Alberta Politics Thread

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Bunk

So assuming that rather conservative Jason Kenney wins PC leadership and successfully merges with the Wildrose, one can assume it will disaffect more centrist PC members (this already seems to be happening).

What would people think of a unified "centre"? Bring disaffected PCs, the remnants of the old Liberal Party, Alberta Party and new/other classes of Albertans seeking good governance together. Create a new party that identifies with socially liberal/libertarian and moderate/fiscally conservative principles (think Peter Lougheed, Laurence Decore provincially or Paul Martin or Joe Clark federally) and create a very large tent centrist, pragmatic alternative. Notley and Kenney the ideologues, the new party where most Albertans are. Slava the leader ;-)

So a liberal party in alberta?

If this was such a good idea then why havent the liberals jumped on it yet? Or is your thinking just another step to try and split the conservative vote?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The liberal party aren't fiscally conservative. Plus their brand is death here.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

So a liberal party in alberta?

If this was such a good idea then why havent the liberals jumped on it yet? Or is your thinking just another step to try and split the conservative vote?

Sort of, but maybe a little more Chrétien/Martin in outlook than Trudeau. Alberta Liberals as a party, are basically David Swann and his aides at this point. They have no capacity on their own to unite anyone.

I'm suggesting there might be a sizeable centre that don't feel at home in the NDP or what Kenney would be with Wildrose (ideologically he's aligned with Wildrose, not the Prentice's, Redfords or Lougheeds of the PC past). I would count myself firmly in that politically homeless camp in the absence of a centrist option.

[corporatejay]

I expect Kenney to run on a "Make Alberta Great Again" platform. I'm about 50% kidding.

[Ducay]

The business community has had Make Alberta Great Again hats floating around for almost a year now, so wouldn't surprise me at all.

Its a joking/not-joking gift between everyone. More of a jab at the NDP than anything.

[Dion]

Calgary sees blistering pace of business closures alongside boom in new startups

Calgary businesses are shutting down or moving at a record pace as a stagnant economy begins to exact a heavy toll, says the chamber of commerce.

According to third quarter numbers obtained by Postmedia, nearly 2,000 Calgary businesses closed their doors over the summer, with another 1,785 changing addresses over the same three-month period.

In the first nine months of 2016, more than 7,300 businesses have either shut down or moved, already easily surpassing numbers the Calgary Chamber of Commerce would see after a full year, said spokesman Scott Crockatt. The high water mark for closures and moves in Calgary tends to be around 6,000 Crockatt said, meaning the city’s business community is already in uncharted territory, with three months of data still to be tabulated.

“I see no signs, nothing to indicate this trend is changing,” Crockatt said.

Amber Ruddy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said these are dire times for business owners, and those trying to weather the economic storm are also being forced to pony up more from all three orders of government.

“Generally speaking, the business climate is not good right now and businesses are facing a number of challenges,” she said, noting many are having to alter their balance sheets to meet minimum wage hikes, increasing corporate and property taxes, WCB premiums and Alberta’s looming carbon tax.

“When you layer everything on it becomes very difficult. People are looking for more hope, generally, from this government.”

According to the city, over the first nine months of the year some 6,176 new business licences have been taken out, giving some hope to business leaders.

“We’re seeing technical people like engineers who’ve gone into entirely different lines of work like brewing,” Crockatt said.

“The ones that are doing well have found some combination of more innovative products or new products altogether.”

However, even as business owners or those who’ve lost jobs in Alberta’s troubled economy look to reinvent themselves, Crockatt said the loss of established businesses, even when replaced with new opportunities, tends to fuel fewer jobs.

“Many of these businesses that are closing are long-standing with more jobs,” Crockatt said.

“The trend appears to be increasing, and that’s a concern.”

http://calgaryherald.com/business/lo...n-new-startups

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bunk

So assuming that rather conservative Jason Kenney wins PC leadership and successfully merges with the Wildrose, one can assume it will disaffect more centrist PC members (this already seems to be happening).

What would people think of a unified "centre"? Bring disaffected PCs, the remnants of the old Liberal Party, Alberta Party and new/other classes of Albertans seeking good governance together. Create a new party that identifies with socially liberal/libertarian and moderate/fiscally conservative principles (think Peter Lougheed, Laurence Decore provincially or Paul Martin or Joe Clark federally) and create a very large tent centrist, pragmatic alternative. Notley and Kenney the ideologues, the new party where most Albertans are. Slava the leader ;-)

I know that you're joking, but I would be really interested in working on something like this if the right people were involved in general. That isn't to suggest that I would be anywhere near leadership or anything though!

The hard part about this is that there is no pragmatism in the AP or ALP at this point. They both have big problems and seemingly no recognition of that fact, and they both have this "elitist" idea that they have the best policy or positions so the voters should be flocking to them. Its hard to want to be involved with that line of thinking.

I say that the AP has nothing (and have probably made that comment here a number of times). I don't mean that in terms of support in the polls, although that is nearly zero as well. I mean in terms of infrastructure. The ALP has a big problem in that they cannot seem to attract inspirational candidates, or generate any momentum. The one thing that the ALP has is a decent infrastructure. Some say the brand is dead (the latest poll has them well into double digits here in Calgary, and the federal party elected 3 nearly 4 MPs last year, but sure...the brand is dead).

Starting a new party is incredibly hard. For the ALP its more than just a simple name change, new logo and boom you get elected. They already have some infrastructure! When I say infrastructure I mean a viable party today needs a central party to coordinate everything. Then you need 87 strong, viable, hard-working constituency associations. Those CAs need to do things like run events through out the year and at this point, almost immediately find 87 legitimate candidates who want to be MLAs. Not just names for the ballot, and yes over two years out....but actual qualified, electable people to run for the party in the next election.

