Alberta Workers Compensation Board officials ready shipments of money to send back to employers. Actual WBC staff may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and now-official Tory leadership candidate Ric McIver, who gave up the K in his first name for the benefit of all Albertans. The Alberta Workers Compensation Board […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Finance minister’s joint news conference with civil service union leader sure looked like a total climb-down
AUPE President Guy Smith, left, and Finance Minister Doug Horner on the podium together at yesterday’s news conference in Edmonton. Below: NDP leader Brian Mason as he spoke to reporters moments afterward. There’s no question, after a year of something approaching total warfare between the Government of Alberta and its civil service union, it was […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Pension ‘reform’ effort likely dead as PC government and all opposition parties refer Bills 9 and 10 to committee
Members of the Hancock PC Government pause to consider their current level in the public’s esteem, and what else they can do after today’s developments to make their way back to the surface. Actual Alberta politicians may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Finance Minister Doug Horner. Former Alberta premier Alison Redford’s ill-conceived anti-union project […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Calgary mayor hands Alberta PCs a ‘Get Out of Jail Card’ on public service pensions
Alberta Premier pro tem Dave Hancock, who does not appear exactly as illustrated, of course, pictured on a Get Out of Jail Free card given him today by Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Below: Mr. Nenshi and the real Mr. Hancock. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi handed Alberta Premier pro tempore Dave Hancock a Get Out of […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Doublethink, Alberta Tory style … Sorry, really, but who’s this Alison Redford person?
Former Alberta premier Alison Redford, left, confronts a frightened Premier pro tempore Dave Hancock. Below: A frame from the lost video clip of Ms. Redford’s part in the video tribute to Alberta’s past Tory premiers. Actual Alberta politicians may not appear exactly as illustrated. MONTREAL Official Alberta Progressive Conservative Party Position No. 1: Alison Redford […]
Posted inUncategorized
Will Jim Prentice, latest favourite of Alberta’s chattering classes, turn out to be another big disappointment?
Jim Prentice: the choice of Alberta’s chattering classes. But does anyone else care, or even know who he is? Below: Mr. Prentice in his political youth; New Democrat Bob Hawkesworth, the man who beat him in 1986 and about the only person to beat him up to now. Jim Who? Ask the typical Albertan who […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
A Tale of Two Leaders, Brian Mason and Alison Redford: The best of exits, the worst of exits
Retiring Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason with your blogger’s introduction-to-journalism class in 2011: he was witty, passionate and persuasive, a big part of why the Alberta NDP continues to draw young supporters in significant numbers. Below: Mr. Mason with Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who has also retired from politics; in a typical pose at a […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Four-year, 6.75% AUPE tentative agreement ends threat of open war between civil service union and Hancock Government
If not cordiale, at least entente. Alberta Premier Dave Hancock and AUPE President Guy Smith celebrate their tentative contract agreement yesterday. Actual Alberta public figures may not appear exactly as illustrated. (I freely admit stealing this idea from Daveberta.ca.) Below: Jim Prentice, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Smith. The threat of open warfare between Alberta’s government […]
Posted inAlberta Politics, Canadian Politics
With friends like these… How much did gun lovers’ aid hurt Rob Anders’ candidacy?
Soon-to-be-former MP Rob Anders with would-be MP Melissa Mathieson. Did this photo help, or hurt, his unsuccessful candidacy? Below: Ron Liepert, the Conservative who beat Mr. Anders in the Calgary Signal Hill riding nomination battle. How big a role did the guns ’n’ ammo crowd play in the defeat Calgary West MP Rob Anders by […]
Posted inAlberta Politics, Uncategorized
PS, Tories love you! Is Alison Redford leading predators away from her party? Or what?
The now-famous cell-phone camera shot of Ms. Redford dining with her daughter at Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs, grabbed from the Internet. VICTORIA, B.C. Truth be told, former premier Alison Redford is not the first Alberta cabinet member to just say to hell with it and take a few days off in a sunny […]
Posted inAlberta Politics, Canadian Politics, Uncategorized
Why underage drinking at 24 Sussex Drive is no joke for the Harper Government
Awwwww, everybody drinks too much, just like the National Post says! Fuggedaboudit. Look at these young guys, partying it up at 24 Sussex Drive! Below: Ben Harper in 2010. VICTORIA, B.C. The National Post wants Canadians to smarten up and pay attention: Everybody drinks too much, OK? Even our reporters! So shut up about that […]
Posted inAlberta Politics, Canadian Politics, Uncategorized
Thanks to Tom Lukaszuk’s memo, Albertans know it wasn’t just Alison Redford with the entitlement problem
Members of the Alberta government’s Public Affairs Bureau spin a good yarn in response to freedom of information requests filed ages ago by Alberta journalists, opposition politicians and other busybodies. Actual government propaganda officials may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk, Information Commissioner Jill Clayton and Finance Minister Doug Horner. VICTORIA, […]