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June 14, 2021 | No Comments

Win a lunch with your Member of Parliament

Talking with you and hearing your feedback is the most important part of my job as your Member of Parliament.

I’ll be hosting one lucky subscriber of my e-newsletter this summer for lunch. 

We’ll have a chance to talk directly about the issues that matter most to  you.  

To be considered all you have to do is subscribe to my e-newsletter and be a constituent of Edmonton Griesbach. 

I’ll be drawing the winner later this summer.  

If you know anyone who may be interested they can subscribe at: kerrydiotte.com/newsletter-subscription/

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June 14, 2021 | No Comments

Closure of Northlands leaves hole in Edmonton’s heart

By KERRY DIOTTE

Member of Parliament

There was some very big and sad news this week that barely made headlines in this era of the diminishing quality of mainstream journalism.

 

After 142 years, the non-profit volunteer organization Northlands announced it’s folding.

 

The closure of Northlands leaves a hole in the heart of Edmonton — literally and figuratively.

 

The beginning of the end of the operation began when the City of Edmonton struck a deal to build a downtown arena for the Edmonton Oilers and owner Daryl Katz that saw the team move out of Northlands’ Coliseum after playing the last game there in spring 2016.

 

For decades, the community organization thrived, putting on major events at the Coliseum including concerts and Oilers hockey. 

 

Powered by thousands of volunteers and staff over the years, Northlands also produced Edmonton’s K-Days parade, the K-Days exhibition, Farm Fair International, Canadian Finals Rodeo and other sports and cultural events at its massive 200-acre north-side campus.

 

It also ran the very successful Northlands Park racetrack and the Edmonton Expo Centre.

 

Now its two marquee events, K-Days and Farmfair International will be handed over to the City of Edmonton to run through its arms-length tourism and events corporation, Explore Edmonton.

 

I was a member of the board of Northlands from 2010 to 2013 while I was a city councillor in Edmonton, so I’ve got a special place in my heart for the organization that operated in my federal riding of Edmonton Griesbach.

 

We had a solid bunch of people on the board from all sorts of fields — business, arts, legal, politics and more. I don’t think I’ve met a better collection of folks who cared more for this city.

 

More importantly I got to meet many of the dedicated volunteers of the organization. The term “salt of the earth” comes to mind. These folks were some of the best, kindest and most community-minded Edmontonians I’ve ever encountered.

 

In my view, the end of Northlands came because it was starved of revenue sources in the wake of events that unfolded with the Katz/Oilers agreements with the City of Edmonton. In a nutshell, the deals city council agreed to didn’t allow for Northlands to compete with the new arena by hosting sports or events. 

 

I was one of only two city councillors who consistently voted against the terms of the downtown arena deal. It’s not that I didn’t like the idea of a new arena being built. It’s because it wasn’t a good financial deal for city taxpayers or for Northlands, a solid, non-profit society that’s older than both Edmonton or the Province of Alberta.

 

I won’t re-litigate the Oilers/City of Edmonton deal. There’s not enough space in this column for that.

 

If you want the inside scoop, read Power Play, a book about the controversial deal co-authored by my former council colleague Linda Sloan McCulloch. You’ll lean my in-depth feelings. I’m quoted in that book plenty: www.uap.ualberta.ca/titles/960-9781772124934-power-play

 

I know there are those who long-accused Northlands of being “an old-boys club.” I think that image might have been well-earned at one time. But it didn’t operate that way when I was there. 

 

Its memorable CEO then was the talented Richard Andersen, a real pro who’d previously been executive VP of the San Diego Padres and GM of its stadium, PETCO Park.

 

Andersen was one of the best executives and promoters I’ve ever seen — and I’ve seen a few.

 

Check out his appearance on the TV show Undercover Boss. It will tell you a lot about the man and the Northlands philosophy. It’s truly worth a heart-warming watch:

 

 

The big question we must ask ourselves is this: Is Edmonton better off now that Northlands is gone?

 

We certainly have a state-of-the-art downtown arena. True. But we’ve also lost a legendary community organization and all of its volunteers. 

 

The massive 200-acre north-side campus that once was alive with events is now virtually empty. A perfectly serviceable arena is shuttered as is the one-lively racetrack and casino (The Spectrum).

 

Just about the only living souls on the site today are folks who are living at homeless shelters set up at The Spectrum and at the former apartments for jockeys.

 

Cynics would say this is what passes for progress.

 

As the member of Parliament for the area I’ve been pushing hard to see solid plans to redevelop this site that’s owned by the City and is known as the Edmonton Exhibition Lands.

 

A well-planned, intelligent development is absolutely critical for the communities surrounding it including Bellevue, Montrose, Eastwood, Parkdale, Cromdale and Virginia Park. The site has huge potential especially since it’s already served by high-speed LRT.

