Alberta Politics Thread

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by rubecube

As much as I don't agree with the WRP on just about anything, a system where three parties have a legitimate chance of ruling is better than one with just two. Look at BC right now, where the choice is between giving a corrupt, egotistical narcissist like Christy Clark another term, or turning the keys over to the NDP.

I don't necessary disagree, my point is only that the WR handed the keys to the NDP for a majority government simply by existing. Without them, no majority NDP, potentially, even no NDP government.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The same thing has happened federally on the left for decades. Should the NDP and Liberals merge?

It's funny how federal Liberal types always trot out the vote splitting on the left argument as an excuse when they lose given that party has traditionally been far closer to the (Progressive) Conservatives than it ever was the NDP. It wasn't until Layton moved the NDP to the right that the two parties really started to close up. And now that the federal NDP looks to be snapping back to the left fringe, the Liberals will once again be closer in ideology to the Conservatives - though the gap has certainly widened.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It's funny how federal Liberal types always trot out the vote splitting on the left argument as an excuse when they lose given that party has traditionally been far closer to the (Progressive) Conservatives than it ever was the NDP. It wasn't until Layton moved the NDP to the right that the two parties really started to close up. And now that the federal NDP looks to be snapping back to the left fringe, the Liberals will once again be closer in ideology to the Conservatives - though the gap has certainly widened.

For decades people were happy enough to vote for the NDP knowing they had virtually no hope of ever forming a government. People can support a party for reasons other than expecting that party to form a government. It may be frustrating for the centre-right in Alberta that a right-right party leads to vote splitting. But I really don't see how the Alberta provincial Conservative party's position all that different from the federal Liberal position. They have to hope for a weak WR in order to win an election. And there are parallels between the WR and federal NPD as well. People who vote for those parties expecting to form a government are kidding themselves about how appealing their party platform is to centrists.

[Resolute 14]

The provincial PCs currently occupy the same space as the federal Liberals in terms of a left-centre-right balance, I agree. The one difference is that a collapse on either side in Alberta would put the PCs in power. Historically, a collapse of the federal NDP would not have made a huge difference for the Liberals because they represented a small fringe of the electorate. On the national scale, it has been the Liberals and Conservatives battling over the same turf, not the Liberals and NDP. The 2011-2015 cycles were the very rare exception as the NDP was propped up by alienated Liberals who abandoned the party just as rapidly. An event the Notley NDP would be wise to consider as an object lesson.

[CaptainCrunch]

If there's any doubt about who this party is supporting and thinking about it was cleared up by having their Keynote speaker at the Convention being the president of the AFL, who's pushing for labour law changes

http://calgaryherald.com/news/politi...ion-in-calgary

Veteran union leaders such as Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 president Doug O’Halloran used strong language to call for changes to a labour playing field they say is tilted in favour of employers.
O’Halloran called for the workers’ compensation system to be fundamentally reformed and for legislation that would limit strikes to eight weeks before mandatory binding arbitration.
“It gives us the option to kick the hell out of the company for eight weeks but they can’t starve us out. We need these laws changed,” he said.

[chemgear]

http://calgaryherald.com/business/en...act-on-economy

Alberta’s climate plan could lead to 15,000 fewer jobs, a $4-billion drop in household income, as well as lower corporate profits, oil exports and overall economic activity.
That’s what Alberta Treasury Board and Finance officials initially projected last November in an internal analysis conducted for the NDP government — data the province doesn’t deny, but insists was based on invalid assumptions that make the information irrelevant.
Consumer spending would fall by almost two per cent by 2022, “due to the impact on employment and slower wage growth.”

As well, corporate profits would decline about $1.5 billion, or 1.7 per cent, from the BAU scenario by 2022.

These key impacts are based on several assumptions rolled out by the province on Nov. 22, such as implementing a $30-a-tonne carbon tax by 2018, phasing out coal-fired power plants and investing in renewable energy.

Provincial officials insist these assumptions would alter the key impacts, but don’t say what the updated figures would be for the final plan’s effect on Alberta’s economy, job numbers or other measurements.

Government officials say they don’t have updated figures because key policy pieces are still being formed and analysis is ongoing.

But with a carbon tax coming into effect in six months and the province in recession, shouldn’t we be able to accurately and openly assess what those full costs will be in terms of jobs or economic growth?

[Resolute 14]

Yeah. When it comes to financial assumptions, I trust the ATB far more than I trust Notley and Ceci.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah. When it comes to financial assumptions, I trust the ATB far more than I trust Notley and Ceci.

