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CBC
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Which 'next' is Danielle Smith's Ottawa-affairs panel steering Alberta toward?
Before taking their latest chance to weigh in on the wisdom of exiting the Canada Pension Plan, Albertans must first watch a five-minute video, most of which tries to persuade them how great an idea it is. The promise of lower premiums and higher benefits hasn't sold well in the past. We recently learned that only 10 per cent of respondents favoured the idea in the 2023 round of government consultations on an Alberta pension plan. But with her Alberta Next feedback project, Premier Danielle Smith is treating this as a new day, full of fresh possibilities to alter the province's place within Canada on finances, constitutional powers, immigration and more. This video pitch on pensions endeavours to sell the public with suggestions of a "big upfront payout," better paycheques, and a provincially led investment strategy that "steered clear of ideological decision-making." The voiceover narrator notes some potential downsides. Among them: "The CPP exit rules aren't clear in the federal legislation and Ottawa is notoriously anti-Alberta with its decisions, so the size of the lump sum Alberta is offered could be lower than it should be." (Italics mine; federal officials might dispute that matter-of-fact assertion.) After that video, respondents get asked three multiple-choice questions, none of which let Albertans say whether they actually like the provincial pension idea. Perhaps they can chime in with that answer at one of the in-person town halls that begin in mid-July. The premier launched this review into the future of federalism in front of a recreated vintage oil well at Heritage Park in Calgary. Alberta Next is, in a way, a recreation of the Fair Deal Panel that Smith's predecessor Jason Kenney launched, two Liberal federal election victories ago in 2019. As separatist sentiments intensified, the then-premier had tasked his panel to study the viability of an Alberta-only pension and police force, an overhaul of federal transfers and more. That's just what Smith has done, though with some pivotal distinctions. Kenney tasked long-retired former politician Preston Manning to lead his panel. Smith assigned herself as chair. While this stands to boost the interest in upcoming town halls, some of the Alberta Next event attendees might want to bend the premier's ear on other matters, as this month's fiery meeting on coal mining may have foretold. The current premier is also specifically soliciting referendum questions to put on a ballot next year. Those would interact in unknown ways with a citizen-initiated plebiscite on separation, one which proposes a vastly more dramatic shakeup in Alberta-Canada relations. Kenney's panel took a slower march to referendums, ultimately recommending that the federal pension and police withdrawals merely be studied. The loaded language of the videos and surveys also takes Smith's initiative to a different level, says Jared Wesley, a University of Alberta political scientist. He's uniquely positioned to assess what Smith is doing: in his current role, he routinely conducts public opinion research. Before academia, he worked in the Alberta government's intergovernmental affairs division under both Tory and NDP premiers. The government is clearly not attempting to genuinely collect public opinion here, Wesley said in an interview. "What they're trying to do is to direct public opinion." He sees too many lofty assessments and a "half-hearted" presentation of the downsides of Alberta Next's proposals. The fact the federal government is Liberal (rather than Conservative) gets repeatedly mentioned in these factual background briefings. The section on fiscal transfers, for example, suggests that the imbalance between the federal taxes Albertans pay and the service grants to the province be solved by getting Ottawa to drastically cut its tax rates and have the provinces raise money on their own. "That sounds great on the surface for Alberta, but this idea has been floating around for many years, and the challenge is that a lot of other provinces end up far worse off by having those tax point transfers," Wesley said. On immigration reform, Smith's panel survey suggests that Alberta refuse to fund public services for certain classes of immigrants the provincial government doesn't wish to accept. Without specifying what type of services would be withheld, and to which immigrants, it could serve to harm newcomers in Alberta and inflame sentiments around them while blaming them for housing affordability and unemployment woes, said immigration lawyer Maureen Silcoff. "What we don't want is for governments to be putting forward rhetoric that further creates divisions in society," said Silcoff, a law professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. Alberta Next's video on immigration points out that denying public services to immigrants could land the province in court. What it doesn't mention is that twice before courts have told governments they