Here’s a video of my opening remarks to the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce all-candidates’ forum last night. Here are my opening remarks at the fair and well-run St. Alberta Chamber of Commerce all-candidates forum at the St. Albert Inn last night: My name is David Climenhaga and I’m asking
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Alberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 14: ‘You’ll hear no irresponsible calls from me to slash programs’
Here’s a video of my opening remarks to the St. Albert Taxpayers Association’s all-candidates’ forum last night. Mayor Nolan Crouse, at left, and candidate Ted Durham, are visible in the frame. Here’s the heart of my opening remarks to the St. Alberta Taxpayers Association (SATA) all-candidates forum at the Arden
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 13: A proposal for one all-candidates’ forum on Oct. 16
The Enjoy Centre. Below: The Arden. Ummmm …. They’re both attractive venues! Is there any way we St. Albert city council candidates can all agree – for the sake of the citizens we are vying to represent – to all attend a single all-candidates forum on Oct. 16? I asked
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 12: Anonymity, advertising, Astro-Turf … & advice in St. Albert
Where’s Toto when St. Albert needs him? And what does he think about St. Albert’s leash bylaw? Here’s Toto, back in the day, exposing the Great Oz behind the green curtain. St. Albertans are curious about the anonymous groups trying to influence our city’s municipal election. At least one group
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 11: The uncomfortable truth about taxes and radical tax cuts
Radical cuts can’t be accomplished without harm – anyone who says different, like the city council candidate above, is presenting an illusion. Actual St. Albert city council candidates may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The philosopher Aristotle. A St. Albertan has asked me the tough question that all city
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 10: The ‘Me Card’ comes to St. Albert library users
Your candidate for St. Albert City Council, looking happy while hanging around St. Albert’s terrific public library. And why wouldn’t he? Now the library offers even more to patrons. Below: The “Me Card” icon. Today marks the start of Canadian Library Month, so it was appropriate for now to be
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 9: Sidewalks, snow, public transit & Adlai Stevenson
A sidewalk snow removal machine in Ottawa. Below: Better a hole in the shoe than a hole in the head, as the slogan said. Adlai Stevenson in ’52, campaigning in a bow tie! One of the joys of running for public office in St. Albert, win or lose, is the
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 8: Why I’m running for council & why I went door-knocking Tuesday
Yours Truly, left, showing a patron the new automatic checkout machine at the St. Albert Public Library, one of the facilities in our community that’s worth making an effort to protect. The library is located in St. Albert Place, at 5 St. Anne St. A good friend of mine asked
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 7: It’s Nomination Day … ‘In for a penny, in for a pound!’
That’s me, David Climenhaga, candidate for St. Albert City Council, handing over my nomination papers yesterday morning to city Chief Legislative Officer Chris Belke. Below: Checking my papers one last time; pausing at the entrance to the East Boardroom of St. Albert Place, where yesterday’s democratic action took place. “In
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Strange political bedfellows are conjuring more than entertainment in Alberta
A poster advertising last night’s NDP-Wildrose leaders’ debate at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Below: Odd couple Brian Mason and Danielle Smith, captured in electrons by Dave Cournoyer of the Daveberta.ca blog. Alberta New Democratic Party Leader Brian Mason and Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith debated each other at
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Advice for those awaiting ‘the Big One’ from the CFIB later today… have grain of salt at hand
A Canadian Federation of Independent Business technician puts the finishing touches on today’s “report” on retirement savings. (Photo grabbed from AstroTurf.com) Actual CFIB operatives may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: One of them, Dan Kelly. There really is a pension crisis in Canada, but it’s not the one the
Continue readingAlberta Diary: 70-plus AHS VPs over the side: Alberta doesn’t reinvent the health care system – sort of…
Another visually riveting moment in the history of Alberta Health Services – from left to right, CEO Chris Eagle, Health Minister Fred Horne and just-appointed Deputy Health Minister Janet Davidson at yesterday’s news conference in Edmonton, exactly as illustrated. Below: NDP Leader Brian Mason speaks for the opposition; new AHS
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Got trouble with ‘overbearing urban planners’? The Manning Centre wants to help!
A civic election all-candidates’ meeting in Calgary. “Why don’t we pass the time with a game of solitaire?” Actual Manning Centre supported candidates may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Manning Centre namesake Preston Manning; Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Calgary developer Cal Wenzel (CTV photo). If on Oct. 21 the
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Minister’s F-Bomb illustrates the lamentable state of Alberta’s political discourse
A cheerful looking Doug Griffiths, back when he was running against Alison Redford for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party. Below: Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith. Many of us were asking ourselves yesterday afternoon if Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths had really dropped an F-Bomb on the Wildrose Party?
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Labour Day, 2013, in North America: Facing up to improving society for everyone
Striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. Martin Luther King played an active role in their struggle. Below: Striking Fast food workers in New York in 2013; Dr. King addressing the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963; marchers on the National Mall in Washington. With Labour
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Grass crime no! Grain crime yes! The inconsistencies of Prime Minister Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stands with Rick Strankman and some of the other law-breaking farmers the PM pardoned in 2011. (Photo grabbed from the Drumheller Mail.) Below: Mr. Strankman, now Wildrose MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, and Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is open
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Queue-jumping inquiry report surely wounds Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman
Wildrose Opposition Leader Danielle Smith, looking for all the world like a future premier, lands a few easy punches on the government after the release yesterday of the health care queue-jumping inquiry report. Below: Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman and former AHS CEO Stephen Duckett, both assailed in the report
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 6: Still asking for money … in tiny increments
On hand: one cool election lawn sign. Needed: funds to help print additional copies. The pitch is simple: Small donations can help make a big difference! As previously noted in this space, a big part of running for public office is asking for campaign donations. Some people can’t stand it,
Continue readingAlberta Diary: CRTC ruling notwithstanding, Sun News and its campaign for subsidies will continue
Sun News Network gets ready to take Phase II of its campaign for subsidies on the road. Actual action plans by the right-wing broadcaster in light of the CRTC’s denial Wednesday of free cash from consumers and a favourable location on the TV tuner may not turn out to be
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Adieu to Mark Lisac, hello to Ric Dolphin – not exactly the same kettle of fish!
The estimable Mark Lisac, at left, interviews Ted Morton, the worst premier Alberta never had, back in 2011. Below: Insight Into Government Publisher Ric Dolphin, photo grabbed from his Twitter account. Mark Lisac’s Insight Into Government newsletter was always worth reading. This retro-style, subscription-only publication – which was emphatically not
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