Hatrock's Cave

NDP philosophical contradition

2012-01-20T13:27:00.002-06:00

1. Jobs

NDP support labour unions, and jobs with high wages, benefits and pensions.
KeystoneXL pipeline would provide those jobs not just to build the pipeline but many more.
NDP oppose the TransCanada KeystoneXL pipeline due to preventing expansion of the oil sands.

2. Health Care

NDP want to expand social programs and have more money for health care.
Oil and gas revenues provide billions to the government coffers to pay for social programs and health care.
NDP oppose building the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and expanding our markets to Asia due to environmental reasons.

Yep, makes a lot of sense to me!

Coming soon to Alberta: Drinking age to 19 and ski helmets

2012-01-17T17:06:00.000-06:00

Members of the Alberta PC caucus have continually tried to discuss raising the drinking age to 19 or 21 within caucus. It's been shut down in the past.

But with Premier Mom at the helm, and her copy-cat policies, my gut tells me that when she wins the next election, and she will folks, that they will introduce two measures in 2012.

1. Raise the drinking age to 19 to come in-line with our two neighbouring provinces.
2. Make ski/snowboard helmets mandatory.

Both of which I'm vehemently against, as I believe it will make things worse.

Raising the drinking age will push fresh out of high school and freshman university students to take their booze underground. They'll still easily obtain it. The problem with booze hasn't been this neophyte age group, which statistics show, alcohol vehicular accidents are in the late 20's--likely because they have money and a new car. We already have stringent laws for new drivers.

I realize the link above shows that the Premier and the Sol Gen have just announced that they have no plans to raise the drinking age. But as we know in Alberta, that could change. And we also had no idea that Redford, once elected to the PC leadership and becoming premier, that she would plan to introduce .05 b.a.c. property seizure legislation either. I simply don't trust her and I think her short record thus far shows that she shouldn't be trusted.

Onto ski helmets...

I ski several times a year and have been skiing in the Alberta, BC and Montana mountains for over 30 years. I have never once wore a helmet. Sure I've wiped out a bunch of times, but no damage. I especially love Spring skiing and taking the toque off to enjoy the warmth of the sun. My many friends who wear a helmet, mostly snowboarders I might add, swear by it. Good for them. I've never wore one, have never even come close to hitting a tree. Running into someone, yes? Snowboarders who turn quickly into their blind side. But it's never happened. Maybe it's because I'm responsible and careful. If I began doing extreme stuff, I would definitely wear one. But I'm not, so I don't see the point. It's a choice.

Now notice that? Are skiers and snowboarders willing to take MORE risks BECAUSE they think they are protected by their helmet? Look at how some people drive 4x4s in the winter. I never saw so many 4x4s in the highway ditch than last summer. We should make 4x4 drivers wear helmets.

This is a ridiculous law because people also die from walking and falling on ice. Should we then mandate that if you go outside in the winter, you're required to wear snowshoes or spikes? And do we even have laws for ATV and snowmobile drivers to wear helmets, yet?

Where does all this end?

I'll say it again and again and again.

You can't fix stupid.

That is, unless you decide to vote this non-conservative PC government out come Spring.

40 years is enough.

Official bilingualism's failure

2012-01-17T15:43:00.001-06:00

Why can't more people recognize that official bilingualism has failed and has been way too costly.

Hey, I took francais in high school but admittedly, have had to use it very, very little, if ever. I'm more inclined to learn and have been slowly learning Spanish over the past few years due to my travels in the U.S., even though Spanish is not an official language. In fact, businesses and governments just simply offer Spanish out of necessity, not based on some grand government vision.

The National Post's Kathryn Blaze-Carlson has noted that official bilingualism, essentially a federal program forced upon the provinces, costs taxpayers $2.4 BILLION per year--mostly in Ontario.

So a rough calculation ... 2011 - 1969 = 42 years x 2.4 billion = $100.8 billion total.

Wow, that sure is a lot to ensure 5% of the population (francophones) can understand what's going on.

So is it worth it? We know it certainly costs companies to produce separate labels to have French. I'd say in Vancouver, it is probably a better idea to have the labels also in Mandarin.

And that's the point here isn't it? The main problems with bilingualism stem from one of the most simple aspects of human nature... our basic need to communicate and creating words to do so.

Forcing a language upon people can actually surpress that language. Letting the people decide, a noble libertarian concept I might add, can actually help a language flourish.

Languages come and go. But why is English so popular and the dominant international language, yet only comprises a fraction of the original speaking peoples of the world?

Even when French was the language used in the courts in England hundreds of years ago, the English language was the one on the tongue of the commoner. And it varied, and continues to vary, twist and turn, morph, change, as people talk to another and mingle from different countries and within them as well. There are numerous examples of words changing their meaning to the complete opposite of its original intention.

Some may say the Internet and computing, being originally an English-based concept, even unto computer languages themselves, but perhaps it is simply because of its lack of rigidness and rules, and multitude of free-flowing dialects that has allowed it to spread, endure and strengthen.

The stats show that Canadians in Quebec are leaving that province in droves to greater economic pastures in Alberta and Saskatchewan and that its remaining population is stagnant or decreasing, leaving behind a pocket of francophones. But even those two provinces have small but continual communities within the cities and towns.

And the rest of the country should continue to pay billions per year to ensure a language few speak is maintained throughout the entire country by forced actions and doublestandards? We all know the language police stories in Quebec. It's hypocracy at its finest. I don't mind that Parliament is bilingual, but forcing businesses and public sector hiring practices to be dictated by bureaucracy is social engineering at its worst.

Is this an attack on the French language? Au contraire! If francophones truly wanted to ensure the survival of their language within Canada, the best approach would have been continually to develop and grow their economy so people would be attracted to moving and working there and expanding businesses, not through government corporate welfare, or by forced bilingualism in government and crown corp positions. Letting the market and people decide what languages should dominate, would have allowed French to flourish. How many more folks from France would then migrate to Canada and grow the language?

It's much like the CBC. People can claim that just one of hundreds of television stations that includes American programming brings the country together all they want, but they're out of touch with reality. When the ratings are so low and few watch, it's hardly a case to continue spending over $1 BILLION on that when socialists and provinces themselves claim there's not enough money for health care, education, pensions, etc. And $100 BILLION since 1969 would certainly have covered a lot of things like that, but maybe a lower debt and lower taxes that would have fueled the economy even more, even in Quebec and attracted investment and and people.

But I guess that won't happen any time soon, showing that essentially, bilingualism has failed to do what it was intended to.

Which is typical of anti-libertarian social-engineering state-run policies.

Gay marriages indeed valid - Liberals screwed up on divorce

2012-01-13T12:51:00.000-06:00

Today, Justice Minister Nicholson diffused the left-wing spin by ensuring all same-sex marriages in Canada are indeed valid. And further to that, a loophole left open by the previous Liberal government, didn't allow for same-sex divorces! Shame on you Irwin Cotler! Well, that's changing now.

But the CBC wouldn't make you believe that. Power & Politics host Evan Solomon has an online poll question asking if you think the Conservatives are trying to reopen the debate. And of course, the majority of the answers are yes. Pathetic. Sad really.

So no, Harper is not re-opening the gay marriage debate. The Conservative government is in fact, making gay marriages even more equal.

Typical left-wing untruthiness on social issues. Unfortunately, the only loophole that the Conservatives left open was a whole day of spin to the left.

Alberta PC corruption

2012-01-10T15:27:00.002-06:00

Ten Alberta PC riding associations are currently being investigated by Elections Alberta into illegal riding donations and now we have learned the PC Association of Alberta received $15,000 from the University of Lethbridge, which is illegal.

Blogger Alberta Ardvark has more on it here.

People, listen. This is democracy at its worst. For years, conservatives and reformers in Alberta were furious over similar things happening to the federal Liberals and now the Alberta PCs are doing the same thing.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely and 40 years can certainly make any government, no matter which party, complacent, tired, and how do I say this eloquently ... with its head so far up its own ass the shit just cycles itself.

For the sake of Alberta, don't vote PC in the next election. I will do my best to spread the word about this terrible, nanny-state, corrupt government and encourage you to vote Wildrose, Liberal, NDP, or Alberta Party. We deserve better.

Floor crossing

2012-01-10T12:02:00.001-06:00

I am completely against any floor crossing prevention legislation. In fact, there should be a resolution that to have such legislation as being out of order.

Sometimes I wonder if NDP members and supporters really understand how a parliamentary democracy actually works.

Wait, I don't think they do at all, whatsoever.

We could go through pages and pages of historical records on the parliamentary website to show all the MPs who've switched caucuses since 1867.

There is no need for the MP to sit as an independent or step down and run in a byelection. That would mean, when the Conservative Party was created, dozens of former Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative MPs would have to have run in a byelection, rather than just run in the next election. There are numerous examples. How much would that have cost?

And voters already have a chance to decide if they agree in regular elections, keeping in mind it is a person's name on the ballot in large print with the party affiliation in small print. We legally elect people to become a Member of Parliament and sit amongst a caucus, not party, otherwise, only the party name would be printed on the ballot.

I am also against recall. In fact, I believe it's a dangerous notion where a small minority of people (or whatever the percentage is, I've heard 5%, 10%) can petition to recall an MP. So really, a third-party organization or lobby group can organize themselves and get people to sign a petition to have a vote to remove the MP. There are many other mechanisms already in place to do that--media, public, and party pressure to name a few, let alone the next election itself. If an MP (or Senator for that matter) really screwed up, like say convicted of a criminal act, there should be a resolution in place that they must step down immediately and a byelection would ensue.