cannot deny those services — in 2014 when the federal government cut a refugee health program, and last year when Quebec denied child-care subsidies to asylum seekers. The scale of all the changes Smith's surveys propose is seemingly massive. Creating a new police force, pension fund or tax-collecting body are pricey endeavours — after up to $1.5 billion in startup costs, an Alberta Revenue Agency would cost up to $750 million more per year and require as many as 5,000 new provincial workers, the video on taxation states. Other proposals, like constitutional reforms or transfer overhauls, would demand buy-in from not only Ottawa but also other provinces, without any clear trade-offs or upsides for them, Wesley said. "If the premier holds a series of referendums that end up saying Albertans want this and she's not able to deliver it, it only emboldens her political opponents on both sides — the federalists and the separatists," he said. Smith has pitched the project as a way to help reduce separatist sentiment, but might pushing these issues and accomplishing nothing make it even worse? In 2021, Kenney triggered a provincewide referendum proposing that the equalization program be removed from Canada's Constitution. Albertans endorsed the idea, but Ottawa did nothing with the outcome, and the equalization formula has not been altered since. Wesley's Common Ground opinion project surveyed Albertans and found a minority of them actually understood what the province was asking them on that equalization vote. "A lot of people thought that a yes there meant that Alberta would withdraw from equalization, which is just not possible," he said. If the province is serious about asking Albertans what they should do next or demand next, Wesley added, it should be grounded in a reality about what they can or could reasonably expect. The discussion materials the government provided to Albertans may not accomplish that. So how realistic will the conclusions Albertans inject back into this project be?
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
New Cabra rail station planned near Carnlough Road junction
Irish Rail plans to develop a new train station at Cabra in north Dublin, first mooted five years ago as part of its Dart expansion programme. The station will be located close to the junction of Cabra Road and Carnlough Road, in the south of the suburb, on the existing Phoenix Park Tunnel line and will serve a population of 26,000 living within 1km of the planned stop. An existing service runs from Newbridge and Hazelhatch/Celbridge in Co Kildare to Connolly and Grand Canal Dock, but without a stop in Cabra, which is one of the most densely populated areas though which the line runs. The line is due to be upgraded to Dart standard as part of the Irish Rail Dart+ project. Planning permission for Dart+ South West, which included a new station, Heuston West at Clancy Quay, was granted permission last November. READ MORE While a station at Cabra was under consideration when the Dart expansion plans were published in 2020, it was not included in the planning application. However, Irish Rail said, strong support for a Cabra stop emerged during the public consultation process for the Dart+ South West project. The company said it had 'taken this feedback on board and following a feasibility study are now proposing to progress the development of a new rail station in Cabra. Subject to planning being granted, construction of the new station at Cabra will be delivered in conjunction with the Dart+ Programme works.' [ Application lodged for extension of Dart to Celbridge and Hazelhatch Opens in new window ] Irish Rail plans to start construction of the Dart+ South West line next year. The new Cabra station will be served by a BusConnects core bus corridor, and will also have the 'potential', Irish Rail said, to connect to the Metrolink airport line at Glasnevin, if that project secures planning permission. [ Plans to extend Luas to Finglas 'to bring 30,000 within 1km' of Green line Opens in new window ] The Cabra station would also be a short walk from the TUD campus at Grangegorman.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong TV stations should boost English content
Hong Kong prides itself as Asia's world city. Yet there is no shortage of examples to show that the city may not live up to that reputation. The glaring inadequacy of television programmes in English for international audiences is a case in point. With a public consultation for the renewal of the three free TV licences due later this year, some lawmakers have called for more local productions in English, saying the current content is diminishing and lacks variety. Advertisement Local TV stations have been running more programmes in Mandarin after the cap for non-English programmes on English channels was raised from 20 per cent to 45 per cent in 2023 following a midterm license review. They may also show programmes in Mandarin with Chinese subtitles on Chinese channels for up to 10 per cent of the total broadcasting time. While it is understandable to show more programmes in Mandarin these days, it also