Should the Alberta Party Fold?

Former MLA questions need for Alberta Party

Dave Taylor wonders if its time to ‘fold the tent’

CBC News

Posted: May 25, 2012 8:46 PM MT

Last Updated: May 25, 2012 8:51 PM MT

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Taylor becomes Alberta Party’s first MLA

The only person to ever sit as an Alberta Party MLA is raising questions about its future now that the Progressive Conservatives under Premier Alison Redford share the centre of the political spectrum.

“The Alberta Party’s values are now the Redford PC government’s values,” Dave Taylor wrote in a blog posting on Friday. “They stand for everything we stand for — and they’re in power. Who needs us?”

Former Alberta Party MLA Dave Taylor decided not to run in last month’s provincial election. (CBC)Taylor, a former Calgary Liberal MLA who joined the Alberta Party after spending time as an independent, decided not to run in the April 23 election, where the party failed to win any seats. He is calling on the party executive to let members have a free discussion about its future.

Now that the party no longer has an MLA in the Alberta legislature, it has lost a platform for building support, Taylor writes. He adds the party lacks the political knowledge and experience to convince Albertans to vote for them instead of the Tories.

“The Alberta Party has a big decision to make: Should we ‘fold the tent,’ or can we find a way to differentiate ourselves from the PCs?”

Taylor went public with his feelings one day before the party holds an event in Edmonton to thank candidates, volunteers and supporters for their efforts during the campaign.

Sue Huff ran for the Alberta Party in Edmonton-Glenora. She said Taylor is simply putting the issue out there for discussion.

“Dave is provocative. He always has been,” she said. “You know I think it’s good to ask yourselves the hard questions. We’re a party that has always embraced the hard questions and not shied away from that so I think that’s a perfectly legitimate question to ask.”.

As for Taylor, he writes that isn’t attending the event in Edmonton as he will be in Seattle on Saturday.

Musings Two Bits: This would be an excellent opportunity for the infrastructure and passion of these individuals to open talks to join in a merger with either the Alberta Liberals or Alberta NDP to strengthen the opposition/accountability voice of the government.

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• Alberta Party Debate Wrap Up! (tyragan.wordpress.com)
• Media Silences new Movement (tyragan.wordpress.com)
• Alberta Party doing just fine, says Alberta Party (theglobeandmail.com)
• Alberta Election 2012: Tories ‘same old party’ – Alberta Party leader (vancouversun.com)
• 5 things to watch on election day in Alberta (cbc.ca)
• In some Alberta ridings, election is far from a two-horse race (theglobeandmail.com)
• Reflections on an Election: AB Votes 2012 (tyragan.wordpress.com)
• Liberals, Alberta Party focus on funding (cbc.ca)
• Alberta premier Alison Redford calls election on April 23 (vancouversun.com)
• Public doesn’t trust Redford on health care, Alberta Party says (calgaryherald.com)
• The party that supports raw milk poised to win in Monday’s Alberta election (thebovine.wordpress.com)
• Albertans go to the polls April 23 (cbc.ca)

Advertisement

Wildrose party wants more

 question period time, office space

The Canadian Press

Posted: May 7, 2012 1:21 PM MT

Last Updated: May 7, 2012 1:20 PM MT

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Alberta’s new official opposition is seeking more office space and more time to ask questions and present ideas in the legislature.

Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith has made the request in an letter to Premier Alison Redford.

In it, Smith says changes need to be made to ensure a healthier exchange of ideas.

She wants the number of questions given her party during question period increased from nine to 12 each day.

Smith also wants a block of time twice a month for her and the other opposition parties to propose legislation.

There is also the matter of office space; the Wildrose has a floor and a half in a building beside the legislature, but Smith says they need two floors.

© The Canadian Press, 2012

The idea of more questions to opposition parties on the surface seems like a good idea, if they are used as question period is intended to actually aid legislation in becoming better for Albertans, and not just petty pro-wrestling style soundbite bickering.

The idea of a few days for “opposition days” like in the Federal Minority days is also a good idea if each opposition party gets the opportunity and these bills and all bills are put to FREE votes.

But the office space??? C’mon…suck it up and quit wanting to squander more tax payer money, Ahem, Danielle your Tory is showing with that one.

Related articles

• Wildrose party wants more question period time, office space (cbc.ca)
• Wildrose party seeks more question period time, offices (ctv.ca)
• Smith presses Redford for question period changes (calgaryherald.com)
• Smith says Wildrose must do some soul searching (calgaryherald.com)
• Chastened Wildrose must revisit controversial policies, Alberta’s Smith says (vancouversun.com)
• Wildrose falter in Alberta polls (cbc.ca)
• Wildrose may reconsider some policies, Smith says (cbc.ca)
• Wildrose beats PCs in fundraising battle (theglobeandmail.com)
• Danielle Smith unveils Wildrose shadow cabinet (cbc.ca)
• Inside Alberta’s winning Progressive Conservative campaign (theglobeandmail.com)
• New Alberta Official Opposition believes Urban Albertans less than intelligent (tyragan.wordpress.com)
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• Alberta aide resigns after mocking Wildrose leader (thestar.com)

Alberta Party Debate Wrap Up!

