Selling the Government fleet of aircraft is an interesting move.
I don't like the idea of appointing the non-MLA's. I'm pretty sure his appointment of Mandel is purely based on retaining PC votes in Edmonton. From what I understand, Mandel is/was one of the most popular mayors in Edmonton and has a huge support base. By bringing Mandel in the party is essentially trying to buy the voting power of his supporters.
1. I don't like him appointing non-elected people. I think its terrible because right or wrong people have elected these individuals.
2. It probably sends an important message to caucus, that things are actually going to be different (again, right or wrong), and that he is going to run things different from how it was just a few months ago. That might persuade some of the current MLAs to think about moving to greener pastures.
3. I hadn't heard this? Would that be for a general election?
4. I don't think that comes as a surprise at this point, and is probably the right move.
appointing two non-MLAs into the two largest budget portfolios (70% of the budget).
Ridiculous that the ministers in charge Health and Education are unelected and can't be questioned in the house.
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Originally Posted by killer_carlson
A decision today to cancel the government fleet
I don't really have a problem with the planes, more the blatant abuse. It would probably be better to slowly phase them out but it's a political hot potato now.
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Originally Posted by Slava
3. I hadn't heard this? Would that be for a general election?
No, the opposite. It's so he can bring in a throne speech and a new agenda. He hasn't even won a seat yet, not sure where they get the mandate for a new agenda.
Mandel's appointment is a strategic move. I don't know about the rest but it is a slap in the face to current MLAs. Horner could still hang on to a cabinet post is a surprise.
During Tuesday’s press conference, his first as Alberta’s premier, Prentice touched on other controversial issues that have plagued the ruling Progressive Conservative government. He also said that he would not spend any more money on the luxury premier’s residence, dubbed the “Sky Palace,” partially constructed under Redford’s watch in Edmonton.
After public outrage over the plan, the province's auditor general reported that the space would be used for meeting rooms, although some residential amenities had already been partially installed.
Prentice said the most cost effective course at this point would be just to continue that plan.
“I don’t think the taxpayers of Alberta want to see any more costs incurred,” he said.
“Clearly, I’m not sure why a shower needs to be next to a meeting room, but if it has been wired and plumbed for that purpose, I guess it'll stay that way, because I don’t intend to pay any more public money on changing it.”
Prentice said he is in the process of purchasing a condo for when he stays in Edmonton.
This space is an ongoing cost and should be set up properly. How about they change it back to usable office space and the PC Party pays the tab for the renovations?
If the people most qualified for the job of Cabinet ministers are not in the caucus then hiring outside people makes sense. I think provided they will seek a seat in the next general election and meet all of the disclosure and segragation of asset requirements of sitting MLA's then I don't have an issue with it.
I don't get the whole premier doesn't have a mandate argument. He does have a mandate. Individual Albertans elected MLA's those MLA's can vote for non-confidence in the government if they feel the government no longer has the authority to govern. Until such a time that the Leg decides the government isn't fit they have a mandate to govern.
I don't mind snubbing current MLA's or those who were vocal in ousting Redford. You shouldnt get rewarded for knifing your previous boss. Best people should be put in place for the job.
By puroguing he gets rid of all existing legislation on the floor right now and starts over. Unless their are any opposition bills that get killed because of this and can't be re-introduced I would be in favour of this. Rather than retracting and ammending to death current bills, or voting them down in the house and wasting time starting over seems reasonable.
I like the canceling of government owned airlines. Using small private charters when neccessary that generate expenses that have good oversite is a better process.
I don't understand the logic behind appointing ministers to the new Cabinet that had had pretty much a zero impact on anything of significance during their entire career with the Government (i.e. Klimchuk, McQueen, Kubinec). Another questionable appointment is Stephen Khan, who is a fairly young man with very little Government experience, to a very important Service Alberta portfolio.
Other than the above concerns, this should be a pretty strong Cabinet. I do like the appointment of Mandel, who's smart and well-balanced politician and the promotion of Frank Oberle, who has done a good job in his previous appointment.
