Tag: alberta election

In Alberta, Redford rewards crony with plum job

Danielle Smith’s Wildrose Party came close to ending the 41-year-old dynasty of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta partly because many voters appeared unhappy with what they saw as the arrogance and entitlement of the ruling party.

Still, Alison Redford led her PCs to a resounding win a week ago, winning another healthy majority and ensuring that the PCs of Alberta will be the longest-lived political dynasty ever in Canada’s history when Albertans next go to the polls in 2016.

And yet, Redford’s choice of her new chief staff suggests she may have missed Albertans’ frustration about Tory entitlement. Redford announced today that Farouk Adatia would be her new chief of staff.  Continue reading In Alberta, Redford rewards crony with plum job

From Harper to Redford, the politics of fear works


It matters not if you’re an incumbent of the left, centre, or right. Painting the other guy or gal as scary is how incumbents are holding on to power in Canada.

And it works.

Here’s the argument as it will appear Wednesday in our papers across the country.

[Picture: Taken by me on Sunday in the riding of Calgary-Currie. Premier Alison Redford hugs a supporter during one of 9 campaign events she held Sunday. This one would help spur rookie Christine Cusanelli into the Alberta legislature for the first time.]

 

Why is Danielle Smith talking about Ron Leech today?

Wildrose candidate Ron Leech said something on live radio last week which Wildrose’s opponent immediately jumped on, accusing him and, by extension, Wildrose, of being racist. Though he immediately apologized, polls after these comments show that Wildrose’s lead in the polls began to shrink. (They still lead by 10 points across the province.) So what do the campaign strategists in Wildrose do heading into the campaign’s final weekend? Should they push harder on their core message? Push harder with their attacks on the Progressive Conservatives? Or they do talk about Ron Leech? Continue reading Why is Danielle Smith talking about Ron Leech today?

Redford sets hectic pace Sunday on Alberta's election trail

ES_Alison_Redford_PTSD14

[Photo: Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk walk back to the campaign bus after making an announcement in Edmonton on Friday April 13, 2012. Alberta premier Alison Redford announced that if they win the provincial election the Progressive Conservatives would ensure that police, firefighters and other first responders get proper treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the government would include PTSD under Workers’ Compensation Board coverage. TOM BRAID/EDMONTON SUN   QMI AGENCY]

We’re one week plus a day until Albertans vote in what could well be one of those elections that that province seems to have every half-century, i.e. a dynasty gets sent to history’s dustbin and a new regime is set in its place. The new regime, if that indeed is what is coming down the pike next week, would be the Wildrose era and its founding leader would be Danielle Smith. Continue reading Redford sets hectic pace Sunday on Alberta's election trail

Redford staffer resigns over inappropriate Twitter attack on Smith

It’s been a strange day in the Alberta provincial election campaign.

First Alberta campaign poll shows Wildrose running away with it

The first “ballot question” poll taken after the writ was dropped in the Alberta provincial election is published today in the Calgary and Edmonton Suns. The results are remarkable, showing Danielle Smith’s Wildrose Party on the road to a strong majority, with 41 per cent support among those polled. Alison Redford’s Progressive Conservative Party are back at 31 per cent. Continue reading First Alberta campaign poll shows Wildrose running away with it