Is Canada ushering in a new set of Bro-governments at the provincial level? Bro-vernments, if you will?
In Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney finished last week off by announcing that starting immediately, Albertans will be allowed to drink alcohol in provincial parks on the May long weekend. Drinking had been banned to try and bring “excessive partying” under control.
“Today is the beginning of the end of the war on fun,” Kenney said in Calgary.
He also has said the provincial government will loosen rules about drinking at music and other festivals, and at provincial day parks.
This comes on the heels of a series of changes in Ontario under Conservative Premier Doug Ford.
There’s a test project to increase the speed limit on some of Ontario’s major highways to 110 kilometres an hour, despite concerns from police and public safety advocates about the recognized dangers of higher speeds — including more traumatic injuries and deaths in accidents.
“Today is the beginning of the end of the war on fun,” Kenney said in Calgary.
There’s the decision to allow tailgate parties outside sporting events, where people will be permitted to bring their own alcohol to barbecues in the parking lots of sporting events.
There’s the promise to bring beer and wine sales in Ontario to corners stores and grocery stores — and new rules that allow alcohol sales to start at bars, restaurants and golf courses as early as 9 a.m., seven days a week, with a promise to hold consultations to loosen liquor regulations even further. (Along with also allowing alcohol in some parks where it had been banned.)
There’s Ford’s fizzled election campaign promise to allow $1 beer sales, the buck-a-beer promise that didn’t find many manufacturers eager to take part. Legions would also be allowed to have beer more cheaply.
And what goes with liquor sales as well as the pairing of tailgate party burgers and coolers of cold beer?
Casinos! The most recent Ontario budget contained regulatory changes to allow casinos to serve — and advertise — free drinks, ostensibly to help compete with American casinos. Bars will be allowed to advertise Happy Hours. You can gamble on sports over your smartphone.
The province is also planning to change Ontario’s rules on boxing, mixed martial arts and kick-boxing. It has invested $10 million a year in provincial money in horse racing.
It’s interesting that Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said that the government wanted to “treat people like responsible adults” by relaxing alcohol rules. In Alberta, Kenney said this to the CBC about relaxing the rules about drinking at festivals: “If they can do this in pretty much every country of Europe, I think we can treat Albertans as responsible grownups as well.”
It’s like there’s a Bro-government guidebook somewhere.
Bread and circuses? That’s old school. Beer, parties and kick-boxing — that’s the thing to vote for.
It’s a strange world — Conservatives didn’t used to claim to be the party of fun.