Anyway, it is a fundamental aspect of our democracy that an MP can change party affiliation, create a new caucus (remember the Democratic Representative Caucus (DRC)?), or become an independent if he or she feels the caucus they are a part of no longer represents their views or is ineffective.

Why do Dippers want to prevent that? Voters have the right to switch allegiences between elections, MPs must have that freedom to be able to decide how to best represent his or her constituents, not just for those who voted for him or her. My guess is that it is rooted in the fact that they simply fear the Liberals and are afraid of their MPs jumping ship to a party that has historically been in power.

Just like this one.

And what to the NDP have to say?

"But the NDP made it perfectly clear they were not going to let St-Denis' defection go unchallenged.

Commenting at a press conference convened shortly after the floor-crossing announcement, NDP Quebec Caucus Chair Guy Caron was blunt in his party's response.

"Recruiting elected members from other parties is clearly the old way of politics," Caron said, characterizing the recent votes for his party as a signal Canadians "have had enough of cynicism, cronyism, separatism and partisanship.

"Changing political affiliation is a blatant lack of respect for democracy that encourages cynicism toward politicians," he continued, before issuing the Grits a challenge.

"If the Liberals think it's what the voters of the riding want, we challenge them to run Madam St-Denis in a byelection," he said.

Actually Guy, recruiting elected members from other parties is clearly not the old way of politics--it's part of our traditional, tried and true, Westminster British Parliamentary System. You know, the one that got you elected? It's not a "blatant lack of respect for democracy". Your lack of patience is. She'll run in the next election as a Liberal and we'll see if she wins. Is that so difficult?

The NDP are a party about control and controlling MPs to prevent them from floor crossing is a direct attack against our democracy. For shame.

2nd elected senator appointed

2012-01-06T16:22:00.002-06:00

For the first time in Canadian history, the Senate now has two, count 'em TWO Senators who've been elected by voters in a province. That province is Alberta, of course. And that Senator is Betty Unger, who once ran for MP in Edmonton-West for the Canadian Alliance but lost to "Landslide" Anne McLellan. Then when the Conservative Party was formed, she ran as a candidate-nominee in the new riding of Edmonton-Spruce Grove against Rona Ambrose and a host of other folks but didn't make it past the third ballot (I was there). Then she put her hat in for the Senate race years ago and won, waiting for an opening in the red chamber for Alberta.

Prime Minister Harper has also appointed six other folks to the upper chamber.

Manitoba - JoAnne Buth
Newfoundland and Labrador - Norman Doyle
Quebec - Ghislain Maltais, Jean-Guy Dagenais (pending)
Ontario - Asha Seth

You all know my view on the Senate. Instead of regional equality, we need provincial equality. Six senators per province, two per territory, for six year terms, half elected every three years. Provinces divided into six senatorial districts, not necessarily based on population. I'm open to other ideas, including but not limited to provincial legislatures selecting senators to be recommended by the Prime Minister for appointment, longer terms, and fewer senators. I'm not in favour of abolishing it or implementing proportional representation. Those proposals are even further away from happening than regular elections or provincial equality.

Harper Night In Canada

2012-01-03T03:53:00.001-06:00

Globe and Mail journalist, Laurence Martin, has written an article on Harper's political prowess with hockey. Well blow me down! This is news? Well, welcome to reality, Laurence. Wow, a Prime Minister who identifies with the interest of the majority of Canadians! But it goes waaaaay deeper than that, and Martin misses the boat completely and perhaps sheds light on how out of touch many Ottawa liberal journos like him are with the heart of Canadian pride.

Hear me out. And it starts with just this last Wednesday in Edmonton.

I was at the Canada vs. Czech Republic World Junior Hockey game last Wednesday. Taking a cab to Rexall Place, we had to reroute to 118th Avenue instead of the usual back door cab route from 112th Avenue to the Northlands grounds across the LRT bridge to the Northwest corner of the building. Right then and there I knew it was because the Prime Minister was attending the game and they needed to secure the area.

At the game, I had an idea where Mr. Harper would sit and about 8 minutes before the game, he quietly sat down in seat 1, row 16 of section 101 with a couple security guys (well at least I saw anyway) around him. An appropriate and great single seat, but not the best.

I then saw most of the folks in the including and adjacent sections stand and turn their attention toward him. People began lining up to have their picture taken with Mr. Harper and to shake his hand. It continued for a while and only a minute into the game. There were no other people sitting with him.   I thought a local MP or his family would be there. Nope. Just him. During intermissions, the lineups began again and he obliged each and every person until the next period started. Then, before anyone noticed, near the end of the game, he quietly departed.

On catching a cab out of the arena, a few blocks later, we were haulted near an intersection. I noted that there were several police cars blocking the area and knew that it was because of the Prime Minister. And soon later, we saw about a half dozen vehicles race toward the arena and were then good to go. I assumed he was then securely taken to his hotel. I'm not sure if he attended the next game. I will assume he'll at least attend the final game in Calgary near his home riding, if these juniors do make it to that game.

And what do I constantly hear in the blogosphere and Twitterverse? Many continue to point out the costs invovled with sending a Prime Minister to a public event such as an international hockey game in different cities. It's probably thousands for security alone. Not hearing a peep about it in Parliament during Question Period are we?   Is that symbolism of support worth it? And how different is it for the citizens and voters to see that support at an event of national pride compared to an international conference on climate in la la land about blah blah that will have more of a negative effect on our budget than we realize?

They fail to see that this is Canada and the heart and soul of the country can be found in the things that we consistently, above all, do well in.

Our military has been well known for their skill and ability in battle--fighter pilots and snipers are consistently tops in their competitions. But this truly Canadian resilience goes back to before the formation of the country itself and firmly established in WWI, WWII, Korea, Bosnia, and recently Afghanistan.

That pride of might and resilience continues and maybe, just maybe, is a part of our identity. And that identity can not only be found in our international war efforts, but in our sport and hockey prowess. Further to that, but in the many pockets of community throughout our great land, the freedom we enjoy, that Canadianism weaves through the stands of our history. It's there. It's not about being a shootoff of Americana, Britainnia, or Francais. It's a uniqueness found nowhere in the history of modern history and it's something to celebrate. If you don't see it, no matter what political stripe, or where you came from originally, I see it in the local and national pride of the great sport of hockey. It is perhaps, why Canada was created in the first place. We knew we were going to do things differently, better, and for good reason. And today, to do those very things compared to the Americans, well, all the better.

So fast forward to 2006 in Edmonton... again.

When my fair team, the Oilers, made their run to the Stanley Cup final in 2006 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton became ALIVE again. After each game won, going to Whyte Ave "the cultural centre" of the city to see fans and families of all backgrounds and culture converge in celebration was something I've never seen. No one cared what religion, colour, or stripe you were. You were an Oiler fan. Period.

Despite the few rioters and drunken idiots, the far majority were there in pure Oiler pride and spirit for Edmonton and their team. And it was awesome. Cultish almost. Ryan Smyth was often depicted as a Christ-like figure. I'm really not making this up, folks. I saw folks on bongo drums with different cultures doing different ad-hoc dances at the same time with onlookers cheering. Everyone in harmony and unity. One of those mini-utopia things, I guess.

I learned more about my city and local human socialogical condition than ever before. I was it and feeling it unto itself.

Then four years later in Canada itself, in a tight overtime final, a young star from Nova Scotia got a flip pass from a guy from Alberta and history was made. It solidified Canadian pride once again.

But I will say again, our focus and pride on hockey, I think in some weird way, masks our quiet pride for the men and women in uniform fighting for no other reason than for someone else's freedom. That's how I feel, anyway.

Despite the supposed progressive mantra of liberal compassion, in their dominant political history they rarely acknowledge the obvious pride I speak about. We're really a tough and skilled society and the silent majority just elected a Conservative majority that embraces such things.
Laurence Martin lists off our "sportless" leaders in a way making it seem like Canadians never expect the Prime Minister to be so in-touch with things as obvious as hockey. It's almost bourgoise and "hoidy" to expect such a low-class, rough thing as ice-hockey from the top of the class to lead a country.

But you know what? There is nothing wrong with the leader of any country to attend and celebrate and sit amongst the people, the very sport that gives us such pride. French, English, Punjab, Chinese, Arab, Hindu, etc., etc., no one gives a shit. This is about hockey. This is about Canada.

And to throw in a last minute time out here to tout what I believed years ago and it seems to continue in a subtle way now... even before the Conservative Party was created and Stephen Harper became leader of the fledgling Canadian Alliance, I had a chance to speak to some of his advisors.

I said to them, "When he was running for leader, you guys made a video of him where it showed him for a brief moment carrying his son's big hockey bag, stick and skates down a dungy arena hallway. I've never seen anything in politics more down-to-earth that speaks to the average Canadian family, French or English, and to our national pride than that. You guys need to do way, way more of that. That image was more powerful than anything."

I was looked upon with smiles. Whatever came of that in feedback from others and in strategy, I don't know.

After that, no such promotional snippet of video I know existed or was seen--no hockey bag Harper was ever emphasized by the party. Seemed odd to me.

As opposition leader, he was occassionally reeled in the media as a regular middle-class Tim Horton's dad attending Ben's hockey games. Then in the 2006 campaign against millionaire Starbucks Liberal Paul Martin, did that Tim Horton's image resonate. Attack ads showing folks in regular coffee shops ticked off about the Sponsorship Scandal hit home.

It worked.

Laurence Martin does make the point that not until his consistent appearances at the Olympics, Stanley Cups, and World Junior games, has no other Prime Minister been as recognized and embraced as a Prime Minister by regular folks who identify Canada with hockey as Stephen Harper.