 

You can be rest-assured I’ll continue to make this development a top priority.

 

(Kerry Diotte is a former journalist, Edmonton city councillor and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach. Do you have comments on this opinion column? E-mail [email protected])

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June 11, 2021 | No Comments

Most Canadians know about the value of money. The Liberals have to learn that too.

 
 

Justin Trudeau and his Liberals are spending our tax money at an alarming rate. I detail some of the low-lights when I spoke in the virtual House of Commons about the Liberals’ proposed budget known as Bill C-30 (the budget implementation bill). Check out my speech here.

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June 7, 2021 | No Comments

Here’s my answer to a popular question

One question I’m often asked is, “What have you accomplished as an MP?” This video examines some of the ways I serve Edmonton Griesbach constituents as a Member of Parliament. Thanks to our constituency office intern Josh Hui for producing this video.

Let’s remember D-Day

One of the best trips of my life was accompanying Canadian and American D-Day veterans returning to the beaches of Normandy to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day. I filed a daily column to Sun Media on their stories. Hearing their first-hand accounts of history was eye-opening and emotional. It hammered this home to me: We must never forget our history. We must never attempt to wipe it out. We must learn from it. These veterans knew what real sacrifice was all about.

Why is Justin Trudeau refusing to stay at a mandatory quarantine hotel?

Fight the censorship bill, defend free speech

My friend and fellow MP Pierre Poilievre contributes this interesting video on the controversial Liberal censorship bill. One former CRTC commissioner says the bill is a “hammer” to “intimidate freedom of expression.”

I oppose the Liberals’ plan to censor the internet

Bill C-10 is the Liberals’ latest legislation designed to censor the internet and determine what you are able to see online.  

I’ll be writing a letter to Minister Steven Guilbeault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shortly on your behalf demanding they stop this insidious legislation. I’ll be sure not to share your e-mail address or name.

So if you have not yet had the chance to sign this important petition please do so. With your support, we can overcome this bad Liberal bill.

 

 

 

Memorial for the 215 Indigenous children found in Kamloops

 

I visited this location in Ottawa of a moving makeshift memorial at the Centennial Flame in front of Centre Block on Canada’s Parliament Hill. The memorial comes in the wake of the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia. I felt compelled to share widely on social media this photo I took of the memorial. I hope you’ll do the same.

In the news

— Pope calls for reconciliation, healing over Kamloops residential school discovery. Link

— Release the residential schools documents. Link

— Mark Carney, man of destiny, arises to revolutionize society. It won’t be pleasant. Link

— Liberal policies are pricing Canada out of the pharma market. Link

— Canada lost 68,000 jobs in May, mostly in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Link

— Protecting our security isn’t racist. Link

— Babylon Bee Demands New York Times Retract Statement Declaring Satire Site ‘Far-Right Misinformation.’ Link

— Trudeau to check into quarantine hotel – just not the one regular people are forced to use. Link

— Liberals asking Canadians their views on decriminalizing hard drugs. Link

— Are Chinese communist operatives still prowling around sensitive Canadian labs? Link

— Ethics commish says he never bothered to talk to Trudeau in WE scandal investigation. Link

— Liberals declare ‘state of electoral urgency’, will urgently seek new candidates in empty ridings. Link

You said it

— [Trudeau’s COVID-19 accountability] “He takes no accountability for anything, so why should this be any different.” —  Tom E.  

— “Vote no to C-10” — Brendan V.

—  “We need a true all-of-government effort to establish a comprehensive program to combat Jew-hatred — the world’s oldest and most enduring form of hate.” —  Lana B.

Last week’s straw poll results 

In my last e-newsletter, I asked what people thought about lifting travel restrictions for NHL players.

It was a split decision, but a clear majority didn’t support giving NHL players an exception. 

A big thanks to everyone who took part.

Have your say

Are you noticing you’re paying more for things at the grocery store?   

I’ll post the results in next week’s e-newsletter.

 

 

 

 

Latest news on COVID-19 

 

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Health Services or the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Alberta Health Services can also be reached by phone at 811. 

Benefits available for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family during this COVID pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend or post it on social media

You can share it here.

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

I want to hear from you 

I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?

Drop me a note to my e-mail address.

Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.

Thanks so much. Stay healthy!

E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

Mail (postage free): 
Kerry Diotte, MP 
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

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June 7, 2021 | No Comments

Have your say

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June 3, 2021 | No Comments

“What have you done as an MP?”

One question I am often asked is, “What have you accomplished as an MP?” This video examines some of the ways I serve Edmonton Griesbach constituents as a Member of Parliament. Thanks to our constituency office intern Josh Hui for producing this video.

Filed under: General

May 31, 2021 | No Comments

I oppose the Liberals’ plan to censor the internet

 

Over the last few weeks, several hundred constituents have signed my petition calling on the Liberal government to scrap Bill C-10.

