Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[GGG]

Originally Posted by timun

I don't know anyone in O&G—including very well-educated white-collar professionals—who doesn't absolutely despise the ABNDP.

Really? I am always surprised had how much support among white collar O+G. I’d go with about 50% where I am in terms of Calgary head office.

Edit: should probably add I mean 50% will vote for ABNDP as opposed to support. Much of the motivation is dislike of Smith.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by timun

I don't know anyone in O&G—including very well-educated white-collar professionals—who doesn't absolutely despise the ABNDP.

What part of the O & G sphere do you work in?

I know many. I wouldn't go so far as to say they LIKE them, but definitely not despise. I know many are actively anticipating an NDP win today and positioning themselves for this reality.

[timun]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

What part of the O & G sphere do you work in?

I know many. I wouldn't go so far as to say they LIKE them, but definitely not despise. I know many are actively anticipating an NDP win today and positioning themselves for this reality.

I don't work in O&G. Just saying of the people I do know who work in the field, I don't know any who aren't ABNDP haters.

Originally Posted by Fuzz

*Fuzz raises hand* I know a few colleagues who feel the same as me.

Originally Posted by GGG

Really? I am always surprised had how much support among white collar O+G. I’d go with about 50% where I am in terms of Calgary head office.

*shrug* I don't know what it says about the kind of company I keep, but like I said, don't know any who don't hate the NDP.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

We can all share anecdotal evidence but it’s going to be of pretty limited value. For instance, I work with tons of people in O&G, and in a sector that traditionally votes conservative and my experience is the opposite—I don’t hear from very many people who intend to vote for the UCP while Smith is the leader.

But that doesn’t really mean much either; as you say it might suggest something about the circles I’m in, but as far as predicting anything in terms of an election outcome it’s pretty worthless.

[timun]

Oh absolutely, I never meant to insinuate my anecdotal experience means anything with respect to predicting the election outcome.

[Ozy_Flame]

At work: I'm going to vote UCP, NDP are socialists! They ruined our province with their low oil prices! Ooga Booga!

At the polls: Danielle's nuttier than peanut butter, and I give a #### about healthcare. NDP it is.

[Fuzz]

Collective bargaining for Dynalife employees has hit an impasse over wages in a complicated labour fallout created by the privatization of lab workers across Alberta, says the union representing the workers.

In a statement Thursday, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta said it is seeking formal mediation. If that fails, it says job action will follow, which would hamper access to laboratory services for patients across the province.

At issue are pay differences between original employees of Edmonton-based Dynalife Medical Labs and the 1,300 lab workers who moved over in the fall from Alberta Precision Laboratories, a subsidiary of Alberta Health Services (AHS).

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...816780?cmp=rss


Un-####ing-believable. You mean to say service could get worse going forward? I hope Dynalife gets bankrupted and AHS takes it over, this should never have happened. Thanks, UCP, you ####ing ####ety ####heads.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Anyone actually giving their kids the $16 watered-down Tylenol?

$80 million headed to the landfill....

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Anyone actually giving their kids the $16 watered-down Tylenol?

$80 million headed to the landfill....

The only ones fiscally responsible enough to manage this province....

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...816780?cmp=rss


Un-####ing-believable. You mean to say service could get worse going forward? I hope Dynalife gets bankrupted and AHS takes it over, this should never have happened. Thanks, UCP, you ####ing ####ety ####heads.

And/Or, we're not going to get the cost savings they promised. They're so incompetent all you can do is laugh sometimes...

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Anyone actually giving their kids the $16 watered-down Tylenol?

$80 million headed to the landfill....

nah. I believe the UCP mandated that AHS use it all. Everyone in the hospital is getting it right now.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Torture

And/Or, we're not going to get the cost savings they promised. They're so incompetent all you can do is laugh sometimes...

Well of course we aren't getting the cost savings. And now they've tied us to one provider. What happens at the next contract renewal? Obviously there will be no competition, because how could there possibly be, given the massive barrier to entry for providing services to all of Alberta? So it will be a like a hostage negotiation with no options. What a brilliant plan...

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

We can all share anecdotal evidence but it’s going to be of pretty limited value. For instance, I work with tons of people in O&G, and in a sector that traditionally votes conservative and my experience is the opposite—I don’t hear from very many people who intend to vote for the UCP while Smith is the leader.

But that doesn’t really mean much either; as you say it might suggest something about the circles I’m in, but as far as predicting anything in terms of an election outcome it’s pretty worthless.

I employ the “I support whoever you support” so that we can move on quickly to a new topic.

But my anecdotal experience is a decent split of people who support either the NDP or ucp in the downtown O&G world.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Well of course we aren't getting the cost savings. And now they've tied us to one provider. What happens at the next contract renewal? Obviously there will be no competition, because how could there possibly be, given the massive barrier to entry for providing services to all of Alberta? So it will be a like a hostage negotiation with no options. What a brilliant plan...

The existing set up with government having lab capacity and private sector having lab capacity was likely fairly good. It maintained the bargaining position of the government while taking advantage of private sector efficiencies (lower salaries) resulting in the best of both worlds scenario. Much like having a public telecom option. The government doesn’t need 100% market share just enough to be a credible threat.

It’s always worth remembering the only thing worse than government monopoly is a private oligopoly.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I employ the “I support whoever you support” so that we can move on quickly to a new topic.

But my anecdotal experience is a decent split of people who support either the NDP or ucp in the downtown O&G world.

I like to say. "Oh you know", and then quickly change the subject.

[bagofpucks]

My one buddy works downtown and he figures its 95%/5% split for UCP vs NDP supporters. He said it’s been pretty surprising. I work for a fairly progressive company and I’d still say it’s 50/50. Funny enough, where I live (very rural) we will have at least 4 NDP signs, so we’ll see how many UCP signs go up. Our UCP MLA is brutal (not to mention the total embarrassment of our “premier”), so hoping for a change!

[Fuzz]

In my experience NDP supporters in O&G tend to be pretty quite about it. Senior management is more likely to be Conservative, so not giving managers any reason to treat you differently is a real concern.


But still, how can so many be so dumb? I just can't see how you can look at Smith and say "ya, she represents Conservative values, and will keep spending under control". Even on those most basic principles she's a colossal failure.

[Izzle]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

In my experience NDP supporters in O&G tend to be pretty quite about it. Senior management is more likely to be Conservative, so not giving managers any reason to treat you differently is a real concern.


But still, how can so many be so dumb? I just can't see how you can look at Smith and say "ya, she represents Conservative values, and will keep spending under control". Even on those most basic principles she's a colossal failure.

That's my finding as well. NDP supporters in oil and gas are likely to whisper.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I employ the “I support whoever you support” so that we can move on quickly to a new topic.

But my anecdotal experience is a decent split of people who support either the NDP or ucp in the downtown O&G world.

You could try to out-crazy them by making some ridiculous, uber-rightwing statement and make them uncomfortable instead.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I employ the “I support whoever you support” so that we can move on quickly to a new topic.

But my anecdotal experience is a decent split of people who support either the NDP or ucp in the downtown O&G world.

I try not to talk politics with clients and I’d have a hard time guessing how most would vote. There are some (more conservative, but federal) who make no secret of their opinions.