But Martin misses a subtle glaring point that Mr. Harper has been writing his book on the history of hockey since before he was first elected. It's not finished. Maybe it will never be. He's been a bit busy attending games and governing the country, you know.

Much like Nelson Mandela, first president of a post-Apartheid South Africa, who, as we know, used the national rugby team as a source of unity and national pride during the Rugby World Cup hosted there.

And they won the championship.

And it worked.

Merry Christmas everybody!

2011-12-24T20:15:00.001-06:00

From all of us here in Hatrock's Cave, we'd like to wish you and yours a very happy merry Christmas!

Redford slips on banana

2011-12-22T14:25:00.001-06:00

She's defending terrorist-funding Chiquita Banana? Why isn't she out there defending the oil sands?

Redford said Chiquita's attempt to boycott Alberta oil is a case of "a corporation who is concerned about environmental outcomes talking about a lower emission fuel standard, saying that that's a concern to them."

"And the spin that's put on that by environmental activists is to say, 'Oh, it's a boycott.' And then to have the company have to come out and say, 'Well, no, it's not actually a boycott. We're just talking about wanting to do better.' "

She said that? Oh dear. This does not sound like someone who has Alberta's best interest in mind.

I don't understand. I don't understand how she cannot be defending the ethical oil sands when it provides so much in revenue to her government coffers to spend on health care and education, is beyond me.

What a disaster she's become in such a short period of time.

Alberta PCs, 40 years is enough.

Kerry Diotte - a shining light on Edmonton City Council

2011-12-20T13:25:00.000-06:00

Read Edmonton City Councillor Kerry Diotte's speech on why he didn't support the 2012 Edmonton City budget which saw a 5.4% tax increase plus dozens of other fee increases.

He specfically mentions departments that went from 1 to 24 people in a short period of time and rightfully calls it "empire building". He's right. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Edmontonians need to wake up and see that the ongoing left-leaning council has been rubberstamping budgets for years without actually grilling the city manager and other minions about setting cost efficiency goals, eliminating empire building within the city bureaucracy and services.

And of course, when us conservative folks want the city to cut spending, there are folks who say, "Oh no, we can't do that. You'll have more pot holes."

Hogwash. Absolute utter hogwash.

Councillor Diotte had the guts to vote against the budget. I hope he has the guts to run for mayor in the future and reign in spending while focusing on core services.

Boomers living good life while kids hit blockade

2011-12-19T16:32:00.000-06:00

An excellent article by Sheila Pratt about Professor Paul Kershaw, who talks about what everyone else seems afraid to discuss--and something I've been discussing lately regarding not a divide between rich and poor, but a divide of wealth, benefits, and debt betweeen generations.

Baby boomers have not improved the lives of the next generation, in fact, for their own benefit, have actually created income/working hours/stress/health problems for their children only to have the government they lead believe they need to solve. To do that, gov't has gone into deficit and debt, only to beg to raise taxes, further burdening lower and middle income families without knowing it.

I get the feeling that the current federal Conservative gov't is fully aware of this reality, but balancing it somehow by incrementally reducing the tax burden, providing small tax credits to young families, while continuing to provide social benefits to retirees and hoping the economy recovers to inject more tax revenue into its coffers. Thing is, that only happens over years after taxes have been lowered.

On the benefits side, today the federal gov't will continue to increase the provincial health transfers by 6% but over the next 5 years, not 10. That action is obviously to cover the increase in health need by the surge of baby boomer retirees, but unload that burden to the provinces.

Unfortunately, the Alberta Redford government is toying with returning to health care taxes (+$1200 tax burden/year on individuals in families and businesses), a PST, and now more useless sin taxes. She then thinks she can have the gov't sweep in and save you from the problems it creates.

The feds have been transferring legal, tax and social burdens to the provinces for a while and my guess is that will only increase. What that does is create more competition between provinces to attract business and people. Time and time again, it's been shown that low-tax, lower-cost, high income, job availability areas are where people migrate to. And Saskatchewan and Alberta lead the pack. My guess is that Saskatchewan will continue to outpace Alberta, primarily due to gov't policy.

Redford the Red Nosed Premier

2011-12-18T17:42:00.002-06:00

Premier Mum now mulls increasing sin taxes.

How the hell can a Premier who doesn't even have the mandate of the people have already had her caucus consider a sales tax, reintroduce health care tax premiums, implement unconstitutional drinking and driving legislation, and now mulls over an increase in sin taxes?

Alberta already pays some of the highest sin taxes in Canada. Stelmach raised taxes on booze then rescinded them because they didn't really bring in much. Now Redford wants them back? Sorry, just because she bribed the ATA to vote for her, doesn't give her the mandate from all Albertans to just do whatever she wants. I admit voting for her, but now regret that. She's been a terrible premier with many broken promises already, and now implementing things she didn't even mention before.

Redford anticipates the criticism but, as with other decisions like the new .05 drinking and driving law, the premier believes she has the backing of the majority of people in this province.

“Albertans are really sensible. They want to be healthy, they want to be safe and they want government to take some leadership and say: ‘You know what, we’re going to make some choices and these choices are going to be conducive to building a safer and a healthier community where we’re able to make sure we have good programs in place and everyone in society can thrive.’

Uh, Premier Mum, taxing people isn't going to change a thing in that regard. This is a sad attempt at social engineering. Not only that, but YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ALBERTANS YET. You never mentioned these things in your leadership run, so for you to say that Albertans back your .05 law and raising sin taxes, YOU ARE WRONG because you haven't contested an election. Not only that, but nearly everyone I talk to thinks the .05 law that allows police to seize property is a violation of our rights.

It's obvious that this party has no clue anymore. It spends more on health care than 8 other provinces yet has one of the highest wait times. It gets billions in oil and gas royalty revenue yet continues to run a deficit. Adding more money to the government coffers through sin and health care taxes isn't going to solve the mismanagement. In fact, with more money, it'll likely make it worse. And we've seen that.

I've never seen a government go against the core belief of liberty, something this province used to have. Alberta's motto is "Strong and Free".

Not anymore.

40 years is enough.

Liberal dirty tricks

2011-12-16T12:44:00.001-06:00

I'm currently in a little debate with a friend on Facebook regarding the Harper government's actions. He specifically said that Harper's gov't was the only one to ever be found in contempt by Parliament, that Harper was the only one to ever prorogue Parliament, not once, but multiple times.

It's amazing how some folks drink the Liberal kool-aid time and time again. During the 90's, the Chretien gov't did many tricks to exert power. They will never have credibility on any issue regarding parliamentary ethics.

First off, the trumped-up contempt charge regarding the government not releasing secure military documents could have only occurred in a minority situation with the majority of the parties being in relative ideological agreement. It's pretty weak. And did this contemptiveness have any affect on voters when soon after, the Conservative were returned to government with a majority? Apparently not. So it's really a moot point.

Secondly, on prorogation, how amazing isn't it that so many people honestly thought Harper was the only one who ever prorogued Parliament, when it's been done dozens and dozens of times over Canada's history, even by many Liberals, including Chretien. Shocking!

So currently, with Heir Trudeau's recently foul-mouth "you piece of shit" comment in the House against Environment Minister Peter Kent, many Liberals and lefties are praising his outrage. What's the outrage though?

It is based on the government not inviting opposition MPs to the Durban conference on climate change and that the government pulled out of the Kyoto protocol.

It is therefore quite rich that a Liberal MP would make such comments being that the Liberals aren't even a government in waiting, and especially that all the Liberals did to tackle global warming was sign the Kyoto Treaty and then send billions of dollars to Russia for CO2 emission off-sets.

He says it's based on tradition. Who cares? If I'm not mistaken, it's not a mandated Parliamentary tradition and why do opposition MPs get to represent Canada on an international level? Last time I checked, they're not the government, they don't get to represent nor speak on behalf of Canada. Pretty fundamental aspect to a democracy, no?

And what shouldn't be a tradition is sending billions out of the Canadian budget into la-la land so benefit countries like Russia who threaten to cut off gas lines to Ukraine and who currently run corrupt elections and who make false undersea border claims in the Arctic in conflict with Canada. Yeah, makes a lot of sense!

The Kyoto Treaty? Now that's a piece of shit.

Redford's first TV ad...

2011-12-15T02:45:00.003-06:00

In the mortal words of Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, it's "a piece of shit".

(Note that Justin Trudeau's words were not actually directed at Alison Redford, the PC Party of Alberta, or the above aforementioned advertisement, but his recent words directed at Minister Peter Kent are so useful and ever poignant to be directed at so many things and people all the time, especially, and perhaps only Conservatives, because it's okay unless directed by Conservatives at Liberals or Dippers, by everyone here foreafterwith, especially and most especially in the House of Commons and fully supported by those who perhaps doth protest too much without proper research, common sense, dignity, and respect for Parliament--you know, the place where the laws of Canada are made.)

Anyway, getting back on track here, as far as style, although I'm still skeptical, I think Danielle Smith, leader of the Wildrose, in contrast to Premier Redford, presents herself well in an ad like this:

The reply ad from the PCs only tells me that they are nervous--that some "powers that be" in the old PCs perhaps want to contrast Redford's soft side. This is, however, unprescendented from the PCs. Odd, in fact.

Which can only be a good thing.. nevermind Redford's ad being a piece of shit. But seriously folks, 40 years? 40! Just vote for someone else, I don't care who. But not the PCs anymore, please. It's better for our democracy in Alberta.

(h/t to David Climenhaga)

"You piece of shit" - Trudeau

2011-12-14T15:58:00.000-06:00

A lot of bloggers will be blogging this one, and this blog is no different.

