Jackie Homeniuk-Armstrong: quiet as a mouse... or a rat
Hey, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville! Ready to meet your MLA? Let's dive in!
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk’s claim to fame is her role in awarding third place to an essay with sexist, racist, and white nationalist elements. The winning author wanted to reward women for giving birth to two or more children to help prevent the “import” of “foreigners to replace ourselves.” (Source: CBC News Edmonton - Aug 09, 2022)
Jackie, who oversaw the contest, apologized profusely, expressing her shock and disdain, yet couldn’t explain why the essay won or who on the committee she oversaw voted for it.
Inspirational, indeed.
Jackie took office in 2019, winning the seat from NDP Jessica Littlewood who had held it since the 2015 provincial election. She was re-elected in June 2023 with little fanfare and then appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement Services and Ukrainian Evacuees on July 13, 2023.
Jackie was vocal on some issues during Jason Kenney’s reign, but she’s been pretty silent during Danielle Smith’s tenure, especially on immigration issues. Here’s a good example:
In a recent radio announcement, Smith said she would welcome asylum seekers with the “shared values” of Albertans such as “freedom, family, faith and community,” emphasizing they should “leave the conflicts of their home countries behind.” She also said that the federal government needs to tighten “unrestricted” immigration policies.
Smith’s current stance, which has been widely criticized, is in stark contrast to earlier comments from March about Ukranian refugees. Pushing the feds for more control over the provincial immigration system, Smith also advocated for a significant INCREASE in Ukrainian evacuees who “will enhance the province’s economy and ease skilled-labour shortages.” (Source: The Calgary Herald - Published Mar 27, 2024)
So which is it, Smith? More or fewer immigrants? Or is it the “right kind of immigrants?”
Jackie’s current portfolio, which focuses on Ukrainian refugees only, might explain her silence on Smith’s contradictory and dog-whistling position on immigration.
It’s unclear whether Jackie has a mind of her own or shares Smith’s “values,” but most of her commentary seems to tow the UCP party line without much regard for its policy outcomes.
Let’s review her activities and voting record in Parliament.
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In May 2022, Jackie came under fire in a Sturgeon Creek Post for her expense claims being higher than those of previous NDP MLA Jessica Littlewood who was criticized heavily. (Source: The Sherwood Park - Strathcona County News, June 2022)
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Jackie has voted YES to:
Despite Jackie’s claim that her government worked alongside the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) to support family physicians in primary care, the AMA’s SOS and proposed solutions to stabilize primary and acute care went unanswered. (Sources: Sherwood Park - Strathcona County News, April 24, 2024; AMA website, August 1, 2024)
In response, Jackie voted YES to Bill 22. The Health Statues Amendment Act, 2024 “enables the transition to a unified health care system of four sector-based provincial health agencies.” Essentially, UCP is dismantling AHS into disparate agencies. How will this strengthen Alberta’s healthcare system, Jackie?
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Despite a letter from Vegreville’s Council requesting GoA to rescind Bill 20, Jackie voted YES to The Municipal Affairs Statues Amendment Act, 2024, which “erodes democracy in its purest form by allowing oversight and interference by the Province into matters of local decision-making.” (Source: Town of Vegreville letter dated May 14, 2024. Who does Jackie work for? Fort Saskatchewan-Vegerville, you’ve been McIvered!
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Jackie voted YES to Bill 18. The Provincial Priorities Act, 2024, mandates provincial oversight and approval of all contractual or collaborative agreements between provincial entities and the federal government. Jackie agrees with Danielle Smith that Alberta municipalities can't be trusted to make their own decisions.
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Fort Saskatchewan-Vegerville can look forward to Jackie voting YES to Bill 1, Smith’s proposed changes to the Alberta Bill of Rights, which is more symbolic and likely a means to way to “butter up provincial UCP activists” like Take Back Alberta and the Black Hat Gang from Medicine Hat, ahead of the premier’s leadership review. (Source: CityNews, September 17, 2024)
CONCLUSION:
Don’t expect MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk to go to bat for you if it defies Danielle Smith’s fascist agenda. While Jackie was vocal under Kenney, she’s been silent under Smith. She’s merely become a tool to prop up UCP’s propaganda and authoritarian agenda.