Alberta Election Thread - Election Day April 16 2019

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Ducay

A religious person holding religious beliefs? I am shocked

A religious person holding outdated, offensive beliefs? That may not be a person I want as a legislator.

[Ozy_Flame]

630 CHED Host Ryan Jespersen was a guest on Charles Adler tonight, and provided some great, poignant commentary on the quality (or lack thereof) of candidates the UCP is eschewing on Albertans, and Jason Kenney's inability to or unwillingness to stomp it out.

A good listen to an opinion piece if you have time.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1113301105335709696

For the record, I agree with Ryan at the end - Canada is watching and Albertans better start taking this seriously when people like Mark Smith are going to occupy high positions in Kenney's government.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Zarley

I really am scratching my head at this statement. What has improved in Alberta in the past five years? I guess I could see an argument that things have improved for public sector employees, but things have not been pretty for the rest of us:

- Healthcare benchmarks have not shown improvement despite increases in spending at AHS, and on aggregate things have gotten worse: go to page 135 of the AHS annual report to see for yourself, but here are the wait time metrics:
Change in wait time from 2014 to 2017:
Radiation Oncology +8.2%
Medical Oncology +1.8%
Coronary Artery Bypass +49%
Cataract Surgery +28.4%
Hip Replacement +27.9%
Knee Replacement +23.3%

I can't speak to most of what you posted, I just don't have the expertise, however I do know the medical system and I am able to tell you some basic facts.

First, hospitals take a long time to build. From the funding, to the planning, to the building, to the staffing... it takes decades to open and get a new facility running at full capacity.

Second, a lot of the diseases you mentioned are diseases that predominantly impact the elderly populations... hell most diseases impact the elderly more than a younger population (shocking news I know).

Third, the elderly population in Alberta and Canada as a whole is growing.

So you have increased strains on a system, one that takes a long time to increase capacity, and you are blaming the party that has been there for four years? What did you expect them to do in order to change anything - if nothing else they have been the party that has actually gone out and started funding more hospitals and mental health facilities. I am leery of the history of the Klein years and their impact on the health care system that took a long time to recover.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

What? A head office coming to Calgary?

https://calgaryherald.com/business/l...ers-to-calgary

I hear there is another one coming as well - in the banking sector. Nothing enormous, but a good get as well.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by #-3

I have read their policy statement.

https://unitedconservative.ca/Conten...eclaration.pdf
 repeal the provincial carbon tax and vigorously oppose the imposition of any federal carbon tax.
 restore the provincial personal tax rate to a flat rate.
 restore the provincial corporate tax rate to a flat rate.

They have also stated that a flat tax will not be implemented in the next election cycle as the economy will not support it.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

630 CHED Host Ryan Jespersen was a guest on Charles Adler tonight, and provided some great, poignant commentary on the quality (or lack thereof) of candidates the UCP is eschewing on Albertans, and Jason Kenney's inability to or unwillingness to stomp it out.

A good listen to an opinion piece if you have time.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1113301105335709696

For the record, I agree with Ryan at the end - Canada is watching and Albertans better start taking this seriously when people like Mark Smith are going to occupy high positions in Kenney's government.

Oh no, Canada is watching!

They were watching when we tried the "social license" route too and it didn't seem to be a problem for them to screw us then. Canada's opinion can basically go #### itself imo. That's the bottom of my considerations.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by nik-

Oh no, Canada is watching!

They were watching when we tried the "social license" route too and it didn't seem to be a problem for them to screw us then. Canada's opinion can basically go #### itself imo. That's the bottom of my considerations.

I guess that's true if you subscribe to the Kenney/Ford/Scheer/Bernier movement, although I am hesitant to say bitching, screaming, and threatening other provinces will get us any further ahead than we are now. Who knows, I might be wrong though.

[nik-]

It's true regardless. What they think of us doesn't matter. They treat us how they treat us.

We just tried playing nice, and it got us nothing. Their opinions are irrelevant. You be the one that pines to go back to an abusive relationship, I'm pretty over it.

[Ozy_Flame]

It's a matter of opinion, and I disagree. Being #######s isn't suddenly going to get B.C. and Quebec politicians to have an "ah ha" moment and realize the error of their ways. Just doesn't work like that.

I know Kenney is beating that Twisted Sister drum, but it's going to get us nowhere.

[nik-]

Nothing gets us anywhere, so why are you putting any stock into what Canada thinks of us?

This country is a pathetic collection of crabs in a bucket, and should be given the requisite respect.

[OMG!WTF!]

Honest question...how many lake of fire guys does it take to sewer your party?



https://edmontonjournal.com/news/pol...w-vest-support


What a bunch of rubes. Mark Smith has got to go...

“Does the right to equality before the law have limits? Yes, it would appear that at least one reasonable limit upheld by the Constitution is the right to hire and fire for denominational cause,” Smith wrote.

This guy's no good either... UCP Livingstone-Macleod candidate Roger Reid. That's like what? A dozen of 'em now?