During Question Period in the House of Commons, Justin Trudeau bellowed out to Environment Minister Peter Kent, "You piece of shit!"

Trudeau later apologized.

Ah yes, the apple doesn't fall from the tree. Some of you will recall his father from a train giving protestors in Salmon Arm, BC the middle finger as they shouted anti-French slogans.

It's one thing to do it in public and in response to insults, but this behaviour from his son is uncalled for in the House of Commons. Courts are conducted in a very dignified manner--you'd think where the laws are actually made, that it would set a better example.

This shows bad judgment by a potential future Liberal leader.

Majority gov't checkpoint...

2011-12-12T15:27:00.002-06:00

When the Conservatives won their majority this Spring (as one of few bloggers who predicted it), I didn't predict the speed at which they would introduce long-awaited legislation. Without looking anything up, here's a quick checkpoint summary of such bills that I can remember.

- Eliminated the long-gun registry
- Eliminate the Canadian Wheat Board
- Not renewing commitment to the Kyoto Protocol
- Ask over 70 departments to present 5% and 10% reductions in their budgets
- Not hiring replacements for retiring bureaucrats
- Requiring faces to not be covered during citizenship oath
- Passed the omnibus crime bill
- Changed name of military back to "Royal" prefix

I'm sure there's more as these are the popular ones, but you are free to add more in the comments. Like I said, I'm amazed at what's been done and undone in just under half a year of a parliamentary session.

Also note a recent Abacus poll which has the Conservatives at 40% and another poll showing that 65% of Canadians believe we are on the right track. Despite Liberals and Dippers crying afoul that the gov't is stripping Canada of its identity, I would argue that we're actually getting it back from the Pearson-Trudeau-Chretien liberalism and these measures above certainly appeal to conservatives and libertarians alike.

Considering that an election is 3.5 years away, the NDP are mired in a leadership race, the Liberals have an interim leader, and the Bloc are an after-thought, the timing to bring in all this legislation early is a smart move by Harper.

Premier Mum rams through new drinking and driving legislation

2011-12-07T13:36:00.001-06:00

Premier Mum--that's what many are starting to call Alberta Premier Alison Redford. Last night, the controversial Bill 26 ("The 0.05") passed in the legislature 30-7.

First off, only 37 MLAs voted? Where were the other 50 or so? Not only that, but it's well known that the bill was hurried through with little debate and consultation. And now we learn that is was rammed through simply because Premier Mum wanted it in place before Christmas.

But why, when Solicitor General Jonathan Denis says although the bill passed, the law won't be in place until six months from now?

My only guess as to this "logic" is that Mum wanted to confuse Albertans into thinking that the 0.05 level is actually the law this Christmas season and not get behind the wheel after a drink or two.

What irks me is that she made no mention of this during her leadership campaign, on top with her other many flip flops.

Like the long gun registry, it's one of those unnecessary, reactionary laws used by politicians often after a tragedy to show that they're doing something constructive, but where our basic rights are taken away.

Now, I'm not advocating that it's okay to drink and drive, but in this case, the federal government mandates the limit and one's rights here, not the provinces. If provinces like BC and Alberta want to change the limit, then they should petition their federal MPs to introduce such legislation.

But I guess Premier Mum knows better.

Attawapiskat and the Indian Act

2011-12-06T11:41:00.001-06:00

Here we go folks...

First off, I want to say that I have many friends of aboriginal descent, all of which who left the reserve to get an education and become successful. "Best thing I did was leave the reserve when I did," they'd say.

The terrible conditions in Attawapiskat and lack of medical staff which contributed to the death of a child are the cause of one thing, and one thing only--greed and gross mismanagement by the reserve chiefs and "administrators". There's only 1800 folks that live there yet money, millions of it, pour in from the federal government and get squandered.

Liberal leader Bob Rae was bellowing in the House of Commons asking the Prime Minister to visit the reserve to see the conditions. Does that mean Mr. Harper should also visit every reserve in the nation? Some are doing well, like in Osoyoos, BC, but we know that many are not, despite the millions poured in. And when the federal government threatens to cut back, the first whiners out of the gate are some of the band chiefs crying about the conditions of their people, like it was caused by the current federal government, when it's their own uncaring greed.

Now, the feds wanted to send in a third-party manager but the chief doesn't want him there. Oh, gee why is that? To show what a greedy, uncaring band council you really are? Smarten the hell up.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence told CBC News that she had informed the band manager of her decision.

"I advised my band manager I don't want them in my community … doesn't work for our community … we should focus on the crisis, not on other things," she told host Evan Solomon, on CBC's Power & Politics.

Yes, you SHOULD HAVE been focusing on the crisis. But you didn't.

The government said earlier it had chosen Jacques Marion, from the accounting and consulting firm BDO Canada, as its third-party manager for Attawapiskat. Marion was to exercise signing authority for all department spending and would decide which band staff are required to run its program and services.

Spence said the minister responsible for First Nations "didn't listen."

"We'd like to work together but put third party away … We've demonstrated we have our deficit down. We don't need a banker to come and tell us what to do," the chief told Solomon.

Like many Canadians now learning of these autracities, I've had it with some of these whiny chiefs who think they know better when they clearly have no bloody clue. I've had it with reserves all together. When I drive through many of them in Alberta, I don't like what I see. No regard for the environment. Boarded up homes and apartment complexes. Burnt cars. Trash. Is this the traditional proud lifestyle of our aboriginals? Not at all.

And now National Chief Shawn Atleo is in the spotlight.

"We must move beyond the Indian Act and we must affirm our Crown-First Nation relationship," he said during a speech on the first day of the Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa. "This 19th-century relic continues to hold us back in delivering better lives for our peoples."

He's right. The Indian Act (ignorant name to begin with) needs a complete overhawl, or you know what, maybe just scrap it all together.

Atleo said that despite the potential being reached by many young First Nations people and other areas of progress, it is still a "frustrating" time. Too many people are struggling with substance abuse and suicide, are sick from dirty drinking water, living in unsafe homes, and too many children go to school in cold, mouldy classrooms, Atleo said.

But sorry chief, despite all the money that pours in, you need to hold your band chiefs accountable. Maybe set an example and not live a lavish lifestyle.

"Canadians saw for the first time last week what we see every day," Atleo said, referring to the situation in Attawapiskat in northern Ontario.

But if you see it every day then what are YOU doing to solve it, National Chief? Are you actually saying that because of the Indian Act where millions of dollars are poured into reserves and essentially lining the pockets of band chiefs hasn't solved the issues and problems?

If you are, then that's pretty refreshing to hear. But talk is cheap. Canadians and the media are going to now pay even more close attention to see if it isn't.

Canada to not renew Kyoto commitment

2011-12-05T11:06:00.001-06:00

Goodbye Kyoto! As rumoured, the enivironment minister has announced that Canada will not renew its commitment to the Accord, which expires next year and slated to have a new commitment for the next four years after that.

It was a bad deal from the beginning with countries such as China, India, and Brazil not having the same commitment. Essentially, Canada spent billions in paying out carbon offsets, which Russia was a net gain. By pulling out now, Canada won't have to pay out $6.7 billion.

So even if the Chretien Liberals didn't originally sign Kyoto, the federal government could have saved billions instead of joining the global-socialist scam. Hopefully, the Harper Conservatives won't make the same mistake and instead, not sign anything, or at least sign on to something that's realistic.

"The oil sands' misguided critics"

2011-12-02T16:08:00.001-06:00

Today, the National Post published a well-written and truthful editorial opinion on the Alberta oil sands.

Some highlights...

"Archbishop [Tutu] and friends might also want to look at the glass house they live in before throwing rocks at Canada. South Africa relies on coal-burning power plants to generate 85% of its power. It is also building two 4,800-megawatt power plants (each nearly double the size of the largest coal-fired power plants in North America) to meet the needs of their nation's rapidly expanding economy. Together, the emissions from just these two plants will equal more than half the output of Canada's oil sands.

"And let's not even discuss Nigeria, where the oil industry causes more environmental despoliation and corruption in a single year than the oil sands will in a century.

"China has never been obliged to cut its emissions - or even to limit their growth - by the Kyoto protocol. China has also refused to accept any emissions limits, whatever, in any successor treaty that may emerge after Kyoto expires next year. It is only pushing hard for a new Kyoto because it wants industrialized economies - including ours - hobbled by environmental regulations so that its own booming economy can take up the slack and expand faster still.

"According to a World Health Organization study, released in September, the Canadian city with the worst air quality - Sarnia, Ont. - had air 10 times cleaner than Beijing's, and Beijing is not even China's dirtiest city.

"On a per-dollar-of-GDP, China's pollution is six or seven times greater than ours.

"None of these critics have anything to teach Canada about carbon emissions."

I honestly believe that these "misguided critics" think that most of the area of Northern Alberta is a cesspool of oil sands development with pits covering a vast area larger than many countries when the opposite is true. The area is a blip, yet it provides an immense amount of wealth, not just for Alberta, but for all of Canada.

Parliamentary reform proposals worth considering

2011-11-24T15:20:00.001-06:00

Over at ThreeHundredEight.com, one of the best Canadian political blogs, they make some worthy parliamentary reform proposals for all of us to consider. To do that, however, the blog rightfully admits that the prime stumbling-block is the grandfather clause that provinces must have at least as many MPs as it has senators (e.g. PEI with 4).

