Billionaire Oilers owner Katz gave $430,000 to Alberta PCs

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

I guess you just prefer the current crop of politician who will tell you everything you want to hear and give give give while stuffing their own pockets. Ralf made the hard choices, paid down the debt, had record surpluses... It was hard on a lot of albertans but we go through it, only to see the past two premiers destroy it by giving it all away to buy elections. Just stick your head back in the sand and believe the bs being fed to you by this current administration.

... and he admitted when he made mistakes.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its a shame there's no recall ability.

So true... and welcome back.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Skootenbeeten

Was he really? Low standards I guess.

Maybe the best in the history of this country actually.

Low standards? I guess if doing what he said he was going to do when elected translates into low standards...then yeah, and sign me up for more of them please.

[Resolute 14]

Say what you will about Klein overall, not many politicians have the balls to stand up and say "your services are getting cut, deal with it", do it, and get re-elected multiple times afterward.

Klein did what he felt was best for the province. That makes him far better than Stelmach and Redford have been - politicians whose primary motivation is what is best for themselves.

[puckluck2]

What I'd do to have Ralph Klein back as premier. I don't think there's ever been a politician like him.

Great man and politician.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Iginla

What I'd do to have Ralph Klein back as premier. I don't think there's ever been a politician like him.

Great man and politician.

I can respect him as a politician but the guy was an outright jerk as a person - in general he was a rude, disrespectful drunkard.

Furthermore I disagree with some of the long term ramifications of his policies and I think that Ralph Bucks will go down as one of the biggest wastes of money in this provinces history if it hasn't already.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I can respect him as a politician but the guy was an outright jerk as a person - in general he was a rude, disrespectful drunkard.

Furthermore I disagree with some of the long term ramifications of his policies and I think that Ralph Bucks will go down as one of the biggest wastes of money in this provinces history if it hasn't already.

What a load of media created BS. You have no clue of what you speak...none.

RK is one of the kindest and most caring people i have known in my life.

Did he drink? Yeah he did, but if that is now a standard for declaring someone a bad person, then 75% of every Albertan alive is nothing but a sot.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

I have met the guy and he was a loud, arrogent jerk. Maybe you met him in different circumstances but I was left with a very bitter taste in my mouth... and I didn't realize that the media created him going to a homeless shelter, telling people on AISH that they didn't look disabled... I agree on some of his policies - in particular slashing spending but I am not going to mistake the guy as some sort of saint now that he has a debilitating disease.

I would also like to say that saying that Ralph Klein drank isn't giving any credit to the degree of his alcoholism - of which we all know the end ramifications.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I can respect him as a politician but the guy was an outright jerk as a person - in general he was a rude, disrespectful drunkard.

Furthermore I disagree with some of the long term ramifications of his policies and I think that Ralph Bucks will go down as one of the biggest wastes of money in this provinces history if it hasn't already.

What personal experiences did you have with him to make these claims? And Ralph bucks wasn't a waste, it was money that was the tax payers anyways.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I have met the guy and he was a loud, arrogent jerk. Maybe you met him in different circumstances but I was left with a very bitter taste in my mouth... and I didn't realize that the media created him going to a homeless shelter, telling people on AISH that they didn't look disabled... I agree on some of his policies - in particular slashing spending but I am not going to mistake the guy as some sort of saint now that he has a debilitating disease.

I would also like to say that saying that Ralph Klein drank isn't giving any credit to the degree of his alcoholism - of which we all know the end ramifications.

First off...i didnt "meet him". I have known the man since i was young child. I know what he has done for countless unnamed people. If you met him and he was rude to you, I suspect it was under circumstances as the Premier and what that entails...which is very much different from what he was away from that role. Maybe you deserved the scorn which at this point and seeing your viotrol isnt much of a stretch to believe.

Secondly...so now he is an alcoholic eh? Any other mud you'd like to sling while being unable to substantiate? Otherwise you are simply defaming someone of whom you havent a freaking clue about.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by transplant99

First off...i didnt "meet him". I have known the man since i was young child. I know what he has done for countless unnamed people. If you met him and he was rude to you, I suspect it was under circumstances as the Premier and what that entails...which is very much different from what he was away from that role. Maybe you deserved the scorn which at this point and seeing your viotrol isnt much of a stretch to believe.

Secondly...so now he is an alcoholic eh? Any other mud you'd like to sling while being unable to substantiate? Otherwise you are simply defaming someone of whom you havent a freaking clue about.

He wasn't rude to me - he was very loud and abnoxious, speaking over a presenter at an awards banquet. Maybe he was a nice guy but there are quite a few questionable acts on his part that get glossed over as Ralph being Ralph.

Also a guy who admitted to drinking a bottle of wine a day and drinking at work in order to get over a hangover wouldn't be considered an alcoholic? He may not have admitted as much but all of the red flags are present.