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

It's a matter of opinion, and I disagree. Being #######s isn't suddenly going to get B.C. and Quebec politicians to have an "ah ha" moment and realize the error of their ways. Just doesn't work like that.

I know Kenney is beating that Twisted Sister drum, but it's going to get us nowhere.

Strength and leverage is what gets #### done. Being nice and accommodating works in a grade 4 classroom but not in real life. No ones going to do us a solid because we're nice dude get real.

[RedHot25]

Uhhhh....

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5082129?__v...mpression=true

Former CFO for UCP leadership candidate faces 2 years in jail, accused of 'corrupt practice'

The chief financial officer for former UCP leadership candidate Jeff Callaway is facing up to two years in prison or a $50,000 fine for allegations of "corrupt practice," in breach of the Elections Act.

In 2017, Eaton was simultaneously the CFO for both the Callaway campaign and the Energize Alberta Corp., considered a prohibited entity under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act (EFCDA), meaning it cannot contribute to a campaign or candidate.

Based on financial disclosure and interviews with Eaton, Cameron Davies and Jeff Park, the commissioner found the former CFO was paying campaign staffers with money from Energize Alberta, amounting to unlawful contributions made to Callaway's campaign from a prohibited corporation.

It also alleges Eaton made a false statement when she signed and filed with Callaway's leadership contestant financial statement.

Eaton 'initially withheld the truth': OEC

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Human rights will always come before economic prosperity for me. It's the fundamental core of why we exist and do things freely, and why we are privileged to enjoy that. Even playing field for all. Worse comes to worse you just live minimalist, learn how to be frugal, or move elsewhere for economic opportunity, at least in my opinion.

easy to say if you're already not barely scraping by and wondering if you'll still have your house at the end of the year.

and I hate, hate the "just move elsewhere for economic opportunity" argument. for the vast majority of people it's not that simple, easy, or even possible.

[Fuzz]

From above...

But CBC News has obtained emails showing higher-ups in Kenney's campaign circle providing resources — strategic political direction, media, and debate talking points, speeches, videos and attack advertisements — to the Callaway campaign.

Kenney's deputy chief of staff, Matt Wolf, even emailed a resignation speech to Callaway the day he dropped out of the leadership race.

How long before we have Kenney shouting "there was no collusion!"? How can they be so corrupt and they haven't even formed a government yet? The guy has no moral compass.

[Looch City]

Jesus Christ, UCP is a dumpster fire. They literally just had to show up and win the election. Why did they need to do any of this??

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Jesus Christ, UCP is a dumpster fire. They literally just had to show up and win the election. Why did they need to do any of this??

Arrogance? I was listening to CBC last night and a guy was talking about how Notley was campaigning in Calgary, realizing it is a battleground and she NEEDS to win it. The host asked about Kenney, and he said he is campaigning hard in Edmonton, not becuase he NEEDS to win it, but because he wants a blow out. Like the leadership race, he doesn't want to just win, he wants to destroy, at any cost, apparently.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Slava

Ok, I’ll bite. Why?

Because being able to afford life isn't flat.

Progressive taxation is always a preferential model because there are "diminishing returns" in a sense the more money an individual makes.

Like, a loaf of bread is 3.99 regardless of whether you earn 20,000 a year or 200,000 a year. Both persons still need that bread (or heating, or gas for their car, or the 500 other things that have a median cost unless you are going out of your way to spend as much as possible on garbage).

Yes, luxury scaling comes into effect and there are always idiots willing to pay $2,000 for a steak, but from a basic living POV, 10% of your wage (or whatever the flat tax will be) has a much more pernicious effect on the 20k earner than the 200k earner.

Beyond that, if a flat tax is made so low that it isn't economically impactful on those who are poverty-stricken, then it runs the risk of being too low to service the needs of the population. Progressive taxation may take more thought, care, and foresight, but it's infinitely more flexible and fair across the entire income spectrum.

[Senator Clay Davis]

UCP is a dumpster fire sure, but we really should be thanking them. This should have been the most boring election in history, the only question should have been will the NDP be reduced to single digit seats like the PCs were after 2015. Instead the UCP is determined to try and make this interesting. And before our hardcore UCP supporters come and blame the NDP for going with focus on this and not issues, a reminder that when you play in dirt, you get dirty. Don't choose dog#### candidates and don't do shady, underhanded #### and there's nothing to talk about, simple as. If the UCP don't win a majority or outright choke altogether don't blame the NDP, find a mirror.

[Izzle]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Jesus Christ, UCP is a dumpster fire. They literally just had to show up and win the election. Why did they need to do any of this??

Arrogance mixed with incompetence.

The UCP saw how the Liberals won in Canada. "Canada is a default Liberal country", "The CPC were largely a protest vote". The UCP knows that many Albertans are conservative and hence it would be their absolute right to govern Alberta. "Alberta is a default conservative province", "The NDP were largely a protest vote".

Incompetence because, really, all they had to do is go hard on the economy and keep their mouth shut on the rest of their social views. At least till after the elections. And even if they were found out, so what? Have a standard response that doesn't amount to "Sorry, YOU'RE offended" and they would have wiped the floor.