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Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wildrose Alliance sets its sights on Stelmach government
The Wildrose Alliance Party has set its sights on Alberta's Progressive Conservative government and the fiscal mismanagement that has led to a record deficit during the current economic downturn:
Please Lord, Give us 1 more chance and we promise we won’t vote Stelmach again!
This title is a variant of the famous bumper sticker of the 1980’s that asked for one more boom so we wouldn’t screw it up again. It appears that our Stelmach PC’s have. This time, Albertans do have a choice and that is the Wildrose Alliance!
A have not Province is what Alberta now is. Our Finance Minister has gone cap in hand to the Federal government begging for “$220 million more, sir”.
This is an embarrassment for a Province with the gusher of resource wealth that has been frittered away with wasteful spending on items such as new logos, studies on license plates, and secret MLA pay raises.
If spending had been kept in check at the rate of population growth and inflation the Province would have a multi-billion surplus allowing the Province to capitalize on lower costs at low points in the economic cycle rather than spending the most at high points.
Economic sensitivities for the Province are in the extreme and show the Stelmach PC’s for what they are: kids with a credit card they don’t think they ever have to pay off. Their projected deficit for the current fiscal year left them with a slight operating surplus but a significant deficit when factoring in capital projects such as roads, schools, and hospitals. With the poor economic environment, and factoring in current energy prices of $67/bbl for oil, $3.30/mcf for gas, and a $.91 C$, this works out to a budget deficit of $7.3 billion. Given that the Stelmach PC’s were figuring it would be $4.7 billion, this is cause for concern! With gas inventories expect to reach record levels in November this year, it does not appear that gas prices will come to save the day.
It is also important to note that while oil and gas prices were hitting new highs in 2008, economic growth was falling off sharply in Alberta. Thus, the global economic collapse happened after the decline was well under way and can only be attributed to government policy. This has led to the loss of 51,000 jobs since December in Alberta and the highest level of unemployment in 7 years.
Paul Hinman said, “Today we see the government admitting they bungled their budgeting and are leading us into debt. The former sustainability fund they used to crow about will be burned up in one year. If they keep this up, the Heritage Fund will be gone in the next couple years. This government needs to be sent a message that Albertas don’t want a big spending government!”
The Wildrose Alliance believes Alberta has all the resources to put Albertans to work. It simply is a matter of reinstating the Alberta Advantage of low taxes, stable contracts, innovative thinking and entrepreneurial sprit. On that note, the Wildrose Alliance would support capital cost allowances for the construction of upgraders and refineries, the matching grant to the City of Calgary for the airport tunnel, and the restoration of the former Royalty Framework and Royalty Tax Credit for small producers. These simple measures will get business investing in Alberta and Albertans working good jobs.
The party makes some good points, but it has a lot of work to do if it hopes to turn rhetoric into electoral success. The first step is to choose a new leader. The race got underway last weekend and leadership hopeful Danielle Smith has been on a whirlwind media tour this week. We'll hopefully see a vibrant leadership race that is able to capture the imagination of Albertans. The race will be crucial in determining the future direction of the party.
The second step will be to take the time before the next provincial election to connect with Albertans and build grassroots support for the party and its policies. Upstart parties have found success in Alberta in the past, but it takes a lot of hard work. William Aberhart spent a considerable amount of time touring the province and preaching on the radio before his Social Credit party took over from the United Farmers of Alberta.
Finally, the party needs to ensure it runs candidates in every riding. The only reason I voted Conservative in the last election was because there wasn't a right-wing alternative in my downtown Calgary riding. We'll have to wait and see how the leadership race shapes up, but I think the time is right for a party like this to achieve success in the province of Alberta.
Posted by Jesse Kline on June 11, 2009 in Canadian Provincial Politics | Permalink
Comments
I agree. Things seem to be falling into place for the WA -- finally!
Stelmach has caused tremendous harm and damage to our great province, and it's time for a dynastic change.
Last time there wasn't enough time between the creation of the party and the election. But between now and 2012 the WA can pull it off.
Posted by: Werner Patels | 2009-06-11 8:08:46 PM
They'll probably be getting my vote.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-11 9:21:36 PM
Patels has been rightly critical of the Stelmach regime for some time, and it sounds like he has identified the logical replacement.
I agree, Werner: time for "dynastic change"!
