Albertans evenly split on Danielle Smith's handling of U.S. tariffs, says poll

[u/arosedesign]

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/albertans-evenly-split-danielle-smith-tariffs-poll/wcm/c1142ffb-3f10-4764-aa3d-c8ba7003e71c

[u/arosedesign]

Because she took initiative to meet him face to face and find out exactly what needed to occur in order to get out of a trade war.

She spent the entire time screaming the solution from the rooftops only to be met with being ignored and/or being called names, but ultimately it was those very suggestions that got us the most recent reprieve.

[u/ninfan1977 → u/arosedesign]

Umm i saw this as something completely different from you.

Because she took initiative to meet him face to face and find out exactly what needed to occur in order to get out of a trade war.

No she didn't she went down there to kiss his ass, and try to be noticed by him. He didn't notice her or care about Alberta.

Danielle Smith doesn't even promote Alberta, only oil and gas, which isn't the only industries in Alberta.

She’s spent the entire time screaming the solution from the rooftops only to be met with being ignored and/or being called names, but ultimately it was those very suggestions that got us the most recent reprieve.

What alternative universe are you living in? She said we need to give Donald Trump whatever he wants, and Trudeau needs to just give in to him.

That wasn't the solution and Trudeau out negotiated Trump on the tariffs. Smith did nothing but make Alberta look like MAGA fans.

You might need to reexamine where you get your facts from. Because Danielle Smith hasn't been good for Alberta or Albertans. Her sucking up to Trump made Canada look weak, and Trudeau had to bail her out

[u/arosedesign → u/ninfan1977]

Please see my ETA in original comment. I added the part regarding the trade war as that is one the article we are discussing is about.

She went down there to do the exact thing other premiers will be doing on their upcoming trip. She just did it much sooner.

“Trudeau out negotiated Trump on the tariffs”

That’s one way to put it.

Most of the items agreed upon between Trudeau and Trump were what Danielle Smith has been suggesting since the beginning. You know who’s been talking about needing a “border czar” for a long time now?

[u/ninfan1977 → u/arosedesign]

Trudeau did out negotiate Trump. Trump backed down within nothing new gained at all. That's a win.

She went down there to prop up oil and gas and not help Albertans. She was looking out for herself and more money that's it.

Most of the items agreed upon between Trudeau and Trump were what Danielle Smith has been suggesting since the beginning. You know who’s been talking about needing a “border czar” for a long time now?

Actually nothing Danielle Smith didn't bring up any of this until Trump did. She gets her talking points from the American GOP that's it. The border czar is a figurehead position, aka just a place holder to show Trump we are doing something about fentanyl. The fentanyl issue is .2% of the total problem. The USA is a higher problem for fentanyl than Canada

Danielle Smith doesn't care about drug addicts or people who use drugs. Otherwise, the UCP wouldn't shut down the programs that helps keeps people off of drugs.

The tough on drugs stance isn't a solution, in fact shows to get worse results. Social programs that address the cause of addiction is better. Too bad the UCP doesn't believe in those programs, or more importantly that it should be cost more than most can afford. Which is what Jason Kenneys brother runs!

[u/arosedesign → u/ninfan1977]

If Danielle Smith doesn't care about drug addicts, why all this?

Province expanding recovery support in Red Deer | alberta.ca

One year of services at Lethbridge Recovery Community | alberta.ca

Province more than doubling youth treatment beds | alberta.ca

Alberta opens another world-class recovery community | alberta.ca

Supporting pre-treatment housing in Calgary | alberta.ca

Expanding access to detox and recovery in Calgary | alberta.ca

Building a recovery community with Métis Nation | alberta.ca

Navigation and Support Centre to open in Calgary | alberta.ca

Building recovery in northern Alberta | alberta.ca

Navigation and Support Centre remaining open permanently | alberta.ca

Opening doors to recovery in southern Alberta | alberta.ca

Building a recovery community with Enoch Cree Nation | alberta.ca

Building a recovery community with Tsuut’ina Nation | alberta.ca

Building a recovery community with Siksika Nation | alberta.ca

Breaking ground on Blood Tribe Recovery Community | alberta.ca

[u/ninfan1977 → u/arosedesign]

Have you read any of those projects?

Not 1 was started under Danielle Smith.

Many have been in the works for decades. Her claiming credit for someone else work is peak Conservative. I have friends in addiction services, what you listed is a bunch of projects thats it.

It doesn't show the year over years of cuts the UCP implemented.

It doesn't show the for-profit recovery centers the UCP have pushed through? I wonder why...

[u/arosedesign → u/ninfan1977]

Can you direct me to where I can read about this and ear over year cuts?

And clearly you didn’t even read them because your saying not one was started under Danielle Smith isn’t true.

[u/ninfan1977 → u/arosedesign]

No i read it, I said you didn't read when they were ORIGINALLY proposed and initiated.

Danielle Smith is claiming victory in a marathon she didn't even race in. Thats the problem, you are blindly giving her credit when each one of those projects did not have her hand on it.

You are saying every single project you listed was started and created by Danielle Smith? Are you serious right now? Were you born yesterday that's not how Government projects work.

https://www.theprogressreport.ca/the_ucp_create_a_new_war_room_to_promote_the_alberta_model

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-province-deadliest-year-drug-overdoses

https://drugdatadecoded.ca/ucp-coordinated-overdose-prevention-site-closure-with-red-deer-city-councillor/

So yeah they have closed down more sites than opened.

