Alberta, BC Premiers Make a Bet Over Stanley Cup Playoffs

Premiers of Alberta and BC Place Friendly Wager on Outcome of Stanley Cup Playoffs

May 4, 2024 TruthUSA

The premiers of Alberta and British Columbia are once again in disagreement, this time over a hockey game where the loser will wear the winner’s team jersey.

It all started with a social media message from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tagging B.C. Premier David Eby.

“Here we go Premier [David Eby] Vancouver vs Edmonton,” Ms. Smith mentioned in a May 3 post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Let’s make a bet: loser has to deliver a statement in the Legislature written by the winner while wearing the other’s jersey. Deal?”

Mr. Eby then responded.

“In this vast democracy called Canada, we must often set aside our differences to come together. But over the coming weeks, British Columbians & Edmontonians will have to set aside what we have in common (hating the Calgary Flames) for hockey glory,” Mr. Eby said on May 4. “Bet’s on!”

Related Stories

‘Working Toward Recovery’: Alberta Sets Up New Agencies to Tackle Addictions, Mental Health

BC Reverses Course on Drug Decriminalization After Public Backlash

The Edmonton Oilers are scheduled to play against the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The two teams will meet in the second round, following the Canucks’ victory over the Nashville Predators on May 3.

Edmonton has a 7-2-0 record against Vancouver, having previously defeated the Canucks in the playoffs in 1986 and the division final in 1992.

Match dates have not yet been announced.

After previously clashing over illegal drug issues from B.C.’s decriminalization program ending up in Alberta, the tone of the competition between the two premiers is now lighter.

In March, RCMP in Prince George noted that they observed a trend in drug trafficking investigations where prescription drugs were being used as a form of currency for purchasing street drugs.

“Organized crime groups are actively involved in the redistribution of safe supply and prescription drugs, some of which are then moved out of British Columbia and resold,” stated Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

Ms. Smith quickly responded, indicating that her province had been warning of the possible diversion of drugs from B.C.’s decriminalization program.

“Alberta has been warning for years that diversion of high-potency opioids from these programs could be diverted and trafficked across Canada, potentially causing irreparable harm and death in communities across the country,” she stated in a March 8 statement.

“With the serious concern of diversion becoming evident and the reality that these drugs may be ending up for resale in Alberta, I have asked Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis, and Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams, to request an emergency meeting with their counterparts in British Columbia to stop the flow of these high-potency opioids to Alberta.”

However, Mr. Eby downplayed the concerns, saying that those administering safe supply drugs “do everything possible to minimize the risk of diversion.”

“If there is a gap in that process we want to address it right away,” he remarked.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.

Source link