[Resolute 14]

Meh, Klein probably was an alcoholic. And yet, he was still vastly superior to any current politician - provincially or federally.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I can respect him as a politician but the guy was an outright jerk as a person - in general he was a rude, disrespectful drunkard.

Furthermore I disagree with some of the long term ramifications of his policies and I think that Ralph Bucks will go down as one of the biggest wastes of money in this provinces history if it hasn't already.

As a family friend of Klein's ex wife there is a pretty big list that would make me think he was a jerk.

[Jacks]

Little update.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02...ign-donations/

A leaked telephone call between Progressive Conservative party executives and riding presidents indicates the Tories plan to hold on to $40,000 in illegal campaign donations.

NDP critic Rachel Notley says Redford cannot simply say she considers it an issue between her Progressive Conservative party and the chief electoral officer.

Party executive Kelley Charlebois is heard saying on the call that a need to keep the money to fight the next election outweighs any negative publicity.

Notley points out that Redford appointed Charlebois and has a responsibility as the party’s leader to take action.

Chief electoral officer Brian Fjeldheim has detailed 45 cases of illegal donations to the Tories from towns, municipalities and school boards dating back to 2010.

Fjeldheim made public details of the donations to the Tories that totalled $20,280 in 2010-11. He ordered most of the money be paid back and also levied fines amounting to $7,060.

And now the real reason behind it all.

Fjeldheim said there will be other updates as investigations continue. A review of donations made by Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz continues, he said, but he declined to say when that will wrap up.

Katz, his family and associates contributed $430,000 to Redford’s Progressive Conservatives during last year’s spring election. Each contributed the maximum $30,000, but Fjeldheim’s office began investigating following allegations that Katz broke the rules by contributing the whole $430,000 himself, then spreading out the donations among those around him to stay within the cap.

Mason said he believes the Tories are fighting the principle of repayment because they’re worried the Katz donation will also be ruled out of order, which would force the party to return close to half a million dollars.

What does Redford have to say?
Whaaa? me? I have nothing to do with it!

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Little update.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02...ign-donations/

You can hear the audio here:

http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/albe...933/story.html

And now the real reason behind it all.
What does Redford have to say?
Whaaa? me? I have nothing to do with it!

Today she is saying it is a matter between the party and Elections Alberta and won't comment on it. Yet the PC's supported the public disclosure.

Ahh well, plenty of others are speaking out....

PC Party said donations were OK, say mayor and reeve

Leaders of the two municipalities named in a new report as having made the largest amount of illegal, “indirect” contributions to the Progressive Conservative party say party officials advised them at the time they were doing nothing wrong.

“The information we had at the time – from the party – was that we were doing things correctly,” said Mayor Bill Robertson of the Town of Okotoks, which was cited Thursday in a report from Alberta’s chief electoral officer as having illegally contributed $2,550 to the PC party in April 2010.

Foothills Reeve Larry Spilak told a similar story.

“Absolutely, it was from the party,” he said. “The message that was sent to our council and our administration was that this was allowed and consequently we went ahead with it.”

[transplant99]

But more importantly (or so it seems to the lefties) "what would WR do?"

Because, you know, what someone else would do in this hypothetical situation far outweighs what the actual government is doing in the real situation staring them in the face.

[Slava]

I thought that the reason they were fighting this was different. Basically people made a donation (by buying a ticket to an event of one kind or another) and then expensed that purchase to their employer. I have no idea how you can control that. If I accept a cheque from someone how would I know whether they in turn submit it as an expense to their employer? How can any party be sure they didn't have this happen to them?

[RubberDuck]

Originally Posted by transplant99

But more importantly (or so it seems to the lefties) "what would WR do?"

Because, you know, what someone else would do in this hypothetical situation far outweighs what the actual government is doing in the real situation staring them in the face.

Thank you for beating them to the punch.

I pointed out how comical this was becoming in the other thread. I'm so glad I'm not the only one tired of hearing this response.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Slava

I thought that the reason they were fighting this was different. Basically people made a donation (by buying a ticket to an event of one kind or another) and then expensed that purchase to their employer. I have no idea how you can control that. If I accept a cheque from someone how would I know whether they in turn submit it as an expense to their employer? How can any party be sure they didn't have this happen to them?

Perhaps if they phoned you up in advance, and told you they planned to submit this as an expense and wanted to know if that contravened any rules, and you advised them on such matter, it would have more merit?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Perhaps if they phoned you up in advance, and told you they planned to submit this as an expense and wanted to know if that contravened any rules, and you advised them on such matter, it would have more merit?

I can't tell if you're just being facetious here? That might happen though, or it might not. I know for a fact I've been taken as a guest to political events as a business expense though because people know I'm really interested. I have no idea whether those things were later expensed, but I would think so.