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By susanonthesoapbox, on April 14, 2013, at 4:51 pm Last week Ms Soapbox was introduced to the Legislative Assembly by Liberal MLA, Laurie Blakeman, the oldest (as in longest-serving, not age!) opposition MLA. Ms Blakeman noted that Ms Soapbox was a lawyer but said the House wouldn’t hold that against her. Ms Soapbox stood to receive the “traditional warm welcome” of the Assembly. The MLAs thumped their desks and waved, warming the cockles of Ms Soapbox’s heart!
The Caucus Meeting
When Liberal MLA, Dr David Swann, invited me to attend a Liberal caucus meeting I leapt at the chance. In less than 10 minutes
. . . → Read More: Susan on the Soapbox: Ms Soapbox’s Great Adventure—Off to the Leg (it rhymes with “edge”)
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 6, 2013, at 9:39 pm TweetFresh from a war of words with popular Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths responded the a question from Edmonton-Centre MLA Laurie Blakeman with this poorly thought-out retort in Question Period today: “It could be asked by rural Albertans why 17 per cent of the population that lives in rural Alberta that [...]
By daveberta, on March 4, 2013, at 12:01 am TweetAfter months of posturing and picking fights with Alberta’s teachers, it appears that Education Minister Jeff Johnson was just posturing. But what the rookie cabinet minister was trying to accomplish is still unclear. Minister Johnson announced this weekend that he would back down on his ultimate made last week that teachers accept his last minute [...]
By daveberta, on January 15, 2013, at 1:27 am TweetThe latest episode of Alberta’s ongoing “cooperation on the centre-left” saga will continue on January 23, when rogue activists from the Liberalberta Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Alberta Party will host a “Soapbox, Suds, and Wings” night in Edmonton. The event, which is being organized by Edmonton-Mill Creek NDP president Stephen Anderson, Alberta [...]
By David Climenhaga, on January 1, 2013, at 2:08 pm The Dagny Taggarts, a synchronized skating team from Ottawa get ready to do their popular routine, “Where Is John Galt?” Defence Minister Joan Crockatt is in the front row, second from right. Below: Senator Tom Flanagan; U of C economics student Kim Jong-un, in full Calgary drag; Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, ecstatic for his boss; and Nobel Prize winner Raj Sherman with the author. Actual events may not turn out exactly as predicted.
Why wait for 2013’s headlines when you can read them here on Alberta Dairy right now? In a spirit of transparency bordering on clairvoyance, Alberta Diary
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Why wait? Read 2013’s shocking political headlines right now on Alberta Diary!
By daveberta, on October 30, 2012, at 2:53 pm TweetNearly every word uttered during debates on the floor of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly is recorded into the official transcript known as Hansard. Sometimes, Members of the Legislative Assembly make odd comments, and those odd comments are recorded into Hansard. During debate on Bill 6, the Protection and Compliance Statutes Amendment Act, 2012 on October 25, some [...]
By daveberta, on August 30, 2012, at 9:50 am TweetLearning how to be an effective opposition MLA in Alberta includes a very steep learning curve and the constant challenge of facing a governing party that despises opposition. As any observer of Alberta politics can point out, the Progressive Conservatives have not sustained 41 uninterrupted years in government by being “nice.” Their veteran Liberal and [...]
By David J. Climenhaga, on June 10, 2012, at 2:25 am Your blogger, with Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman. Where were the PCs? Below: Some of the throng in Churchill Square, NDP MLAs David Eggen, Rachel Notley and Deron Bilous, Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman.
Edmonton’s Pride Parade yesterday can only be described as a massive success, proof of the assertion real Albertans don’t care a fig about a person’s sexuality, gender identity or even how they dress.
Surely there were 20,000 people in the streets for the parade, including, God bless them, Albertans in hijabs and Hutterite bonnets. Rain was promised by the weatherperson but the warm sun beamed down, approval
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Alison Redford opens Edmonton Pride Festival – but goes AWOL from parade
By daveberta, on June 9, 2012, at 6:45 pm Tweet
Dave Colburn, chair of Edmonton's Public School Board.
