Rumour: March Call/April Vote Alberta Election

[Slava]

I don't really understand why people are against an election. I guess I'm unfortunately a political junkie, (and just can't get out despite really wanting to not care!), but I tend to think that any election is good. I guess it costs money, but any time the voters get a chance to have their say is good to me.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't really understand why people are against an election. I guess I'm unfortunately a political junkie, (and just can't get out despite really wanting to not care!), but I tend to think that any election is good. I guess it costs money, but any time the voters get a chance to have their say is good to me.

The next one is supposed to be in 2016 but Prentice seems to think an earlier one is better. Spending 20 million on an election that really isn't needed is a waste of tax payer dollars.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Dion

The next one is supposed to be in 2016 but Prentice seems to think an earlier one is better. Spending 20 million on an election that really isn't needed is a waste of tax payer dollars.

I think we should have an election more frequently. Like an annual performance review! This is what we base our entire society on, so more elections seems better to me.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think we should have an election more frequently. Like an annual performance review! This is what we base our entire society on, so more elections seems better to me.

More opportunities for the govt to waste our tax dollars is not a good idea. Besides we all know the majority in the province will vote PC no matter what they do.

Why even bother having elections when voters have no desire to see another party in power?

[Jacks]

Can't find a source but I seem to remember a long time ago the PC's were asking themselves questions in question period because there was pretty much no opposition. Maybe we can have that again.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Dion

More opportunities for the govt to waste our tax dollars is not a good idea. Besides we all know the majority in the province will vote PC no matter what they do.

Why even bother having elections when voters have no desire to see another party in power?

Well I guess why even have elections? I mean it seems pretty evident to me that the PCs are set to win, but there are a lot of people (majority) in this thread who seem to want to vote for someone else. I know that in my riding if there is a better candidate I will vote for them instead of the PCs.

I also don't consider elections a waste of money. This is exactly the under-pinning of our society and frankly if we are too cheap to spend a few $$ making sure that our representation is what we want then we get what we deserve.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well I guess why even have elections? I mean it seems pretty evident to me that the PCs are set to win, but there are a lot of people (majority) in this thread who seem to want to vote for someone else. I know that in my riding if there is a better candidate I will vote for them instead of the PCs.

I also don't consider elections a waste of money. This is exactly the under-pinning of our society and frankly if we are too cheap to spend a few $$ making sure that our representation is what we want then we get what we deserve.

Prentice has a clear majority right now but insists he still wants a mandate. Like how big of a majority do you need?

Why can't he wait another year where Albertans can have a chance to see his budget in action and weather it's working? Calling an election right after the budget makes no sense.

There's also the issue with the WRP only having an interm leader and a leadership convention planned for June (well after the election is over). Also the same could be said for the Liberal party. Prentice is no fool and is clearly taking advantage of this to gain an easy victory.

What about the fixed election dates that he is supposed to follow? Or should we have one every year?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't really understand why people are against an election. I guess I'm unfortunately a political junkie, (and just can't get out despite really wanting to not care!), but I tend to think that any election is good. I guess it costs money, but any time the voters get a chance to have their say is good to me.

Why am I against an election. Because in this specific case its an exercise in pure political cynicism.

Prentice knows that he's basically wiped out his biggest threat in the Wildrose by buying the loyalties of Smith and her cohorts.

He knows that if he gives the opposition time in a bad economy that he will lose power. He already has the mandate that he wants.

He wants an election because all of the opposition parties are in shambles. He wants a huge majority where question period will be a replay of the Kanye West Taylor Swift interaction at the Grammy's.

He wants it so that that when he introduces whatever taxation measures in the house that nobody will be there to question him or his government efficiently and as opposed to passing a budget or a tax bill that will at least get questioned a bit, it will be quiet.

[Resolute 14]

More importantly, he wants four years to allow the furor from whatever tax and spend plans he has cooking to die down rather than have them be an issue in a 2016 election.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

More importantly, he wants four years to allow the furor from whatever tax and spend plans he has cooking to die down rather than have them be an issue in a 2016 election.

Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe he has the balls to do some hard work, and doesn't want to get fired for it before it proves it's worth.

