PHOTOS: The Ambassadors reimagined. Actual unite-the-righters appearing with Preston Manning may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Preston Manning, Wildrose Opposition Leader Brian Jean, “united alternative” Ambassador Rick Orman, and Alberta Prosperity Fund President Barry McNamar. Despite being asked none too diplomatically last February by Wildrose Opposition Leader Brian Jean to take his […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Shakeup? Lobby firms launch new publications to compete in a previously comfortable niche under the dome
PHOTOS: Glimpses of two lobby firms’ new publications about Alberta’s government. Below: Lobbyist, lawyer and former Wildrose MLA Shayne Saskiw, journalist Samantha Power, lobbyist and former Stelmach political advisor Elan MacDonald, and lobbyist and former NDP communications director Brookes Merritt. At least two new lobbying firms now active in Alberta’s capital have introduced legislative newsletters […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Same old same old at the CPC: The Conservative boss hasn’t gone crazy, and he may even be the same guy …
PHOTOS: The Conservative Party of Canada is still singin’ the same old tune – Stephen Harper’s. (CBC photo.) Below: Senator Mike Duffy, former Conservative cabinet member Jason Kenney, Manitoba Tory MP Candice Bergen, Ontario Court Judge Charles Vaillancourt and Alberta #Kudatah advocate George Clark. It’s tempting, hearing former federal Conservative cabinet heavy Jason Kenney urging […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
A Thought for Will Shakespeare on the 23rd of April, 2016
Four hundred years ago today, Old Will Did shuffle off his mortal coil; itself, The one young Hamlet noted with a chill, That can’t be sidestepped by collected wealth. The point’s established clearly, the last word Will not be left to you, no matter who You are; a grubby blogger or the Bard, It really […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Alberta Advanced Education Ministry now maintaining close watch on Athabasca University
PHOTOS: A recent newspaper ad seeking a new board chair for Athabasca University. Below: Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt at the Legislature on Budget Day; Athabasca MLA Colin Piquette; and Athabasca University interim President Peter MacKinnon (CBC photo). When we last talked about the Athabasca University saga on March 3, the distance-education institution based in […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Ric McIver’s tantrum and return to the House explained: In Alberta, being a Tory means never having to say you’re sorry!
PHOTOS: Interim Tory Leader Ric McIver, mid tantrum, tells Alberta Speaker Bob Wanner he’s not sitting down until he gets his way! Below: Mr. Wanner, looking appropriately annoyed; the notorious Dr. Benjamin Spock; and an advertisement for Brylcreem, just one of the many terrible things North American liberals keep having to answer for. Bottom: My […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Motion demanding public support for private and charter schools backfires on Alberta Tory Leader
PHOTOS: Interim Alberta Tory Leader Ric McIver and another PC are ejected from the Legislature yesterday by the Sergeant at Arms. Actual Alberta MLAs may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The Real Ric McIver and Edmonton Public School Board Chairperson Michael Janz. Has Progressive Conservative Party interim Leader Ric McIver’s motion demanding the Alberta […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
If you were secretly relieved by yesterday’s NDP Alberta budget, you weren’t alone …
PHOTOS: Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci addresses the media during a lockup early yesterday afternoon in Edmonton before reading the 2016 Budget Speech to the Legislature. Below: CFIB Alberta spokesperson Richard Truscott, Edmonton-Centre MLA David Shepherd and author and environmentalist Naomi Klein. Admit it, Alberta, after yesterday afternoon’s Budget Speech was read by Finance Minister […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Just when the nattering nabobs of neoliberal negativism felt safe to write off the NDP, the crack of Doomsday opens!
PHOTOS: Actor David Suchet as Agatha Christie’s imaginary Hercule Poirot. Below: Postmedia Alberta Frankenpaper political columnist Lorne Gunter, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Alberta Prosperity Fund President Barry McNamar and the late Spiro T. Agnew, who is thought by some scholars to be the worst vice-president in U.S. history. This tale of […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
The federal NDP’s ‘Leap’ of faith advocates and Alberta’s right-wing opposition: strange bedfellows?
PHOTOS: Rachel Notley pushes back against the Leap Manifesto Monday in this screen grab from a CBC broadcast. Below: Outgoing federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, Vancouver environmentalist Tzeporah Berman, ProgressAlberta.ca blog author Duncan Kinney, and rumoured federal NDP leadership candidate Avi Lewis. With friends like the Leap Manifesto’s advocates in the federal New Democratic Party, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
The mystery of NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair’s long fall: Why didn’t he see it coming?
PHOTOS: NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair accepts his defeat at his party’s national convention in Edmonton yesterday. Below: Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman, Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan, former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis and Alberta Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous. The astonishing thing about yesterday’s NDP leadership review vote is that an […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
On stage in Edmonton: The tough Rachel Notley who frightens conservatives, and may scare certain New Democrats too
PHOTOS: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is not tall, but she casts a long shadow on both sides of the political aisle. She is seen here addressing the national NDP convention in Edmonton yesterday in a tough, memorable speech. Below: Federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair at the conference yesterday; delegates applaud Ms. Notley’s remarks, presumably those […]