Alberta
JK Rowling defends Central Alberta politician against LGBT activist: ‘Bully’
From LifeSiteNews
J.K. Rowling stated, ‘It never seems to occur to them that there’s no bigger indicator of not being a woman than trying to bully people into agreeing you’re a woman.’
Famed U.K.-based author J.K. Rowling recently got involved in local Canadian politics, defending a conservative politician in Alberta for refusing to bend to the demands of an LGBT activist.
The incident concerns Alberta Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jennifer Johnson. In the lead-up to the 2023 election, she was a member of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) but was kicked out of the party by Premier Danielle Smith after audio surfaced of her comparing transgender ideology in schools to adding feces to baked goods.
Despite being kicked out of the UCP, Johnson won her seat by a wide margin running as an independent.
Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson
On Tuesday, a video began to circulate on X showing an exchange between Johnson and biological male “Victoria Bucholtz,” who goes by the stage name “Karla Marx.”
Because of her past comments, Johnson recently agreed to meet with LGBT groups from her local community, via video conference, who wanted to speak with her about their “concerns.”
In the video, Bucholtz asked Johnson directly, “Will you state on the record right now ‘trans women are women?’”
In reply, Johnson said, “No, I want to have some time to think on that.”
The incident drew the attention of Rowling, who posted a link of the video observing, “You don’t even need to turn up the sound.”
Honestly, you don't even need to turn up the sound. https://t.co/IwgYPfnZ8o
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 17, 2024
“It never seems to occur to them that there’s no bigger indicator of not being a woman than trying to bully people into agreeing you’re a woman,” she wrote in another post.
Rowling observed that what Bucholtz, in speaking with Johnson, is doing, is the “equivalent of beginning a conversation on climate change with ‘unless you agree the earth is flat, I’m leaving.’”
Danielle Smith not behind meeting with Johnson and activist 
LifeSiteNews was given information from a well-connected member of the UCP, who asked to not be named, that many MLAs in the party support Johnson and want her back in the party.
While Premier Danielle Smith has not yet let Johnson back into the UCP, she is reportedly warming up to the idea.
Johnson made it clear that contrary to rumors, it was not Smith who ordered her to attend the meeting with Bucholtz.
In a statement on Facebook Wednesday, Johnson said she needed to set things straight regarding her meeting with the pro-LGBT groups.
“This statement addresses the meeting between me, Jennifer Johnson, the Independent MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka, and the Lacombe Pride Society, Ponoka Pride Society, Central Alberta Pride Society, and multiple others. These societies requested a meeting with me, and I was happy to meet with them and hear their concerns as my constituents. I looked forward to a respectful and informative meeting with them,” she wrote.
Johnson said that the meeting was at the request and arranged by a “constituent of the Lacombe-Ponoka riding, and I was happy to accept their invitation to meet.”
“Danielle Smith, her office, and the UCP caucus and party were in no way involved in or aware of this meeting and, contrary to speculation, this meeting has nothing to do with my future as an Independent Member of the Legislature.”
Johnson said that she “supports” the work of Smith and her UCP government and looks “forward to working with all Members of the Legislature in the fall session on the Parental Rights legislation and other important bills.”
Rowling in recent years had to be on the defensive for saying gender-confused men who claim to be a woman are in fact men.
Earlier this year, Smith announced strong pro-family legislation that strengthens parental rights, protects kids from life-altering so-called “top and bottom” surgeries, as well as other extreme forms of transgender ideology.
Despite these steps, Smith still holds views at odds with social conservatives, telling Jordan Peterson that conservatives must embrace homosexual “couples” as “nuclear families.”
From the Fraser Institute
By Tegan Hill
Amid the economic uncertainty fuelled by Trump’s trade war, its perhaps more important than ever to understand Alberta’s crucial role in the federation and its outsized contribution to programs such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
From 1981 to 2022, Albertan’s net contribution to the CPP—meaning the amount Albertans paid into the program over and above what retirees in Alberta received in CPP payments—was $53.6 billion. In 2022 (the latest year of available data), Albertans’ net contribution to the CPP was $3.0 billion.
During that same period (1981 to 2022), British Columbia was the only other province where residents paid more into the CPP than retirees received in benefits—and Alberta’s contribution was six times greater than B.C.’s contribution. Put differently, residents in seven out of the nine provinces that participate in the CPP (Quebec has its own plan) receive more back in benefits than they contribute to the program.
Albertans pay an outsized contribution to federal and national programs, including the CPP because of the province’s relatively high rates of employment, higher average incomes and younger population (i.e. more workers pay into the CPP and less retirees take from it).
Put simply, Albertan workers have been helping fund the retirement of Canadians from coast to coast for decades, and without Alberta, the CPP would look much different.
How different?
If Alberta withdrew from the CPP and established its own standalone provincial pension plan, Alberta workers would receive the same retirement benefits but at a lower cost (i.e. lower CPP contribution rate deducted from our paycheques) than other Canadians, while the contribution rate—essentially the CPP tax rate—to fund the program would likely need to increase for the rest of the country to maintain the same benefits.
And given current demographic projections, immigration patterns and Alberta’s long history of leading the provinces in economic growth, Albertan workers will likely continue to pay more into the CPP than Albertan retirees get back from it.
Therefore, considering Alberta’s crucial role in national programs, the next federal government—whoever that may be—should undo and prevent policies that negatively impact the province and Albertans ability to contribute to Canada. Think of Bill C-69 (which imposes complex, uncertain and onerous review requirements on major energy projects), Bill C-48 (which bans large oil tankers off B.C.’s northern coast and limits access to Asian markets), an arbitrary cap on oil and gas emissions, numerous other “net-zero” targets, and so on.
Canada faces serious economic challenges, including a trade war with the United States. In times like this, it’s important to remember Alberta’s crucial role in the federation and the outsized contributions of Alberta workers to the wellbeing of Canadians across the country.
Show your Alberta side. Buy Local. |
When the going gets tough, Albertans stick together. That’s why Alberta’s government is launching a new campaign to benefit hard-working Albertans.
Global uncertainty is threatening the livelihoods of hard-working Alberta farmers, ranchers, processors and their families. The ‘Buy Local’ campaign, recently launched by Alberta’s government, encourages consumers to eat, drink and buy local to show our unified support for the province’s agriculture and food industry.
The government’s ‘Buy Local’ campaign encourages consumers to buy products from Alberta’s hard-working farmers, ranchers and food processors that produce safe, nutritious food for Albertans, Canadians and the world.
“It’s time to let these hard-working Albertans know we have their back. Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products. The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride. We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.”
Alberta’s government supports consumer choice. We are providing tools to help folks easily identify Alberta- and Canadian-made foods and products. Choosing local products keeps Albertans’ hard-earned dollars in our province. Whether it is farm-fresh vegetables, potatoes, honey, craft beer, frozen food or our world-renowned beef, Alberta has an abundance of fresh foods produced right on our doorstep.
Quick facts
- This summer, Albertans can support local at more than 150 farmers’ markets across the province and meet the folks who make, bake and grow our food.
- In March 2023, the Alberta government launched the ‘Made in Alberta’ voluntary food and beverage labelling program to support local agriculture and food sectors.
- Through direct connections with processors, the program has created the momentum to continue expanding consumer awareness about the ‘Made in Alberta’ label to help shoppers quickly identify foods and beverages produced in our province.
- Made in Alberta product catalogue website
Related information
- Buy Local Alberta
- Made in Alberta Product Catalogue
- Alberta Agri-Food Products and Services Export Catalogue
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