I like the fact that the main senate proposal is for each province to have an equal number of senators--10 each with 4 appointed federally and 6 appointed by the province at each provincial election. I think 100 is too many though--Canada is not that populated it needs over-representation. Also, while it floors me that many people still need convincing that provincial equality is crucial to the unity of the country, the blog does not make a strong case as to why this is necessary. What is also important though, in the majority of Canadians' opinion, that these senators should be elected by the people, not by politicians themselves.

I have advocated 66 senators: six for each province, two for each territory, where half the senators are elected every six years in conjunction with civic elections, which are held every three years. Each province would be divided into six senatorial regions, not necessarily based on population density, but on economics and geography.

For example, Alberta's senatorial regions would be divided as follows:
1. Peace Country (Northwest) -- High River, Peace River, Grand Prairie, Slave Lake, High Prairie, Whitecourt
2. Wood Buffalo (Northeast) -- Lac La Biche, Cold Lake, Ft. McMurray, Athabasca
3. Capital Region -- Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Mornville
4. Mountain -- Grande Cache, Hinton, Edson, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore, Nordegg
5. Central -- Red Deer, Camrose, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Oyen, Drumheller
6. South -- Calgary, Airdrie, Brooks, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Fort MacLeod, Waterton

More reasons to not support AB PC gov't...

2011-11-21T12:48:00.001-06:00

1) .05 alcohol blood limit allows police to seize your vehicle..
2) $3.1 billion deficit higher than expected so bring in health care premiums!

1) .05: So without due justice and right, police can suspend your license and seize your vehicle for 3 days. I'm told in BC that this has really hurt the service industry. Sure, have .05, but why not just let it be a ding on your demerits or insurance. For a big guy like me, .05 is nothing.

2) Premiums: So instead of curtailing spending, what do these geniuses come up with? Reintroducing health care premiums (read: tax). This will bring in about $1 billion annually. What's stupid is that many companies (like mine) that provided this benefit have already adjusted their budgets for other employee benefits (e.g. RRSPs, profit sharing). So in a way, this will hurt jobs and income if companies have to readjust. But it really hurts lower-middle income folks too, like over 25 year old single parents going back to school for retraining, so it's just stupid, lazy policy that doesn't curtail anyone from visiting the doctor.

Come on people. 40 years is enough of this joke of a gov't. How anyone who calls themselves a conservative can continue to support the PCs is beyond me. An election is this Spring. Do the province a favour and turf these power grubbing morons.

"Shut the #!*% up!"

2011-11-18T11:22:00.001-06:00

When the Liberals had a majority, they used to end debate pretty quickly. In the case of the current omnibus crime bill, all of the measures have been thoroughly debated already. So for NDP MPs like Pat Martin, who used profanity on their Twitter account to whine about it, and telling a follower to "F--k off" without an apology (I don't really care about that, but his vitriol is wanting), at this pace, someone's going to need him to eat soap. In other words, with a Conservative majority and a mandate in place, he'd better get used to it.

John Ivison from the National Post has some "Advice for the opposition parties: Shut the #!*% up!"

...

Conservatives were set to use their majority to shut down debate on the omnibus crime bill at the justice committee Thursday, and have used time allocation on six other bills to speed their passage through the House of Commons. (In the event, after the cameras switched off, MPs agreed on a compromise that will see them come back to debate again next week.)

Judging by the response, you'd think they had suspended habeas corpus. "A stunning assault on democracy," frothed Green leader Elizabeth May. "A hijacking of democracy," said Liberal Irwin Cotler.

Mr. Cotler, who should know better, was in full flow. "If we pass these nine bills in their present form - we will have the exact opposite of what we seek: more crime, less justice and more cost," he told the committee.

That may very well be the case - and there are certainly many shortcomings in the crime bill. But his opinion on its worth should not be confused with the government's right to pass legislation on which it was elected. It's not as if the various component bills that make up the Safe Streets and Communities Act have not been debated in Parliament. The bill as it stands has had four days of debate, comprising 16 hours and 53 speeches, not to mention nine days at committee. But much of its content has been hanging around Parliament since the Conservatives were elected in 2006. In total, including review in the Senate, the component bills have had 53 days of debate, made up of 95 hours and 261 speeches, since they were first introduced, according to the House leader's office. Not quite the trampling of democracy the opposition parties suggest.

In fact, most of the legislation in front of the House has been thoroughly aired - bills to modernize copyright, kill the long-gun registry, open up the wheat board, and create more seats in the House of Commons have all appeared in one form or another in previous parliaments.

Almost by definition, the opposition parties don't agree with them - nor should they. But the Conservatives won the right to push through their agenda at the last election, after years of seeing half their bills killed by elections, prorogation and opposition tactics.

...

h/t Dr. Roy

The new RCMP chief...

2011-11-17T16:19:00.001-06:00

His name is Robert Paulson

Now I remember where I've heard that name before...

Edit: Ah, crap. Someone beat me to it.

To PST or not to PST

2011-11-16T11:10:00.001-06:00

I had a dream last night that I was having an open conversation with Premier Redford. Honest. I asked her about what it's like governing then hit her with the PST thing. I said, "I don't mind a PST, but you have to eliminate income taxes." She wasn't all that open to it. Then I said, "You guys have a spending problem, not a revenue problem."

But that Ron Liepert is something else isn't he?

Yesterday: To PST...

“In Alberta, we can’t continue to rely on resource revenues, and I think we should have that conversation sooner instead of later,” Liepert told EEDC’s (Edmonton Economic Development Corp.’s) 2012 economic outlook luncheon.

"So somehow it’s trying to close that gap between what’s expected to be a fairly flat revenue stream and increasing expenditures. And the only way you can get to a balanced budget is by closing that gap. That’s the challenge we’ve got ahead of us and we’ll be dealing with that over the next few weeks.”

Today: Not to PST...

“First, in the interest of absolute clarity, Premier Redford, Deputy Premier Horner and all of my cabinet colleagues are committed to preserving Alberta’s “NO PST” status."

Ok, so Ron was open to the idea because roundtable Albertans said so. Then the political fallout came and he was muzzled.

That coupled with the decision to have or not to have a legislative session this year, on flip flopping on the Heartland power lines, their made up tiff with the feds on funding of the Royal Alberta Museum, and lack of forcefulness on the Keystone XL pipeline don't compare with the fact that this gov't fails to look for ways to save on expenditures.

Especially when it spends 40% more per capita than Ontario and 30% more than BC for the same services. And why is Alberta spending more on health care than the other provinces, except perhaps Newfoundland and Labrador, when it has the youngest population? I can see if we had an aging one, which we do to an extent.

The issue here folks, is management. Unlike other provinces, when you have the same party running the show for 40 years with little to no accountability, with high-wage baby boomers in administration and bureaucracy, new approaches to governing aren't discovered, no matter who the leader is. And that party feeds the departmental bureaucracy in perpetual pocketlining each and every budget, but not asking them to look for ways to save or become more efficient. I haven't heard it come out of Redford's statements or this party's statements that they'll streamline government. They say Albertans are telling them.

"Round table participants are asking government to spend wisely and be more efficient including the delivery of healthcare and education. It will be these ideas that will be considered by the Alberta government caucus over the coming months, not a sales tax.”

Why do they even have to consult Albertans on this? It's just a smokescreen folks. How do they not know they have a spending problem when they haven't balanced the books in many, many years? It's like they're not even trying and just going through the motions.

Why did they need to raid the Heritage Trust Fund to pay for budget items when much more in savings could easily be found if they just try? Why?

The last thing we need is more taxes. It's a weak cop-out by a weak-willed government and party.

While I thought I'd give them a couple months chance to prove themselves, the premier I voted for, Redford and Co. have disappointed me at every turn, so for all that, I just ripped up my Alberta PC membership card.

"Deep voice candidates do better with voters" - study

2011-11-15T11:27:00.001-06:00

So that's why Brian Mulroney won two majorities! http://bit.ly/sI5s2X

Public art

2011-11-08T18:12:00.002-06:00

You wonder why some of us fiscal conservative types want to reduce or eliminate public art funding?

This "art" is being placed next to the Whitemud Drive-Quesnell Bridge on-ramp--an area that was newly reconstructed to add lanes to the bridge and freeway. This is also an area of much natural beauty--the North Saskatchewan River, the forests, Whitemud Creek Park, the Equine Centre, hiking and bike trails, and just across Fox Drive is a small farm.

Yep. Our River Valley has amazing natural beauty. But when I think of it, I ask, "Nevermind trees or shrubs. Who needs that? You know what we need? $500k+ in shiny steel ball mounds. That'll blend in perfectly!"

Like, seriously. Who approved this crap?

Harper: "Bert, you have to give us an override."

2011-11-02T18:07:00.000-05:00

Triple E Senate booster and Conservative Senator Bert Brown was asked by Prime Minister Harper to look for a way to ensure the House of Commons remains supreme over the Senate regarding passing legislation. Senator Brown proposes that we simply use the same formula in the 1982 Canada Act, but to do so, each province must have an equal number of senators. That formula being 7 out of 10 provinces with more than 50% of the population to change the constitution.

It would now apply to senators. But to do that, you need Quebec or Ontario to agree as the other provinces' populations don't add up to 50%. Bert is also proposing that Ontario and Quebec senators would also get veto powers. I guess that prevents the whole country from ganging up on Quebec (or Ontario).

This idea stems from folks who don't believe the Senate should reign over the House of Commons especially if it's elected--it would give it more legitimacy and power. But I have to laugh at that since they're admitting that electing senators gives them that democracy, where currently, with them appointed, all they need is 50% + 1 to kill a bill from the lower house dominated by Quebec and Ontario! Insenaty now!!!

What do we at Hatrock's Cave think? Anything to get to provincial equality is fine by us. Not regional equality, but provincial.

