents and is characterized by a policy of personal destruction.” Even that tone, as expressed in Denis’s alleged emails, is not limited to Alberta. Denny is closely associated with Pierre Poulier, the leader of the Federal Conservative Party. Until recently, Denis was a volunteer in Poilievre’s campaign. In 2004, the two co-founded a political communications company called 3D Contact and continue to co-own and operate a Calgary real estate investment company called Liberty West Properties. Bratt said the alleged documents and emails about the journalist’s phone logs make him wonder what else might have happened. “You wonder if things like this have happened before,” he said. “We are dealing with a legacy of 44 years of one-party rule.” Mensah is not optimistic about the tone of Alberta’s policy, which will improve soon. “As the province has shifted to a bipartisan system, the level of political polarization has deepened and minor disagreements are excessive,” he wrote. “This may require joint efforts by the leaders of the UCP and the NDP to encourage politeness in politics, to reduce harsh language, while maintaining respect for opposing political views.”