Posted by: Zager Evans | 2009-06-11 9:29:17 PM
just heard Rutherford's interview this morning with Mark Duirholme (correct spelling?). he sounded a bit like a poster boy, but not bad. i heard a slant toward the usual conservative socialism though. kind of like "conservative lite", but much better than our current prairie-commie-in-chief. check the interview in the CHED archives.
Danielle Smith did better though, and had fresher, less statist, more market friendly ideas.
imo...
Posted by: shel | 2009-06-12 12:14:42 PM
Who would have ever guessed a few short years ago that Alberta would run a $4.7 billion deficit while Saskatchewan runs a surplus!
Time to blow away Bozo Ed and the Clowns' circus tent.
The WRA needs a clause banning any current PC MLA from running for them or crossing the floor to join them. We don't need bandwagon hoppers and political opportunisits to perpetuate the mediocre status quo.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-12 1:50:30 PM
We don't need bandwagon hoppers and political opportunisits to perpetuate the mediocre status quo.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-12 1:50:30 PM
What Alberta needs is honest, hardworking Canadian citizens who will work for the good of the province. Do you fit that bill number 5?
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-12 2:42:29 PM
Stig- Apparently, what Alberta needs, is temporary workers from Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, etc., etc., etc. I know this because Monty Solberg told me so.
I also heard a bit from Rutherford this morning. Mark had the stones to question the idea that CO2 is pollution. That's a good start.
He also pointed out that a party in power too long does attract opportunists, not principled politicians. The problem they'll have is the same one Manning had, putting together a team without an extended screening process.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-12 3:43:47 PM
Political institutions are irrelevant to youth and people my age.
They were developed hundreds of years ago and have not adapted very well at all to modern realities and especially the digital reality.
The collaborative power of the net, and the collaborative mindset of digital youth are so different from the power games, confrontation, partisanship and overall silliness of current political structures.
If you ask people my age how we should do politics they will tell you that bills and regulations should be developed collaboratively on-line by interested citizens over the net. This is how you will engage citizens now.
Why the hell should we vote? They are all idiots! Give me a chance to actually create public policy and contribute to law-making and maybe I will get interested in politics again. I have no time to invest in studying the policies of lying, partisan nitwits. And right now, we are all too busy building the new digitally integrated world into every facet of the economy. We have no time for dinosaurs and we care little for ideology. Politics as it is done now is old, booooooring and irrelevant to my day to day life.
Just as the stock price is the value of a company and the currency is the value of an economy, voter turn out percentage is the value of a government. Rather than looking inwardly and asking how governments can be more relevant to people, all they do is scold and berate those who do not vote. Talk about missing the message!
Epsi
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-12 5:14:45 PM
Stig- Apparently, what Alberta needs, is temporary workers from Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, etc., etc., etc. I know this because Monty Solberg told me so.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-12 3:43:47 PM
And red haired and golden skinned or was it golden haired and red skinned lassies from Alba who moan and groan about Canadian politics yet haven't even bothered to become citizens.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-12 7:01:49 PM
Wild Rose Party doesn't stand a chance. I don't know who would win an election, but it won't be WRA. It will most likely be the PCs again. Alberta, land of the sheep.
Posted by: Dream On | 2009-06-12 9:30:13 PM
Stig- Apparently, what Alberta needs, is temporary workers from Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, etc., etc., etc. I know this because Monty Solberg told me so.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-12 3:43:47 PM
On a more serious note you might want to read what is fast becoming my favourite blog, The Destruction of Britain. As the title suggests, this website is about the destruction of the UK through immigration, specifically muslim immigration. It might to hard for some to follow as they may not know some of the people the blogger, "Winston Smith" is writing about but if you want a glimpse of our future unless we change things its a must read.
http://thedestructionofbritain.blogspot.com/
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-12 9:55:52 PM
I can't read it, Stig, I just can't. I want to live out the rest of my life, pretending that I worked for something worthwhile. To read, day after day, that my world is crumbling around me and my family is too much to bear. Maybe my kids will adjust, and cope, but I'm not capable of it.