Bill C-10 is the Liberals’ latest legislation designed to censor the internet and determine what you are able to see online.  

I’ll be writing a letter to Minister Steven Guilbeault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shortly on your behalf demanding they stop this insidious legislation. I’ll be sure not to share your e-mail address or name.

So if you have not yet had the chance to sign this important petition please do so. With your support, we can overcome this bad Liberal bill.

 

 

 

Liberals and NDP vote down Tory plan to protect user content from Bill C-10

By ROBERTO WAKERELL-CRUZ
Post Millennial 

All members of the Liberal Party, the New Democrats, and the Bloc Quebecois voted against a Conservative amendment to Bill C-10 that would have created clearer stipulations that would count user-generated content as an exception from Bill C-19’s sweeping powers.

The moment came during a Heritage Committee meeting on Monday, with the Conservatives now focused on ensuring that the bill does not pass without the exception for user generated content.

The Bloc and the NDP have both expressed interest at voting “yea” for the controversial bill.

(Read the full column online at the link below)

 

 

 

 

The Liberals have failed to end the gay blood ban, we can and must do better 

BY RACHEL AIELLO
CTV News

Years after first promising to do so, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during Pride month last June that he hoped to “very soon” announce the elimination of the blood donation ban for gay men as well as some other folks in the LGBTQ2S+ community. 

It’s nearly a year later and the policy remains unchanged, with the government now arguing in federal court, that while they want to see the blood ban eliminated, it’s not within their powers to unilaterally change the policy.

Opposition parties have begun increasing the political pressure to see the Liberals do more to make good on their two-time election commitment, as LGBTQ2S+ advocates and those who are prohibited from donating continue to voice their frustration, saying the policy is discriminatory and not based in science.

(Read the full column online at the link below)

 

 

In the news

— Why so many children died at Indian Residential Schools. Link

— Mass grave at Kamloops residential school the reality of odious system. Link

— A country run by amateurs who hire more amateurs. Link

— Justice minister accidentally tweets that one of his campaign donors will become a judge. Link

— How Canada’s media dismissed COVID-19 lab leak theory without evidence. Link

— Conservative MPs condemn Trudeau for anti-Asian racism accusations. Link

— One bad morning walk shows just how serious Edmonton’s drug crisis has become. Link

— Questioning government policy on China is not fomenting racism, Prime Minister. Link

— ‘Fact-checking’ takes another beating. Link

You said it

— “The only path forward for this country is to remove this Liberal government from office.” — Patrick M.  

— [Priorities they support] “Transgender rights and transgender normalization in the community.” — James W.

—  “I support ending the gun grab laws that will do nothing to fight crime.” — Kyle F.

Last week’s straw poll results 

In my last e-newsletter, I asked if people if they thought Liberal Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan should resign for the cover-up of allegations of sexual harassment at the top levels of the Canadian Armed Forces.   

The results were unanimous, everyone thought Minister Sajjan should resign. 

A big thanks to everyone who took part.

Have your say

There’s been talk about allowing NHL players travel exceptions for the NHL playoffs. Do you support allowing exceptions for NHL teams?  

I’ll post the results in next week’s e-newsletter.

 

 

 

 

Latest news on COVID-19 

 

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Health Services or the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Alberta Health Services can also be reached by phone at 811. 

Benefits available for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family during this COVID pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend or post it on social media

You can share it here.

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

I want to hear from you 

I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?

Drop me a note to my e-mail address.

Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.

Thanks so much. Stay healthy!

E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

Mail (postage free): 
Kerry Diotte, MP 
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Filed under: General

May 31, 2021 | No Comments

Have your say

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May 28, 2021 | No Comments

Canada Day Quiz Answers

  1. When did British Columbia become part of Canada?
    A) 1871 B) 1869 C) 1876
  2. What is Canada’s national summer sport?
    A) basketball B) lacrosse C) football
  3. Of these Canadians who has won the most Grammy awards?
    A) Celine Dion B) Shania Twain C) David Foster
  4. What was the name of the famous Indigenous leader who helped save Canada in the War of 1812?
    A) Tecumseh B) Thayendanegea/Joseph Brant C) Tommy Prince
  5. Which famous Canadian led the Canadian Corps during the First World War?
    A) Sir Douglas Haig B) Harry Crerar C) Sir Arthur Currie
  6. The name Canada comes from the Indigenous Huron-Iroquois word Kanata. What does it mean?
    A) a village or settlement B) home C) beaver dam
  7. Which city is home to Canada’s first mosque?
    A) Edmonton B) Toronto C) Montreal
  8. What year did Lord Stanley commission the Stanley Cup?
    A) 1901 B) 1892 C) 1874
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May 28, 2021 | No Comments

Canada Day Survey

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