Your blogger, with another doomed politician, this time the author of Follow the Money, Where is Alberta’s Wealth Going? Just in case you’re thinking of being sarcastic, the sign says “Red Deer Public Library.” Below, the cover of the book. Sooner or later, all conversations about the Alberta economy in
Continue readingTag: Kevin Taft
David Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Sorry, an Order of Canada for Ralph Klein is not appropriate
Ralph Klein, as premier of Alberta. Below: Kevin Taft, an Order of Canada gong. Does the kind of man who would call immigrants to Alberta from Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada “bums” and “creeps” deserve the Order of Canada? Surely one would think not! But anything can happen in the
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta tories holding a packed nomination week.
I have updated the list of nominated Alberta election candidates to include the following three Progressive Conservative nominees: Edmonton-Centre: Young lawyer Akash Khokhar defeated Nicole Martel to win the PC nomination. In the next election, Mr. Khokhar will face Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman, who has represented the constituency since 1997.
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Liberal Conservative appoints conservative Liberals to battle progressive conservatives, true conservatives
I’m with him… Conservative Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman with his new chief of staff, Jonathan Huckabay. Below: Jeff Melland, from his Facebook page. Earlier today, Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman emailed out a press release announcing big changes to his staff. Key among these were the additions of Jeff
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: kevin taft goes rogue with new book: follow the money.
“If Alberta increased its tax rates by $11 billion our province would still have the lowest tax rate in Canada.” This was only one of the notable figures presented by Kevin Taft at the launch of his new book, Follow the Money, held last night at the Garneau Theatre in
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Federal Liberal adoption of Alberta Liberal voting rule is sure end badly
Your blogger with Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman. Below: Federal Liberal Leader Bob Rae. If he loses his seat in the next provincial election, will Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada?He can if he wants, if the timing works out. And
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: rookie photos of alberta mla’s retiring in 2012.
With an election expected to be held in the next few months and a new Premier setting a new tone, many long-time and not-so-long-time Members of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly have decided that now is time to retire or look for greener pastures. The nineteen MLAs not seeking re-election are former
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: election in edmonton-riverview heating up.
Edmonton-Riverview Former Edmonton Public School Trustee Bev Esslinger announced today in an email (pdf) that she is seeking the Progressive Conservative nomination in Edmonton-Riverview. The constituency is currently represented by three-term Liberal MLA Kevin Taft, who will not be seeking re-election. As a trustee, Ms. Esslinger represented Ward A in
Continue readingdaveberta.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: Future bleak for Alberta liberals; among progressive parties, only NDP has momentum
The Alberta Liberals: running out of gas and running out of road? Below: Liberal Leader Raj Sherman, NDP Leader Brian Mason, NDP candidates Shannon Phillips and Deron Bilous. If you want a useful yardstick of the relative health of Alberta’s opposition parties, you need look no further than the number
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: alberta faces incomplete voters list. british columbia’s elections officer proposes meaningful changes.
This blogger never misses a vote. Edmonton-Riverview MLA Kevin Taft is continuing his court battle over the administration of Alberta’s 2008 provincial election by launching a charter challenge. As reported by the Edmonton Journal‘s Sheila Pratt, Dr. Taft’s lawyer Grant Dunlop has argued the government has a legal obligation to “create effective machinery”
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Alberta Liberals hit by defection as implosion continues; new poll suggests NDP potential for growth
Bridget Pastoor, still a Liberal to the party’s missing webmaster. Below: Raj Sherman. No one can say the Alberta Liberals don’t have movement. The trouble is, it’s all down hill. That the slow-motion implosion of the Alberta Liberal Party is gathering speed was evident on two fronts yesterday, as one
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: tick tick tick… defusing ed stelmach’s tory time-bomb.
Restoring $107 million into the provincial Education budget, committing to hold an inquiry into the intimidation of doctors, promising increased consultations on water management, and halting (after some fumbling) the approval of two controversial electrical transmission line projects through rural Alberta, Premier Alison Redford is quickly moving to defuse the electoral time bomb of unpopular […]
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Departure of Hugh MacDonald a more serious blow to Alberta Liberals than the mere loss of a single Grit
Hugh MacDonald: A serious loss to the Alberta Liberals. Below: Edmonton-Gold Bar NDP candidate Marlin Schmidt.The planned departure of Hugh MacDonald from the crumbling Alberta Liberal Party became official yesterday when paid reporters finally tracked…
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: what’s next for raj sherman and the alberta liberals?
What kind of leader will Raj Sherman be? This is a tough question to answer. As Edmonton Journal columnist Graham Thomson somewhat dramatically described yesterday: Sherman – energetic, intelligent, charismatic – could prove to be a political white knight riding to the Liberals’ rescue. Or Sherman – inexperienced, mercurial, impetuous – could yet prove to […]
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: what effect can danny williams have on alberta’s pc leadership contest?
Former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams traveled to Fort McMurray this week to support Alberta PC leadership candidate Gary Mar and to give the candidate a boost in support from Newfoundland’s diaspora in the northern Alberta community. The retired Newfoundland Premier’s support may be one of the former Calgary MLAs most significant endorsement in […]
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: The Tory leadership race: Lukaszuk’s out, Horner’s still in, Redford is channeling Nenshi
Loneliness of the long-distance runners: Alberta Tory leadership candidates, who may not appear exactly as illustrated, head for the finish line, 11 weeks away. Below: Tom Lukaszuk, Doug Horner, Kevin Taft and Stephen Carter.Farewell, Tom Lukaszuk, we …
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: a look at the alberta liberal leadership candidates.
You might be forgiven if you have not paid much attention to the Alberta Liberal Party leadership contest, which is currently underway. The Liberal contest is not as exciting as the Progressive Conservative’s leadership contest, as flashy as the Wildrose (now minus the Alliance), or intriguing as the new Alberta Party, but it is important […]
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: by design or by default, a low-key alberta party leadership race.
A small crowd of around 80 interested Edmontonians gathered to hear the candidates seeking the leadership of the Alberta Party this week at MacEwan University in downtown Edmonton. It is a low-key contest that will culminate this weekend at a leadership convention at Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre. The forum could be described as tame and […]
Continue readingThe Daveberta Podcast: bill 44 debate an all-nighter.
The debate over Bill 44 is going late into the night at the Alberta Legislature. You can follow the debate online through video or by following the Twitter hashtags #ableg and #bill44. So far, Opposition Liberal and NDP MLAs Laurie Blakeman, Kevin Taft, Brian Mason, Bridget Pastoor, Kent Hehr, David
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