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Rick Bell

Publishing · On our record since 2017

Where this writer stands

Energy37 pieces

Restrict new oil and gasExpand production and export
“Carney, you want to make Canada a world energy superpower, you want to open up new markets for Canadian products, stop the stalling, ditch the foot-dragging and help make it happen.” Read the piece

Public safety26 pieces

Prevention and restraintEnforcement and sentencing
“They didn't lift a finger. They did not offer one pinky of support for the closing of the Calgary drug site at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre.” Read the piece

Federalism24 pieces

Ottawa leadsProvinces lead
“The province has a plan to introduce a new law in the fall where they could stop useless bike lanes from being built or rip out useless bike lanes already built” Read the piece

Fiscal policy23 pieces

Higher taxes and public spendingLower taxes and tighter spending
“Such numbers should immediately trigger the gag reflex. We are talking lower numbers than that, Mr. Mayor.” Read the piece

Climate19 pieces

Faster fossil phase-downSlower phase-down, production first
“With Canadians increasingly mugged by reality and the Canadian economy needing the oilpatch and its earning power now more than ever, the country could no longer even pretend to afford Guilbeault's fantasies.” Read the piece

Labour14 pieces

Stronger unions and standardsMore flexibility for employers
“The Smith government was not prepared to throw in the towel, raise the white flag and give in to every pricey demand put forward by the Alberta Teachers' Association.” Read the piece

Immigration4 pieces

Higher permanent intakeLower intake
“The government says tax-paying temporary residents kick in $150 million into the Alberta treasury and take out about $1 billion. The math clearly does not work.” Read the piece

Trade4 pieces

Diversify away from one partnerDeeper continental integration
“I do not understand Canadians boycotting the U.S. and then going on about how the travel decisions people make somehow define who is and who is not a true Canadian.” Read the piece

Financial regulation3 pieces

Tighter prudential rulesLighter capital rules and more competition
“It would be premature to decide at this time whether the good driver cap will or will not be necessary going forward.” Read the piece

Foreign affairs2 pieces

Alliance restraintAssertive alliances and sanctions
“with the wickedness of the Iranian government and the evil they have spread in their own country and beyond you just might think more Canadians would know something had to be done, force had to be used, sooner than later.” Read the piece

Housing1 piece

Public supply and demand controlsMarket supply and deregulation
“They didn't want rowhouses and townhouses fast-tracked in their neighbourhood of single-family homes without going through a hearing at city council.” Read the piece

Health1 piece

Expand public coverageMore private delivery
“Give us an ultrasound and someone qualified to operate it. It's a start.” Read the piece

Only opinion columns and editorials are scored. Each piece is read twice by a language model, which records the author's own stance on a policy topic only where the piece argues one, with a quote that must appear in the piece. An author's position on a topic is the average of their pieces, weighted by the model's confidence. News reporting is listed but never scored.

Recent work