I have a little piece of forest picked out, where I can finish my journey in relative quiet. There is no flood of immigrants there, because there's nothing there worth stealing. I'd like to take my family away from this mess, but they'll have to take their own paths. I have enough cash, and stuff, to get by. I also have an incredible arsenal of weapons, that will disappear from the registry. I hope I never have to use them, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Once I get to the safety of solitude, I don't give a rat's ass if Alberta elects Syed Soharwardy.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-12 10:24:16 PM
To read, day after day, that my world is crumbling around me and my family is too much to bear. Maybe my kids will adjust, and cope, but I'm not capable of it.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-12 10:24:16 PM
It can get depressing to see what is happening to this once great country. On a more upbeat note I picked up my new SIG-Sauer P220 yesterday. There's still hope.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-12 11:10:34 PM
Stig you ass. I am not a citizen, true. But I employ 6 people in my own business that I started from nothing, pay more taxes than most and contribute to the economy in more ways than 90% of those that vote. You are an idiot.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-13 1:37:58 AM
Stig you ass. I am not a citizen, true. But I employ 6 people in my own business that I started from nothing, pay more taxes than most and contribute to the economy in more ways than 90% of those that vote. You are an idiot.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-13 1:37:58 AM
While you should be congratulated for starting a business, and I hope it remains successful, it is however completely irrelevant in the context of your continual moaning about the state of politics in this country when you can't even be bothered to become a citizen.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-13 5:09:13 AM
Wild Rose Party doesn't stand a chance. I don't know who would win an election, but it won't be WRA. It will most likely be the PCs again. Alberta, land of the sheep.
Posted by: Dream On | 2009-06-12 9:30:13 PM
That's a 50/50 chance here. Sitting governments in Alberta traditionally hold power for great lengths of time. But they are never overthrown by the opposition, Its always someone new to the local political scene, which in this case just might be the WRA.
And Stig, congrats on the Sig. Maybe some of your enthusiasm can go into anti-gun control. After all Free people own guns, Slaves don't.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-13 6:59:45 AM
The Stig is racist and now he has a gun. If we have any Holocaust Memorial Museums in this country, better send some extra security guards.
I'm buying an HK P2000 soon. Better to protect myself from intolerant, white pride types like The Stig, dp, and DJ.
Posted by: Robert Seymour | 2009-06-13 7:59:58 AM
The Stig is racist and now he has a gun.
Posted by: Robert Seymour | 2009-06-13 7:59:58 AM
I've had guns for years, and Bobby you're a poofter.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-13 2:32:21 PM
I'm buying an HK P2000 soon. Better to protect myself from intolerant, white pride types like The Stig, dp, and DJ.
Posted by: Robert Seymour | 2009-06-13 7:59:58 AM
Ya know Robert, I rarely agree with Stig about anything at all...
But I'm ok with a citizen..."any" law abiding citizen owning a gun, whether I like his opinion or not is irrelevant in this regard.
And I notce you criticize a lot...got any solutions or stands of your own?
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-13 3:08:48 PM
Bobby- What makes you think you could defend yourself against me? You're dreaming boy. Besides, you're the real racist. You're the one who seems to be familiar with the racist blogs.
There aren't a lot of HKs going through the registry, right now. I wonder if the Alberta firearms officer will be interested to hear that someone in queue for a permit for an HK 2000 is making threats on the internet?
Stig- I was shooting gophers with my Glock 20 today, and it jammed. There goes another urban legend, Glocks are not foolproof. I'm taking my STI Ranger out tomorrow. I hope the .45 is heavy enough for 1 shot kills. I hate to see gophers suffer.
Let us know how accurate the Sig is. I really like the simplicity of their action.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-13 8:07:35 PM
All you men with guns are sexually impotent. That message is loud and clear.
What a bunch of hillbillies! We are all laughing at you!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-13 11:08:53 PM
I see it this way;
You can vote for the clownish, corrupt, chaotic, clueless Stelmach clique of Tories;
You can vote for the socialist sad sacks aka the New Democratic Liberals;
You can vote for the Dangerous Duo of Jeff Willerton and his faithful side-kick and running mate, Merle Terlesky;
You can vote for the Chandler-Deerholm ticket;
Or.......
You can stand athwart all the above and shout "Stop The Insanity!!!".
Meaning, vote for the brilliant and courageous Danielle Smith, and deliver Alberta into a new era of freedom and prosperity.
I know some on this board will struggle with the foregoing choices, but most will do the right thing.