Glenn’s debate wrap-up video released – watch it now

Posted by Brian Thiessen 103pc on April 13, 2012 · Flag

Watch Glenn share the Alberta Party‘s perspective on all of the debate questions.

During the televised leaders debate over 1700 Albertans followed Glenn’s live blog (read the transcript).  We’ve received tremendous feedback on our innovative and positive approach to participating in tonight’s debate – despite not being invited.

Immediately after the debate, Glenn and I filmed the Debate Wrap Up Video, where Glenn provides the Alberta Party’s responses to all of the questions raised in the debate.

Please share this video.

Since we didn’t have the opportunity to partcipate in the televised debate, we need your help to share this important video.  Please use the Facebook and Twitter buttons below to share this page.

It’s working! Our impact is growing every day.

All of our hard work is starting to pay off and the Alberta Party’s message is spreading faster than ever. With your continued help, we can make a huge impact in this election! Thank you for all of your support!

Brian Thiessen
President, Alberta Party

PS – Have you updated your profile image on Facebook and Twitter to show your support for the Alberta Party?  Visit our do-it-yourself campaign tools page to download a special Alberta Party profile image.

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Media Silences new Movement

Alberta Party written in Century Gothic, and a shield created by speech balloons, in three colours reminiscent of the coat of arms of Alberta's blue sky, green foothills, and gold wheat fields. Created from Alberta Party Leadership Convention 2011 documentation. Français : Logo du Parti de l'Alberta. Source: Alberta Party Leadership Convention 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Acting Leader of the Alberta Party Sue Huff and Calgary-Currie MLA Dave Taylor. On January 24, 2011 Taylor became the first ever Alberta Party MLA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Acting Leader of the Alberta Party Sue Huff and Calgary-Currie MLA Dave Taylor. On January 24, 2011 Taylor became the first ever Alberta Party MLA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If a party can field as many candidates as the Alberta Party is during this election campaign…the media consortium should invite them to the debate:

A word about the televised leaders’ debate

Posted by Glenn Taylor 88.60pc on April 10, 2012 · Flag

As many of you know, the Alberta Party has been excluded from the televised leaders’ debate. The media consortium that controls the debate has a long established rule that requires a political party to have elected a member to the legislature under the party banner.  Under these rules, the Alberta Party does not qualify and the media consortium has refused to change their position.  Of course, this is very disappointing to the party, our suppporters and to me personally.

We will make sure that we are heard.

Of course we are not going to stand silently on the sidelines.  Through the use of technology, we will make sure that Albertans hear the Alberta Party perspective:

• First, I will be live blogging my answers to the questions posed to the party leaders throughout the debate – from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 12.  Albertans can follow my answers live by logging into Alberta Party Debate Live Blog.
• Second, within hours of the debate, the Alberta Party will release a Debate Wrap-Up Video where I will discuss the most important questions raised in the debate.

We need your help.

We need your help to get the word out about the Alberta Party Debate Live Blog and Debate Wrap-up Video.  Please forward this email to your friends and family and encourage them to follow my comments live on Thursday night or to subscribe to the Alberta Party email list (using the subscription box in the right column of this page) to get an email with the link to the wrap-up video.

Visit Glenn’s Live Blog page now and share the link with your friends on Facebook and your followers on Twitter.

Help us advertise online.

There is one other way you can help us get the word out.  Help us purchase some online advertising to promote the Alberta Party Debate Live Blog and Debate Wrap-Up Video.  If we can raise $5,000 in the next three days, we can make sure that more Albertans are aware of the blog and video.  Every donation – no matter how big or small – helps.

Please donate now.

With your help and support, we can make sure that the Alberta Party’s message is heard.

Glenn Taylor
Leader, Alberta Party
Candidate, West Yellowhead
@GlennTaylr

PS – Donations to political parties in Alberta receive generous tax credits. Your tax credit will be 75% of annual donations for the first $200, plus 50% of annual donations between $200 and $1100, plus 33 1/3% of annual donations between $1100 and $2300, to a maximum credit of $1000/year.  Take advantage of these generous tax credits by making a donation now.

 

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Not Just 2 Parties

Pic for WikiProject Political parties and politicians in Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Noontime protest on Parliament Hill in support of the Coalition against the minority government (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Globe and Mail brings us this timely reminder in Alberta: here

For reference to all 7 active political parties in Alberta please check my links as they are all there: Wildrose, NDP, Liberals, Evergreen, Alberta, PC, and Communist. Toss in some independents and with how close the Conservative vote splitting is going between PC/WRP and it could very well be a minority government for our province or better yet a progressive upset that can see a coalition of the centre-left or a minority led centre-left government.

