Kim Mason

ATA Local No. 8 Past President, Teacher, Tech geek, Nature nut, passionate for Politics and advocate for Equity.

[Dr. Raj Sherman @RajSherman]

Trevor, we've been down this road before. I was there.

In 2008, as a newly elected PC MLA, I witnessed one of the most remarkable caucus debates of my political career.

Minister Lindsay Blackett brought proposals concerning Alberta's Human Rights Commission to caucus, amid pressure from Ezra Levant and others claiming it entertained frivolous complaints.

There was discussion about abolishing the Commission and leaving hate-speech matters to the Criminal Code.

I was so opposed that I walked out, declaring, “This is not the Progressive Conservative Party of Peter Lougheed or Ralph Klein!”

George Rogers and the late Hon. Gene Zwozdesky followed me out and brought me back.

Their advice? Never walk out of caucus. Stay, debate and persuade your colleagues.

Normally, cabinet proposals passed quickly. This debate lasted nearly a month. We heard deeply personal stories of discrimination.

First, racialized MLAs shared their experiences. Then older colleagues of German ancestry described discrimination their families endured after WWII.

Finally, Premier @EdStelmachMLA spoke about discrimination he experienced because of his Ukrainian heritage and accent.

There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Premier Stelmach demonstrated extraordinary courage and empathy!

He announced we would NOT abolish the Human Rights Commission. Instead, we'd strengthen its processes, preserve its independence and screen out frivolous complaints.

In 2009, we passed Bill 44, formally adding sexual orientation to Alberta's human rights legislation, following the Supreme Court's landmark 1998 Vriend v. Alberta decision.

I was enormously proud of Premier Stelmach that day.

He didn't ask for a caucus vote. He'd made his decision as Premier and asked for our support.

I remember thunderous applause from most of caucus with the exception of @FreeAlbertaRob & @TedMortonMLA

But the debate didn't end there.

In 2014, as Liberal leader, our House Leader Laurie Blakeman introduced Bill 202 to protect LGBTQ students and guarantee gay-straight alliances in schools.

It divided the PCs and created controversy for Danielle Smith's Wildrose Party.

The late Premier Jim Prentice introduced a competing Bill 10. I voted against its original version alongside Laurie, Danielle and others.

Following public opposition, Premier Prentice reconsidered. Revised legislation protecting gay-straight alliances passed in 2015.

Again, leadership mattered.

Human rights protect ALL Albertans: Indigenous peoples, racial minorities, women, people with disabilities, religious minorities and LGBTQ communities.

Frivolous complaints should be dismissed, but that doesn't justify dismantling protections against discrimination.

Freedom of expression and protection from discrimination are not mutually exclusive.

Nearly two decades later, we're revisiting the same debate, again following pressure from Ezra Levant.

@ABDanielleSmith should remember the lessons of Premiers Stelmach and the late Premier Prentice.

True leadership means defending the rights of ALL Albertans, even when it upsets your own supporters.

Weakening human rights protections to satisfy one political constituency would be morally wrong and politically disastrous.

Then again, the Premier does have a history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. :)

@nenshi @Alberta_UCP @UCPCaucus @albertaNDP @TheBreakdownAB @ryanjespersen @cspotweet @LukaszukAB

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

I will soon be introducing a bill to give the public a 50% ownership stake in the largest AI companies in America.

This would guarantee that the trillions created by AI are used to improve the lives of all of us — and block oligarch decisions that harm the American people.

[LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @LongTimeHistory]

ICE physically attacks lawyer—stand between her and clients they're trying to detain.

"Don't push me!" lawyer yells. "Why you trying to pick them up?"

"It's none of your business," agent scolds.

"It is my business—I'm their attorney," she replies. "It's EXACTLY my business!"

Immigration attorney Alicia Via Beeslev took this video after she received a call from a client that ICE was lying about having a warrant for arrest.

She drove to the scene and was able to chase them off the apartment complex property.

She wrote, "If you don't like the F word more than you don't like people getting kidnapped, you may not want to watch this video."