Those candidates with the CA need to be out knocking on doors now. They have to attend many community events, run their own events with fundraisers today, knock on doors and build a database of supporters today and virtually begin campaigning. Did I mention they should start knocking on doors? I don't think that voters will just throw their support behind a new pretty face with no political experience and hand them the keys to the province. It happened last time, but still. Lightning isn't likely to strike twice and hope is not a strategy!

Anyway...those are my thoughts. I love the idea and I think it has to happen, but its not something that can wait until a month before the election. It's also going to be an enormous undertaking, but worth it in the end!

[belsarius]

Kenney says Alberta PC party being 'infiltrated' to sway leadership vote

And the Trump style politics starts. It's rigged! They are out to stop me!

Come on Kenney, there isn't some "kudatah" happening, it's not crazy George Clark wannabes, it is moderate PCs fighting, not some imaginary NDP foe. Fall out from the Red Deer convention debacle.

But hey that kind of divisive deflection worked for Trump so I guess it's a good plan.

Kenney alleges he is the target of a social media campaign orchestrated by so-called "radical NDP activists."


Kenney says it's being done to mobilize non-supporters to buying PC party memberships to influence the delegate selection process.

Mike Morrison said he doesn't have anything to do with the NDP and first became a member of the PC party in 2011, then rejoined at the PC policy convention in Red Deer Nov. 5.

While Morrison said Kenney's statements are "completely false," he readily admits he is trying to prevent Kenney from becoming the new leader of the party.


Morrison said he is particularly upset by the actions of Kenney supporters at a recent Red Deer policy convention where they attempted to negatively influence the outcome of policy resolution regarding LGBTQ students and gay-straight alliances.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...vote-1.3850957

[Resolute 14]

Speculation that Notley is going to try to pass legislation that retroactively cancels or alters the PPA contracts signed 15 years ago: http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...pa-legislation

Because THAT will certainly help encourage business to operate in Alberta.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Speculation that Notley is going to try to pass legislation that retroactively cancels or alters the PPA contracts signed 15 years ago: http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...pa-legislation

Because THAT will certainly help encourage business to operate in Alberta.

Deregulation of power has been a terrible experiment that has benefited only the power companies. Klein even gave them the money back they paid in the auctions just to provide rebates because we were so upset about the rapidly rising costs of energy. Terrible for the average Albertan and the government as a whole, I hope the planned legislation is re-regulation of the industry again and end this debacle of monumental proportions.

[calf]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Speculation that Notley is going to try to pass legislation that retroactively cancels or alters the PPA contracts signed 15 years ago: http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...pa-legislation

Because THAT will certainly help encourage business to operate in Alberta.

It's ok, the Power companies can just use the clause where they can opt out if there is a change in legislation that makes the contracts unprofitable. Wait...

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Speculation that Notley is going to try to pass legislation that retroactively cancels or alters the PPA contracts signed 15 years ago: http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/14...pa-legislation

Because THAT will certainly help encourage business to operate in Alberta.

Unbelievable. They can't win in court so they are considering changing the law retroactively so they win automatically. Talk about a rigged game.

[Weitz]

My favorite line from that article:

It would be highly unusual and troubling for a government to use its legislative power to avoid the consequences of its own lawsuit, Mount Royal University political science professor Duane Bratt said.

The incompetence keeps on growing...

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Deregulation of power has been a terrible experiment that has benefited only the power companies. Klein even gave them the money back they paid in the auctions just to provide rebates because we were so upset about the rapidly rising costs of energy. Terrible for the average Albertan and the government as a whole, I hope the planned legislation is re-regulation of the industry again and end this debacle of monumental proportions.

This really is the most under-recognized story in this province in the last 20 years. The private power companies bent the province and consumers over and absolutely reamed them.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

This really is the most under-recognized story in this province in the last 20 years. The private power companies bent the province and consumers over and absolutely reamed them.

That doesn't sound very fiscally conservative.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/c...tley-1.3850354

Hard to argue with making sure school kids are fed

And Notley coming out and doing her best 'Marie Antoinette' Queen impression looking to suck up some more votes, "let them eat cake!"

I kid, I kid. Its a good policy.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Locke

And Notley coming out and doing her best 'Marie Antoinette' Queen impression looking to suck up some more votes, "let them eat cake!"

I kid, I kid. Its a good policy.

I don't think you understand the meaning of "let them eat cake!"

Kind of exactly the opposite of what this situation is....

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Unbelievable. They can't win in court so they are considering changing the law retroactively so they win automatically. Talk about a rigged game.

I don't think that kind of legislation would survive a court challenge. But court costs seem to mean nothing to this government.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by belsarius

Kenney says Alberta PC party being 'infiltrated' to sway leadership vote

And the Trump style politics starts. It's rigged! They are out to stop me!

Come on Kenney, there isn't some "kudatah" happening, it's not crazy George Clark wannabes, it is moderate PCs fighting, not some imaginary NDP foe. Fall out from the Red Deer convention debacle.

But hey that kind of divisive deflection worked for Trump so I guess it's a good plan.




http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...vote-1.3850957

Actually its funny, I was on another hockey based board in their political thread and they were talking about the Federal Leadership race and a lot of people that are talking about being members of other parties are talking about just this, signing up and throwing votes to the least electable leader.

I believe it happens and it happens on all sides.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by belsarius

I don't think you understand the meaning of "let them eat cake!"

Kind of exactly the opposite of what this situation is....

I'm going to give you a little hint for future reference:

If I'm saying something that is completely opposite of the scenario being discussed, I'm usually joking.