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 […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Never mind Alison Redford: Finance Minister Doug Horner, unfortunately, needs to resign
Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford and Doug Horner together on the stage on the night of Ms. Redford’s election as PC Party leader in October 2011. Below: Mr. Horner, Ms. Redford and Mr. Stelmach. If the Parliamentary convention called ministerial responsibility still has meaning in Alberta or Canada, Finance Minister Doug Horner must resign. Everyone in […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Is there any benefit for Albertans in a criminal prosecution of Alison Redford? Not really
Alison Redford, in days past, somewhere in the skies over Alberta. OK, I never said I was a master of Photoshop! Below: Disgraced Canadian Senator Mike Duffy, Alberta Tory leadership frontrunner Jim Prentice, leadership candidate and former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk. Will Alberta benefit from a police investigation of Alison Redford’s use of the government’s small […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
Flights of folly: Air Redford’s airborne ghost riders will be the death of Alberta’s Tories
De Plane! De Plane! Tattoo calls out from the tower to announce the arrival of the premier’s plane at Calgary International Airport. Actual members of former Premier Alison Redford’s staff may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Ms. Redford; Alberta Auditor General Merwan Saher. Those ghost riders on Alison Redford’s government flights aren’t going to […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
So much for ‘leading by example’ – Alberta Tories’ 3-year pay freeze for top civil service executives melts like ice cream on a hot day
Ice cream on a hot day – melts almost as fast as an Alberta Tory management wage freeze! Actual PC promises of “leading by example” may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Finance Minister Doug Horner, nowhere to be seen yesterday; leadership candidate Thomas Lukaszuk, bemoaning the decision last night. Senior Alberta government managers had […]
Posted inAlberta Politics
What the Fraser Institute’s numbers actually show, minus the spin: Alberta has a revenue problem, not a spending problem
The Fraser Institute: peddling conclusions that don’t match the evidence and have enough holes to store captured carbon. Actual Fraser Institute “fellows” may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: A piece of Swiss cheese, which may actually resemble the claims in a Fraser Institute press release, metaphorically speaking. If the Fraser Institute told the whole […]
Posted inCanadian Politics
A meditation on the parlous state of the prime ministerial belfry: is he batty, or what?
Psychological-political portrait of Prime Minister Stephen Harper by Edmonton artist William Prettie. (Used with permission.) Below: The young Vladimir Putin; the young Stephen Harper. When I ponder our prime minister’s mental state nowadays, my mind spontaneously offers up a rude phrase about the things bats leave behind in belfries. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has got […]