Alberta's municipal and provincial politics

[Holly Stick]

David Climenhaga's mother taught him that "Everybody does it!" is not a good defence. Ted Morton has not learned this, especially when everybody doesn't do it quite like that:
 
http://www.albertadiary.ca/2011/09/ted-morton-says-everybody-does-it-well.html

[Holly Stick]

The Alberta PC's had a long long leadership vote count tonight. On the first choice count Mar was ahead but Redford was close behind, and the third candidate, Horner, had about 20% of the vote. so the second choice votes appear to have put Redford over the top, though it's not quite official. But the Goat and Snail has declared for her.
 
She's a better choice than Mar I think - she promised to restore funding to education that had been cut, and she hopefully will not try to privatize health care. She is seen as a red tory. She's the first woman to be premier of Alberta. Her campaign manager was a fellow who helped Naheed Nenshi get elected as mayor.
 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/provincial-elections/redford-is-albertas-next-premier/article2187705/singlepage/#articlecontent
 
And all the old dead wood was supporting Mar, so maybe we can get rid of more of them.

[Toedancer]

The first Woman Premier of Alberta. Pundits are calling that diverse. Sheesh, how we've devolved, when women are half the human population and we're considered diverse. 

[Boom Boom]

I read an article that says she wants to put the "progressive" back into Progressive Conservatives, and that she has been the most ardent critic of her own party, that she wants greater access to health care in the province, and a better education system. That said, she supports Keystone XL - that's probably a requirement for anyone running for top office in Alberta.

[Boom Boom]

A friend of mine on FB from out west says she's not close to Harper the way Gar Mar is, and will probably give Harper a headache or two. 

[sparqui]

First we witness Nenshi becoming Mayor of Calgary and now a "progressive" Conservative winning the leadership for Premier of Alberta... meanwhile it's a Ford nightmare in Toronto and potential Ontario victory for Hudak. It's like the political leanings of both provinces have been swapped. (No offense meant to all progressive voices in Alberta. I am more alarmed by the growing number of knee-jerk anti-taxes, pro-privatization voters in Ontario.)

[Toedancer]

Jeebus sparks, you've just described the perfect Con trifecta for Ontarians, who will be the losers.

[Boom Boom]

'Stop Harper's Gang' says former Senate Page in challenging Wildrose leader
 
excerpt:
 
DePape says that Alberta and Canada face an ecological and economic crisis, and the Harper government and Danielle Smith's Wildrose, propped up by money from the oil industry, are choosing to spend billions of dollars to expand the tar sands, when they should be making the province and country a leader in transitioning to a green and just economy.
 
"Since my action in the Senate I have been meeting with youth across Canada," says DePape. "Many young people cannot vote, and I felt compelled to share the voices of youth who will be gravely effected by Danielle Smith's agenda, and take action to protect our future which is being severely threatened with the expansion of the tar sands and climate change."
 
She called on other Albertans and Canadians to mobilize in their communities, concluding, "People from across Canada need to find creative ways to take action to expose these dangerous agendas, and to mobilize to take back control over our future and our country."

[Holly Stick]

Well by golly, that was interesting. So now the Alberta PC's have got another majority, which is better than having Wildrose win though a minority would have been even more interesting. The NDP gained two seats so with four seats are now an official party again (more funding etc.), David Swann was re-elected, Ted Morton was not, the Liberals lost seats but were not wiped out. Wildrose did get 17 seats or so.

The pollsters and pundits were all wrong I think. Watch for lots of excuses and people wondering what's wrong with Albertans, except maybe Dan Gardner who can say he keeps telling us Canadians are not moving to the right.

I feel mostly relieved. It could have been worse.

[Alison]

So have they thrown the 'Caucasian' off the cliff into the 'ring of fire' yet?
I believe that's the custom there.

[Holly Stick]

I think Leech and Hunsperger have both sunk into the tar pits, along with Ted Morton and Link Byfield. 

[lagatta]

Very good news in the context. Obviously an NDP majority or at least official opposition would have been better news, but I guess for the time being that is an alternative universe. At least with official party status the NDP can get its voice heard, and you've avoided having the hardcore nutcases in power.

[Boom Boom]

In her speech last night, Redford said she is going to build bridges, not walls - a direct shot at Smith. 
 
 
It just blew my mind (in not a good way) that the WRA wanted to take Alberta completely out of Equalization and the Canada Pension Plan. I'm glad Alberta said no to those ideas.

[Toedancer]

In her speech last night, Redford said she is going to build bridges, not walls - a direct shot at Smith. 
 
 
It just blew my mind (in not a good way) that the WRA wanted to take Alberta completely out of Equalization and the Canada Pension Plan. I'm glad Alberta said no to those ideas.

Stephen Harper was the lead signatory of the “firewall” open letter to then Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, calling for the province to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan, in favour of a provincial alternative, and other forms of decentralization.But it is unlikely he would have been able to support many of the policies in the “federal relations” section of the Wildrose platform. http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/04/24/john-ivison-federal-tories-might-be-devastated-at-wildrose-loss-but-its-better-for-them-in-the-long-run/

[Boom Boom]

Hopefully the WRA will now fade into obscurity.