Alberta Election writ drop today? April 2 Election Day ? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

First Lady · 03-05-2012, 10:43 AM

Premier's office has just tweeted this.https://twitter.com/#!/Premier_Redfo...11596633108480

Quote:

The LG granted Royal Assent to Bill 1.

Bill #1 is the budget.
Premier Redford has said we will go to an election once the budget was passed.

This could mean a writ drop as early as this afternoon; giving us an April 2nd election day.

I don't think they will wait until next week, because that would put an election day on Tuesday, April 10th. With the end of election being during Easter, which I think they will try to avoid.

Northendzone · 03-05-2012, 10:55 AM

i am going to go to the restroom and drop something similar in about an hour......

Not really a fan of this, but I suppose she needs her mandate. At least the process is over in a month......

Anyone care to make a parlay bet with The Conservatives to win and the Flames with 88 points on April 2.......

Azure · 03-05-2012, 10:57 AM

Interesting that she'll call an election so soon after passing a budget. Either the PCs think that buying votes will ensure that more people will vote for them, or they're naive enough to think that most Albertans like spending money like a bunch of morons.

Sadly, I think they do.

metallicat · 03-05-2012, 10:59 AM

Are there any polls out there right now to see where the parties are standing?

First Lady · 03-05-2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Are there any polls out there right now to see where the parties are standing?

http://www.threehundredeight.blogspot.com/

... has been doing a good job of amalgamating poll data.

CaptainCrunch · 03-05-2012, 11:09 AM

I don't mind this,considering that she came on board mid term as the new leader and pretty much changed the direction of the party, it would seem only fair that she puts her programs out to the people.

I haven't been all that impressed with the Conservatives since Ralphus left and even to a point before that, so it would be nice to see a well fought election with new ideas, and maybe a scare thrown into the Conservatives to chip that very large dhip on their shoulder.

But I doubt that the Liberal's or NDP will make much of a dent in their support.

Yeah_Baby · 03-05-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't mind this,considering that she came on board mid term as the new leader and pretty much changed the direction of the party, it would seem only fair that she puts her programs out to the people.

I haven't been all that impressed with the Conservatives since Ralphus left and even to a point before that, so it would be nice to see a well fought election with new ideas, and maybe a scare thrown into the Conservatives to chip that very large dhip on their shoulder.

But I doubt that the Liberal's or NDP will make much of a dent in their support.

Elections aren't the time for new ideas. Don't kid yourself

Elections are all about convincing the electorate that the government's rhetoric is wrong and that your rhetoric is right. Or vice versa.

GP_Matt · 03-05-2012, 11:18 AM

I think you may be surprised this time around. I have seen some pretty interesting and different ideas being prepared and announced for this election.

automaton 3 · 03-05-2012, 11:23 AM

I'm still mad about this Bill 26 .05 nonsense...the Conservatives won't get my vote this time.

getbak · 03-05-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't mind this,considering that she came on board mid term as the new leader and pretty much changed the direction of the party, it would seem only fair that she puts her programs out to the people.

She doesn't have a lot of choice in the matter. Saturday was four years since the last election.

In December, the government passed legislation requiring elections be held between March 1 and May 31 in the fourth year following the most recent election: http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDA...2_bill-021.pdf

Quote:

General election dates

38.1(1) Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Lieutenant Governor, including the power to dissolve the Legislature, in Her Majesty’s name, when the Lieutenant Governor sees fit.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), a general election shall be held within the 3-month period beginning on March 1, 2012 and ending on May 31, 2012, and afterwards, general elections shall be held within the 3-month period beginning on March 1 and ending on May 31 in the 4th calendar year following polling day in the most recent general election.

Slava · 03-05-2012, 12:49 PM

Cindy Ady just announced she isn't running again, so I suppose the writ won't be dropped today...

TurnedTheCorner · 03-05-2012, 12:57 PM

Golden opportunity for April 1 election missed. For shame.

First Lady · 03-05-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

Cindy Ady just announced she isn't running again, so I suppose the writ won't be dropped today...

Or it confirms it. There have been rumours that some PC MLA's were waiting for the writ drop to resign.... final "f" you.....so to speak.

Slava · 03-05-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First Lady

Or it confirms it. There have been rumours that some PC MLA's were waiting for the writ drop to resign.... final "f" you.....so to speak.

That would make some sense actually. I spoke with Cindy prior to the final PC leadership ballot and although I have no inside info since that time, my guess is that she wasn't pleased with the outcome.

Intersting times in Alberta though as that is probably one of the safest seats in the province for the PCs.

First Lady · 03-05-2012, 01:44 PM

MLA Hector Goudreau resigns as head of policy committee after “threatening” letter

Quote:

A northern Alberta MLA under fire for penning a “threatening” letter to a local school board has resigned as chairman of a legislature committee.

Dunvegan-Central Peace MLA Hector Goudreau informed the Tory caucus on Monday that he would step down as head of a cabinet policy committee on community development.

You can see a copy of the letter here.

Lots of shifting going on today.

Yeah_Baby · 03-05-2012, 01:51 PM

I'm really curious to see what happens in Chestermere-Rocky View. McAllister verses Morton and all.

Jacks · 03-05-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

Cindy Ady just announced she isn't running again, so I suppose the writ won't be dropped today...

They just said on the radio that is the 19th PC MLA who is not running this time. I wonder if that includes Raj and the 3 others who joined the WRA?

Slava · 03-05-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks

They just said on the radio that is the 19th PC MLA who is not running this time. I wonder if that includes Raj and the 3 others who joined the WRA?

I don't know, but that is a big number for turnover. Kind of defeats the "old boys club argument" regardless of what you think of the party.

First Lady · 03-05-2012, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacks

They just said on the radio that is the 19th PC MLA who is not running this time. I wonder if that includes Raj and the 3 others who joined the WRA?

Cindy Ady
Ken Allred
Carl Benito
Lindsay Blackett
Doug Elinski
Iris Evans
George Groeneveld
Broyce Jacobs
Art Johnston
Ken Kowalski
Ron Liepert
Fred Lindsay
Richard Marz
Barry McFarland
Mel Knight
Rob Renner
Lloyd Snelgrove
Ed Stelmach
Janice Tarchuk

Resolute 14 · 03-05-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know, but that is a big number for turnover. Kind of defeats the "old boys club argument" regardless of what you think of the party.

Depends on how many of those 19 were in the inner circle. A bunch of nameless, faceless backbenchers wouldn't dent that perception in the slightest.

Edit: Of course, many of that group were inner circle, so...