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Continue readingAuthor: Atypical Albertan
Saving for a rainy day
The tragedy of recent historic flooding in Southern Alberta has had a profound impact on us. As an Edmontonian who spends a good deal of time in Calgary, my heart goes out to those who have been affected. Encouragingly, the Alberta spirit lives on and Calgarians will demonstrate resiliency as
Continue readingCabinet Speculation
Hey, I’m awful at predictions, but why not speculate on cabinet postings. Premier Alison Redford has discussed the possibility of some repositioning of portfolios and the possibility of a downsize to cabinet. It is quite likely that we will see 20 ministers in the cabinet including the Premier. As far
Continue readingWildrose Voters got Cold Feet
In the days after Alberta’s engaging general election for the 28th legislature, everyone is talking about the polls – specifically how wrong they were. And while they did not accurately predict the outcome of the election, it is hard to suggest that the methodology was wrong. The polls, regardless of method employed,
Continue readingElection Predictions and Ridings to Watch
Today is election day in Alberta and quite a day it will be. I am guaranteed to be glued to my television screen and interweb module well into the wee hours of the morning. I suspect that it will be late before we know who the premier will be and
Continue readingWill recall remain a priority for a Wildrose government?
Democratic reform is a popular part of opposition party platforms, especially for populist parties who are trying to toss out a long standing party in power that is seen to have accountability issues. And so it goes for the 2012 Alberta general election. The Wildrose party is attempting to push
Continue readingWhy I am eating my ballot.
With one week to go in the Alberta general election campaign, I’m wondering what you perceive the biggest issues to be. Perhaps it is F-35 fighter jets, maybe it is the abolition of the gun registry, the omnibus crime bill, perhaps it is public service cuts related to food safety
Continue reading180 degrees.
180 degrees. About face. Alison Redford may have been called a flip flopper before, but this time it was a complete polar turn around. To be fair, I see nothing wrong with flip flopping. We all make mistakes and we all make decisions without necessarily considering the complete information. Reversing
Continue readingLiberals release poll, continue with bold moves
The Alberta Liberals carried on day two of the provincial election campaign with another bold move. After suggesting that they had the best day one of the parties, I risk coming across as partisan when I suggest that they take the cake again for day two. The big bang came
Continue readingHotel stunt wins day one for Sherman
An election campaign is upon us and that means that each day will be filled with announcements, attacks, ideas, stunts and mistakes. It makes for an interesting time as Albertans spend 4 weeks discussing a wide variety of public policy issues (in theory). With so little surprise as to the
Continue readingElection 2012 Begins – A real race is expected.
As expected Premier Alison Redford visited the Lieutenant-Governor’s office today and started Alberta’s 2012 general election. She waited until the Alberta legislature passed the budget to get the campaign started in an effort to reinforce the party image as stable competent managers. The strategy seemed sound: pass a fair and
Continue readingPC Leadership: first ballot predictions
I pride myself on having made some pretty accurate predictions in the 2006 Progressive Conservative Party leadership contest and so on this, the eve of the first ballot of the 2011 edition I feel it is necessary to register my thoughts. Environics has provided a little bit of help for
Continue readingThe Hamilton Oilers? I highly doubt it!
The biggest thing that irks me about the Edmonton arena debate is how the Katz group is using Oiler fandom to separate reasonable consideration from the debate over public funding. Typically, the arguments are based on one big fallacy – that the Oilers will leave Edmonton if public funds are
Continue readingFederal Election Prediction
With the 41st Canadian General Election Day arriving tomorrow, it seems that it is time for me to get my election prediction on the record. I am predicting a Conservative minority government with the New Democratic Party holding the balance of power. At this point, those two predictions are not
Continue readingBKACPP – Marijuana Party
Party Name: Marijuana Party Leader (Location): Blair T. Longley (Hochelaga, PQ) Date of Registration: November 6, 2000 2008 election: 8 candidates 2,298 total votes 13th of 19 parties Notable History: Between 2000 and 2004, 90% of contributions to the marijuana party were made under a legal scheme known as “Longley’s
Continue readingBKACPP – Libertarian Party of Canada
Party Name: Libertarian Party of Canada Leader (Location): Dennis Young (Sudbury, ON) Date of Registration: July 7, 1973 2008 election: 26 candidates 7,300 total votes 8th of 19 parties Notable History: “The party described itself as Canada’s “fourth party” in the 1980s, but it has since been displaced by new
Continue readingBKACPP – Communist Party of Canada
Party Name: Communist Party of Canada Tag Line: For peace, jobs, sovereignty and democracy Leader (Location): Miguel Figueroa (Davenport, ON) Date of Founding: May 1921 2008 election: 24 candidates 3,572 total votes 10th of 19 parties Notable History: “Figueroa v. Attorney-General of Canada resulted in the courts declaring several sections
Continue readingBKACPP – Christian Heritage Party of Canada
Party Name: Christian Heritage Party of Canada Tag Line: Better Solutions for Canada Leader (Location): James (Jim) Hnatiuk (Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, NS) Date of Registration: June 17, 1986 2008 election: 59 candidates 26,475 total votes 6th of 19 parties Notable History: “During its 25 years history, the CHP has contested every
Continue readingBKACPP – Canadian Action Party
Party Name: Canadian Action Party Leader: Christopher Porter Date of Founding: 1997 05 13 2008 election: 20 candidates 3 455 votes 11th place of 19 parties Notable History: Party was formed in 1997 after the collapse of the National Party of Canada by former Minister of Defense and current member
Continue readingBKACPP – Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada
Elizabeth May is quite concerned that the Green Party will not be included in the televised debates. And while I like the Green Party and believe that their contribution to the general political discourse is valuable, I believe that it is important to have a reasonable and consistent principle on
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