The Alberta Liberals are under attack. The Liberals are being assailed from every party from every corner of this province. The march to the middle has been of pronounced presence by almost every political faction in Alberta. The NDP have made open moves toward Liberal voters, campaigning hard in long held
Continue readingTag: wildrose
calgaryliberal.com: Calgary-Centre: The Day After
It has been a wonder of a campaign. For the Harvey Locke campaign the Liberals doubled their support from 2011 (going from 17% to 32%) and sent a message that Calgarians were willing to give the Liberals a crack at representing them. It was a 4% spread…
Continue readingIn This Corner: Is government borrowing really that bad?
I’m not an economist, and I don’t play one on TV. With that in mind, perhaps somebody out there can tell me why it’s such a crime to borrow money to build schools, or roads, or hospitals? The big stink over the weekend, one that is sure to hit odiferous heights when the legislature resumes, […]
Continue readingcalgaryliberal.com: End of an Era: ex-Premier Peter Lougheed Dies
Peter Lougheed (1928-2012) died on September 13th. After decades of service to the public, heart problems and, coupled with pneumonia, he died at the Peter Lougheed hospital. His family has reported to the Calgary Sun that they’re being overwhelmed by well-wishers and those sorry for their loss. Don Braid of the
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Lee Richardson: Alberta Ambassador to the Mulcair Government? Or what?
Alberta Premier Alison Redford speaks with Principal Secretary Lee Richardson while Chief of Staff Farouk Adatia looks on. Alberta officials, elected and not so elected, may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Mr. Richardson and Mr. Adatia. So what exactly is a principal secretary, anyway? And why does Alberta Premier
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Calgary-Centre By-Election: Lee Richardson Resigns
Two days ago Lee Richardson resigned to work with the Progressive Conservatives and Ms. Redford in Edmonton. The first thing that is apparent is that a federal Tory joined the Progressive Conservatives, and not the Wildrose. That should but a substantial damper on those who equate Ms. Smith’s Wildrose and the
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Democratic deficit: Undemocratic result in Alberta penalizes Wildrose Party
Hot from the press, we have yet another example of how the archaic, undemocratic First Past The Post (FPTP) system of selecting representatives of our Parliament and Legislatures leads to results which rob some people of their votes. The results in the Alberta election demonstrate in spades just how badly
Continue readingLeDaro: Alberta: Alison Redford of Progressive Conservative Party wins majority
Alberta Premier Alison Redford is seeking to win her first election as premier. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) First ever elected woman premier of Alberta. Wildrose did not bloom. P.Cs win 26 seats leading in one (total 27) to Wildrose Party’s 17 seats , NDP 4 and Liberals 4 seats. Read
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Alberta NDP should bargain for modified proportional representation
As their price for propping up either the Wildrose or PC parties. The race has tightened, with 308indicating neither the PCs nor the Wildroses gaining a majority of seats, and the NDP perhaps ending up with the swing votes the other two parties will need to enable them to govern.
Continue readingElection Predictions and Ridings to Watch
Today is election day in Alberta and quite a day it will be. I am guaranteed to be glued to my television screen and interweb module well into the wee hours of the morning. I suspect that it will be late before we know who the premier will be and whether they will have a … Continue reading Election Predictions and Ridings to Watch →
Continue readingElection Predictions and Ridings to Watch
Today is election day in Alberta and quite a day it will be. I am guaranteed to be glued to my television screen and interweb module well into the wee hours of the morning. I suspect that it will be late before we know who the premier will be and
Continue readingFive of Five: Identity Politics and Some Numbers
The No True Scotsman fallacy often appears in arguments about philosophy or religion. It has some bearing on the change that is about to engulf Alberta. The fallacy would sound something like this in a conversation about Alberta politics: You: No conservative would vote for the Progressive Conservative
Continue readingBigCityLib Strikes Back: WildRose Party’s Human Rights Platform Part I: Wildrose Would Allow "No Blacks Allowed" Signs
A few notes on this piece from Canadian Lawyer Magazine on the party’s human rights platform. One thing jumped right out at me:First, the Wildrose states that it would repeal s. 3 of the AHRA. This section currently prohibits the publication or display of any statement, notice, sign, symbol, etc. that either
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Peter Lougheed comes down from Olympus and endorses Alison Redford
Former Premier Peter Lougheed surveys the troubled scene in Alberta before endorsing Alison Redford. Some gods may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Mr. Lougheed and Premiers William Aberhart and E.C. Manning. The Big Guy has spoken. And he says: “Vote for Alison Redford.” I don’t mean God. Bigger than
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: Why do the Progressive Conservatives exist?
If you wanted a honest conservative choice it’s obviously the Wildrose you should vote for. They’re forthright in their view on conscience rights, creating competition in the health care industry (read: privatization) and their own brand of fiscal conservatism. That’s conservative. If you wanted a honest liberal choice it’s obviously
Continue readingInteresting framing from Winnipeg Free Press: "Alberta Tories play race card"
I haven’t a dog in this fight except that it seems like a battle royale between two mangy mutts. Perhaps that is why I find this headline, “Alberta Tories play race card, call Wildrose party of old, white men in election”, and accompanying story so interesting. “Race card”? I guess
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: ‘Don’t be messin with Mr. T,’ Part II
Mr. T: Don’t be messin’ with him! That was then. This just in: Alberta Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk allegedly assaulted by resident while door knocking in Edmonton-Castle Downs! What’s more, according to the CBC, the house attached to the door in question had a Wildrose sign on the lawn. The
Continue readingCo2 Art: Wildrose Tainted by Association with Harperism?
Danielle Smith: A wildflower blooming virtuous and free on the Prairie… or a programed-from-youth apparatchik of big oil corporatocracy and U.S. Republicanism? A legitimate enough question. If only it were the only question. The problem for Wildrose is that the federal Conservatives are not only their ideological “soulmates”. The Conservatives
Continue readingCo2 Art: Wildrose Tainted by Association with Harperism?
Danielle Smith: A wildflower blooming virtuous and free on the Prairie…or a programed-from-youth apparatchik of big oil corporatocracy and U.S. Republicanism?A legitimate enough question.If only it were the only question.The problem for Wildrose is t…
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