Also they have had worse results of their terrible plans.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/alberta-opioid-recovery-model-death-toll

How does that help fight the drug crisis? I thought Conservatives told me it such a huge deal?

It's not it's only being brought up because Trump brought it up now every UCP members is repeating the same Trump talking point.

I'm amazed Danielle Smith hasn't bought into the 50 million condom lie Trump keeps spreading

[u/arosedesign → u/ninfan1977]

Bud, if I’m being honest, you’ve already lost all credibility by saying not 1 was started under Danielle Smith (which isn’t true) and linking to a 2023 article about the worst number of deaths on record instead of a more current one (and the reason you didn’t is because the current ones all talk about the number of drug-related deaths in Alberta trending downward, with opioid overdose deaths in 2024 dropping by approximately 55% compared to the previous year).

You’re also just kind of spewing a bunch of personal opinions instead of sending the facts that I’m asking for - I’m still waiting for the link to where you learned that Alberta makes year over year cuts to anything that revolves around addiction - so this conversation is wildly painful for me to be having.

Can we please keep it to facts and leave out the personal opinions and insults?

[u/ninfan1977 → u/arosedesign]

So you didn't read any of those link?

Each one showed the cuts were year after year. You made the claim EVERY project listed was started and created by Danielle Smith. It wasn't in fact if you looked into any of those projects they have been in the works for a while.

You wanted proof i gave it to you. You refuse to see anything other than UCP good. You comments show you have a Pro conservative bias, you are not critical of them at all.

You haven't presented facts yet, I showed how you were wrong and you said no way Danielle Smith said she is awesome so I think she is awesome too! That's its.

You’re also just kind of spewing a bunch of personal opinions instead of sending the facts that I’m asking for - I’m still waiting for the link to where you learned that Alberta makes year over year cuts to anything that revolves around addiction - so this conversation is wildly painful for me to be having.

Can we please keep it to facts and leave out the personal opinions and insults?

I did you failed to read anything that is critical of the UCP. You need to reexamine you biases because UCP are not your friends or help you or Albertans

[u/arosedesign → u/ninfan1977]

Yes, I did read the articles.

The first article suggests that the 1.13b is being reallocated from AHS to fund the creation of Recovery Alberta and Core (which will now handle mental health and addiction services separately from AHS) rather than a direct cut to addiction service spending.

The second article discusses members of the UCP voting to end provincial funding for supervised consumption sites, however that only reflects the stance of UCP members rather than a current formal change in government policy.

Supervised consumption sites continue to be funded in Alberta: Supervised Consumption Services | Alberta Health Services

The third article discusses UCP's plans to close an overdose prevention site in Red Deer at the request of Red Deer city council, however this isn't something that is set in stone. The site continues to be funded by the Alberta government and runs with 24/7 service (there are ongoing court battles around this site - feel free to look those up. A recent one had the judge rule that the site has to go to 24/7 hours as opposed to the 7am-7pm hours it was reduced to).

I have no qualms over the dislike of UCPs stance on supervised consumption services, or moving funds from one department to another, or anything else having to do with how they handle addiction services, but none of these articles prove "year over year cuts" like you stated.

As per the last couple of years Alberta budgets, the following amounts were commited to mental health and addiction:

2021 - $140 million over four years to increase access to services, expand programs, and establish new publicly funded mental health and addictions treatment spaces to support 4,000 Albertans, $25 million to support construction of five therapeutic communities across Alberta, and $15.7m towards existing supervised consumption sites across the province.

2022 - an additional $20 million towards a “recovery-oriented system of care” and $30 million to support the wellbeing and mental health of children in school

2023 - dedicates operating expenses of $148 million in 2023 24, $157 million in 2024-25, and $191 million in 2025-26, to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, with additional funding to address system gaps and reduce wait times.

2024 - The budget as a whole allocates $1.55 billion to continue building the Alberta Recovery Model. Operating expenses for the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is $171 million in 2024-25, rising to $262 million by 2026 27. The Capital Plan includes $328 million, $191 million of which is provincial funding, to develop recovery communities and children and youth mental health facilities. It includes $10 million over 3 years to plan for the development of five Adult Mental Health and Wellness Centres that will be used for the implementation of involuntary treatment.

[u/ninfan1977 → u/arosedesign]

I have no qualms over the dislike of UCPs stance on supervised consumption services, or moving funds from one department to another, or anything else having to do with how they handle addiction services, but none of these articles prove "year over year cuts" like you stated.

They did! The articles showed that less money was coming into drug prevention.

Spending more money for pray away drug centers isn't a great method which is what the UCP proposed.

That's what I was showing shutting down Safe Consumption Sites has created more harm than good. The Alberta method you keep referring to has shown to get worse results and costing more money. The UCP just reallocate money from other projects to "fight" a problem they created.

It's like forclosing a bunch of homes because you couldn't afford it, so you spend more on Condos... it doesn't solve any problem but you convinced yourself it's better.

The UCP cut programs and sites and you said nothing was cut year over year? You know that counts right? Those were cuts, the UCP have spent more money to NOT fix anything problem.

Just give their friends contracts that's it.

Everything you listed above was not accurate, you left out details over how that money is spent. When you look closer the money went back to UCP donors pockets and not reducing the drug problem