A future Jim Prentice caucus? An Alberta PC leadership race devoid of ideas has its first eye-catching policy. Presumptive front-runner Jim Prentice has pledged limits of 2 terms on the Premier and 3 terms on MLAs. This no doubt comes in response to accusations the PC government has grown stale
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Calgary Grit: In the Record Books
These are not happy days for the party which has ruled Alberta since before Happy Days ever aired, but the PCs had something to celebrate this weekend as they passed Ontario’s Big Blue Machine to become the longest serving government in Canadian history. There are many reasons for their longevity.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Rob Anders courts the truck vote
Oh Rob Anders, don’t you ever change: “It’s a place with more trucks, and it certainly wouldn’t have elected someone like [Calgary mayor] Naheed Nenshi, or other liberals pretending to be Conservatives these days. I feel a real connection.” -Rob Anders, on his decision to seek the Conservative nomination in
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Politicians in Cowboy Hats
For a brief history of Stampede fashion, you can read the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013 round-ups – or “100 Years of Bad Photo-Ops“ This week’s pilgrimage of politicians to the Stampede was met with less fanfare than some years gone by. This wasn’t the first rodeo
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Wynne Wins
We know Kathleen Wynne likes to run, but this spring she was running against 10 years of baggage, a widespread time for a change sentiment, and more scandals than the opposition could fit in a 30-second TV spot. Luckily, she was also running against Tim Hudak. Given these challenges, the
Continue readingCalgary Grit: 10 Years of Blogging
Happy Trails Back when I first sat down to rant about politics on May 15th 2004, I never expected I’d still be doing this over 3,000 posts later. The blog has outlasted 3 Liberal leaders, been through 4 federal elections, and documented my involvement on a handful of losing leadership
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Sing a Song for Jim
The Alberta PCs may very well be beyond saving, but if anyone can give new life to the 43-year old dynasty, it’s Jim Prentice.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Vote Out Anders
It was Ron Liepert by a nose for the Calgary Signal Hill Conservative nomination. “Secret Liberal” Ron Liepert has done what a mayor, cabinet minister, and premier failed to do – defeated Rob Anders. And, boy, do typing those words ever feel good. First elected in 1997, Rob Anders gained
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Jim Flaherty (1949-2014)
Stunning news. One of the most influential politicians of his generation is gone all too soon.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: A resounding “Non” to Pauline Marois
Marois’ gambit for a majority ending in a blaze of spectacular failure. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving party.
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Redford has no one to blame but herself
. No one, least of all politicians, likes to admit just how big a role outside forces play in one’s political success – and failure. Strong MPs are defeated when the national campaign goes south. Unexpected issues derail the best laid plans. Competing interests from within will undermine even the
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Hanging up the shoes
It’s not a huge surprise, but it’s still big news. After 8 years, the only Finance Minister Stephen Harper has ever known and loved is calling it quits: Jim Flaherty steps down as finance minister OTTAWA – Jim Flaherty is leaving the federal cabinet after more than eight years as
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Turbulence
Back in 2008, myself and a couple of young Liberals launched “Edspedia.ca“, a mock website to poke fun at some eyebrow raising travel expenses by members of the Ed Stelmach cabinet. The list included Mark Norris’ $50,000 Vegas vacation, and Rod Stevens Hawaiian stop-over to “study their gambling system”. If
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Liberals Now Going for Gold
Justin Trudeau reacts after delegates vote to adopt a National Transportation Strategy When a new narrative sets in, it’s oh so easy to forget the old narrative. But as I compared this weekend’s Liberal Party convention to the last time Liberals gathered, I was reminded at how quickly the story
Continue readingCalgary Grit: A brief history of Stephen Harper supporting our troops (updated)
“In 2006, after the Liberal ‘decade of darkness,’ we took action to rebuild Canada’s Armed Forces.” –Stephen Harper October 2010: “Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is scrambling to contain an ever-widening scandal in which officials deliberately tried to ruin the reputation of outspoken military veterans“ October 2011: Veterans Ombudsman Questions
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Caucus Splitting
By design, Tuesday’s budget was a non-event. The public’s eyes are on Sochi, and the pundits’ eyes are on next year’s budget. So, it should not be surprising that it was the post-budget fallout that grabbed the most headlines, when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty mused that the Tories central 2011
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Will any Calgary Grits be going to Ottawa in 2015?
Nenshi made history in 2010. His Chief of Staff might do the same in 2015. We’ve all heard the jokes. When Calgary was hit with flooding in 2005, the Calgary Herald ran a delicious cartoon showing a giant ark being loaded up at the Stampede grounds, and Noah lamenting that,
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Liberals Lose Half Their Caucus Under Justin Trudeau’s Leadership
It’s rare that something happens in Ottawa that truly surprises everyone. Despite having spent the last year talking about the senate over and over again, it’s safe to say very few saw this coming: Trudeau leads on Senate Reform: Liberal Leader takes concrete action to remove partisanship and patronage from
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Canada’s New Government Turns 8
Today marks the 8th anniversary of Stephen Harper’s election as Prime Minister. At the time, a lot of Liberals figured they could turn him into Joe Clark after a quick leadership change. Yet, by this time next year, Harper will have passed Louis St. Laurent, Robert Borden, and Brian Mulroney,
Continue readingCalgary Grit: How many Tory MPs does it take to screw up a light bulb fundraising campaign?
I know it’s still January, but we have an early contender for the most awesome political story of 2014: Tory MP raising money to fight bulb ban her party enacted OTTAWA — A Conservative MP’s campaign against her own government’s ban of incandescent light bulbs is directing the donations it
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