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By David Climenhaga, on May 17, 2013, at 2:46 am Your blogger with CBC investigative reporter Charles Rusnell. Below: Edmonton-Manning MLA Peter Sandhu; Mr. Sandhu with Alison Redford in a Tory Party photo grabbed from the Daveberta.ca blog. The photo-bomber is Calgary-Fort MLA Wayne Cao.
You’d think it would be easy to run a petroleum-soaked, cash-rich jurisdiction like Alberta, but a day seldom seems to pass out here on the western edge of the Great Plains without our governing Progressive Conservative Party suffering another pratfall or embarrassment.
But how many Albertans know that so many of these scandals bedevilling our permanent governing party have been uncovered by the same (Read more…)
By David Climenhaga, on May 10, 2013, at 2:06 am Generous corporate donor drops off cash at Tory headquarters. Actual donors, who may not be exactly as illustrated, will be determined later. Below: Parkland Institute researcher Trevor Harrison and Tory Human Services Minister Dave Hancock.
It’s a conundrum!
What should Alberta’s Tories do? A study by the University of Alberta’s Parkland Institute released yesterday demonstrates something almost everyone already knew anyway – that most Albertans strongly support limits on election spending.
So not setting limits on donations from corporations and unions, or enforcing the rules about how donations are made – Hey, Daryl Katz, c’mon down! – potentially spells big (Read more…)
By David Climenhaga, on May 2, 2013, at 2:51 am “’Ave you got a leesence for your minkey?” An investigator for Elections Alberta pauses momentarily in his probe of political donations made to the Progressive Conservative Party by seeing-eye monkeys. If you don’t get it, I can’t help you. Actual Elections Alberta investigators by now have likely been transferred back to plain clothes. Below: Justice Minister Jonathan Denis, retired Chief Elections Officer O. Brian Fjeldheim and drugstore billionaire Daryl Katz.
In Alberta, lawbreakers must be punished, and they will be punished – unless, of course, they happen to be supporters of the ruling Progressive Conservative Party.
So, the government (Read more…)
By David Climenhaga, on April 28, 2013, at 3:25 am Wildcatting Correctional Officers on the picket line at the Edmonton Remand Centre just before midnight last night, long after the government’s ultimatum ordering them back to work. Below: Trade unionists occupy an Alberta Labour Relations Board boardroom yesterday afternoon in support of the striking guards. Below that: Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk as he appeared during a post-news-conference visit last night to the Edmonton Beerfest.
“You know what a tense, sensitive and dangerous situation like an illegal strike at a prison needs? Thomas Lukaszuk.”
So Tweeted well-known Edmonton New Democrat Lou Arab yesterday, the self-described political geek, Internet junkie, father, (Read more…)
By daveberta, on April 23, 2013, at 1:45 am TweetOn April 23, 2012, Alberta’s most hotly contested election in decades culminated with the re-election of the twelfth consecutive Progressive Conservative majority government since 1971. Despite holding the large majority elected MLAs, the popular vote showed Albertans were closely divided between Alison Redford‘s Tories who finished with 44% compared to an impressive 34% showing for [...]
By daveberta, on April 13, 2013, at 12:38 pm TweetThis week Edmonton-Centre Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman was recognized in the Legislative Assembly as being the “longest-serving member to serve exclusively in opposition in Alberta’s history. Ms. Blakeman was elected on March 11, 1997 and, as Speaker Gene Zwozdesky noted, she has served continuously since that time for a total of 5,876 days over the course of [...]
By daveberta, on March 7, 2013, at 12:01 am TweetMost media and political watchers are focused on today’s release of the provincial budget, but last week Human Services Minister Dave Hancock focused on the human-side of government with the release of the much anticipated ‘Social Policy Framework.’ “It’s part of taking an intelligent look at the social policy agenda,” Human Services Minister Hancock told [...]
By daveberta, on February 26, 2013, at 1:21 am TweetEducation Minister Jeff Johnson dispatched a letter to the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) and the Alberta School Boards Association yesterday threatening salary cuts if a new contract is not agreed to before the provincial budget is released on March 7, 2013. Minister Johnson’s statement was made the same day that Premier Alison Redford told the media [...]
By daveberta, on November 5, 2012, at 12:00 am TweetIf you pay attention to political pundits or follow the #ableg hashtag on Twitter, you will have read about how nasty and partisan the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly has been. But if you logout of Twitter for a bit and ignore the embarrassing theatrics of Question Period, you will find some substantial debate and [...]