NDP MLA's David Eggen and Deron Bilous.
Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman (second from the left)
Edmonton City Councillors Ben Henderson, Kim Krushell, and Dave Loken.
Liberal MLA Raj Sherman
Quebec NDP MP Dany Morin and former Edmonton candidate Lewis Cardinal.
See more photos here.
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: photos: politicians in edmonton’s pride parade 2012.
By daveberta, on May 25, 2012, at 1:01 am Tweet
Raj Sherman delivers his leadership victory speech as leadership chair Josipa Petrunic, and candidates Laurie Blakeman, Hugh MacDonald, and Bruce Payne look on (September 2011).
The Alberta Liberals will be holding a vote to affirm or oppose the continued leadership of Raj Sherman on June 16 at the Whitehorn Community Association in northeast Calgary.
While the 2012 election gave the Liberal Party its worst electoral showing in decades, including the loss of Official Opposition status to the Wildrose Party, many Liberal partisans are lining up to reaffirm Dr. Sherman’s leadership. Dr. Sherman was first elected as
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: murky waters ahead for alberta’s liberal party.
By David J. Climenhaga, on May 24, 2012, at 6:29 am Gene Zwozdesky, Alberta’s new Speaker, with your blogger and a Speech from the Throne … though not today’s.
This compliment may come out sounding a little more backhanded than intended, but the Alberta Legislature could have done a lot worse than choose someone like Gene Zwozdesky to wear the Speaker’s three-cornered hat, as its MLAs did yesterday.
This concludes the principal business of this otherwise silly six-day legislative session: naming a replacement for former speaker Ken Kowalski, who is no longer a member of the House and whose influence, rest assured Premier Alison Redford long ago concluded, needed to end
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Zwozdesky’s in, Kowalski’s out and all’s right with the Tory universe
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 18, 2012, at 11:49 am Tweet
As the Opposition Caucuses and Parties reorganize following electoral changes caused as a results of the April 23 election, there will be a number of staff and role changes in Assembly. The new Assembly will convene for the first time to elect a new Speaker on May 23, 2012 and listen to the Speech from the Throne on May 24, 2012.
New Speaker
Gene Zwozdesky
As the result of the retirement of long-time Progressive Conservative MLA Ken Kowalski, the Speaker’s Office is vacant for the first time since 1997. Vying to become the new Assembly Speaker are
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: assembly housekeeping: new staff, new speaker, & new public accounts committee chair.
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 David J. Climenhaga, on May 1, 2012, at 1:50 am Your blogger with yet another of the candidates to be called Mr. Speaker, the dulcetly mellifluous Gene Zwozdesky, looking none too thrilled about this photo opportunity in Speakerly garb.
I have been surprised by the amount of interested generated by my post suggesting there is a three-way or possibly four-way race for the job of Speaker of the Alberta Legislature, now that Ken Kowalski has retired.
Readers will recall that the four named here are: Laurie Blakeman, Liberal MLA for Edmonton-Centre Robin Campbell, Progressive Conservative MLA for West Yellowhead Wayne Cao, PC MLA for Calgary-Fort Gene Zwozdesky . . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Choosing a Speaker for Alberta: Your chance to vote … sort of
By David J. Climenhaga, on April 27, 2012, at 2:07 am Your blogger with Robin Campbell, Ken Kowalski’s possible replacement as Speaker of the Alberta Legislature. Below: Laurie Blakeman, Gene Zwozdesky, and Wayne Cao with you-know-who.
JASPER, Alberta
Just when you thought it was safe to go out of the house again, there’s another election!
But you don’t get to vote in this one, even though it’s pretty important to Alberta just the same.
Next on the agenda for the Alberta Legislature: the 87 newly elected MLAs need to elect a Speaker to preside over their … er … deliberations.
Sounds routine, but in a funny inside-baseball way, the Speaker’s job
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Calculating the odds in the race for Alberta’s Legislative Speaker
By Atypical Albertan, on April 23, 2012, at 12:57 pm 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 majority or minority government. I pity the people who will have to make projections for the media outlets. They will juggle the balance between trying to be first to call the election, while ensuring that their call is not a wrong call.