means less content and fewer choices for many non-Chinese speakers. Admittedly, fewer people watch TV these days. The growing popularity of online media is also posing significant challenges to traditional broadcasting. But it remains the responsibility of the broadcasters to fulfil the licensing requirements. Expatriates feel they are increasingly being marginalised or alienated, saying there is little TV content that relates to them. A search on the internet for 'Hong Kong TV programmes in English' yields many results diverting users to watch programmes on overseas live streaming platforms via VPN, or virtual private network. The dearth of local and quality programmes in English is not new. Not only is this unconducive to social integration, it may also weaken Hong Kong's status as an international and inclusive city. Both Chinese and English are official languages in Hong Kong. Together with Mandarin, the biliteracy and trilingual policy is pivotal to the city's international competitiveness and national integration. The coming license review should ensure broadcasters will cater to the needs of all. Separately, some licensing rules are dated. They should be reviewed regularly to reflect present circumstances and enable broadcasters to cope with challenges arising from new technology and changing viewership.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popeyes in Dartford wants to serve food until 5am everyday
The Popeyes fast food restaurant in Dartford has applied for a licence to serve hot food and drinks until 5am every day. An application has been submitted to Dartford Borough Council by PLK Chicken UK Limited, covering the branch at Unit 14, Prospect Place, Dartford, DA1 1DY. Prospect Place is an outdoor shopping centre in the town centre, home to food outlets, clothing and home goods stores. If approved, the licence would allow the restaurant to offer late night refreshments from 11pm to 5am, seven days a week. The public consultation opened on May 29 and runs until June 18. Anyone wishing to comment on the application must submit their views in writing to the council's Licensing Section before the deadline. Representations must relate to one or more of the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. Dartford Borough Council warns that knowingly making a false statement in connection with a licence application is a criminal offence, with an unlimited fine on summary conviction. READ MORE: Full details of the application can be viewed on the council's website at For more information, contact the Licensing Section at licensing@ or visit the Civic Centre in Home Gardens. Want to find out all the latest planning applications, alcohol licensing applications and planned road closures near you? Then search the Public Notice Portal. The Public Notice Portal is owned and operated by the News Media Association, the voice of UK national, regional, and local newspapers in all their print and digital forms. NMA members include nearly 900 local and regional news titles which reach 40 million people across the length and breadth of the country each month. Many of these publications have served their communities for centuries and remain the most reliable source of verified news and information. Created by local news publishers and supported by the Google News Initiative, the portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Northern Trust recommends cutting emergency surgery from Causeway Hospital
Emergency General Surgery (EGS) is likely to be removed from Causeway Hospital, after the Northern Health Trust recommended providing the service at just one of its hospital Trust's board says its preference is that EGS be located at Antrim Area it is spread between the Antrim Area and Causeway recommendation follows a review and a public consultation. 'Extremely challenging' Senior management said that the duplication of services at both sites has put pressure on the hospitals and that the current system was "not sustainable".They said they were faced with two choices, either a managed planned change to services or a total collapse of those have taken the decision to manage that review included a 14-week long public consultation. According to the Trust, the public who responded were overwhelmingly against the change in services. However, the Trust say they believe the move is Chief Executive Jennifer Welsh described the review process as "extremely challenging".If the proposal is signed off by the Department of Health, plans to consolidate EGS at Antrim Area Hospital will go ahead. What is Emergency General Surgery? EGS looks after patients who require general surgical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment in an unplanned way, often following presentation in the would include emergency procedures like appendicitis or a blocked Causeway site will be used for elective general surgery. This is low complex surgery which can be planned, for example the removal of a is the case now, trauma patients, such as those that have been involved in road traffic accidents, will be transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment.