What will it take? The 60% that sat out the Stelmach levelling turning up and voting at the polls. This is our right, and a great privilige that many around the world in the Arab Spring laid their lives on the line to have. We have a choice, let’s take time to mark that “X” by the name of our best LOCAL candidate on April 23 and truly show this country how drastically Alberta has entered the 21st Century of Canadianna.

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• April Fools’ on the campaign trail (blogs.calgaryherald.com)
• Wildrose party climbs as Alberta PCs totter (thestar.com)
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Thin-skinned Wildrose bullies attack the media, again

Thin-skinned Wildrose bullies attack the media, again.

The Wildrose Party is proving to be more thin skinned, and bullish than the Klein Government of 1993-2006 that saw a decimation of social programs; health care; etc (any historian or Poli worth their salt knows the tale). Klein dissasociated many reporters (rumour being me among the black listed while I was still in High School).

Yet here the WRP is lashing out at journalists attempting to discover truth in their sound bite vote buying platform planks. My dialogues on twitter with their supporters veers very closely into confusion, as the party’s policy writers do not seem to understand the Canadian Constitution Act 1982 (or the BNA Act 1867 for that matter) or the Health Act; the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (and what our rights actually are as Canadians–sorry we are not Americans);the history or character of our province, the diversity of our citizenry in culture, religion, age and socio-economics or the basics of capacity issues when it comes to growing social sectors; the impact of privatization. The fact that school fees are actually illegal and not just a financial impediment to the family.

But why do one’s homework in regards to those you are seeking to lead? Why not just blow smoke and mirrors… this is the result, motions to eliminate communication, and the ability to create accountability and transparency. The question is not just eliminating those things they view as ineffective, but truly understanding why they exist (much like the Human Rights Commission and legislation they want to abolish) and how to make them actually work properly.

But the question does arise, how do they hope to make this all happen? Let’s be honest, it is not the first time a Conservative Party has sold Albertans a “golden ticket solution” to our problems. Sic Klein and Harper’s $100 a month cheque for child care.

Just sayin’ before voting this April 23, scratch the surface, ask the questions, and find the answers…

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Redford Government MORE Collaborative

Image via Wikipedia

Yup, you read that right coming from a non-PC’er. The new PC Government, led by Alison Redford is collaborative as opposed to oppositional. How do I know this? Yesterday as a team lead in a supportive living residence, I was among many colleagues across agencies and disciplines in a solution focused summit.

It was about continuing care, and long-term and/or supportive living/care and how do we make the bureacratic process simpler for the operators and the government while at the same time ensuring safety and high quality of life for some of the most vulnerable of our population.

I thank the government for this two week travelling information gathering throughout the province, and look forward to the report the government will receive, but also and more importantly the actions they will take on the report.

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Albertans confident in Rookie Premier

Image via Wikipedia

The CBC has done a poll of Albertans to rank the Leaders: Redford; Smith; Mason and Sherman (Poll Here). The results are a bit surprising:

Redford holds 60% ad rising confidence in her leadership. Sherman & Mason in the Mid to high 30’s and Smith in the 40’s. Yet as we noted yesterday confidence in the leader is not translating into confidence in the party as a whole as the only parties rising in the polls are the NDP (Mason) and the PC’s (Redford) while the Wildrose have stagnated for quite awhile and the Liberals are in a free fall.

So what does this reveal about the Alberta Voter heading into our first set election quarter?

Simple, leadership matters but it is also leaning more towards what the parties actually stand for, how this affects us on a day to day existence; and the character of the local candidates.

Could this be the end of the parachute/name on ballot blight that has corrupted first-past the post politics in our province? Will we actually get a strong 3 party system of choices with a strong opposition accountability to the governing party? Will Alberta finally achieve the Constitutional Promise of Peace, Order and Good Governance?

These questions will all be answered within the next four months…we are in a time of change within what was once a staunchly Conservative province that placed money ahead of people. Have we changed?

 

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A Great Candidate that Needs to be an MLA in Calgary Currie

The only way we achieve what our Constitution Act 1982 guarantees for the citizenry (Peace, Order, & Good Governance for those wondering) is by moving beyond partisan labels to find the best people who want to invest in our communities and better our world.

Jon Lord is seeking the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta Nomination for Calgary Currie, if this is your riding I encourage you to buy a PC Membership for $5 and ensure he can secure the nomination to run, and then let’s get him to the legislature.

For More info:

 http://youtu.be/D57o4I0zM8g?a Jon Lord your PC Candidate for Calgary Currie

Political Family Reunion?

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111121/edm_crossing_111121/20111121/?hub=CalgaryHome

So a disaffected PC became leader of the Alberta Liberals, and now a Liberal has become a PC…and how many PC’s became Wildrose? And one Liberal became Alberta Party…quite a quagmire or similair ideologies that perhaps it is time for a political family reunion under one tent to clean up the landscape a little?

or more simply;

Many of these are like the other…