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 readingTag: David Swann
daveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: Alberta’s Tories Poised to Sweep Election in Spring 2016
December 17, 2015 By: Dirk Pranter, Provincial Affairs columnist, Calgary Sunherald One year after nearly the entire official opposition crossed the floor to join Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives, the 44 year long governing party is expected…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Alberta NDP face legitimate concerns and kooky conspiracy theories in debate over Bill 6 farm safety bill
Alberta’s NDP government has been in full damage control mode since Bill 6: Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act exploded in their faces late last month. While attempting to bring our province closer to national standards on farm safe…
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Refuges? Paris? Wait, what?
What’s the difference between these two sentences? Sentence “A”: “You terrorist, you don’t belong here.” Sentence “B”: “You might be a terrorist, you don’t belong here.” Sentence “A” was uttered by two white males who attacked a 31 year old … Continue reading →
daveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: First NDP Throne Speech on message. McIver Tories totally tone deaf in opposition.
The NDP throne speech was predictable and on message The first Speech from the Throne of Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley‘s administration included many of the key promises made during the recent provincial election. The 604,515 Albertans who voted NDP should be pleased… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: List: What’s happened since Alberta’s historic election
It has been an incredible 15 days since Alberta’s historic 2015 election. Here is a quick look back at what has happened in the past two weeks and what will happen in the months ahead. May 5: Rachel Notley‘s New… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Notley’s Best Pick for Speaker: David Swann
By: James Lambert Now that the great orange chinook has finally put an end to 44 years of Progressive Conservative dominance, the hard job of governing Alberta has begun in earnest for Rachel Notley’s New Democratic Party. Among the many… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Hope and Fear: 2 days until Alberta’s election
With only two full days left before the May 5 provincial election, the 43-year long governing Progressive Conservatives and its supporters are waging a thick fear campaign against its electoral challengers. On May 1, five corporate CEOs and PC Party donors held… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Attention Albertans: Get out and vote. Here’s how.
Advanced polls are now open in provincial constituencies across Alberta. If you are unable to cast a ballot on Alberta’s Election Day on Tuesday, May 5, you can now vote in the Advanced Polls from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m…. Continue Reading →
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Alberta’s Gilligan’s Island Election
Math is difficult. The most difficult math at the moment is figuring out where Prentice finds the 40 seats he needs for a majority. My latest for the Post: The 2012 clash between Danielle Smith and Alison Redford was an epic battle between two gifted politicians. It was must-see-TV for
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Notley wins the debate. Now it’s time to manage expectations
Last night’s leader’s debate was the biggest opportunity for Progressive Conservative leader Jim Prentice to knock NDP leader Rachel Notley off-balance. Since the start of the campaign, the PC Party has focused most of its attacks on Wildrose leader Brian Jean, who has proven… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Alberta Election 2015: Candidate and Fundraising Updates
As of today, only the New Democrats and Progressive Conservatives are the only parties to have nominated a full slate of candidates in all 87 constituencies across Alberta. Friday, April 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to submit their… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Liberals don’t owe the Alberta Party a free ride in Calgary-Elbow
A squabble between supporters of two opposition parties in Calgary-Elbow has attracted some media attention over the past few days. Supporters of the Alberta Party have taken to social media to voice their annoyance with Liberal Party plans to run a candidate, likely John… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Where did Alberta’s party leaders spend the first week of the 2015 election?
With the first full week of Alberta’s 2015 election campaign coming to an end, I took a look at where the leaders of Alberta’s political parties have visited in the last seven days [see the map above]. The day the writ… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Alberta Election Week 1: The Economy and Corporate Tax confusion
Recent polls show a three-way contest between the Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic and Wildrose Parties, but with 24 days left in Alberta’s provincial election, a lot can change. Here is a quick review of what the politicians were saying and political… Continue Reading →
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Alberta Election 2015: Could be more interesting than expected!
Albertans are heading to the polls on May 5, 2015 to elect the next Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Like the past twelve elections since 1971, the May 5 vote will almost certainly result in the re-election of the Progressive Conservative… Continue Reading →
Continue readingCalgary Grit: A Beginner’s Guide to Alberta Politics II
Blogging has been sporadic of late, but with Alberta barrelling towards an election, now is likely a good time for another Alberta Politics FAQ. When will the next Alberta election be? Alberta’s fixed-ish election date legislation calls for a vote between March 1st and May 31st, 2016. Prentice, being a
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Maverick MLA Laurie Blakeman accepts Liberal, Green and Alberta Party nominations
Fresh from her big victory in Alberta’s Gay-Straight Alliances debate, Edmonton-Centre Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman announced this morning that she has accepted the nominations to be a candidate for the Liberal Party, Alberta Party AND Green Party in the upcoming provincial election. With these three nominations, she hopes to… Continue Reading →
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: A Modest Proposal for Cooperation Among Progressives in Alberta
“I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection” — Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal (1729) Relax. Ms Soapbox’s modest proposal does not involve devouring children in order to ease Alberta’s economic problems. It builds on an excellent cooperation
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta Politics: Monday morning candidate nomination updates in Alberta
The Progressive Conservatives held their first “Super Saturday” on Feb. 21, 2015, during which contested nominations were held in seven constituencies. The handful of contested PC nominations have been overshadowed by the nearly forty acclamations by incumbent PC MLAs across the province…. Continue Reading →
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