Nonetheless, for funsies, (Read more…)
By daveberta, on January 19, 2012, at 1:02 am “If Alberta increased its tax rates by $11 billion our province would still have the lowest tax rate in Canada.”
This was only one of the notable figures presented by Kevin Taft at the launch of his new book, Follow the Money, held last night at the Garneau Theatre in Edmonton. The outgoing MLA and former Liberal Party leader released his latest book along with a short film directed by award-winning director Tom Radford.
The book and the film focus on what Alberta’s reach-for-the-bottom taxation rate really means for our province and the potential that is lost when
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: kevin taft goes rogue with new book: follow the money.
By David J. Climenhaga, on December 12, 2011, at 12:44 am Edmonton Centre MLA Laurie Blakeman with Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman last summer when they were both running for the leadership.
Well, Ken Kowalski is marching into history, so why the heck not?
At any rate, earlier today, Edmonton Centre Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman sent along a Twitter message saying she’s still the nominated candidate for her party, then went on to say: “Excited by idea of running for Speaker – best qualified but still need PC votes.”
The four-term MLA has sought the job before, and not gained much purchase with the vast Tory majority in the Assembly
. . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Liberal MLA Blakeman to run for Speaker, again
By daveberta, on December 7, 2011, at 6:22 am There was an interesting bit of online chatter earlier this week after an article written by provincial affairs reporter Keith Gerein was published in the Edmonton Journal (“Alberta Party drifts out of limelight“).
It is really unfair to say that the Alberta Party ever occupied the limelight. It would probably be more accurate to describe it as having visited the limelight for a few short months.
As a card carrying member of the Alberta Party, I have had mixed feelings about the path the organization has taken over the past year. I joined that party late last year
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: the alberta party: what now?
By daveberta, on November 21, 2011, at 11:28 am Premier Alison Redford
Part two of the Fall sitting of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly begins today for a short two-weeks of business. Aside from the two-day speech driven sitting held last month, this will be the first time that new Progressive Conservative Premier Alison Redford and her cabinet will gather in the Assembly to present a legislative agenda and field questions from Opposition MLAs.
I have yet to see the details, but the Edmonton Journal is reporting on a new Environics survey, taken between November 4 and 8 that showed the governing Progressive Conservatives with 51% support across the province.
. . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: alberta’s second fall sitting starts today with redford’s tories on a high.
By David J. Climenhaga, on September 28, 2011, at 2:11 am Hugh MacDonald: A serious loss to the Alberta Liberals. Below: Edmonton-Gold Bar NDP candidate Marlin Schmidt.The planned departure of Hugh MacDonald from the crumbling Alberta Liberal Party became official yesterday when paid reporters finally tracked… . . . → Read More: David Climenhaga’s Alberta Diary: Departure of Hugh MacDonald a more serious blow to Alberta Liberals than the mere loss of a single Grit
By daveberta, on September 23, 2011, at 12:21 pm Outgoing Liberal Party executive director Corey Hogan and Liberal Caucus strategist Jonathan Huckabee offered Alberta Party provincial organizer Michael Walters a job as their party’s executive director, sources close to both parties have told this blogger. The offer was made over the phone earlier this week. Sources say that Mr. Walters, the nominated Alberta Party [...] . . . → Read More: daveberta.ca – Alberta politics blog: liberal party tries to raid alberta party staff by promising job and nomination.
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Alberta Diary: Why wait? Read 2013’s shocking political headlines right now on Alberta Diary!
The Dagny Taggarts, a synchronized skating team from Ottawa get ready to do their popular routine, “Where Is John Galt?” Defence Minister Joan Crockatt is in the front row, second from right. Below: Senator Tom Flanagan; U of C economics student Kim Jong-un, in full Calgary drag; Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, ecstatic for his boss; and Nobel Prize winner Raj Sherman with the author. Actual events may not turn out exactly as predicted.
Why wait for 2013’s headlines when you can read them here on Alberta Dairy right now? In a spirit of transparency bordering on clairvoyance, Alberta Diary
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Why wait? Read 2013’s shocking political headlines right now on Alberta Diary!