Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Fuzz]

Friday’s revelation that neither Finance Minister Travis Toews nor Environment Minister Sonya Savage would be running for re-election in the expected May 29 provincial vote quickly gave way to speculation about who, or at least what kind of candidate, would replace them in the short spell remaining till the election writ is dropped, presumably on May 1.

“I will be working with the party and the constituency association to appoint a UCP candidate through Section 8 of our Candidate Selection Process so the candidate can get to work immediately keeping Calgary-North West a UCP stronghold on May 29,” the premier said in her statement about Ms. Savage’s departure.

https://albertapolitics.ca/2023/03/s...-sonya-savage/

Two more Take Back Alberta nutbars about to be appointed. Although maybe Smith will realize she needs someone sorta sane to have any chance of winning a Calgary riding. You would think there is plenty of time to nominate candidates properly, given past election campaigns are usually a month or so long. But maybe TBA doesn't control those 2 riding associations yet, so she doesn't want to risk it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Don't know if there's any truth to this or not for Savage's former riding, but:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1639767189736812545

[Izzle]

Didn't Sawhney also announce she's not running as well?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Izzle

Didn't Sawhney also announce she's not running as well?

She did which makes the above rumor puzzling.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Izzle

Didn't Sawhney also announce she's not running as well?

Originally Posted by Dion

She did which makes the above rumor puzzling.

I might be reading into things too much but if you look at the three statements you'll see that Toews and Savage said they will not be seeking re-election. Sawhney said she will not seek nomination and re-election in Calgary NE. Maybe it is a subtle use of words leaving an opening to move into a different riding?

[Ozy_Flame]

I think she said she's no longer running in her old riding. Who knows if that leads to something else.

[The Fisher Account]

After four years of grift, the private sector favour dollars must be calling

[SportsJunky]

I wasn't around yesterday when my MLA (UCP) came by and rang the doorbell. Sucks. I had questions.

[Faust]

Alberta is suing the U.S. over Keystone XL. The province just had to pay its American taxes first:

https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-tc-energy-kxl-delaware/



Thomas A. Lukaszuk @lukaszukab

.@Alberta_UCP This is wild.

All Albertans must read this.

UCP set up a web of numbered companies in USA with UCP current cabinet ministers as directors. Unpaid US taxes, strange transactions, $7,000,000.00 “administration fees”.

This isn’t normal.

#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli

https://twitter.com/lukaszukab/statu...058091008?s=21

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Faust

Alberta is suing the U.S. over Keystone XL. The province just had to pay its American taxes first:

https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-tc-energy-kxl-delaware/



Thomas A. Lukaszuk @lukaszukab

.@Alberta_UCP This is wild.

All Albertans must read this.

UCP set up a web of numbered companies in USA with UCP current cabinet ministers as directors. Unpaid US taxes, strange transactions, $7,000,000.00 “administration fees”.

This isn’t normal.

#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli

https://twitter.com/lukaszukab/statu...058091008?s=21

I read the article and I'm honestly not smart enough in the field of business, corporate structure and corporate law to understand the things that are being undertaken with this type of setup. I'm certain that Lukaszuk doesn't understand what is going on and I wouldn't be surprised if the journalists at The Narwhal don't understand either.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I read the article and I'm honestly not smart enough in the field of business, corporate structure and corporate law to understand the things that are being undertaken with this type of setup. I'm certain that Lukaszuk doesn't understand what is going on and I wouldn't be surprised if the journalists at The Narwhal don't understand either.

I understand it cost us taxpayers $1.3 billion.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I understand it cost us taxpayers $1.3 billion.

That article actually suggests that the government knew what it was doing here and used a numbered Delaware corporation so it would be an investor in keystone and subject to NAFTA protections.

We can say it was stupid to bet 1.3 billion on Trump getting elected but this article appears like the crown corp was fairly competent in structuring this investment.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by GGG

That article actually suggests that the government knew what it was doing here and used a numbered Delaware corporation so it would be an investor in keystone and subject to NAFTA protections.

We can say it was stupid to bet 1.3 billion on Trump getting elected but this article appears like the crown corp was fairly competent in structuring this investment.

The article did make it sound like the numbered companies are a protective measure to some degree.

[Yoho]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1640352983702446081

[TheIronMaiden]

UCP winning is basically a given. There is no way the Calgary Suburbs turn on the cons.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

UCP winning is basically a given. There is no way the Calgary Suburbs turn on the cons.

I know. You're so right. Calgary is going to help #### things up for us all.

[TheIronMaiden]

[Torture]

If you look past the headline (I know, Yoho wouldn't do that), this is the first time this calendar year that the UCP have dipped below 70-80% probability and NDP up to almost 40%.

Last projection had the UCP at 80%+ so Yoho might want to reconsider that victory lap.

Smith had been successfully keeping pretty quiet but it sure seems like she's back to saying something crazy every other day at I bet that's giving center right voters something to think about. One projection does not make a trend but it will be interesting to see if it continues.

338 is projecting 41 seats for the NDP...44/45 to get to a majority so while it's going to be tough to round up those Calgary suburbs it's definitely within striking distance.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

I know. You're so right. Calgary is going to help #### things up for us all.

Only way to change that is to get involved in the political process, really. For the first time ever, I donated to a political party (the NDP) and requested a lawn sign. Hell, I'm even considering volunteering. The UCP are a f-cking disaster, they shouldn't be tasked with running a lemonade stand, never mind a province.

[Ozy_Flame]

There is quite obviously a gag-order on Smith speaking publicly without an army of handlers and communicators telling her what to say. Especially as there are plenty of controversies surrounding her and her policies and an election is approaching.

Ask yourself - if the leader of your province needs that sort of muzzle just to not embarrass herself, her party, and the province, imagine what she's going to say/do when the muzzle is off and Albertans give her a thumbs up to continue on as Premier.

There is better leadership out there. Alberta is chock-full of them. Albertan's just have to realize it and pay attention.