Heartland powerlines to be above ground

2011-11-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

This looks so much better doesn't it?

What a frickin' joke.

Federal seat redistruction

2011-10-27T16:13:00.002-05:00

The federal government is introducing legislation to balance the seat distribution in the House of Commons by adding 30 seats:

+15 Ontario
+ 6 Alberta
+ 6 B.C.
+ 3 Quebec

It's a very small step in the right direction, but it's also way off. One problem is that no province can have fewer MPs than it has senators, so for Nova Scotia, which has 10 senators, it has 11 MPs. This is greatly flawed and doesn't reflect a true, equal and fair democracy.

Below is a table and graph I have compiled based on current 2011 Stats Can population numbers. Here's you'll see just how unbalanced it continues to be. The key number here is the Seats/Pop ratio column. I've graphed it to show the differences between the current situation, new legislation, modified, and my "Hatrock" proposal, but with provinces only.

As well, by 'Modified', I mean that if the gov't continued with its current logic in the new legislation and maintained the current (MPs >= Senators) formula, it would have to drastically increase the size of the Commons to 368 seats.

Updated Nov. 2/'11: Corrected Alberta at 36 to 34 seats under new legislation.

Provincial Seat/Pop. Models Chart
(Based on above numbers.)

Canada, Alberta, and Edmonton things and stuff

2011-10-26T16:40:00.007-05:00

It's only Wednesday but there's lots going on in gubermint at all levels...

Canada

Bill C-19 was introduced to terminate/kill/shoot down/blow up the Federal Long Gun Registry. Long awaited by the Conservatives, now with a majority, this will pass. Many will watch gun crime numbers more closely now I'm sure.
Canadian Wheat Board gets the axe. Some say taxpayers will then have to prop up farmers when the prices drop. I don't know about you, but I don't see food prices dropping anyway. They've only been going up and up. What I also hope doesn't happen is what's happened in the U.S. where a private monopoly has taken over. And now, the Wheat Board is suing the federal government. Oh joy.

Alberta

Newly minted premier, Alison Redford's been quite busy:

She appointed 2nd place candidate Gary Mar to "Pledge Representative to the Social Committee" .. er.. Alberta Ambassador something or other to China. Plum job for $250k or so.
She appointed failed candidate and former MLA Rick Orman to head up the economic policy committee or something. A good appointment considering I supported Rick on the first ballot and agree with a lot of his policies.
She got the $107 million in for education. Loved the debate on that one. Ah, democracy at work.
She's toying with the idea of emulating BC drunk driving laws. Couldn't have anything to do with the fatal crashes near Grand Prairie and Lethbridge could it? They're not reacting out of emotion are they? I can't stand it when governments do this.
She's backtracked/flip-flopped on a few things though already...

Legislative sitting? First it was no. Then it was yes. Then only a couple days now and a few more in November. Not good. Not good at all. With lots going on, she needs to be held accountable. Why? Read on..
Heartland overhead power lines in Strathcona County? Her newly appointed Energy Minister, Ted Morton said the gov't was going to review all the lines. Then only four hours later, Premier Redford says only two of them need review and that the lines are necessary, when in fact, they will not even be near full capacity. I'm vehemently against overhead power lines. They're ugly for one, and more especially, the health concerns for very nearby residences is quite valid. These power companies need to "Bury the Line". Read more at RETA.
Health care inquiry? This was one of her promises in the leadership race, now she's watering it down. More to come on that one.

Overall, so far I'm not impressed with her but not surprised. Even in this short period, she's obviously being handled by party stalwarts who've caused her to back down.

In my opinion, all the opposition parties are doing a good job keeping her and her government accountable. In the next election, vote for one of them, but not the PCs. Come on, 40 years? Seriously?

Edmonton

Downtown arena. On Monday, the public came forward expressing their support/non-support and concerns. The biggest concern is in regards to the deal and how much taxpayers are on the hook for. A lesser concern is the location, parking, etc. The majority of citizens appear to want a new arena but question the funding model. Here's why I want a new one...

After attending an Oilers game Saturday, I can say that I can't stand Rexall Place. I had to grab tickets in Ardrossan from a family member, then driving down the Yellowhead and arriving there, parking availability was a joke. And when taking the LRT, the station is crammed on the way there and back. Downtown bars eventually got crowded to the hilt with fans. Getting a cab is a pain.

But the venue itself, while sturdy, has crammed seats, crammed concourses, and I could never for the life of me understand why they didn't build a tunnel from the LRT station to the coliseum. Instead of staying indoors, leaving your jacket behind and going from your office downtown to a nearby LRT station, then get off and walk underground then head right to your seat, you currently have to stand and walk outside for several minutes. This is Edmonton, people! It's cold in the Winter. So people have to bring winter coats and put them on their seats, which are already narrow and crammed. Not a good deal for $250 a pop for Gold seats. That said, for concerts, rodeos, special events, it's just fine. I'm very glad Katz dropped the no-compete clause for Northlands. That said, I only think he used it as a negotiation tactic, not a business success requirement.

That alone makes me want to have a new arena. Secondly, is the location. Everyone talks about Columbus as a model. Let's look at Nashville. I've been there. The arena is next door to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, and a mere block from the main entertainment district on Broadway Street in East Downtown where dozens of bars and restaurants line blocks of road. And the live music is amazing. The football stadium is only a short walk across the pedestrian river bridge. Lots of energy there.

As far as the details of the deal, I think the Katz Group needs to kick in a lot more. I've never believed for one moment that Katz has ever had any intention on moving the team. Edmonton is one of the best hockey markets in history. We pretty much sell out every game. The players are gods. Bars and restaurants count on Oilers games. City Council should have called his bluff and asked for more money up front: $100 million, then provided $100 million in loans, coupled with a ticket tax, and the City could MAKE money off this deal.

UPDATE: Council just voted 10-3 in favour of the Caterina amended motion regarding the Katz deal with Councillors Diotte, Sloan, and Iveson against.

Councillor Don Iveson has posted his thoughts on why he voted against it, which pretty much align with my thoughts.

CBC's "22 Minutes" ambushes Rob Ford

2011-10-25T11:08:00.000-05:00

Poor Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. And Warren Kinsella is right--showing up to someone's home and ambushing them at 8 a.m. to ask questions, whether a joke or not, is in bad taste and does cross the line. Especially after recently receiving anonymous death threats and having his 5 year old child there, frightened.

Enough is enough.

Sell the CBC.

h/t to Warren Kinsella

Sell the CBC

2011-10-21T13:25:00.000-05:00

It's time for the government to sell the CBC. Oh I know this post will propagate to my Twitter, then to my Facebook, and many of you will cry "Save the CBC".

I'm not going to delve into the fact the CBC public broadcaster is not opening its books to the public. What are the fat cat bureaucrats and minions up to? We don't know. Yet the government (we) fund it.

And why in this day of austerity is the government propping up a media corporation? Aren't these "Occupy" protests also about evil corporations being in the pockets of government?

CBC is a corporation. It says so in its name. And it's not a small operation either. But here's something to ponder, liberals and dippers... it's not a social program either. It doesn't help the poor. In fact, it hurts it because taxpayers pay over a billion a year to fund it instead of say lowering taxes, paying down debt, or for funding your other social programs.

And yes, we can look into other program spending--military, etc., but this post is about one aspect--the CBC, so let's stay on topic.

Is the CBC an essential service to survival (food, shelter, and clothing)? No.

So what does the CBC do that other corporations aren't already doing? What's so different? Nothing. What's different is it's a corporation funded by government.

So why should it be treated any differently than complaining about 'other' corporations?

Is it because the CBC has such high viewership? It doesn't. Not even close. So to say it unifies the country is hogwash. Hockey Night in Canada? Sorry, Sportsnet coverage is way better now.

Or maybe. Maybe because it's a bias mouthpiece for liberals and dippers. I've seen it on Channel 4 (CBC), 15 (CBC News), and heard it on 90.9 FM (CBC Radio 2). Too many times. But you know what, taxpayers are conservative too! If the government was funding a conservative-leaning media corporation, like, um.. say Sun TV, liberals and dippers would cry afoul. So, again, why is it any different the other way around?

Or maybe because the CBC fat cats support certain political parties? Couldn't be?!

Oh, nevermind.

Gerry Nicholls is right. Sell the CBC. If the CBC is so important to you liberals and dippers, fund it yourselves.

And buy a share or two.

Harper receives Ukrainian award

2011-10-15T14:01:00.002-05:00

Absolutely well deserved. I've never seen a political figure with such strong support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in Canada. As some of you know, my grandfather emigrated from Ukraine in his twenties.

PM receives Shevchenko Medal Award

Prime Minister recognized for outstanding achievement, service and dedication to the Ukrainian-Canadian community

October 14, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today accepted the Shevchenko Medal Award, for his and the Government’s many contributions to the Ukrainian-Canadian community and the people of Ukraine. The Shevchenko Medal Award is the highest form of recognition given out by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

“I am honoured to receive this prestigious award that recognizes the significant efforts our Government has made to address the needs and interests of our vibrant Ukrainian-Canadian community and to strengthen our ties with Ukraine,” said the Prime Minister. “Our Government will continue to acknowledge and embrace the contributions of Ukrainians, their struggles for independence and their contributions to Canadian society.”