By daveberta, on September 6, 2012, at 2:04 pm TweetHuman Services Minister Dave Hancock made an appearance in an election attack ad aimed at two Minnesota Republicans, including Representative David Hancock. It appears that the photo of Alberta’s Mr. Hancock was accidentally used in place of his Minnesota counterpart in the ad sponsored by the Minnesota House Democratic-Farmer-Labour Party Caucus. The mistake was first [...]
By daveberta, on August 31, 2012, at 10:09 am Tweet Elections Alberta has released the financial disclosure forms submitted by candidates who ran in the April 2012 provincial election and some of the disclosure forms reveal some interesting information about how much money was fundraised and spent during the campaign. The money spent by candidates and political parties in Alberta elections are nowhere near [...]
By david, on August 15, 2012, at 2:09 am Some of the AUPE members who work at the Revera Riverbend facility in Edmonton, which ended yesterday when the Alberta government imposed a first-contract binding arbitration process and ordered an end to the strike. (AUPE Photo.) Below: Former AUPE President Dan MacLennan hams it up with former premier Ralph Klein.
Premier Alison Redford, Health Minister Fred Horne, Human Services Minister Dave Hancock and Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk yesterday went boldly where no Alberta Conservative has dared to go before! And good for them.
Specifically, yesterday Ms. Redford and the three members of her cabinet went where former premier Ralph
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: The Annals of Alberta Labour Relations: Redford Government goes boldly where no Tory’s gone before
By david, on August 9, 2012, at 1:24 am Transparency, Alberta style, with Gloria Stuart as Alison Redford, William Harrigan as Dr. Chris Eagle and Claude Rains as Fred Horne. Below: Don Scott, yesterday’s Invisible Man.
Alberta’s mainstream media finally got around yesterday to acknowledging the obvious, that Alberta Health Services may have left itself (and the rest of us who pay its bills) wide open to a costly lawsuit by tossing former CFO Allaudin Merali under the bus and then denying him severance without so much as a tip of the hat to due process.
In other words, to summarize the message from a law professor consulted by
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Alberta’s Expensesgate scandal: Just saying it’s over doesn’t mean it’s over
By David J. Climenhaga, on May 23, 2012, at 2:13 am Bill 1? It’s a secret! Alberta MLAs may not be exactly as illustrated.
It’s great work if you can find it!
The first session of the 28th Legislature of Alberta opens later today and will sit for … hold onto your hats, people … all of six days.
In their defence, sort of, that’s about all Premier Alison Redford and the rest of the Legislature’s 87 MLAs are going to need anyway, because they only plan to deal with one piece of legislation, something called, appropriately enough, Bill 1.
Bill 1 is … well, actually, Bill 1 is a secret.
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Alberta MLAs get down to work – sort of – later today
By daveberta, on May 16, 2012, at 1:01 am After three years of slagging him in the media, Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith met Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel for the first time yesterday (The image is a dramatization of actual events).
Three years after becoming leader of her party, Official Opposition Wildrose Party leader and southern Alberta MLA Danielle Smith met with Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel for the first time yesterday.
It is bizarre that Ms. Smith, who believed she was on the verge of becoming Premier of Alberta before April 23, had not met the Mayor of Alberta’s capital city until today. Knowing how many events Mayor Mandel
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: edmonton’s advantage: we owe danielle smith nothing.
By David J. Climenhaga, on May 9, 2012, at 2:12 am Where’s Waldo? Yesterday’s official cabinet swearing-in photo. Who is missing?
With roughly 40 per cent of its members new to a cabinet role – and 15 per cent of them brand new to Alberta’s 87-seat Legislature – Premier Alison Redford’s new cabinet announced yesterday should have given the impression of more change than it did.
Despite the story the crunched numbers tell, though, this cabinet sure feels like the same old, same old.
The reason: so many of the key posts are still filled by the same key insiders. Just to name a few, Premier Redford herself, Doug Horner back
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Everything new is old again in Alison Redford’s first post-election cabinet
By daveberta, on May 8, 2012, at 8:27 pm Premier Alison Redford's new cabinet ministers (photos from premierofalberta Flickr feed).
Premier Alison Redford appointed her post-election cabinet ministers today after forgoing an initial press release and announcing them on Twitter. These picks and the legislation they will bring forward over the next four years will shape the direction Premier Redford wants to take her Progressive Conservative Party into the next election.
The new cabinet will face a new Wildrose Party Official Opposition, which is dominated by rookie MLA’s from rural southern and central Alberta constituencies.
The bleeding of large portions of the PC Party’s rural social conservative wing
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: alison redford and her new cabinet could lead a new urban agenda.
By David J. Climenhaga, on May 8, 2012, at 2:10 am “What was I thinking?” A progressive Alberta elector contemplates what he’s wrought by voting “strategically” for the Redford Conservatives. Alberta voters may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Premier Redford.
