Every December, I like to name a “Person of the Year” – the individual who left their mark on Canadian politics over the past year. The only rules are that the PM is too obvious a choice, and that lame picks (“You!”) are strictly verboten. The Person of the Year
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daveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Alberta politics this week
TweetA new provincial cabinet was sworn-in this morning, one a week after the cabinet shuffle was announced. The original announcement, made by press release at the unusual time of 4:45pm on Friday, December 6, was typical of a tactic used by government when it wants a story to be underreported.
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: A Christmas cabinet shuffle in Alberta?
TweetWith the Legislative Assembly’s fall sitting coming to an end, can some Progressive Conservative MLAs expect an early Christmas present from their leader, Premier Alison Redford? Nearly half-way through the PC Party’s twelfth term in office and fresh from a leadership review victory, it is expected that Ms. Redford could choose
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: So … Wenzel Is Suing Nenshi?
It came out in the news yesterday that Shane Homes’ president Cal Wenzel has decided to sue Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi over statements made during this year’s election campaign. At first, I found myself scratching my head over this lawsuit. Why bother? It was one sentence in one interview in
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Hope and Debt
TweetThe political battle between the Wildrose opposition and long-governing Progressive Conservatives continued today as the Legislative Assembly resumed for the fall sitting. Debt was the biggest issue of the day. Wildrose leader Danielle Smith jumped at the opportunity to make light of comments Premier Alison Redford made that compared the government’s
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Congratulations Mayor Nenshi!
John Macfarlane, editor of The Walrus,* asks the question: When did society turn against its best and brightest and more importantly, why? He was bemoaning the fact that Torontonians had elected Rob Ford—a man he described as wearing “his ignorance like a badge of honour”—to be their mayor. Mayor Rob
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Don Iveson’s win a vote for optimism and smart planning
TweetThere will be plenty of analysis about what last night’s election means for the city of Edmonton. With 132,162 votes – 62% of the vote – Don Iveson earned a commanding victory in the mayoral election over his two main opponents, Karen Leibovici and Kerry Diotte. This is a win for
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Alberta Envy
From downtown Toronto, things aren’t looking so bad in “redneck” Alberta these days… Don Iveson is 34, supports public transit and the arts – and is Edmonton’s new mayor. …and this guy just got re-elected with over 75% of the vote.
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: The new (and old) faces of municipal elections in Alberta
TweetTomorrow is election day and in counties, municipal districts, villages, towns, and cities across the province, Albertans will cast their votes for mayors, reeves, councillors, aldermen, and school trustees. In Calgary, uber-popular mayor Naheed Nenshi is expected to crush his opponents, including former Progressive Conservative MLA Jon Lord and a
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Pay to Go Politics in YYC
So, yesterday there was an “all candidates forum” sponsored by The Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Development Institute – Calgary and The Canadian Homebuilders Association – Calgary Region. I did not attend this forum – for several reasons. We already know that the developer community (or at least notable
Continue readingdjkelly.ca: What the heck is CivicCamp?
Who’s behind these pencils? Where do pencils get their funding from? Pencils are nothing but a left-wing propaganda machine. One pencil wrote in cursive once so all pencils obviously can only be used the same way! I’m sorry, but I can’t help but play this game whenever I hear some
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Why I am supporting Don Iveson for mayor
TweetEdmonton has adopted a more ambitious attitude since Stephen Mandel became Mayor in 2004. I voted for Mr. Mandel in that election because he embodied an exciting and forward-looking change that contrasted sharply with the past decade of mediocre leadership. In many ways, I feel the same way about Don
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Edmonton Election Substance and Style #1
TweetWith Edmonton’s election campaign in full-swing, it is easy for this political watcher to miss a moment or campaign announcement over the course of a week. At the beginning or end of each week, I plan to compile ‘Substance and Style’, a summary of some the week’s events that I
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Calgary Sun Plays The Racist Card …
It’s never been a big secret that lurking just underneath the surface of Canada’s right wing politics is a religiously-inspired vein of racism. It reared its head back in the late 1980s when the debate over turbans in the RCMP was at full volume, and the Reform Party voted to
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Alberta Liberals on the move, still searching for direction
TweetTo the sound of muted fanfare, the Alberta Liberal Party is holding its annual policy convention tomorrow in Calgary. Attempting to revive a faded brand, the Liberals plan to tackle a series of controversial topics that they hope will set them apart from Alberta’s other political parties. After hosting pre-convention
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Campaign Diary Volume 7: It’s Nomination Day … ‘In for a penny, in for a pound!’
That’s me, David Climenhaga, candidate for St. Albert City Council, handing over my nomination papers yesterday morning to city Chief Legislative Officer Chris Belke. Below: Checking my papers one last time; pausing at the entrance to the East Boardroom of St. Albert Place, where yesterday’s democratic action took place. “In
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: A short roundup of municipal election races across Alberta
Tweet With a feeling of excitement in the air, Nomination Day came and went today as residents across Alberta officially became candidates in this year’s municipal election. With nearly 120 candidates registered to run in Edmonton’s municipal election, today’s event was busy. I was at Edmonton City Hall at this
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics: Alberta politics last week
TweetAfter spending some much needed time relaxing in beautiful British Columbia, I returned to Alberta this week and noticed some of the political stories that occurred during my absence. Here are some of the top political stories from last week that caught my attention: Political games in High River Buckling
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: Ezra Attracts Another Defamation Suit?
Hey @nenshi, do you mind if I release your legal demand letter you sent to the Sun, after I dared criticize you in a column? #vicious— Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) September 8, 2013 Its over this, among other things. If you followed it all in real time, you will note that
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Got trouble with ‘overbearing urban planners’? The Manning Centre wants to help!
A civic election all-candidates’ meeting in Calgary. “Why don’t we pass the time with a game of solitaire?” Actual Manning Centre supported candidates may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Manning Centre namesake Preston Manning; Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Calgary developer Cal Wenzel (CTV photo). If on Oct. 21 the
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