The outsized influence of billionaires in the workings of ailing democracies has struck again. Gina Rinehart, the Australian owner of the $46-billion mining empire Hancock Prospecting, just flexed her mining muscle in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta - and the UCP invited her right in.

The UCP screws up, constantly, and has from the start. Here's our master list of external resources reporting on their ridiculous and destructive actions in Alberta.  To view the list, click on the book.

The AER reports that Albertan O&G producers have plugged half of the wells drilled in Alberta. But 70% of the sites taken to drill or operate wells have not been cleaned up and use of the land that comprises these sites and related access roads has not been returned to the registered landowner. The UCP government is trying to force Albertan taxpayers to cover the cost of this cleanup. 

Why? Click to read more.