Alberta – David Akin’s On The Hill

In Alberta, the opposition scores direct hits using Access to Information laws

There are four important by-elections underway right now in Alberta. The vote is on Monday. The Premier, the Health Minister, and the Education Minister have their names on ballots in three of the four ridings. Jim Prentice, Stephen Mandel (above, pictured in 2006), and Gordon Dirks, of course, are all members of the longest-ruling-party in Canadian history, the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.

The PCs, though, are in trouble mostly because a lot of Albertans seem disgusted with a sense of entitlement that has grown around the party. Using government aircraft to fly family and friends around. A former premier’s plan to build a multi-million dollar “sky palace” apartment for herself in Edmonton. And so on.

The opposition Wildrose Party are taking full advantage of this “target-rich” environment with some well-timed direct hits using information it received using access-to-information laws. It scored again Wednesday, unveiling the fact that Mandel (above), running for the PCs in Edmonton-Whitemud, expenses $69,000 worth of Edmonton Oilers tickets to taxpayers when he was the mayor of Edmonton. Continue reading In Alberta, the opposition scores direct hits using Access to Information laws

Is Wildrose violating copyrights in new ads?

The nice. And now …

Continue reading Is Wildrose violating copyrights in new ads?

In Alberta radio blitz, McIver aims squarely at Prentice

The race in Alberta to become that province’s next premier takes a new twist Thursday with a province-wide radio blitz aimed at taking the front-runner down a few notches.

Listen: This radio ad from the Ric McIver campaign began playing all over Alberta today

The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta will hold its first vote Saturday in the leadership contest to replace Alison Redford, who resigned in March in a cloud of scandal involving misspending of public monies.

Former Harper cabinet minister Jim Prentice is the front-runner in a field of three candidates seeking to become leader of the party and the next premier of Canada’s wealthiest province. Continue reading In Alberta radio blitz, McIver aims squarely at Prentice

VIDEO: Did McIver's campaign leak on Lukaszuk?

Calgary MLA Ric McIver is one of three who will be on the ballot this Saturday night to be the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta — and next Premier. Here, I ask if his campaign was involved in leaks that may have done in rival Thomas Lukaszuk’s campaign — and whether it’s time for Lukaszuk to pack it in so that it’s a two-man race between McIver and Prentice.

Justin Trudeau: Senate is Quebec's secret weapon!

As Thomas Mulcair and the federal NDP began their “Abolish the Senate” campaign, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau argues to keep the Senate the way it is, after all, with all those senators from Quebec’s, it’s all good for Quebec! Continue reading Justin Trudeau: Senate is Quebec's secret weapon!

Conservatives take Trudeau out of context in ad. Surprised?

The ad, above, is one of a trio of “attack ads” the Conservative Party of Canada launched today some of which are apparently airing on news channels and which, of course, are available on the Web.

In the ad posted here, there is what, on its face, would appear to be a deadly-killer line from Trudeau “Quebecers are better than the rest of Canada.”

But, as CTV parliamentary reporter Danielle Hamandjian explains in a series of tweets today (reproduced below), that quote lifted by the Conservatives comes from a 1999 interview on CTV in which Justin Trudeau was explaining the views of his father, Pierre Trudeau. In other words, that killer-quote does not belong to Justin. Rather it is Justin paraphrasing Pierre to explain his father’s views. Continue reading Conservatives take Trudeau out of context in ad. Surprised?

Apparently, apologies from Mssrs. McGuinty and Trudeau were not good enough

On Tuesday, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met. And, after that meeting, our Daniel Proussalidis asked the only Liberal member on that committee, David McGuinty, what he thought about what he’d heard at that meeting. You know the results of that “Go Back to Alberta” conversation.

On Wednesday, McGuinty apologized for his post-committee comments and resigned his position as the Critic for Natural Resources for the Liberal national caucus. Continue reading Apparently, apologies from Mssrs. McGuinty and Trudeau were not good enough

Leadership candidate Burton "extremely disappointed" about McGuinty

Wonder what Alex Burton might say about his rival for the Liberal leadership, Justin Trudeau?

In any event, here’s an “open letter” to Ottawa South MP David McGuinty about his anti-Alberta comments:

Honourable David McGuinty, M.P.
House of Commons
111 Justice Building
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear David,

As I sat in an RV park in Grande Prairie, AB, early this morning, I took some time to reflect upon your recent comments. Continue reading Leadership candidate Burton "extremely disappointed" about McGuinty

Audio: David McGuinty in his own words: "Go back to Alberta"

On Tuesday afternoon, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met to consider “Innovation in the Energy Sector” (Here are the minutes with the witness list).

Our reporter, Daniel Proussalidis caught up with the Liberal MP on that committee, David McGuinty, after the committee meeting had concluded and asked McGuinty if he had heard anything during the committee “that would reassure you about the way the oil sands are being developed — the innovation or technology that’s being employed?” Continue reading Audio: David McGuinty in his own words: "Go back to Alberta"

Key Alberta cabinet posts go to Redford think-a-likes

Duane Bratt of Calgary’s Mount Royal University and I take our first blush of the smaller cabinet named by Alberta Premier Alison Redford today. I was particularly interested to hear Prof. Bratt’s observation about the new transportation minister — Ric McIver — and the relationship he’s soon going to have to have very soon with the man who beat him last year in the race for Calgary’s mayor, Naheed Nenshi.