NDP Leader Rachel Notley in a screenshot from last night’s televised Alberta leaders’ debate. Why does this woman look so cheerful? And why don’t the men? Below: Progressive Conservative Premier Jim Prentice, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean and Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann. Let me get this off my chest first: There were no knockouts. The […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Deconstructing tonight’s TV debate in advance: knockouts unlikely, but you just never know
ILLUSTRATIONS: Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, who “most Albertans would have a hard time picking out of a police lineup of Leprechauns,” has the most incentive to try something wild and crazy tonight. Actual Alberta political leaders may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Premier Jim Prentice, NDP Leader Rachel Notley, Mr. Jean and […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Two Austerity Parties, One Guv’nor: In 2015, the only way to protect health care is to vote NDP
ILLUSTRATIONS: A typical Alberta voter considers the developing Wildrose and Tory positions on private health care. Below: Well-known Twitterist Danielle Smith, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean and PC Health Minister Stephen Mandel. In case you missed it amidst all the excitement over Progressive Conservative Premier Jim Prentice’s literal bus wreck of a campaign, the leader of […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Prentice PCs’ flip-flop on charity tax credit cut shows early-election justification was pure baloney
PHOTOS: Alberta Premier Jim Prentice demonstrates his solid stance on his PC Party’s ‘transformative’ budget as fascinated Alberta voters look on. Actual Prentice maneuvers may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Mr. Prentice (iconic Dave Cournoyer photo, used with permission) just passin’ through … Have I got this right? Jim Prentice, who had […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
How low can Jim go? I mean, seriously, how low can he go?
PHOTOS: Alberta Premier Jim Prentice demonstrates how low he can go to a group of admiring young Tories. Actual Alberta premiers may not appear as illustrated in old newspaper shots like this. Below: The real Mr. Prentice, the real Alison Redford and the real Ralph Klein. How low can Jim go? By which I mean, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
There’s plenty of opposition to Alberta’s PCs – the question is, which way will it break?
PHOTOS: With the NDP generating plenty of excitement, Leader Rachel Notley announces her party’s fiscal plan to a large gathering of journalists at Sunday afternoon’s news conference. Below: Ms. Notley during the short meeting, Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean (grabbed from the Wildrose website). Judging from the polls we’ve seen, not to mention the behaviour […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
NDP’s Rachel Notley introduces detailed fiscal plan – how will ordinary voters react?
PHOTOS: NDP Leader Rachel Notley addresses the media at her news conference today at an Edmonton hotel. Below: Some of the media at the event and former Conservative premier Peter Lougheed, whose memory was invoked more than once at the event. The big question about the detailed NDP fiscal plan, released this afternoon at a […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
NDP gains traction, Wildrose comes close to full slate, but don’t count PCs out yet, promising polls notwithstanding
PHOTOS: NDP Leader Rachel Notley commands the attention of delegates today at the Alberta Federation of Labour’s biennial convention in Calgary (Olav Rokne photo). Below: Ms. Notley again, at a recent event in Edmonton; political strategist Stephen Carter; former Alberta premier Ed Stelmach, the guy who may have had no plan but won anyway. According […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Alberta Liberals’ tribulations spark debate over backing NDP candidate in St. Albert
PHOTOS: Fading to black… I’ll bite your legs off! They may be missing many essential parts, but the Alberta Liberals aren’t ready to give up yet. Actual Alberta Liberal candidates may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Interim Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann. St. Albert NDP candidate Marie Renaud. ST. ALBERT, Alberta If the Wildrose […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Wildrose may not run candidates in key Edmonton ridings, helping Prentice PCs at expense of NDP
NDP candidates Deron Bilous, at left, and David Eggen second from right, with former NDP leader Brian Mason and Leader Rachel Notley. Below: Disqualified Calgary Wildrose candidate Russ Kuykendall. The Wildrose Party may not run candidates in some key Edmonton ridings where the Alberta NDP has a strong chance of winning and would benefit from […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Jim Prentice, feeling austere, visits Red Deer – but everything will likely look better in the morning
PHOTOS: The correspondent for The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser files his report on the latest speech by Alberta Premier Jim Prentice from the remote western town of Red Deer with the assistance of a telegraph operator. Below: Former Opposition Leader Danielle Smith on the day of her defection, with Mr. […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Keep calm & don’t campaign, Part II: the full memorandum text
As a public service, here is the full text of the controversial memorandum to Justice Department employees, dated April 7, discussed in this morning’s post. The directive tells this group of civil servants they must inform their supervisors if they intend to campaign for any political party in the current election campaign. While the instructions […]