The Government has taken decisive action for this community, including passing a bill in 2008 recognizing the Holodomor as an act of genocide, upgrading community centres and social housing in Ukrainian-Canadian communities, and recognizing the internment of Ukrainian-Canadians and others during the First World War. The Government will also continue to strengthen bilateral ties with Ukraine and help in the building of a democratic, independent and prosperous society.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress bestows the Shevchenko Medal Award every three years to recognize Canadians, institutions and organizations for their outstanding national contributions to the Ukrainian-Canadian community. Prime Minister Harper is proud and honoured to be recognized with this award this year.

PM accepts award from Ukrainian-Canadian community

October 14, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Since Canada established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1992, the two countries have enjoyed close bilateral relations. Generations of Ukrainian immigrants to Canada have forged historic ties of friendship, reinforced by shared values and interests.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has been instrumental in advancing the interests of the Ukrainian-Canadian community, by promoting stronger ties between the two nations, identifying the needs of Ukrainian-Canadians and enhancing the role of the community in mainstream society.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress bestows the Shevchenko Medal Award every three years to recognize Canadians, institutions and organizations for their outstanding national contributions to the Ukrainian-Canadian community. This year, the Congress awarded the medal to Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a tribute event – the highest form of recognition granted by the Congress.

Since 2006, the Prime Minister and the Government have:

Passed the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day Act in 2008, making Canada one of the first countries to adopt legislation to recognize the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 as an act of genocide;
Supported democratic reforms in Ukraine, highlighted during his recent trip to Ukraine in October 2010; the Prime Minister publicly expressed Canada’s commitment to support human rights, democratic development, and free and fair elections in Ukraine;
Sent over 200 election observers to Ukraine for the 2010 Presidential elections;
Entered into historic Free Trade negotiations with Ukraine in 2010;
Actively supported Ukraine’s engagement with NATO;
Renewed Ukraine’s status as a country of priority for international assistance through CIDA in 2009;
Signed a Youth Mobility Agreement to facilitate travel and exchanges between Canadian and Ukrainian youth during the Prime Minister’s recent trip in October 2010, giving young people more opportunity to travel and work in each other’s countries;
Established the “Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund” in 2008, in response to years of effort by the Ukrainian-Canadian community to recognize the internment of Ukrainian-Canadians and other Canadians of Eastern European descent from 1914-1920; and
Upgrading community centres and social housing in Ukrainian-Canadian communities throughout the country under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, such as: the Ukrainian Home of Vita Community Centre, Fraserwood Hall for the Ukrainian National People's Home Association of Taras Shevchenko and the Ukrainian Villa Church.

Canada is home to more than 1.2 million Ukrainian-Canadians. In 1991, Canada was the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence. We established diplomatic relations in 1992.

Federal seat redistribution

2011-10-14T18:07:00.000-05:00

New legislation is finally being introduced to fix the democratic imbalance in the House of Commons by adding the following seats to these growing provinces:

+7 BC
+5 Alberta
+18 Ontario

Bringing the total to 308+30=338.

But that will then leave Quebec, which has 24.4% of the population, with 23.1% of the seats. Oh dear no! Nevermind that they already have 25% of the seats in the Senate where BC and Alberta each have 5.7%.

Which further proves why we not only need an elected Senate, but an equal one as well. I've mentioned before that if over the next 10 years or so, if Harper doesn't appoint folks in provinces with more than 6 Senators, with the upcoming 9 year Senatorial term, coupled with mandatory retirements, it is possible virtually to achieve provincial equality. He could hold provinces accountable to the new terms by not appointing anyone if they don't have Senate elections.

Harper's always played the long game in politics. I wonder if this is part of that plan.

The Redford Cabinet

2011-10-12T11:31:00.001-05:00

Hot off the presses, followed by my comments...

Alison Redford, QC, Calgary-Elbow
Premier, President of Executive Council, Chair of Agenda and Priorities

Doug Horner, Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert
Deputy Premier, President of Treasury Board and Enterprise
--Obvious choice. He's a smart guy. Especially when a lot of his support on the third ballot went to Redford.

David Hancock, Edmonton-Whitemud
Minister of Human Services, Government House Leader
--Ooh, "Human Services". She did combine a bunch of ministries together. Good for her! No change at House Leader.

Ted Morton, Foothills-Rocky View
Minister of Energy
--Liepert out. Morton in. A good fit although he did a lousy job at Finance.

Verlyn Olson, Wetaskiwin-Camrose
Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Deputy Government House Leader
--No idea who this person is.

Fred Horne, Edmonton-Rutherford
Minister of Health and Wellness
--I've heard of him. I thought Gene Zwodesky was doing a good job though. Much better than...

Ron Liepert, Calgary-West
Minister of Finance
--Terrible Health Minister. Will he tow the line like Morton did, or will he shake it up? Let's hope for a shake up and cuts to the bloated bureaucracy first.

Thomas Lukaszuk, Edmonton-Castle Downs
Minister of Education
--Well that's interesting. Why? I have no clue.

Diana McQueen, Drayton Valley-Calmar
Minister of Environment and Water
--Water is now part of the environment and not natural resources? Who knew?

Jonathan Denis, Calgary-Egmont
Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security; Deputy Government House Leader
--Jonathan brought much needed common sense to Housing and implemented a lot of great ideas. He's one of the best cabinet ministers in my opinion. He's a lawyer, and although he supported Morton and Mar, his good work has paid off.

Cal Dallas, Red Deer-South
Minister of International, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Relations--That's one super ministry with one super name for an MLA.

Evan Berger, Livingstone-Macleod
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
--Awesome! Again, I don't know why.

Frank Oberle, Peace River
Minister of Sustainable Resource Development
--Oh, it's "Sustainable" now is it?

George VanderBurg, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne
Minister of Seniors
--What does this mean? It's becoming a bigger job with more folks retiring now.

Ray Danyluk, Lac La Biche-St. Paul
Minister of Transportation
--Fitting that he's from that riding--where the highway of death is. Look for much faster development of HWY 63 to Ft. Mac.

Jeff Johnson, Athabasca-Redwater
Minister of Infrastructure
--Wait a minute? Did the Dept. of Infrastructure and Transportation just get split into two separate ones? It looks like it. Why?

Doug Griffiths, Battle River-Wainwright
Minister of Municipal Affairs
--Doug has good vision for building communities. This is a good fit for him to prove himself.

Greg Weadick, Lethbridge-West
Minister of Advanced Education and Technology
--That's nice.

Jack Hayden, Drumheller-Stettler
Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
--Good stuff.

Heather Klimchuk, Edmonton-Glenora
Minister of Culture and Community Services
--Go get 'em!

Manmeet Bhullar, Calgary-Montrose
Minister of Service Alberta
--Ah, the umbrella ministry. Don't make it bloated!

So there you have it folks. My comments on a "new era". Leipert's budget in Spring will be telling of the direction of this machine.

Don't wanna get shot? Don't trespass and steal

2011-10-07T15:32:00.001-05:00

These kinds of judgment rulings really piss me off. Every person has the right to defend their property, and yes, with guns. Here, the government is defending the criminals. What's this farmer supposed to do, nothing? Call the cops and wait? Give me a friggin' break. You don't wanna get shot? Then don't trespass and steal. It's not vigilantism. It's called defending your property.

Justice Monica Bast rejected the defence's argument that the shooting was impulsive, saying she believed Knight was aware to some degree what he was doing.

Knight chased and used a shot gun to fire at a man who was stealing Knight's ATV from his farm near Tees, Alta.

In the early morning of March 26, 2009, Knight found three men in his farmyard. He jumped out of bed and gave chase clad in boxer shorts and rubber boots to a man riding Knight's all-terrain vehicle. Knight rammed the ATV with his car and, when the man abondoned the machine and began running, Knight pulled out a shotgun, firing two rounds at him, police said.

The man was eventually caught after Knight called friends and relatives to help in the search, police said.
Crown prosecutor Jason Snider recommended Knight be sent to jail for 90 days to be served intermittently.

Snider told Justice Bast the shooting was a vigilante act and the court must send a message that behavior of this sort is wrong.

It's not wrong. You're wrong. Unbelievable. Alberta would be the last place I thought this type of injustice would occur. I guess not.

Maybe we should change our motto to "Kind of Strong and Not So Free".

Alison Redford sworn in as President of the Executive Council of Alberta

2011-10-07T12:17:00.005-05:00

An historic moment in Alberta...

Screen capture from CBC.ca

Ontario sucks

2011-10-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

Way to go Ontario! Enjoy your continued have-not status under the McGuinty Liberals. That said, many voters stayed home. Why? Because Hudak's PCs ran a terrible, unfocused campaign and the Liberal War Room pounced on it painting "Tea Party Tobacco Frat Boy Timmy" as a devil. And then, Ontarians simply picked the devil they know.

Here's your theme song...

Ontario election prediction

2011-10-06T17:36:00.002-05:00

McGuinty and the Libs will win a majority tonight, thanks to the party's dominance of the GTA and winning back some centrist voters from Tim Hudak's PCs. Toronto has a Conservative in the mayor's office and one at the PMO. They did not want a trifecta with one running Queen's Park.

For Hudak, as I said, his campaign is one of the least focused I've ever seen. All the Liberals had to do was throw him off and paint Hudak as evil and they did that and Ontarians will pick the lesser of two evils or at least the devil they know. McGuinty is liked as a person even if you totally disagree with his decisions.

In the end, the Liberals will get about 3.5 points over the PCs but 20 seats over them. Ontario will continue to be a have-not province and the Leafs won't make the playoffs...

Again.

Dion and insenaty

2011-10-06T11:42:00.001-05:00

I have coined the term "insenaty" to describe politicians who agree that the Senate needs reforming but will come up with any reason not to reform it.

Former Liberal leader, Stephane Dion is no exception.