A guy can dream, right?

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

More importantly, he wants four years to allow the furor from whatever tax and spend plans he has cooking to die down rather than have them be an issue in a 2016 election.

I think it will be the opposite.

Prentice cut the cabinet's pay by 5% recently. The savings to the province will be insignificant. Klein did the same thing back in the day. He then cut the wages of all provincial employees (including teachers, etc.) by 5% as well. I would be shocked if Prentice doesn't do the same thing, but I don't think it will be announced until after the election. If he gets a strong majority (and he will), he will have 4 years for the oil revenues to rebound. This would allow him to reinstate the wages back to current levels.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Dion

Prentice has a clear majority right now but insists he still wants a mandate. Like how big of a majority do you need?

Why can't he wait another year where Albertans can have a chance to see his budget in action and weather it's working? Calling an election right after the budget makes no sense.

There's also the issue with the WRP only having an interm leader and a leadership convention planned for June (well after the election is over). Also the same could be said for the Liberal party. Prentice is no fool and is clearly taking advantage of this to gain an easy victory.

What about the fixed election dates that he is supposed to follow? Or should we have one every year?

Seems to me Prentice wants to bury Wild Rose for good, before they have time to reorganize.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't really understand why people are against an election. I guess I'm unfortunately a political junkie, (and just can't get out despite really wanting to not care!), but I tend to think that any election is good. I guess it costs money, but any time the voters get a chance to have their say is good to me.

If this was Redford, looking for the most opportunistic time to get re-elected I would be in Dion's camp and would fully agree it's a complete waste. However due to Redford's resignation, Prentice becoming premier, the Wildrose defections, and the dramatic drop in the price of oil, I think now is an appropriate time for an election. So much has changed since April 2012.

Sure if you want a Wildrose government, this is the absolute worst time for an election, but from a totally non-partisan perspective an election is warranted.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

If this was Redford, looking for the most opportunistic time to get re-elected I would be in Dion's camp and would fully agree it's a complete waste. However due to Redford's resignation, Prentice becoming premier, the Wildrose defections, and the dramatic drop in the price of oil, I think now is an appropriate time for an election. So much has changed since April 2012.

Sure if you want a Wildrose government, this is the absolute worst time for an election, but from a totally non-partisan perspective an election is warranted.

As a WRP supporter there's no way they would ever win the election, even if they were ready. Having a leader in place might win them a few more seats and give us some kind of an opposition party to keep Prentice to his word.

The idea of Prentice presenting a budget and then voting doesn't sit well with me. I want some time to see his budget in action before I decide which way i'm going to vote. Promises mean squat to me.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I'm hearing April 20th. (4-20). Serious.

Maybe the Greens will sweep?

No, all you'll here on April 21st is, "The vote was yesterday? Oh man, I can't believe we spaced on the date!"

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

My question though is: where does Greg Clark run for the AB Party? He's not going again in Calgary Elbow, I believe Troy Millington (? - pardon the spelling) is running there for his party.

Clark will once again be running in Elbow.

Millington is running in Bow.

[Resolute 14]

Clark doesn't like winning elections, does he?

Though, Dirks isn't exactly a strong incumbent minister, so there is that.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

If this was Redford, looking for the most opportunistic time to get re-elected I would be in Dion's camp and would fully agree it's a complete waste. However due to Redford's resignation, Prentice becoming premier, the Wildrose defections, and the dramatic drop in the price of oil, I think now is an appropriate time for an election. So much has changed since April 2012.

Sure if you want a Wildrose government, this is the absolute worst time for an election, but from a totally non-partisan perspective an election is warranted.

I also think its hilarious that some of the same people who are chastising Prentice for this (probable) election were not so long ago saying he was unelected and had no mandate. Be careful what you wish for.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Slava

I also think its hilarious that some of the same people who are chastising Prentice for this (probable) election were not so long ago saying he was unelected and had no mandate. Be careful what you wish for.

You sure do love getting up on your high horse, don't you?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You sure do love getting up on your high horse, don't you?

Its not about being on my high horse at all. I already said I probably won't vote PC, although it does depend on who runs. But c'mon, surely you can see the hilarity of that?