Premier Alison Redford has announced that Tory MLA’s will repay all the money they received from the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections (aka the “no-work” committee) and that MLA’s who retire or are defeated in future elections may not received a generous severance package. Ordering Tory MLAs to pay
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David Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Be careful what you wish for: Wildrose may be on cusp of victory in Alberta campaign
Alberta PC campaign tactician Stephen Carter, left, illustrates for Premier Alison Redford and Deputy Premier Doug Horner how he plans to counter recent Wildrose Party gains. Alberta political operatives and their bosses may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: the real Premier Redford, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith and Wildrose strategist
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: who should be invited to the televised leaders’ debate?
PC leader Premier Alison Redford, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, NDP leader Brian Mason, and Liberal leader Raj Sherman. The televised Leaders’ debate for Alberta’s 2012 election will be aired on April 12 at 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Global Television. The debate will include Progressive Conservative leader Premier Alison Redford, Liberal
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: Alberta Votes Day 3: Time to bring back Ed?
In retrospect, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for Alison Redford to call the election after a month of wall-to-wall scandal and controversy. Two more polls have been released today – let’s start with the bad news for Alison Redford. Leger Marketing confirms the statistical tie we saw in
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta election 2012: an early wildrose wave.
Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith and her candidates across Alberta will be cheering this morning when they see the results of a Forum Research poll showing their party with 41% support province-wide. Another poll, released by Leger Marketing this morning, shows the Wildrose Party with 34%, closely trailing Premier Alison Redford‘s Progressive Conservatives,
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Where’s Ed Stelmach now that Alberta’s Tories really need him?
Ed Stelmach, back when he was still the premier of Alberta, looks ahead to a day when he wouldn’t have to put up with all the nonsense. Now that day has come, and it’s likely many of his Progressive Conservative caucus mates today view his time in office fondly! Below:
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta election day 2: health care, balanced budgets, and benitomania.
Premier Alison Redford with PC candidates John Barlow and Evan Berger (photo from Alison4Premier Facebook Page). Campaigning in the same constituency yesterday, it is interesting to wonder what Premier Alison Redford and Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith would have said to each other if their paths had intersected. Close polls,
Continue readingIn This Corner: Election Day 1: The BS hits the fan
Ah, election time. The promises are flying, candidates come out of hiding, and the lowly, forgotten voter becomes the belle of the ball. The election is underway, so let the blogging begin! I Call Bullshit On That #1: Alison Redford came out swinging at the Wildrose, saying the party killed
Continue readingBlunt Objects: ThinkHQ #AbVote Poll: 36% PC, 33% Wildrose
Another pollster has put out this week showing another close race as compared to the trend from earlier this month and before, with the Wildrosers clearly benefitting. PC – 36% – 48 seats WRP – 33% – 30 seats NDP – 13% – 7 seats Lib – 13% – 2
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alberta Campaign 2012, Day 1: Fear & Loathing on the Shaganappi Trail
The “chicken ranch” proposed for Calgary back in 2003 by Danielle Smith, now leader of the Wildrose Party, may not have been exactly as illustrated. (You didn’t seriously think I was going to post a picture of a house of ill repute, did you?) Also not exactly as illustrated, below:
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 readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta election day 1: campaign kick-offs and legalizing prostitution.
Alberta's political leaders are off to a slow start on the first day of the 2012 election. With hours of the election being called yesterday, Premier Alison Redford kicked-off the Progressive Conservative campaign at the campaign office of Edmonton-Glenora MLA Heather Klimchuk. First-term MLA Ms. Klimchuk is facing one of the
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: Alberta Votes
The writ has been dropped, and Albertans will go to the polls on April 23. The past few years have been wildly turbulent, with shocking municipal votes, the rise of the Wildrose, parties desanctioned and founded, leadership races in nearly every party (2 for the Liberals), and floor crosings aplenty.
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta election called for april 23, 2012.
Alberta’s provincial election will be held on April 23, 2012. In this election, the number of constituencies are increasing from 83 to 87 (the first time increase in seats since the 1986 election). As of today, the Progressive Conservatives, NDP, and Wildrose Party are the only parties to have nominated
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: ‘Everybody’s ready’ for an election call today … but is Alison Redford?
…Get set… GO! How the media sees the Alberta election race, starting today. On the right, Premier Alison Redford. To Ms. Redford’s right, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith. In the background, NDP Leader Brian Mason. Alberta political leaders may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Alison Redford, Danielle Smith, Peter Lougheed.
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta’s tories could have already won another election.
Alberta Premier Alison Redford Premier Alison Redford is expected to call a provincial election today. Had Premier Alison Redford‘s Progressive Conservatives followed conventional political wisdom and dropped the writ shortly after tabling the 2012 provincial budget on February 10, they may have already secured their next majority government. Danielle Smith
Continue readingCalgaryGrit: Redford in Dire Straits Over Money for Nothing Controversy
In 1993, the Alberta PCs were on the ropes, and many felt Lawrence Decore would end their 22 year reign in power. When the issue of MLA pensions bubbled to the surface, their newly elected leader Ralph Klein walked into caucus, laid down the law, and retroactively scrapped the gold-plated
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Goodbye sweet Prins – did he jump or was he pushed?
Ray Prins prepares to walk the plank, possibly with a little prodding by his premier. Unexpectedly departing Alberta Conservative politicians may be pretty much as illustrated. Below: Mr. Prins as he appears to his friends and family. Now hear this! Now hear this! All hands to Damage Control! All hands
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: The Harper-Wildrose alliance: the elephant in Alberta’s conservative room
Stephen Harper and Danielle Smith discuss their infernal electoral machine as the elephant in the room looks on. Loony-right-wing Alberta politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Wildrose-Harpercon crossovers Tom Flanagan, Vitor Marciano and Ryan Hastman. There’s an elephant in the room whenever Albertans of a conservative political bent
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: tories scramble into damage control mode over no-work committee pay.
Alberta MLA's are scrambling to control the monster that has become the "Pay for No Work Committee." Scrambling to balance damage control with party unity on the eve of an election call, MLA’s in Premier Alison Redford‘s Tory caucus are returning pay earned over the past six months from the Standing
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