Members of the Calgary Centre Conservative Constituency Association puzzle over nomination papers presented by would-be candidates. Alberta political insiders may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: CPC Candidates Joan Crockatt, Joe Soares, Jon Lord and Richard Billington. Wherever are the Conservative Party of Canada’s Calgary Centre candidates? Or, more to
Continue readingTag: Alison Redford
daveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: allaudin merali’s extravagant expenses a blow to alberta health services, redford government.
TweetThe highest echelons of Alberta Health Services are once again being rocked by a firestorm of public criticism after it was revealed that AHS Chief Financial Officer Allaudin Merali had claimed more than $345,000 in expenses to the province-wide health authority. Mr. Merali was fired by AHS hours before CBC
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Something hits the Alberta fan: Allaudin and his wonderful expense account revealed by CBC
Allaudin and his wonderful expense account? Departing Alberta Health Service executives may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: One of the few photos available of Allaudin Merali; CBC investigative journalist Charles Rusnell. One is practically struck dumb by the astonishing CBC revelation that the Chief Financial Officer of Alberta’s massive
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Mystery story: is there an opposition candidate who can win the Calgary Centre by-election?
Your blogger with David Swann: Remember, when the author of this blog appears in a picture with a politician, it does not necessarily imply an endorsement. (That’s enough photos with politicians for one week, thanks – ed.) Below: Likely Conservative winner Joan Crockatt, Edmonton Strathcona NDP MP Linda Duncan and
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Glen Taylor quits as leader – Alberta Party ponders the Big Goodbye
Your blogger in happier times with departing Alberta Party Leader Glenn Taylor. Below: Party luminaries Michael Walters and Sue Huff. Get ready for the Big Re-Think. Or the Long Goodbye. Or something… Alberta Party Leader Glenn Taylor has resigned, the world learned yesterday. He’ll step from the provincial political stage
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Godwin’s Law of Alberta Politics
Peter Lougheed angrily shakes his glass of champagne towards Pierre Trudeau after being forced under torture to sign the NEP If you’re reading this post, you likely spend a good amount of time online, so I’m assuming you’re familiar with Godwin’s Law: “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Calgary Centre Conservative nomination fight takes a turn, but Joan Crockatt’s still the frontrunner
Your blogger with Joan Crockatt: Remember, when the author of this blog appears in a picture with a politician, it does not imply endorsement – he just can’t help himself! Below: Nomination candidate Jon Lord and contest dropout John Mar. The battle for the Conservative nomination in the Calgary Centre
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Christy Clark and the Big Oil Sellout
I wish I could cheer for Christy Clark in her battle with Alison Redford over the future of the Northern Gateway pipeline. But I just can't eh? I just don't believe that bartering with someone who wants to shove a pipeline up your ass is something that should be celebrated. At
Continue readingAlberta Diary: B.C.’s pipeline bargaining position stirs Alberta outrage, but makes political sense
Alberta Premier Alison Redford, left, negotiates with B.C. Premier Christy Clark, holding carrot, as seen by the Alberta media. Actual neo-conservative Western Canadian politicians may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below Ms. Clark, Ms. Redford and former Tory insider Norman Spector. Christy Clark’s bargaining position in the squabble between British
Continue readingAlberta Diary: B.C. Bitumen Busters! Who ya gonna call? Greg Selinger?
Alberta and British Columbia Sheriffs see who can stomp the highest at the increasingly tense inter-provincial border near the disputed town of Field. B.C. and Alberta peace officers, of course, may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Just for someone completely different, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger. Who ya gonna blame?
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Family (values) feud: Wildrose so-cons start sniping at Wildrose neo-cons
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith: in trouble with her party’s social conservatives. Below: House Leader Rob Anderson. And so it begins: Rob Anderson, an ambitious social-conservative in the Wildrose Opposition’s shadow cabinet has publicly fired a rocket at his leader after she changed her tune on whether a Wildrose government would
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Premiers’ private parley – a summit so secret if you knew what they’d talked about, they’d have to kill you!
B.C. Premier Christy Clark, left, meets Alberta Premier Alison Redford, in snap-brim hat at right, to discuss things too secret for the Western Canadian public to know about. Actual Western Canadian politicians may not appear exactly as illustrated, nor may the vehicle at the front of the Legislature, or the
Continue readingAlberta Diary: It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy – especially if you’re Alison Redford
It’s just one long summer vacation for Alberta’s Tory family. Premier Alison Redford, possibly not exactly as illustrated, can be seen in the front seat of the Edsel at left. Below: The Wildrose Party on their way to summer school at Chestermere Slough; Kelley Charlebois; Thomas Lukaszuk. It’s summertime, and
Continue readingAlberta Diary: It’s semi-official… the Enbridge Northern Gateway project is kaput!
Enbridge Inc., as seen and described by the U.S. National Transportation Board. Below: Federal Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair, Alberta Opposition Leader Danielle Smith and B.C. Opposition Leader Christie Clark. No! Wait! Ms. Clark’s still the premier! If you thought NDP Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair was mistaken – or, worse, just
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Alison Redford and the Pipeline to Nowhere
Holy hee haw. Lasso me like a baby steer. I can't believe that Alison Redford is still snubbing Tom Mulcair. Redford said no meeting with Mulcair is on the books. "Nobody's asked me to meet with him and I'm quite busy Stampeding and speaking to Albertans about what matters to them."
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: what happens after prime minister harper? prime minister redford? prime minister mulcair?
TweetWith the start of Stampede season came the latest round of gossip and predictions about what the future might hold for Calgary MLA and Alberta’s Premier Alison Redford. Earlier this week in a column in the Edmonton Journal, Graham Thomson speculated that Premier Redford’s next political challenge could be the
Continue readingAlberta Diary: She’s no Charles Tupper: Alison Redford has been Alberta premier too long to be prime minister
A youngish Charles Tupper at his desk. “I knew Charles Tupper and Alison Redford is no Charles Tupper” – and a good thing for her, too! Below: Sir Charles as prime minister; Frank McKenna; Robert Stanfield in the photo that put paid to his political career. Alison Redford has been
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: calgary stampede: the greatest political show on earth.
TweetThe Greatest Show on Earth, also known as the Calgary Stampede, kicked-off celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend. Between the chuck wagons and rodeo clowns, politicians off all stripes will drop into Calgary over the next week to kiss babies and grill pancakes. Twitter was, well, atwitter with chatter comparing
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Is nothing sacred? Turbulent pastor jumps to the front of Calgary’s Stampede Parade!
Pastor Artur Pawlowski and members of his flock march at the head of the Calgary Stampede Parade on Friday. Below: Pastor Pawlowski with Alberta Solicitor-General Jonathan Denis. Below that: Pastor Pawlowski with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. All photos grabbed from Facebook pages belonging to Pastor Pawlowski or his Calgary Street
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Message to Alberta’s doctors: Newton’s Third Law applies to politics too
A couple of Alberta doctors contemplate the state of the Alberta Medical Association’s latest negotiations with the province. Actual Alberta physicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: AMA President Linda Slocombe, Sir Isaac Newton, Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne. Just wondering, but is Newton’s Third Law no longer part
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