NDP claims the report is based on out of date assumptions...

However, the NDP government says the study made a number of incomplete or out-of-date assumptions.

“It was a snapshot in time, and cabinet deliberated and made a number of decisions that are not reflected in this note,” says Environment Minister Shannon Phillips.

Where have I seen this before...

[Locke]

Oh good, more NDP 'Estimates.'

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

NDP claims the report is based on out of date assumptions...

And they probably aren't wrong. The NDP has probably done other things to make the situation worse since the ATB wrote that forecast.


Meanwhile, Brian Jean is taking on Wildrose Party rebels.

C'mon PCs, come up with a good leader and save us from these messes....

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by chemgear

http://calgaryherald.com/business/en...act-on-economy

Alberta’s climate plan could lead to 15,000 fewer jobs, a $4-billion drop in household income, as well as lower corporate profits, oil exports and overall economic activity.
That’s what Alberta Treasury Board and Finance officials initially projected last November in an internal analysis conducted for the NDP government — data the province doesn’t deny, but insists was based on invalid assumptions that make the information irrelevant.
Consumer spending would fall by almost two per cent by 2022, “due to the impact on employment and slower wage growth.”

As well, corporate profits would decline about $1.5 billion, or 1.7 per cent, from the BAU scenario by 2022.

These key impacts are based on several assumptions rolled out by the province on Nov. 22, such as implementing a $30-a-tonne carbon tax by 2018, phasing out coal-fired power plants and investing in renewable energy.

Provincial officials insist these assumptions would alter the key impacts, but don’t say what the updated figures would be for the final plan’s effect on Alberta’s economy, job numbers or other measurements.

Government officials say they don’t have updated figures because key policy pieces are still being formed and analysis is ongoing.

But with a carbon tax coming into effect in six months and the province in recession, shouldn’t we be able to accurately and openly assess what those full costs will be in terms of jobs or economic growth?

“Slower economic activity will impact baseline government revenues,” it notes, with royalties projected to be around $250 million lower than the business-as-usual case in 2020-21.

How fcuking dumb is the NDP?

A new tax that lowers projected royalties, and hence less money for the AUPE.

I honestly am scared about what is happening. With WR slowing turning into Donald Trump, I hope someone serious looks at the PC leadership race.

I am starting to think that it will be a PC majority in 2019. The NDP is clearly incompetent, and the WRP are too childish.

Jason Kenny would be a perfect candidate.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I am thinking of letting my WRP membership lapse.

[the_only_turek_fan]

I rather have a corrupt conservative government than this laughable and nonsensical Premier.

[LanceUppercut]

http://calgaryherald.com/news/politi...l-options-open

Quote:
Asked whether his activities could include a possible leadership run for a provincial party, Kenney said he had made no decisions yet about his future but noted that “one thing I would not be interested in is maintaining the division amongst free-enterprise Albertans.”
“I haven’t ruled anything in or out,” Kenney said from Ottawa.

This is an interesting comment from Kenney. If he did make the jump provincially, I'd expect he would run for the PC's and try to bring the Wildrose voters back into the tent.

[killer_carlson]

Kenney is very popular with WR supporters.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its no surprise that this Carbon tax is basically going to economically finish off this province in short order. I wouldn't be surprised to see a population shrinkage before the next election.

I wonder if the NDP will try to hide figures like the Ontario Liberals did when they crowed We created 12,000 new good Green related jobs.

But we lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs

[CaptainCrunch]

I really hope Kenney goes provincial, god knows we need him in the next election, he'll pretty much stomp a mudhole in Notley and walk her dry.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I really hope Kenney goes provincial, god knows we need him in the next election, he'll pretty much stomp a mudhole in Notley and walk her dry.

I expected Prentice to make everything right between the PC Party and Albertans but he failed miserably. I would hope that any conservative party in Alberta will be able to take down the NDP next election but I think it will be a tough fight.

I actually thought that having Prentice take over the PC it would kill the WRP but he made some awful decisions.

[CaptainCrunch]

Prentice was arrogant and felt that just his name alone would win the election, then he lost and ######d out.

Kenney would have no illusions going into this election that an election is going to have to be won.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Prentice was arrogant and felt that just his name alone would win the election, then he lost and ######d out.

Kenney would have no illusions going into this election that an election is going to have to be won.

That's it in a nutshell.

The PCs should have no trouble at all re-taking the province as long as they do two things: find a decent leader, and shed the cloak of putrid green arrogance.