Alberta Politics Thread

[RedHot25]

Yeah the whole speech thing just makes me laugh.

That said, and not sure if true or not, but this is also apparently making the rounds on twitter. Apparently his Parliament of Canada MP website is redirecting to his party election attempt here in Alberta, and he also did not attend his federal committee work today. Given that he is still a sitting MP...

Carrie Tait ‏@CarrieTait 1h1 hour ago
The link on Jason Kenney's Parliament of Canada MP website goes here: http://jasonkenneycampaign.nationbuilder.com/ #ableg #cndpoli

and

Aaron Wherry ‏@AaronWherry 4h4 hours ago
At the electoral reform committee. It appears Blake Richards is subbing for Jason Kenney, who is elsewhere for some reason. #hw

[RedHot25]

All this to say: I need to grab some popcorn, because round 1 of this - his attempt at winning the PC leadership is going to be good .

[Robbob]

The link on the parliament of Canada website is a link to his personal website. I am guessing he owns Jasonkenney.ca so I don't really see the problem that his personal website is showing the Alberta campaign stuff. Seems like people are making an issue out of nothing.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

As a millenial myself, I will with confidence say that any fashionable pieces of clothing attire worn by young people in Alberta that even remotely alludes to socialism or communism is simply for the visual style or its satirical/humorous nature way more so than the message on the shirt. Except for a political science buffs at university who don't shower, wearing a hammer and sickle on a shirt or even the imagery behind it these days means far less than it did 50 years ago. What's considered artistic on t-shirts these days weaves in many different styles, images, and messages on them. We've become comfortably numb.

Sorry Jason, you're making mountains out of mole hills.

A lot of people I knew who wore Che shirts back in the day were just really big Rage Against the Machine fans.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The only real difference is the use of the word "family."

Fellow travelers and neighbours are arguably more inclusive terms than parents and uncles - given the demographic he was speaking to, anyway.

[peter12]

I've only ever owned grey tee shirts, Mr. Kenney.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Robbob

The link on the parliament of Canada website is a link to his personal website. I am guessing he owns Jasonkenney.ca so I don't really see the problem that his personal website is showing the Alberta campaign stuff. Seems like people are making an issue out of nothing.

I think generally the issue is that it redirects you from a federally funded website - assuming that is what she meant by Parliament website - to his campaign website. Which I assume is a no go - for e.g. during an election you can't have it redirect to your campaign website. But who knows. I'm just enjoying watching everything fly around on Twitter et la.

[Looch City]

Hopefully he kicks off a positive campaign unlike his federal folk. So far so good!

[CaptainCrunch]

Every politician rips off speeches from everyone else. If I remember right Justin ripped off some phrases from Jack Layton's final letter. So its no big deal, plus Kenney took Trudeau's piece and made it better.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Every politician rips off speeches from everyone else. If I remember right Justin ripped off some phrases from Jack Layton's final letter. So its no big deal, plus Kenney took Trudeau's piece and made it better.

Ahhh...there's that sweet, sweet partisanship.

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Also a carbon tax that doesn't wreck Alberta businesses competitive balance with goods coming in from out of province that are exempt.

A Carbon tax that won't kill charity organizations like the food bank.

A carbon tax that is basically a double tax because of a lack of municipal exemption

A carbon tax that won't punish schools for having to bus kids in.

I don't have a problem with BC's carbon tax because it returns funds through lower taxation, its a if or for tax.

The climate plan calls for large emitters to receive output subsidies per unit of production based on the sector's carbon intensity performance. This is effectively a intensity based system like SGER which uses a facilities own carbon intensity as a baseline rather than the sector performance. The plan also calls for Electric generators to receive credits based on good-as-best gas performance. This is to reduce the impact on electrical prices. This also means that under the plan a advanced combined cycle gas plant like the Enmax Energy Centre would probably not have to pay a carbon levy.
This is the main reason that the Alberta plan is not revenue neutral because unlike BC Alberta has a much larger portion of it's emission in trade exposed industries (1% for BC compared to 18% to Alberta) and also has much less fossil fuel powered electrical plants than Alberta. If Alberta went with a revenue neutral approach like BC it would result in lower economic activity in Alberta yet higher CO2 emission in the world.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Every politician rips off speeches from everyone else. If I remember right Justin ripped off some phrases from Jack Layton's final letter. So its no big deal, plus Kenney took Trudeau's piece and made it better.

I don't know. He's just not ready...nice hair though.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know. He's just not ready...nice hair though.

I want to see Notley counter with an ad about Kenney wanting to put soldiers, with guns, on our streets.

Lets just make this entire thing a spectacle from the start!

[calgarygeologist]

I was at the WRP Stampede bbq today and I heard some rumblings from various politicos and insiders that Kenney might face a significant fight for the leadership from a couple high profile Alberta MPs. Obviously there is still quite a bit of time but apparently a few federalies are looking to step away from their federal post to run Alberta.

[browna]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

If I wanted to know who Jason Kenney is, either a fair summary or even two sources supporting him and opposing him, what should I read?

I don't know much about the guy and I guess now I should. I have this vague idea that he's a far-right ideologue, but I think it's the result of noticing a bunch of vague insinuations by people who don't like him rather than anything substantive.

A couple years old, but an excellent long form dissertation on Kenney. Very good read, very interesting guy for a number of reasons, and clearly he's more than over qualified for the Provincial role. For one reason or another, likely shutout,for now, of the Federal PC leader debate but down the road who knows.

Will look for attention seeker Sandra "I once read the News on TV" Jansen to quit as promised.

Worth the read for sure.

https://thewalrus.ca/true-blue/

[Violator]

I've never voted PC before but if Kenny runs and I'm in his riding I'll vote for him I like the cut of his jib especially cause of his handling of the tfw problem.His stance though probably won't win him alot of votes though.

[RedHot25]

Well, maybe not the best start for an apparent "fiscal hawk":

Jason Kenney slammed for remaining an MP as he campaigns in Alberta
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle30772313/

Jason Kenney did not step down as a member of Parliament when he officially launched his bid to lead Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives – a decision fiscal hawks say is an inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money.

The Conservative MP represents Calgary Midnapore and did not address whether he would continue to receive his House of Commons salary as he stumps across Alberta. The former cabinet minister’s federally funded website, as of Wednesday evening, linked to his provincial campaign site, further angering fiscal watchdogs.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which frequently criticizes NDP policies, said Wednesday that Mr. Kenney should not neglect his duties in Ottawa in favour of his Alberta aspirations so long as he is on the federal payroll. “He should definitely be taking a leave of absence that is unpaid,” Aaron Wudrick, the federal director for the organization, said. “There is a problem when a member of Parliament is being paid by taxpayers and seeking office elsewhere.”

Mr. Wudrick also said it is “inappropriate” for Mr. Kenney’s non-partisan federal website to link to the politician’s campaign page.

[Mister Yamoto]

If the PCs want to unite the right thats great. I'm sure the WildRose Party would let them in so long as they use the WildRose name, colours and Brian Jean is the leader.

The NDP doesn't have a chance at being the next government and the WildRose Party does not have to merge with anyone. Good speech though.

[CaptainCrunch]

That's true, however I would expect that if the merger isn't going to happen. The name recognition of Kenney alone might bring a pretty fair percentage of current WR'er's back to the PC tent.

And as much as I like Jean as a person, I tend to think that a battle between Jean and Kenney will be a bloodbath for the WildRose.

[CaptainCrunch]

Plus just think about the campaign from the PC's. If you vote Wildrose you might as well give the NDP another term.

And then put up a photoshopped picture of Jean and Notley making out.