If the people most qualified for the job of Cabinet ministers are not in the caucus then hiring outside people makes sense. I think provided they will seek a seat in the next general election and meet all of the disclosure and segragation of asset requirements of sitting MLA's then I don't have an issue with it.
Does this apply to Mandel? What makes him qualified for the Health Minister role?
Our unelected premier has unelected cabinet ministers. This government is a sham.
This particular "point" that I keep seeing repeated is driving me nuts. He was elected, like him or not, and you could have voted in that election. Sure he hasn't won a seat in the legislature yet, but its been less than a week. Surely this is understandable. Now if the plan was to wait until the next general election and basically run the province in this manner for a few years, yeah I can understand why people might be upset, but a few days and it just sounds petty and ridiculous.
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Right now I think Prentice knows that he's in the middle of a mine field and that the PC party is going to be given way more scrutiny then it has in the past thanks to all of the scandals.
I don't think that the appointing of cabinet posts is an especially wise move, he's basically saying that he doesn't have confidence in any of the elected members. In other words he's saying that he's leading a party of underqualified morons.
Good on getting rid of the fleet from an optics point of view. I think the wiser move would have been to reform the rules public ally and cut the fleet down.
I think that delaying or prorouging the legislature is going to play right into the hands of the opposition and they're going to get a lot of air time based on the idea that this government is not up to scrutiny.
Personally I think he should have done a Stalinist style purge of the party on T.V. where he say in a room smoking a cigarette and pointing to random MLA's who are then dragged out of the room screaming until you hear a gunshot.
Ridiculous that the ministers in charge Health and Education are unelected and can't be questioned in the house.
I don't really have a problem with the planes, more the blatant abuse. It would probably be better to slowly phase them out but it's a political hot potato now.
No, the opposite. It's so he can bring in a throne speech and a new agenda. He hasn't even won a seat yet, not sure where they get the mandate for a new agenda.
Well I can answer that one. His mandate is because the party won the most seats in the last general election and now he is the leader of that party. That's how the system works in Canada. If Harper resigned and Rob Anders wins the leadership, he doesn't have to call an election the next day.
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This particular "point" that I keep seeing repeated is driving me nuts. He was elected, like him or not, and you could have voted in that election. Sure he hasn't won a seat in the legislature yet, but its been less than a week. Surely this is understandable. Now if the plan was to wait until the next general election and basically run the province in this manner for a few years, yeah I can understand why people might be upset, but a few days and it just sounds petty and ridiculous.
I would argue that your wrong with all respect.
He won a party leadership election, that means that he's the head of the party. He hasn't won an election by the people and he represents no riding at the moment.
If you aren't a member of the party or support another party then you've literally had no say in the appointment of the premier and it is an appointment.
Well I can answer that one. His mandate is because the party won the most seats in the last general election and now he is the leader of that party. That's how the system works in Canada. If Harper resigned and Rob Anders wins the leadership, he doesn't have to call an election the next day.
Thanks a lot, I had a delicious chicken stew for lunch and then threw it up in a waste basket after reading this.
You sir own me $5.95
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He won a party leadership election, that means that he's the head of the party. He hasn't won an election by the people and he represents no riding at the moment.
If you aren't a member of the party or support another party then you've literally had no say in the appointment of the premier and it is an appointment.
But you could've become a member and cast your ballot? And yeah, he's the head of the party that won the most seats, ergo he's the premier.
David Staples posted in his blog an inventory of all stories in Post Media with Gordon Dirks. Most of it is from his days on the Calgary Board of Education.
Most of his comments at the time seem to focus on his zeal for including religious programs and schools in the public system. No thanks.
Quotes like this don't make me feel good: “A number of parents (are) already choosing religious schools or wanting religious alternative schools in the public system . . . They may see the prevailing secular culture in the existing schools as itself a barrier to their children’s education.”
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Trust the snake.
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Prentice and the September Cabinet
