The Political Paradox that is Alberta The political paradox for Alberta is that, while we have had majority governments since 1971 we have had unstable governance since about 2004. In that election year Ralph Klein kept a majority government but was loosing popular support. He gave up 12 seats that
Continue readingTag: Redford
Susan on the Soapbox: Five Resolutions for Rachel Notley
Ms Soapbox’s first round of New Year’s resolutions for a politician (Alison Redford) were ignored, but she’s a persistent soul and will try again. This time she’s prepared five resolutions for Premier Rachel Notley. Stay the course on your climate … Continue reading →
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Mouseland (why do people vote against their self-interest?)
“All the laws were good laws. For cats.”—Tommy Douglas The other day I called Telus to cancel my campaign phones and internet service. Groan. After listening to canned music for 17 minutes I was transferred to a customer service rep. He took my information, argued with me when I
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Top 10 Door Knocking Stories
As you know Ms Soapbox tossed her hat in the ring in the Calgary Elbow by-election. On October 27, 2014 the residents of Calgary Elbow tossed it back. Nevertheless, she is of the view that everyone should run for public office at some point in their lives, if for no
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Tory Airplane Scandal–Excuses, Excuses
“I am optimistic that your review will assist in securing Albertans’ continued confidence in their government and trust in their elected officials.”—Premier Redford’s letter to the Auditor General requesting a review of her compliance with the Travel and Expense policy, Mar 4, 2014 Ms Redford Ms Redford’s optimism quickly turned
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Alberta’s Rogue Politics and Politicians
Is Alison Redford a rogue politician or does she belong to a rogue party? A rogue is a dishonest or unprincipled man (or woman), a scoundrel, villain, miscreant, reprobate, good-for-nothing, ne’re-do-well, wretch, louse, crook. The word “rogue” entered the lexicon of Alberta politics after Auditor General Merwan Saher reviewed Alison
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Mr Hancock’s Cockamamie Apology
“I’m truly sorry that we allowed government to become a distraction from the vital work we’re doing on issues that matter to Albertans.”— Premier Dave Hancock to PC party supporters, May 1, 2014 Bill Clinton apologised for slavery, Tony Blair apologised for the Irish potato famine, Pope John Paul II
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: From Five Female Premiers To Just Two
The Parti Quebecois loss tonight shows just how hard it is for women politicians to actually have a chance in government. Pauline Marois will be the 3rd female Premier gone this year, leaving only two; Christy Clark in BC and Kathleen Wynn in Onta…
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: From Five Female Premiers To Just Two
The Parti Quebecois loss tonight shows just how hard it is for women politicians to actually have a chance in government. Pauline Marois will be the 3rd female Premier gone this year, leaving only two; Christy Clark in BC and Kathleen Wynn in Ontario.Why Marois’s loss tonight is bad for women
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: From Five Female Premiers To Just Two
The Parti Quebecois loss tonight shows just how hard it is for women politicians to actually have a chance in government. Pauline Marois will be the 3rd female Premier gone this year, leaving only two; Christy Clark in BC and Kathleen Wynn in Ontario.Why Marois’s loss tonight is bad for women
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Premier’s Penthouse
“We run a $40 billion corporation that matters an awful lot to the people of Alberta and the economy of this country”—former Premier Redford in the Legislature, March 4, 2014 Excuse me??? The “government” is not a “corporation”, its premier is not the CEO and the cabinet is not the
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Thank You Alison Redford
Alison Redford did two things right during her short stint as Alberta’s 14th premier. She jumped before she was pushed and she implemented an expense disclosure policy that, like ball bearings underfoot, created chaos by exposing the PC government’s culture of entitlement in painstaking and petty detail. The PC party
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Success Defeated Alison Redford
Alison Redford was defeated because her party is too successful. And there’s proof. In politics there wouldn’t be many opportunities to test such a theory; to really know if it was the success of Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives that caused Redford to resign. Luckily for this experiment there just happens to
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Success Defeated Alison Redford
Alison Redford was defeated because her party is too successful. And there’s proof. In politics there wouldn’t be many opportunities to test such a theory; to really know if it was the success of Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives that caused Redford to resign. Luckily for this experiment there just happens to
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Success Defeated Alison Redford
Alison Redford was defeated because her party is too successful. And there’s proof.In politics there wouldn’t be many opportunities to test such a theory; to really know if it was the success of Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives that caused Redford t…
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: From Canada’s Five Female Premiers To Three
At the start of this year Canada had five female Premiers, but now because of a few old white men the country only has three. Alberta’s Alison Redford joins Newfoundland’s Kathy Dunderdale on the list of female Premiers forced out not because voters rejected them, but because their respective caucuses
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: From Canada’s Five Female Premiers To Three
At the start of this year Canada had five female Premiers, but now because of a few old white men the country only has three. Alberta’s Alison Redford joins Newfoundland’s Kathy Dunderdale on the list of female Premiers forced out not because voters rejected them, but because their respective caucuses
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: From Canada’s Five Female Premiers To Three
At the start of this year Canada had five female Premiers, but now because of a few old white men the country only has three.Alberta’s Alison Redford joins Newfoundland’s Kathy Dunderdale on the list of female Premiers forced out not because voters rej…
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: Alison Redford: The Puppet Premier?
On March 17, 2014, following Premier Redford’s tearful introduction of her daughter Sarah to the Legislative Assembly, the ND Opposition leader Brian Mason rose to ask the Premier a critical question:* “I regret having to ask this question, but it must be asked. To the Premier: do you have enough
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Craaaaack …
I wanted to like Allison Redford, I really did. But an ongoing series of missteps, clumsy decisions such as major cuts to education and overt hostility to this province’s workers in the form of Bills 45 and 46 have thoroughly alienated this voter. Yesterday, as Redford was at long least
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