There was a seismic shift in Alberta politics this week. Only time will tell if it’s a real earthquake that brings down two (or maybe three) parties, or whether it just grunts and groans and nothing happens. On Wednesday, Wildrose party leader Brian Jean and new Progressive Conservative party leader
Continue readingTag: Alberta Election 2015
daveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: One year ago today the NDP won in Alberta. The next day hell froze over.
The attention of most Albertans this week is rightfully focused on the wildfires that are raging through northern Alberta and the more than 80,000 residents of Fort McMurray who have fled to safer ground in the south. It is a… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: Five CEOs hold a press conference in a penthouse boardroom
It was a case of political friendly fire. With only days left before Election Day, the anti-NDP fear campaign was in full-gear but this shot might have been the final nail in the coffin for Alberta’s 44-year old Progressive Conservative… Continue R…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: The election rally that convinced me Notley’s momentum was real
“I think the PC Party needs a break from government and Albertans need a break from the PC Party,” New Democratic Party leader Rachel Notley told a massive crowd of more than 2,000 supporters at a May 3, 2015 rally… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: Documentary film about Alberta’s 2015 Election premieres on March 2, 2016
Filmmaker Kelly Wolfert will premiere his 23-minute documentary about Alberta’s historic May 5, 2015 election at a special screening on March 2, 2016 at Metro Cinema in Edmonton. You can watch the film’s teaser trailer on YouTube (th…
Continue readingIn This Corner: Stuff Happens, week 51: It was a very bad year
Well, I did it. And I’m sure you’re thrilled. When I started writing this blog, I vowed to write a weekly review of events as I saw them. I did it mostly as a personal challenge, a way to instil a little discipline in my undisciplined life, and to boost my memory of the events […]
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: 2015 was a great year for Progressive Politics in Alberta
It was an exciting year to be a progressive in Alberta. May 5, 2015 marked the first time since the 1930s that a conservative party did not win a provincial election in Alberta. The defeat of the Progressive Conservative government, which had… Cont…
Continue readingIn This Corner: Stuff Happens, week 25: The great $15 debate; more McMania; new low for Tories
“The folks over there think it’s totally appropriate for a single mother of two or three to have to work 70 hours a week in order to earn a living wage. I say to you that they’re just wrong, and that’s why we are changing the minimum wage in Alberta.”
Continue readingIn This Corner: Stuff Happens, week 24: McMania; a flag flap; PACing it in
Connor McDavid, wearing the surprisingly bold Edmonton Oiler travelling suit. OMG! OMG! OMG! Connor McDavid is an Oiler! Connor McDavid is an Oiler! Connor McDavid is an Oiler! Sigh. Poor Connor. The hopes of an entire city are apparently resting on his muscled shoulders. This city’s infatuation with the Edmonton
Continue readingIn This Corner: Rachel Notley skilled at the art of the non-answer answer.
So, I’ve been watching Question Period in the Alberta Legislature since the bright orange dawn of the NDP government began. People sometimes ask me why I watch ‘QP’, as those in the know call it. The political answer would be that I watch it as my civic duty as a
Continue readingIn This Corner: Here’s why the NDP doesn’t need union money anymore.
The NDP government’s first bill is designed to renew democracy in Alberta. It must, right, because it says so right there in the title — An Act To Renew Democracy in Alberta. Essentially, it imposes a ban on corporate and union donations, which pretty much everyone (except PC interim leader,
Continue readingIn This Corner: Stuff Happens, week 20: red card for FIFA; love-in for NDP; McKay out
The week began with a love-in at the legislature, as Rachel Notley and her puny cabinet were sworn in on a beautiful sunny day in Edmonton. The crowd was huge and wildly enthusiastic, more evidence that the love affair with Notley remains in full bloom. She also introduced her cabinet,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Day Stephen Harper’s Attack Ads Made Him look Like an Idiot
As I've been telling you for a while, Stephen Harper's PMO is not the mighty Death Machine it once was.These days it's looking desperate and disorganized. Its election campaign is veering wildly in all directions. It's making a lot of dumb mistakes.And there couldn't be a better example of that
Continue readingIn This Corner: Stuff happens, week 19: Debbie does disgrace; gold for Canada; Edmonton icon passes
For the third week in a row, Deborah Drever reigned as Alberta’s most talked-about NDP MLA. Or, more to the point, Alberta’s most talked-about former NDP MLA. The last straw. Drever finally shamed Rachel Notley to the point that she was kicked out of caucus, setting a possible world record
Continue readingPolitical Eh-conomy: Podcast: What’s next for Alberta?
https://politicalehconomy.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/podcast150515-alberta-election.mp3 This episode focuses on what else but the recent Alberta provincial election that saw the social democratic NDP sweep into power after 44 consecutive years of Conservative rule. To gain some perspective on this rather remarkable result in Canada’s oil and gas heartland and see what lies ahead for
Continue readingIn This Corner: How to build a cabinet using mismatched pieces: pointers for Rachel Notley
Now that the euphoria of the election has worn off, I wonder if Rachel Notley is waking up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, wondering, “What the hell do I do now?” If she isn’t, she should. She has a big, big job ahead of her,
Continue readingIn This Corner: Stuff Happens, week 17: Freedom for Omar; a Facebook face plant; pollsters get it wrong (again)
At long last, a bit of justice for Omar Khadr. The so-called war criminal was finally released on bail in Edmonton this week, despite the best efforts of the despicable Harper government to portray him as an unrepentant terrorist who committed “heinous” crimes. Just to recap: Khadr was 15 years
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: What Happened, Alberta?
On Tuesday, May 5 2015 Alberta did the unthinkable – it elected an NDP majority government. For most who grew up in the province, this was an almost unimaginable change in government. Since the 1930s when the Social Credit party swept to power under “Bible Bill” Eberhart, Alberta has consistently
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: What Happened, Alberta?
On Tuesday, May 5 2015 Alberta did the unthinkable – it elected an NDP majority government. For most who grew up in the province, this was an almost unimaginable change in government. Since the 1930s when the Social Credit party swept to power under “Bible Bill” Eberhart, Alberta has consistently
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: What Happened, Alberta?
On Tuesday, May 5 2015 Alberta did the unthinkable – it elected an NDP majority government. For most who grew up in the province, this was an almost unimaginable change in government. Since the 1930s when the Social Credit party swept to power un…
Continue reading