PHOTOS: Wildrose Agriculture Critic Rick Strankman thinks the NDP Government’s carbon levy is just murder. (Photo grabbed from his Facebook page.) Below: NDP Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous, Wildrose MLA Drew Barnes, another member of the Nutty Nine, and former Wildrose leader and would-be Conservative candidate Paul Hinman. A sensible person could easily reach the […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Hard truth from the Parkland Institute: New pipelines won’t much improve the price fetched by Alberta oil from Bitumen
PHOTOS: An oil tanker, floating in “tidewater” – in this case the balmy Persian Gulf. Below: Earth scientist David Hughes, and a caribou strolling along a pipeline, this one in Alaska. That’s tonight’s harvest of royalty-free photographs. My guess is that not many partisans of any of Alberta’s NDP Government, the federal Liberals or their […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
On the War of the WRP, Saskatchewan’s Great Wall and the mysterious appeal of Alberta Health Services
PHOTOS: A meeting of the Opposition Wildrose Caucus gets under way with Leader Brian Jean and Leader Lite Derek Fildebrandt explaining their differences to each other. Actual Alberta politicians of the right may not appear exactly as illustrated. Then again … Below: The real Mr. Fildebrandt; Saskatchewan’s beloved Premier Brad Wall, the Great and the […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Dr. Verna Yiu named Alberta Health Services CEO No. 8 in 8 years – can she fix what 7 couldn’t?
PHOTOS: Dr. Verna Yiu, who was officially named yesterday as the eighth president and CEO of Alberta Health Services in as many years. Below: AHS Board Chair Linda Hughes and Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman. Sooner or later, you’d think Alberta Health Services would luck out and get a CEO who knows how to run […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Leader Brian Jean appears to have violated Wildrose constitution when he tried to suspend Derek Fildebrandt
PHOTO: Now-restored Wildrose Party Finance Critic Derek Fildebrandt and party Leader Brian Jean, photographed in happier times. (Photo grabbed from Mr. Jean’s Facebook page.) Below: A screen capture of the photo accompanying today’s news release on the Wildrose Party website. Wildrose Opposition Brian Jean appears to have been operating in violation of the party’s constitution […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Suspension of maverick MLA didn’t amount to much, even before Wildrose leader’s apparent flip-flop
PHOTOS: Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt appears to be ahead in the race with his party leader, Brian Jean, this past weekend at least. (Photo grabbed from Mr. Jean’s Facebook page.) Below: Blogger Dave Cournoyer and a smiling Mr. Fildebrandt. That was quick! Not much more than 48 hours after Brian Jean announced in a terse […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Questions, questions, questions about tomorrow’s Public Accounts Committee meeting chaired by … Derek Fildebrandt?
PHOTO: Derek Fildebrandt, a (former?) Wildrose Opposition MLA and as of right now chair of the Legislature’s Public Accounts Committee. (Photo © David Climenhaga, just sayin’.) Tomorrow morning, the Alberta Legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts will have the opportunity to grill officials from Alberta Treasury Board and Finance about the state of the province’s […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Brian Jean’s Wildrose Party leadership is now unquestioned: the fall of Derek Fildebrandt explained
PHOTOS: Brian Jean will be in the background no more … Back in 2015, Derek Fildebrandt was dominating the conversation, refusing to answer questions from a Globe and Mail reporter who had annoyed him, as his former party leader looked on, apparently bemused (CBC photo). Below: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, from her Twitter page, and […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Wildrose Finance Critic Derek Fildebrandt suspended from caucus by Leader Brian Jean over social media message
PHOTO: Wildrose Finance Citic Derek Fildebrandt was suspended by the party caucus last night by Leader Brian Jean. Below: Mr. Jean, Twitterer Dave Beninger and NDP MLA Deb Drever (CBC photo). Wildrose Party Finance Critic Derek Fildebrandt was suspended from the Opposition party’s Legislative caucus just before midnight last night by party Leader Brian Jean. […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Wildrose Party’s half-hearted apology to Ontario premier doesn’t mean much
PHOTOS: Wildrose Party Finance Critic and chief Legislative greeter Derek Fildebrandt, demonstrating a typical attitude. Below: Shocked and appalled critics Naheed Nenshi, mayor of Calgary, David Swann, Alberta Liberal leader, Greg Clark, Alberta Party leader, and Brian Mason, Government House Leader. Thanks to the Wildrose Party, the phrase “Alberta welcome” may enter the popular lexicon […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Watching the Wildrose in the Legislature: Beverly Hillbillies … or Deliverance?
PHOTOS: The Beverly Hillbillies in campaign mode. Actual members of the Alberta Wildrose caucus may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, left, and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, right, answer reporters’ questions in the Legislature Rotunda yesterday morning (screen shots … can’t say I was there) and, below them, Wildrose Leader Brian […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Those wacky federal Tories! Just how dumb do they think we are? (Hint: plenty)
PHOTOS: Rona Ambrose dressed up in hospital scrubs and a stethoscope. Hint: She’s not a real doctor. It’s not clear from this photo, which was published on a CTV site, if the other people are real health care workers or Tory MPs. Below: Your blogger with Dr. Joe Vipond, who is a real doctor. Hint: […]