Today looks to be a watershed moment for the future of the B.C. NDP, as its provincial council determines whether to follow a recommendation to disqualify Anjali Appadurai from its leadership race – and in the process effective disenfranchise the entire membership in favour of a coronation. But it’s worth
Continue readingTag: dwain lingenfelter
Alberta Politics: ‘Blue-Ribbon Panel’ report sets stage for full-blown austerity, private health care, soaring tuition and much more
The recommendations of the Kenney Government’s “blue-ribbon panel” on Alberta’s finances yesterday went further over the top than you’d even have expected from a report ginned up by a couple of Fraser Institute ringers, a former bank president, and a few additional followers of the government’s low-tax, market-fundamentalist ideology. As
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Guest Post: Why Alberta’s NDP will be living dangerously for the next four years
John Ashton is the co-author with former Alberta NDP leader Ray Martin of Made in Alberta: The Ray Martin Story. He has served as staff on 26 NDP campaigns. In this guest post, Mr. Ashton argues Alberta’s NDP may not be the first provincial branch of the New Democratic Party
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: #skndpldr – Saskatoon Debate Notes
I’ll continue my look at the Saskatchewan NDP leadership debates with a review of the first Saskatoon forum: And I see a few interesting developments beyond those mentioned in Scott’s detailed series of posts.To start with, as I pointed out when the fe…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On mixed contributions
Having pointed out in today’s column that the Saskatchewan NDP’s poor election results were far more readily traced to public perceptions of Dwain Lingenfelter (along with broader party issues) rather than the party’s platform, let’s briefly put Lingen…
Continue readingThe Wheatsheaf: Recap: Saskatchewan Election 2011
Watching the twitter feed for #skpoli I was struck by the animosity and venom towards both the NDP and its leader Dwain Lingenfelter. While the partisan in me wants to chalk this up to the over-indulgent no-holds-barred mentality that I have witness Sask. Party/Conservative/Canadian Alliance supporters adopt in the past,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Style vs. substance
The first obvious takeaway from tonight’s Saskatchewan leaders’ debate was the need for both more debate and more debaters. And for all the criticism of the exclusion of other parties’ leaders, the bigger issue may have been a painfully shortened forma…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On boomerang effects
Accusing one’s opponents of having a hidden agenda has become a matter of standard-issue political strategy. But accusing one’s opponents of having a hidden agenda identical to one’s own takes rather more creativity. And chutzpah. And contortionism.So …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On deposits
I posted yesterday about the Sask Party’s opening offering in this fall’s election campaign. But it’s worth pointing out the NDP’s first policy event as well, as Dwain Lingenfelter unveiled more details about the party’s proposal for a Bright Futures F…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how Saskatchewan’s election campaign is shaping up as a choice between personality and policy.And for the latest noteworthy policy proposal from the NDP, see yesterday’s community hospital announcement.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On outreach
Yes, there’s plenty to criticize in Murray Mandryk’s continued willingness to serve as a conduit for Sask Party spin. But let’s focus in on the obvious flaws with even the more reasonable part of his latest column:(T)here is another view that we now se…
Continue reading