Our Primetime this week panel examines the inter-provincial battle over bitumen, denial in Taber to flying the Pride flag, trouble in Cambodia and pondering the price of pot.'
PM backs Alberta in pipeline dispute with BC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Edmonton this week where he re-affirmed support for the Trans Mountain pipeline, essentially backing Alberta in a dispute with B.C.
B.C. threatened to ban increased shipments of Alberta oil until a scientific review into spill cleanups is complete. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley saw it as another attack on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project which would take Alberta oil to Burnaby, B.C.
Notley threatened legal and economic action in response. Alberta is suspending talks to buy electricity from B.C, in what she calls a “first step”.
Town of Taber denies request to raise Pride flag
Members of the Taber Equality Alliance is disappointed town council has denied a request to fly the Pride flag during Pride Month. Last year council allowed the group to raise the flag in Confederation Park. Within days the flag was pulled down and torn up. The replacement flag was set on fire.
This year, council denied to request to raise it again. It did not give a reason but said the decision was based on the desire to have all citizens represented by flags flown on town-owned poles. Council voted to remove the flagpole at Confederation Park as a designated community flagpole altogether.
Alberta infrastructure minister has offered to raise the pride flag at a provincial building in Taber, instead.
Albertan arrested for ‘pornographic’ pictures in Cambodia
An Alberta woman is among a group of tourists currently being held in a jail in Cambodia. They’re accused of producing ‘pornographic’ pictures.
Eden Kazoleas was among 10 people arrested last week while on a pub crawl. Police in Cambodia released photos of people playing a Twister-style ‘sex-position’ game. If convicted they could face up to a year in prison.
A video released this week shows the group apologizing and claiming they did not know what they did was wrong. A police official told reporters in Cambodia this case “affects the face of the country.”
Statistics Canada survey aims to help determine a price for pot
How much do you pay for pot? The federal government would like to know.
A new survey says “Statistics Canada needs your help collecting cannabis prices. Tell us about your last purchase of dried cannabis.” It asks respondents to input the price, quantity and quality of the marijuana. Statistics Canada stresses all submissions are anonymous.
Since the survey opened a week ago, more than 11,000 Canadians have responded.
Our Primetime This Week Panle includes: Walter Schwabe, digital strategist and founder of social analytics firm Fused Logic; Helen Pike, reporter with Metro Calgary and Archie McLean, journalism professor at Mount Royal Universit.
