Polls
The sea of candidates vying to lead Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) is vast.
10 people have put their names forward to lead the governing provincial political party, and who would, therefore, become Alberta’s next premier.
The leadership race was called after Jason Kenney announced his resignation as premier back in May 2022.
The leadership contest will be held on October 6, 2022.
Who do you think should be the next leader of the Alberta UCP?
Members of the United Conservative Party (UCP) are currently voting on whether or not Jason Kenney should stay on as leader.
Some within Kenney’s own caucus have openly called on him to resign, while other current and former MLAs have voiced their support for him.
The mail-in party leadership vote kicked off on April 9, 2022, and the nearly 59,000 registered voters will have until May 11 to submit their ballots. Results are expected to be released on May 18.
If Kenney cannot secure support from at least half of UCP members, a new leadership race will be called.
What do you think? Should Jason Kenney stay on as the leader of the UCP, and therefore, Alberta’s premier?
Lethbridge is typically known for its affordable housing prices, but that might not be the case for too long at this rate.
The Lethbridge and District Association of Realtors reports that, in March 2022, the average price for a detached home in the city is $382,783.
Compare this to just over two years ago when homes listed for an average of $272,000.
The increase has been largely driven by record-breaking home sales, and the lessened supply that comes with it.
Given that average home prices have increased by over $100,000 in just two years, are you concerned about housing prices in Lethbridge?
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/04/07/housing-supply-constrained-in-lethbridge-due-to-high-sales/
(Dreamstime / LNN)
Gas prices have spiked to record-high levels in recent weeks.
As of Friday morning, GasBuddy.com reported the average price for regular unleaded fuel was $1.73.9 per litre.
Prices at the pumps have risen 18 cents per litre in one week, 26 cents in one month, and 60 cents from the same time last year.
Earlier this week, officials with GasBuddy said this is primarily due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions placed on Putin’s regime. Higher demand and lower supply are also factors.
Have your driving habits been influenced by the rising gas prices?
Alberta’s Premier announced plans this week to lift provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
Jason Kenney called it a “prudent plan” to get Albertans’ lives back to normal, adding his belief that current measures are no longer having their intended effect.
Stage 1 took effect at midnight on Tuesday and saw the Restrictions Exemption Program lifted, while masking requirements for youths will no longer be in place as of February 14.
Further public health measures will be eased on March 1, assuming hospitalizations trend downwards.
At the same time, while COVID cases have decreased, at least partially due to AHS limiting who can get tested, the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus remains high.
Given these circumstances, do you think that the timing is right to lift COVID restrictions?
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/02/08/alberta-begins-lifting-covid-restrictions/
There appears to be split opinions on whether the Alberta RCMP should stay or if we should move to a new Alberta Provincial Police Service (APPS).
The Alberta Government believes the creation of APPS would result in better service to rural communities for a similar ongoing cost.
Other organizations such as Lethbridge County have come out against the proposed change, citing a lack of consultation and already-rising costs for policing. They would rather see the ongoing issues within RCMP addressed.
The National Police Federation hosted a series of meetings in Southern Alberta this week, making the case for keeping the RCMP.
What do you think? Should Alberta ditch the RCMP or move to the new Alberta Provincial Police Service?
At least on the COVID-19 front, 2022 has not gotten off to a great start.
The province has seen a drastic surge in new cases with hospitalizations on the rise as well, largely due to the Omicron variant.
As we have seen for all waves of the pandemic, public opinions appear to be split on what the best course of action is.
Some feel the Alberta Government should introduce more restrictions to tackle the virus and protect public health, while others think things have already gone too far.
What do you think? Should Alberta introduce more COVID restrictions?
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/01/13/covid-hospitalizations-continue-to-rise-in-alberta/
More than one million Albertans have received three COVID-19 vaccines.
Alberta Health Services made the announcement of the new milestone earlier this week.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the booster shot improves a person’s level of protection against the virus.
All Albertans aged 18 and up are eligible for a third dose provided at least five months have passed since their second vaccine.
Have you gotten a COVID-19 booster shot?
We think it is pretty safe to say that 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years for many.
While the Omicron variant has some worried about how the COVID-19 situation could change in the coming weeks and months, others have looked at the low case rates in the province lately as a sign of optimism.
As well, the economy has been rebounding and unemployment is falling.
Where do you land? Are you optimistic that 2022 will be a better year overall?
(Credit to Columbia Records)
When it comes to all things Christmas, are you a Scrooge or a Buddy the Elf?
The question becomes even more intense when it comes to Christmas music.
Some can’t wait to be serenaded by Michael Buble or rock the holidays to Jingle Bell Rock. Others would describe their feelings on Christmas music much like Jim Carrey’s Grinch, “loathe entirely!”
Part of the issue for some listeners is the frequency to which Christmas music is played with many stations putting these tunes on 24/7 repeat.
Where do you land on this? Is Christmas music overplayed, or do you enjoy hearing these all-time holiday classics at all times of the day?