Alison Redford meets the media minutes after her election in a Conservative Party members-only vote was announced in the wee hours of Oct. 2, 2011. Below: The unexpected results displayed. All politics end in tears, a wise man once observed, meaning that sooner or later, almost all political winners turn
Continue readingTag: Gary Mar
daveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: looking back at 2011: alberta mla’s who made a difference.
Each year around this time, I compile a list of a handful of Members of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly who I believe deserve mentioning following their political performance over the past year. This is just my list, so please feel free to agree, disagree, or make your own suggestions in the
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Despite Alison Redford’s rhetoric, not much has changed on seniors’ care
Old folks at home: things are changing in Alberta, and not necessarily for the better. Below: Ed Stelmach, Guy Boutilier, Raj Sherman. Does anybody remember the brouhaha in 2009 that was semi-officially designated The Trouble in Strathmore? The trouble actually started a year earlier, in February 2008, when then premier
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: ‘Consumer Energy Alliance’ Front Group Exposed by The Tyee and Salon
Consumer Energy Alliance.png In a must-read piece co-published today by Salon.com and The Tyee, Geoff Dembicki exposes the dark underbelly of the public relations and lobbying industry, revealing the interconnectedness between Alberta tar sands movers and shakers in Alberta and their oily compatriots in Washington. The investigative article focuses on the fossil fuel industry front group
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alberta political TV ad battle: Round 1 to the Wildrose Party
The Alison Redford Party’s first ad from the 2012 election season. Below: Hubby in the headlights. Maybe he’s just seen what’s on that to-do list. Or maybe he just feels strange wearing a sports coat in his kitchen at 7 in the morning. Yesterday, Alberta’s mighty Tory dynasty released its
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Rumoured Tory poll showing Alberta NDP surge: Orange Wave, or just orange hair dye?
Orange Wave, or just orange dye? Below: Alberta Premier Alison Redford with her Chief of Staff, Stephen Carter (photo borrowed from Calgary Herald); NDP Leader Brian Mason. What’s with the recent buzz there’s a private Conservative poll that shows NDP support surging in the Capital Region? Is this a real
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Prognosis looks bleak for faltering Alberta Party
Chima Nkemdirim: his decision to work for Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi was a serious loss for the Alberta Party. Below: Mr. Nenshi, Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Alberta Party Leader Glenn Taylor. The two worst things that have happened to the Alberta Party are, in this order, Naheed Nenshi and
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alberta to balance budget, cure cancer, put men on Mars by 2013
Members of the 2013 Alberta Mars Mission solemnly mark Peter Lougheed’s birthday with cupcakes, non-alcoholic soda and a spacewalk. The Alberta Space Ship Wild Rose can be observed lower right. Alberta political promises may not turn out to be exactl…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: redford’s ‘change from within’ is a nice slogan, but when you take a closer look…
Despite the narrative of “change from within” that was made popular after the October 1 leadership vote, the wave of change has not spilled far into the Progressive Conservative ranks since Alison Redford was elected into her new role one month ago. – The Globe & Mail is reporting that the controversial Kelley Charlebois is […]
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Gary Mar for prime minister of Canada? Don’t giggle: It could happen
Canadian Prime Minister Gary Mar, at left, converses with the leaders of the NDP Opposition in Ottawa, circa 2025. Future Conservative prime ministers, of course, may not be exactly as illustrated. Nice to know that, even in the future, men don’t hav…
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Redford’s Four Big Challenges
Challenge Number One: Her Caucus is Divided This problem is just a problem in terms of unity and cohesiveness of messaging: As premier Redford can buy the support of several individuals who are leaders in the party. This is why Liepert and Horne are in…
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Sure, Gary Mar’s $264,576 Asian sinecure is sweet, but does it come with severance?
Gary Mar stands in Hong Kong and gazes back toward Alberta. Albertan politicians-in-exile may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Mr. Mar as others see him; Rick Orman aboard business jet with plate of fruit.Word that Gary Mar is about to be sent…
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Redford Tories have good news and bad news for government union’s president
AUPE President Guy Smith with some of the approximately 1,000 demonstrators who gathered at the Alberta Legislature yesterday afternoon to protest against privatization talk by Premier Alison Redford. Below: Former AUPE President Dan MacLennan talking …
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alison redford appoints gary mar’s cabinet.
Do you think Gary Mar left a draft cabinet list in the Premier’s Office when he was measuring the drapes? Because Premier Alison Redford found it. We were told to expect big changes, that many “household names” would be dropped from cabinet, but as they enter their new jobs, Premier Alison Redford‘s cabinet looks like […]
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Whatever became of the investigation into the PC Party’s purloined list?
The Tory membership list, purloined again! Alberta Conservative campaign strategists may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Premier Alison Redford; PC Party President Bill Smith.Now that the Alberta Progressive Conservatives have chosen a new leader…
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alison Redford’s premiership wrong-footed on Day 2 by brutal Calgary Sun story
The Calgary Sun’s front page Saturday morning. Below: Sun columnist Rick Bell; Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; a technician demonstrates the proper procedure for handling a typical Sun story.Has former Alberta premier Ed Stelmach’s bad luck rubbed off…
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alison Redford sworn in as premier and … uh … that’s all for now
Alison Redford, the 14th premier of Alberta, raises her right hand and promises to be different from the last Conservative premier. Below, she greets well-wishers as she leaves the Legislature with her family.Now that Alison Redford has been safely swo…
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Three lessons that can’t be drawn from Alison Redford’s election – but will be anyway
Alison Redford shouts to make herself heard over the din Sunday morning after news of her victory had been announced. She can now expect people to simmer down and listen carefully whenever she speaks. Below: the media myth-making machine machinating. T…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: premier alison redford’s challenge to change her party and alberta’s government.
Alberta politics became a little more exiting in the early hours of Sunday, October 2, 2011 when the sharp-minded former Justice Minister and human rights lawyer Alison Redford defied critics, but not readers of this blog, by defeating front-runner Gary Mar in the PC leadership contest. Ms. Redford will become Alberta’s first woman Premier when […]
Continue reading