Different ideas on Disney, Brad Wall fires shot at academic

BOWS AND ARROWS

A Disney classic featuring a cast of lovable forest animals became the framework for not-so-whimsical barbs between Premier Rachel Notley and United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney.

“I swear to God, if Jason Kenney was in the theatre 40 years ago watching Robin Hood, he was the only kid there that actually thought it was a scary movie,” said Notley Thursday, referring to the anthropomorphic fox who took from the rich and gave to the poor.

Her comments came on the heels of a draft UCP policy platform that included a 10-per-cent flat tax, as opposed to the current progressive income tax system.

Kenney admitted he did find the movie scary, tweeting a meme about a “tax-hungry government” and focusing on the movie’s villain. Prince John, portrayed by a cartoon lion.

WALL TAKES ISSUE WITH ALBERTA ACADEMIC

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall took to Twitter this week to weigh in on the closure of the Calgary restaurant Bear’s Den, after its owner blamed Alberta NDP policies for its downfall.

Owner Scott Winograd criticized government policies, including new minimum wage rules and a carbon tax hike.

The story garnered responses from politicians including UCP MLA Jason Nixon, who tweeted that it showed small business is “under attack” by the NDP.

It also drew the attention of University of Alberta economist Andrew Leach, who tweeted that aggregate data — not individual anecdotes — should be used to draw conclusions about business.

But Wall took issue with Leach’s statement, firing out a meme implying that Leach was insensitive to people who lost their jobs.

Leach quipped back, adding “Brad Wall’s carbon tax academic” to his Twitter bio.

THE DEFINITION OF LYING

UCP members continue to accuse the NDP of lying about the carbon tax during the 2015 election. They didn’t.

The NDP didn’t mention the tax. The party’s platform did include a promise to take leadership on climate change — “first steps will include an energy efficiency strategy and a renewable energy strategy,” says the 2015 election platform.

In a tweet, Blaise Boehmer, spokesman for UCP Leader Jason Kenney, repeated the accusation.