Later today, Alberta Premier Alison Redford will announce whom she has picked to fill her cabinet.
As a consequence, today is almost certain to be the start of a disappointment for the thousands of Alberta teachers, health care workers, union members, soccer moms and other progressive citizens who cast their ballots strategically, some might say foolishly, for the premier’s Progressive Conservative Party on April 23.
They did
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Today’s cabinet appointments likely to disappoint Alberta’s ‘strategic’ voters
By daveberta, on May 4, 2012, at 1:43 am Alberta's Legislative Assembly Building
With election withdrawal setting in like a bad hangover, much of the media attention this week focused on the 38 rookie MLA’s attending outgoing Speaker Ken Kowalski‘s Legislature 101 course and the resumption of inside baseball politics under the Dome.
Bridget Pastoor and Premier Alison Redford (photo from PremierofAlberta Flickr account)
Cabinet Speculation Rumours abound about who might end up in Premier Redford’s new cabinet, which is expected to be appointed next week. While Tory stalwarts such as Dave Hancock, Doug Horner, Thomas Lukaszuk, and Doug Griffiths are almost certainly in line
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: return to the dome and inside baseball politics.
By daveberta, on May 4, 2012, at 1:01 am Alberta's Legislative Assembly Building
With election withdrawal setting in like a bad hangover, much of the media attention this week focused on the 38 rookie MLA’s attending outgoing Speaker Ken Kowalski‘s Legislature 101 course and the resumption of inside baseball politics under the Dome.
Bridget Pastoor and Premier Alison Redford (photo from PremierofAlberta Flickr account)
Cabinet Speculation Rumours are abound about who might end up in Premier Redford’s new cabinet, which is expected to be appointed next week. While Tory stalwarts such as Dave Hancock, Doug Horner, Thomas Lukaszuk, and Doug Griffiths are almost certainly in
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: return to the dome and inside baseball politics.
By Atypical Albertan, on May 3, 2012, at 11:28 pm Hey, I’m awful at predictions, but why not speculate on cabinet postings.
Premier Alison Redford has discussed the possibility of some repositioning of portfolios and the possibility of a downsize to cabinet. It is quite likely that we will see 20 ministers in the cabinet including the Premier. As far as responsibility juggling, we could see something done that would help coordinate seniors housing options which is currently spread over three ministries: human services, health and seniors. We might also see a combination of Tourism, Parks and Recreation with Culture and Community Spirit as a way to downsize cabinet (Read more…)
By David J. Climenhaga, on April 21, 2012, at 3:46 am What is it with right-wing politicians and tobacco, anyway? Below: Don’t worry, she won’t have to pay higher taxes for that cigarette.
The leaders of all Alberta parties but one seem committed to ending smoking by young Albertans. The sole holdout? It’s the Wildrose Party, led by former Fraser Institute apparatchik Danielle Smith, of course.
This much was reported by the Calgary Herald last Tuesday, although readers are forgiven if they missed it since the story ended up on page 18.
“Only Smith said she wouldn’t support the majority of the measures,” wrote the Herald’s reporter in her coverage
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire: Danielle Smith and Big Tobacco
By daveberta, on January 6, 2012, at 1:15 am 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 Premier Ed Stelmach, Ken Kowalski, Iris Evans, Ron Liepert, Mel Knight, Barry McFarland, Janis Tarchuk, Richard Marz, Lloyd Snelgrove, Mel Knight, Rob Renner, Hugh MacDonald, Kevin Taft, George Groeneveld, Dave Taylor, Harry Chase, Broyce
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: rookie photos of alberta mla’s retiring in 2012.
By David J. Climenhaga, on November 28, 2011, at 2:12 am An Alberta monogamist with his many wives and children. Alberta’s “fixed election dates will be flexible.” Do we speak English here any more? Almost anything in Alberta may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Government House Leader Dave Hancock.
Premier Alison Redford’s unfixed-fixed election dates bill is touted as a way to make Alberta’s elections just a little bit more fair to everyone.
As the Calgary Herald blandly stated in a story on a related topic, as if it were an undisputed fact, the Conservative government’s legislative scheme of having a three-month fixed-election period has the goal of putting
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Fixed election periods? Take your pick: hypocritical, cynical, impractical or all of the above
By daveberta, on November 1, 2011, at 2:01 am Despite the narrative of “change from within” that was made popular after the October 1 leadership vote, the wave of change has not spilled far into the Progressive Conservative ranks since Alison Redford was elected into her new role one month ago. – The Globe & Mail is reporting that the controversial Kelley Charlebois is [...] . . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: redford’s ‘change from within’ is a nice slogan, but when you take a closer look…
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