The incident occurred in Portland, Oregon.

[Kim Mason @joyousimplicity]

@Russty1105 Who is your insurer?

[Jason Scott 🇨🇦 @JasonOnTheDrums]

#Ableg

Unemployment by Canadian City:

Halifax: 6.2%
Quebec City: 4.5%
Ottawa: 6.1%
Winnipeg: 5.9%
Regina: 5.8%
Victoria: 4.4%

#YEG: 8:1%
#YYC: 8.4%
North AB: 10.7%

This is NOT Trudeau hurting Canada
This is Smith IGNORING Alberta

Smith’s choices are hurting Albertans.

[Jonathan Sharek 🇨🇦 @jsharek]

It has not snowed in Edmonton.

I wonder if this account even knows it’s a disingenuous photo. 🤨

#ableg #UCP

[Leduc Rep @LeducRep]

Leduc RCMP make five arrests as part of Project Street Light. MORE: https://t.co/CTROzfDIe6

[Mamarazzi 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🍉🇨🇦 @jenn_angelheart]

@MattGrierMusic Probably because we’ve entered our police state era

[Alberta Medical Association (AMA) @Albertadoctors]

AMA Section of Pediatrics sent a letter to Minister of Education Nicolaides outlining concerns with the growing gap between children's needs in our classrooms and available classroom resources. https://t.co/sYbOq9B4By

[Hon. Thomas A. Lukaszuk @LukaszukAB]

I’m going to sleep tonight with a renewed confidence in Albertans, my long-time friends and new #ForeverCanadian troopers whom I met over the last 90 days. Friends, together we got this. Canada’s in safe hands.

Then, I get home, and my daughter is taking over the torch. Yes!!!

[Kim Mason @joyousimplicity]

https://t.co/xKbOwGySEy

[Kim Siever @kim_siever]

It amazes me every time people think the solution to a system problem is an individual choice.

Your boss is exploiting you? Get a new job.

Class sizes too big? Homeschool.

Rent is too high in your city? Move.

None of those solutions actually solve the problems.

[VisuallyBetter @Isuckatpicking]

The Alberta NDP built 169 new schools from 2015-19. They also completed 75 replacements and modernizations of existing schools.

From 2019 (UCP elected) to today they have built 28 new schools over 6 years.

The UCP doesn't believe in public education.

[Hon. Thomas A. Lukaszuk @LukaszukAB]

St. Albert students are organizing. Young Miss Lukaszuk is leading organizing.

Let’s support our students’ participation in democracy!

[Dr Pнıʟ McRαε @philmcrae]

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS CONDEMNED THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT’S USE OF NOTWITHSTANDING CLAUSE IN BILL 2

Secretary General states the province’s anti-strike legislation has disproportionately harmed the rights of women workers https://t.co/ut26dFP4DR #abed #ableg

[Kim Mason @joyousimplicity]

@rroul1 And the 91,000 new students that Nicky keeps mentioning are not currently funded under the UCP weighted average funding formula!

[Morgan Laidler 🇨🇦 @MorganLaidler]

Parent with kids in school here.

I want properly compensated teachers that have good working conditions and appropriate class sizes.

I also want the government to bargain in good faith, not just force them back to work with bullshit legislation.

So there’s that I guess.

[JEeEnEnAA @jennAA2014]

My kid goes to a designated public school as our schools near home are full/capped. We pay $400/year in bussing. Somehow kids at private schools get this covered. Thanks UCP.

[Chris (Proud AB Motherfu*ker) @SkipIsChris]

Good morning. I'll get right to it.

You all need to be fucking mad as hell right now.

Because what Danielle Smith’s government is threatening to do in Alberta isn’t a negotiation tactic. It’s a constitutional crisis in the making.

#ableg #abed #abpoli #cdnpoli

[Captain Canadian @furmsies]

A question for Alberta Farmers.

Did you get compensation for drought conditions from the AB government?

Fun fact, your Finannce Minister just received 1.6 million.

Is the UCP giving you a fair deal?

It's a fair question.