Alberta PC's way out front

[Slava]

Originally Posted by First Lady

I know! I know!... lol, won't spoil your question.

They are in exactly the same position the Alberta Alliance was back in 2004.
We had one member in the Legislature, due to a floor crossing. Our leader wasn't invited to partake in the debate. I suspect it will be the same for them.

Was going to blog on it, but Cory beat me to it.

I largely agree with your/his position there.

One quick question though; if the Wildrose gets to participate in the "real" debate why does he reference them (as a separation party) again with the idea of a townhall, online debate or whatever?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Polls before an election can be deceptive.

Especially the breakdown specific to Calgary and Edmonton - the margin of error will be much higher than the poll overall. However, because of that margin, the PCs and Wildrose are in a statistical dead heat in Calgary (on the Forum poll). If that support holds to the election, I'd say they have a good shot at a couple seats.

It will be interesting to see if Hinman, Forsyth and Anderson can hold their seats though.

[darklord700]

I will vote for Wildrose. They'll not win but if they win enough seats to force the PC to initial a recall of Redford as premier, I'll be happy.

[Ducay]

Why would anyone vote wild rose? So many other parties have much better ideas, Alberta needs more left balance rather than an extreme right party if anything.

I do suppose farmers and Nascar fans have to vote for someone.....

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Why would anyone vote wild rose? So many other parties have much better ideas, Alberta needs more left balance rather than an extreme right party if anything.

I do suppose farmers and Nascar fans have to vote for someone.....

Maybe someone here don't want our tax money to go to the unions and or people who don't want to work.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Maybe someone here don't want our tax money to go to the unions and or people who don't want to work.

How do you conclude that tax money goes to unions? I'd be fascinated to learn.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Why would anyone vote wild rose? So many other parties have much better ideas, Alberta needs more left balance rather than an extreme right party if anything.

I do suppose farmers and Nascar fans have to vote for someone.....

Maybe in your opinion, our current government is pretty much left of centre and drifting further every day. As for the Nascar/farmer comment, I hope you aren't serious.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Makarov

How do you conclude that tax money goes to unions? I'd be fascinated to learn.

Redford won the preimership by promising the teachers and firefighters union money.

[killer_carlson]

I will be so disappointed if the NDP increase their presence.

THe problem though is that the Liberals aren't doing anything and the Wildrose have mismanaged Edmonton, really badly. The NDP are the only choice in some eyes, which is terrible.

Still hoping Mason loses his seat

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Rathji

With Ed at the helm, we would have been looking at a MUCH closer race and a probable loss for the PCs in Alberta.

Eh, people said that last time too.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Redford won the preimership by promising the teachers and firefighters union money.

Can you please explain what you mean by "union money"?

I searched on google and this is all that I could find with respect to promises made to either teachers or firefighters:

Education was a key piece of Redford’s policy in the leadership race, and some pundits cite her September 22 letter to Alberta Teachers’ Association President Carol Henderson as a key factor in her election. In the letter she committed to restoring cuts to school boards made in the 2011 budget, reducing school fees and establishing three-year predictable funding cycles.

Other elements of the new premier’s education platform will also prove popular with teachers.

Redford has committed to #ending Grade 3 and Grade 6 #provincial achievement exams while offering “regular but sensitive measurements of academic performance and expected outcomes.” She has also spoken publicly in favour of the Inspiring Education agenda and has talked about the need for student-#centred reform.
...
At the leadership forum hosted by the Association in August, Redford committed to maintaining the current structure of the Association and cited the importance of collaboration and an improved relationship between the ATA and the government. She also wants to ensure that “the government continues to take the lead in negotiations with the Alberta Teachers’ Association.”
...
Redford’s promises to public education may be difficult to reconcile with other parts of her platform, however, because she also calls for more choice and heightened competitiveness. Recently, the Edmonton Public School Board experienced a community backlash to school closures resulting from declining enrolments, a possible consequence of years of increased choice and competition.

SOURCE: http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publicatio...n-Redford.aspx (Alberta Teachers Association)

Perhaps you can provide some other sources which you have based your opinion on?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I will be so disappointed if the NDP increase their presence.

I think they garnered new support from the federal run. If they can hang onto and capitalize on it; they will gain seats.

THe problem though is that the Liberals aren't doing anything and the Wildrose have mismanaged Edmonton, really badly.

How so?

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Why would anyone vote wild rose? So many other parties have much better ideas, Alberta needs more left balance rather than an extreme right party if anything.

I do suppose farmers and Nascar fans have to vote for someone.....

Mod edit: no insulting please

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I will vote for Wildrose. They'll not win but if they win enough seats to force the PC to initial a recall of Redford as premier, I'll be happy.

How can they do that without recall legislation?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by First Lady

I think they garnered new support from the federal run. If they can hang onto and capitalize on it; they will gain seats.

I think the Liberal-NDP swap in Alberta is directly related to the same happening federally. Just another example of how that party needed to rebrand itself and try to find someone approaching a leader five years ago.

[Sample00]

Glenn taylor is the leader of the Alberta party and the I only reason I know this is because I live in Edson and he is the former mayor of Hinton, which is right next door to us.
Sadly, if he was involved in any other party, he would actually do quite well but given who he is involved with, he'll crash and burn.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Why would anyone vote wild rose? So many other parties have much better ideas, Alberta needs more left balance rather than an extreme right party if anything.

I do suppose farmers and Nascar fans have to vote for someone.....

The irony of your comments is that the only thing you accomplished was to reveal yourself to be a bigot.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Sample00

Glenn taylor is the leader of the Alberta party and the I only reason I know this is because I live in Edson and he is the former mayor of Hinton, which is right next door to us.
Sadly, if he was involved in any other party, he would actually do quite well but given who he is involved with, he'll crash and burn.

Ohhh, that's a bummer. I had high hopes they would win 2 seats; his and Sue Huff's.

[GP_Matt]

How about the fact that the wages in Alberta's public sector have grown twice as fast as the national average. http://www.calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=6024835&sponsor=curriebarracks
Or that we are running a deficit with oil at $100 for the year? The Sustainability fund is almost gone and the Heritage fund is worth less today than the day it was created. At one point they instituted legislation barring the government from running a deficit, what happened to that?
How about ridiculous pay raises voted in by themselves immediately after the election? They are conducting another pay review now. Is anyone willing to bet that the result will be another raise, albeit with the likelihood that their compensation will be shuffled so that portions of the pay decrease while other parts increase more than enough to compensate for it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

How about the fact that the wages in Alberta's public sector have grown twice as fast as the national average. http://www.calgaryherald.com/story_print.html?id=6024835&sponsor=curriebarracks
Or that we are running a deficit with oil at $100 for the year? The Sustainability fund is almost gone and the Heritage fund is worth less today than the day it was created. At one point they instituted legislation barring the government from running a deficit, what happened to that?
How about ridiculous pay raises voted in by themselves immediately after the election? They are conducting another pay review now. Is anyone willing to bet that the result will be another raise, albeit with the likelihood that their compensation will be shuffled so that portions of the pay decrease while other parts increase more than enough to compensate for it.

Well the pay raises for the public sector are a necessary evil. You can't expect people to take careers in teaching or nursing without pay that is somewhat competitive with the private sector options.

The part about the $100 oil is why I really replied here though. In Alberta, despite misconceptions, gas is far more important as a revenue source than oil. If I recall its about a 7:1 ratio in terms of importance. So while the $100 oil is good for the economy, gas at these prices is terrible.