Tory leadership frontrunner Jim Prentice: Yeah! That’s it! I’ll give away memberships! Below: Candidates Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk. Holy Cow! Not only does Alberta Tory leadership frontrunner Jim Prentice admit his campaign has been giving away free memberships, but he says the idea’s OK with him and he intends to keep on doing it! […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Whiny e-pistle notwithstanding, Finance Minister Doug Horner a candidate for high jump
Finance Minister Doug Horner on his Alberta politics Most Wanted card. Below: The real Mr. Horner; Hamilton Burger, “incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial!” Sgt. Shultz: “I see nothing!” If you want evidence the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party is done like dinner – with or without former federal cabinet minister Jim Prentice sitting at the head of […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
A picture of Tories gone gray: How much will Albertans spend on oil portraits of Alison Redford and Dave Hancock?
Premier pro tempore Dave Hancock’s official portrait imagined. Actual Legislative Building paintings may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Ed Stelmach as seen by Tunde Vari; Ralph Klein by Xin Yu Zheng; your blogger by Ryn Climenhaga. “I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself don’t interest me. They have not got the […]
Posted inAlberta Politics, Canadian Politics
Blogosphere heaves sigh of relief: ‘Canada’s Worst MP’ Rob Anders is back, for now anyway
Rob Anders in his second most famous pose, the most famous with his eyes open, with 4.5-litre hat plus circa-.45 revolver. Mr. Anders is thought to be Canada’s Worst MP and hopes to keep it that way. Below: Bow River Conservative candidates Rolly Ashdown and Martin Shields. Rob Anders to Canada: “I’m baaaaaaaaack!” It’s a […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Let’s hear a big welcome for Preston Manning, a fresh new voice in Canadian satirical writing!
Preston Manning admonishes the Children of Alberta for abandoning the principles of Social Credit. Actual right-wing patriarchs may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: The real Mr. Manning and, speaking of patriarchs, the sainted Ernest Manning, Ron Paul, the crazy uncle of the American right, and Ukip Leader Nigel Farage. “Cancer and lightning go where they […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Alison’s Albertan airplanes and architecture: Who knew? No one, it turns out!
A search for a member of Alison Redford’s cabinet or caucus who knew what was going on in the premier’s office might look something like this. Nothing like this is necessary in Alberta, though, because no one knew anything. It’s hardly necessary to say that real Alberta Tories may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below, […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Hurricane Redford shook Alberta to its foundations – the place may never be the same!
Her era drawing to a close, Alison Redford is sent out of a Progressive Conservative Caucus meeting on March 13 while Tory MLAs argue over her fate. Below: Premier Dave Hancock; Tory leadership aspirant Thomas Lukaszuk. Former premier Alison Redford signed off from public life in Alberta yesterday morning with the words, “I truly believe […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
The scary thing about Alison Redford’s resignation this morning: it just might work for the decrepit Tories!
Former premier Alison Redford with your blogger in, as they say, happier times. The reaction to former Alberta premier Alison Redford’s resignation as Calgary-Elbow MLA this morning among Opposition politicians was universal and predictable. To wit: the problems with the 43-year-old Progressive Conservative Dynasty are bigger than just Ms. Redford’s political failings, however spectacular they […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Guest post: When you talk to ‘Middle Alberta,’ NDP leadership candidates, talk about money!
John Ashton, author of today’s guest post. Below: Rachel Notley, David Eggen and Rod Loyola. Alberta’s NDP made it official today with the close of nominations: there are three candidates in the race to succeed Brian Mason as the leader of the province’s New Democrats, in alphabetical order, David Eggen, Rod Loyola and Rachel Notley. […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
The #PCldr Files: Who is the best Tory choice for the coming Wildrose Apocalypse?
Your blogger with PC leadership candidate Thomas Lukaszuk. We’re not usually as friendly as this picture makes us look – especially on Twitter. Below: Tory leadership frontrunner Jim Prentice, candidate Ric McIver and the late federal NDP leader Jack Layton. What Alberta’s foundering Progressive Conservative dynasty needs to do now is pick the leadership candidate […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
The Calgary perp walk: it’s a routine disgrace, and it’s about time someone spoke up about it
Angela Davis does the “perp walk” after her arrest in New York City in 1970. The “perp walk” – discredited, but still popular with the Calgary media and Calgary Police Service – is designed to make the suspect look guilty. Ms. Davis was acquitted by a jury just the same. Below: A disgraceful image apparently […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Author’s Note: Changes are coming to Alberta Diary, soon to be AlbertaPolitics.ca
Write hard. Live a long time. (Edited version.) Tattoo by Jason Edward Morgan, Bastrop, Texas. Round about the end of summer – Labour Day or thereabouts if God’s willin’ and the crick don’t rise – there are some significant changes coming to Alberta Diary. The biggest will be a change in the name of the […]