Posted by: Gangsta Dee | 2009-06-14 2:27:29 AM
BREAKING NEWS:
Terlesky rumoured to be considering a run as an independent, Chandler said to be courting the maverick already. Grab some popcorn, folks, this could get interesting!
Posted by: Gangsta Dee | 2009-06-14 2:36:32 AM
UPDATE:
Willerton said to be contemplating a defection to Liberals; in talks with Calgary MLA Dave Taylor. Details as they become available...
Posted by: Gangsta Dee | 2009-06-14 2:38:23 AM
JC,
I never said the Stig shouldn't be allowed to own a gun. My point was that it's unsettling that he does. Just because I don't like the idea of certain people being armed doesn't mean I think it should be illegal. That's how statists think: if something is wrong, it should be illegal. My own view, by contrast, is that only things that harm others should be illegal. The Stig is a racist -- that doesn't harm anyone per se. The Stig owns a gun -- that's doesn't necessarily harm anyone.
That said, I find it unsettling when a racist is armed. People who think less of other races in my view are more likely to commit harmful acts -- that's why I think it's immoral. But in and of itself it is not reason enough for the government to intervene. They would have to have evidence that the person intended to commit a harmful act.
Posted by: Robert Seymour | 2009-06-14 6:02:34 AM
All you men with guns are sexually impotent. That message is loud and clear.
What a bunch of hillbillies! We are all laughing at you!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-13 11:08:53 PM
Epsi, are you actually naieve enough to think that "the government" will protect us - protect our rights? Its the citizens with guns that built and maintain individual rights. Disarming the public is a tactic used by Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Mao, Qaddafi, Kim Jong Il...
I'm sure they would agree with you, the government is a lot safer and may implement its policies much more easily with a nation of sheep at their command.
Granted, there are a few gun nuts out there, but that does not outweigh the need for an armed populace.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-14 7:52:39 AM
JC,
I never said the Stig shouldn't be allowed to own a gun. My point was that it's unsettling that he does. Just because I don't like the idea of certain people being armed doesn't mean I think it should be illegal. That's how statists think: if something is wrong, it should be illegal. My own view, by contrast, is that only things that harm others should be illegal. The Stig is a racist -- that doesn't harm anyone per se. The Stig owns a gun -- that's doesn't necessarily harm anyone.
Posted by: Robert Seymour | 2009-06-14 6:02:34 AM
Well then you're free to disagree. I don't like racists either. I deal with people of different ethnicities than my own everyday and I do so open mindedly. But! I do not relish the idea of being surrounded by gang youths of any color and that has happened once to me alone and once to me and my wife. Ergo: I am pre-judiced about these people in those situations...that does not make me a racist, it makes me experienced.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-14 7:56:38 AM
A have not Province is what Alberta now is. Our Finance Minister has gone cap in hand to the Federal government begging for “$220 million more, sir.
I voted WAP last time and will again.
That said, Alberta is not a have-not province.
Alberta is still paying Ottawa more money than it gets back in transfer payments and is, therefore, still a HAVE province.
Alberta just wants more of it's own money back.
Posted by: Speller | 2009-06-14 10:10:56 AM
They would have to have evidence that the person intended to commit a harmful act.
Posted by: Robert Seymour | 2009-06-14 6:02:34 AM
Comrade Booby would like to enshrine thoughtcrime in the Criminal Code, or as it's know by him "crimethink". Comrade Booby dreams of being a member of the Thought Police. What Comrade Booby clearly articulates is that "libertarianism" is merely another form of Marxism. Now go fuck off.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-14 11:27:07 AM
Stig's retarded ability to utilize the English language always wins him friends.
We are laughing at you!
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-14 1:18:47 PM
Stig's retarded ability to utilize the English language always wins him friends.
Posted by: epsilon | 2009-06-14 1:18:47 PM
The wee bairn from Auchenshoogle is just upset because she has gotten The Sunday Post for the last couple of weeks and doesn't know what's happened to Our Willie and The Broons. Now finish up your Irn-bru and awa tae yer scratcher.
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-14 1:33:38 PM
Sexual impotence is actually very liberating. Think of it. I don't have to pretend to respect drunken, obnoxious women, just to get laid. Your loss, Epsi. The field is getting narrower by the day.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-14 9:57:47 PM
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