“The major contribution of this study is to connect the dots between specific sources of human-related carbon emissions and recent increases in forest fire activity.”
The new study relies on a key risk factor called the “vapor pressure deficit,” a measure of how “thirsty” the atmosphere is. Hotter temperatures cause moisture to be pulled out of vegetation, turning forests into tinderboxes just waiting for a spark.
Two weeks before becoming Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith floated idea that RCMP officers ‘broke the law’ by enforcing Public Health Act
...Smith appeared on Facebook Live with Vincent Byfield, a social conservative activist, Alberta secessionist and, at the time, a top leader of the far-right ‘Take Back Alberta’ group — Byfield now serves on the UCP’s Board of Directors.
The cuts by the UCP government have resulted in an exodus of experienced firefighters leaving Alberta to pursue careers in B.C. or with Parks Canada, he says.
“In my 2016 year, our crew only had four rookies out of 20 people,” Moskaluk says. “By the time I left after 2021, the majority of the crew members only had about three seasons of experience. Turnover was rampant across the province.”
Take Back Alberta is basically the northern chapter of MAGA Republicans.
It's not just conservatives versus progressives, he told a seminar of more than 100 adherents in Grande Prairie.
"This is a war between the pro-humans and anti-humans," he said. Parker referred to abortion, and modern urban women's impulse to delay having children for their careers' sake.
He also argues that NDP and progressives want to depopulate society for the sake of the environment. "You are the carbon they are trying to reduce."
In 2019, UCP candidates were out doorknocking with an unpopular leader, promising he would be "kept in check."
Now, I'm hearing reports again in this campaign of similar promises coming from the UCP.
If the past four years has shown us anything, it's that the person leading the party will do whatever they want and the UCP MLA's will fall in line.
When an emergency like the current wildfire explosion here in Alberta happens, there is access to funding, no question.
The real question is how could the province have been better prepared or even prevented this situation if the funding hadn't been cut previously.
And cobbling together a response under duress, as opposed to being properly prepared? There's no question which is better.
Watch Alberta premier assures province wildfire response adequate amid budget cuts Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca
If you find Mastodon threads annoying, here are all of my tweets about Elections Alberta in an easy-to-read post on my Substack newsletter!
Also, photos!
"I'm crowning Elections Alberta the kings of confusion
Bureaucracy gone wild as the writ is dropped and Elections Alberta drops the ball on explaining how to vote."
Phasorburn
JEmphatically
Eva Chanda