"In fact, the situation could be even worse in Canada than in the United States, as we do not have a constitutional mechanism to solve disagreements between two elected chambers claiming the same legitimacy to speak for the people," Dion said.

Um, excuse me? So what's the current procedure, professor, because it seems you forgot? If the Senate defeats a bill from the House, that's it. It's done. And that's the point! The bill obviously doesn't satisfy enough regions of the country.

"Bill C-7, in allowing Parliament to unilaterally reform the Senate, is truly a constitutional Trojan horse," Dion said.

Anything would be better than our current 'appointment for life' system. This whole "Trojan horse" argument is fear mongering. Why not open the constitution for just senate reform? Ooh, the big bad Quebec separatists are gonna be mad! I say screw 'em.

It's ridiculous that New Brunswick has 10 senators and BC and Alberta each have 6. It makes no sense whatsoever and to accept the status quo is just stupid.

It's insenaty.

Ra Ra Ras Putin, lover of Soviet regime

2011-10-05T15:55:00.002-05:00

No surprise here. Vlad Putin wants to create a Eurasian Union.

This week he has unveiled a grand vision to create a “Eurasian Union” linking old Soviet neighbours, foreseeing a “powerful, supranational union, capable of becoming one of the poles of the modern world”. Coming from a former KGB colonel who described the break-up of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century”, his words could easily prompt fears that he wanted to resurrect the USSR. He stressed that wasn’t the case. “It would be naive to try to restore or copy what was in the past. But time dictates that we should have closer integration based on values, politics and economics,” he wrote. The Eurasian Union could provide an “economically sound and balanced partnership” with the European Union.

The Baltic states are part of the EU. Ukraine wanted in that too, but their current prez, Yanukovych, is reluctant and was mainly elected by Eastern Ukrainians, more integrated with Russia than Western Ukraine. The "Stans" want balance between Russia, China, and the U.S.

But I gotta ask, remember the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)? What happened to that?

Regardless, from the beginning of his reign, Putin's desire all along has been to recreate the Soviet Union with himself as its head dictator. Just watch him.

Federal stuff and provincial stuff

2011-10-04T16:29:00.000-05:00

Lots going on politically in Canada. Here's a quick recap and my views:

Harper Government is finally able to scrap the per vote subsidy to parties. You support a party? Donate and get a tax rebate. That simple. This will put the nail in the coffin for the Bloc, and hurt the Liberals. Dippers and Conservatives will need to fundraise more and shouldn't have difficulty, but this will further solidify more of a two party system with the Conservatives becoming the natural governing party. Liberals just don't have the money anymore.

On another policy, the feds now have it where a small business will get a tax credit for every person they hire within the next year. I just filled one of these out for one of the employees I now manage. It wasn't an easy form to complete, but we'll get $10k if approved. We'll likely use it for more software training or profit share. See how it works people!

Alison Redford will be sworn in as Alberta Premier on Friday. She's already flip-flopped though, first saying she'd wait until Spring for the next Legislative session, but is now saying a Fall session will happen. Just wondering if they'll have all that scaffolding down in the Chamber by then. She's also appointed leadership "rival" Doug Horner to his same job as Deputy Premier, and Edmonton MLA Dave Hancock to House Leader again. Hancock apparently pulled in a lot of votes for Gary Mar in his riding. She's also moving ahead with her promise to restore $107 million for teachers and suggested ransacking the Heritage Sustainability Fund to do that. No debate on that though. Who needs it when the big ATA union voted you in. That said, a shaky start.

In PEI, Liberal Ghiz wins again. NDP in Manitoba will likely win. And Ontario? Well, if you wanted to take a course on how to beat the living pulp out of your opponent who was leading by a good margin, and then cause them to lose a pile of support over an election where your team is back in majority territory, the Ontario Liberal War Room led by Warren Kinsella would be your study case. I hope he writes a book about it, like he has before, because it would be an interesting read. I can't imagine how frustrated Ontario conservatives are with the Tim Hudak campaign. It's almost comical. Kinsella's names are a riot and the fact that I can remember them, rings true how effective he is: "Frat boy Timmy", "Tea Party Tim", "Tobacco Tim".

Alison Redford to be new Alberta premier

2011-10-03T12:12:00.001-05:00

While at a wedding cocktail reception on Saturday, several friends kept asking me what the results were as I was glued to my Twitter feed on my phone. As the results came in and they were at half the polls reporting, I said she was going to win due to the inability for Gary Mar to get passed 45% and that Redford would get two-thirds of Doug Horner's second ballot choices. It was still close, and when Mar pulled ahead by 5-6%, he still couldn't penetrate even 45%, I was pretty sure she'd win at that point. On Twitter, Dave Rutherford was the first out of the gate stating her victory based on his sources.

Final Tally
37,101 (51.11%) Redford
35,491 (48.89%) Mar

Well, I will admit that I voted for her and Horner 2nd. I voted for her for three reasons. I watched the debate on Wednesday and was impressed with her strength and felt of the three candidates, she would best represent Alberta, but maybe not ideologically. Secondly, I didn't want Mar to win as his ethics are questionable, and thirdly, Redford is said to be a liberal-progressive, which splits the PCs and is a win for Danielle Smith, who'd I'd prefer as premier. Now, a lot more conservatives potentially will leave the PCs for the Wildrose Party, but only if Smith and Co. can prove themselves as a viable alternative.

An indication of that is only 78,176 members turned out to vote Saturday, which was an increase from the first ballot vote two weeks prior, but it is a large decrease from the 144,000 that voted in 2006 which saw Ed Stelmach shoot up the middle to win. That's a big vacuum.

Despite all that, Redford is a relative unknown to many conservatives and I believe Albertans for the most part, will give her a shot to see what she can and cannot do. It will be difficult for the Wildrose to paint her in a bad light while the honeymoon is on, and I thought the press release from Danielle Smith congratulating Redford on her win while slamming her when she hasn't had a chance to govern yet was in bad form.

The fall session was to start October 25th, but Redford has postponed it, a budget, and a potential election until the spring. The Wildrose is not happy with this, but while I took a tour of the Legislature building yesterday, the tour guide apologized for the state of the Assembly Chamber itself. I took the picture below from the public gallery to show all the scaffolding they must use to change the 600 lightbulbs to energy-saving ones as they cannot fit a scissor-lift through the doors. As well, they are painting. I don't see them finishing and cleaning up by October 25th. Whether that's the reason, I really don't know, but found it interesting and coincidental under the circumstances.

As we began our tour, media were on hand, waiting for someone, and I thought perhaps she would be there. But alas, it was Raj Sherman, newly elected Alberta Liberal leader.

Even though I voted for her, this blog, and I'm sure many others of the conservative-bent, will watch her every move over the next while. She'd be smart to introduce some conservative policies to keep that camp involved in her party, especially on dumbing-down or scrapping the Alberta Human Rights Commission, but her promise to restore $100 million to education for teachers within a couple weeks seems bold and decisive, but in reality, it seems like a bit of a stretch to accomplish. If she does it, you'll note it is without any budgetary debate, which indicates to me, not much will really change with the way the PCs govern.

I remember just a week and a half ago when I saw her at an Edmonton downtown lounge sitting and having a conversation with a man, possibly an advisor. I thought to go up to her and wish her luck, but I didn't, because who knew at that point she'd ever become our premier.

But she did.

(Photo courtesy of The Toronto Star)

The new Alberta premier

2011-09-30T12:04:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, members and last-minute members of the PC Party of Alberta will be casting their ballot in the run-off vote for leader of the party to select one of the three remaining candidates:

Doug Horner

Gary Mar

Alison Redford

I watched a little bit of the Wednesday night debate and I throughout, I simply asked myself, who would I prefer, and who seemed like a premier to me. And I would say by far Alison Redford looked like someone I wouldn't mind representing Alberta. After the sudden loss of her mother--she displayed herself as dignified, tough, calm, and well spoken. There have been comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, but I don't know about that. I may put an "X" for her at the last minute.

Watching Gary Mar only made me not want to vote for him more--he seemed smug and totally uninspiring. Doug Horner seems like a smart guy with some good ideas, but those ideas appear convoluted and unclear--it's difficult to know where he stands. I'm tired of cliche platitudes.

All that said, all three have been at the cabinet table of this PC party. When questionable policies came up and passed, they weren't stopping them and are therefore, part of the problem with this party. One of them being is also some ethical questions for Mr. Mar.

This party is intrusive, off-track and out of touch. None of the candidates have convinced me otherwise. There will be no change in how this party governs. They have become Liberals in every way. And as Peter Lougheed once said, "A Liberal is a Liberal, is a Liberal."

40 years is enough. The last seven have been completely uninspiring, directionless, and damaging. It's time to fire them next election.

From another planet that Janet Napolitano

2011-09-29T16:04:00.000-05:00

"Yes, Canada is not Mexico, it doesn't have a drug war going on, it didn't have 6,000 homicides that were drug-related last year," she said. "Nonetheless, to the extent that terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border. There are real issues there."
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to CTV News. Then when asked if she was referring to the September 11 hijackers. She said: "Not just those but others as well."

Now, just when both countries are looking at easing border traffic and creating a North American defence perimeter, if not hiring more and more border guards were enough, now they want to build selective fences along the Canada-U.S. border.

What?!? Such false optics here to make it look like Obama and his moronic Secretary are doing something about terrorism. I gotta tell ya, I'm not reading a lot of stories about how pourous the border is, especially between Alberta and Montana. If anything, I know many Americans who'd much prefer to live in Canada now due to the disastrous policies and economics.

Back in 1963, while in West Berlin, President JFK lambasted the Soviets for the construction of the Berlin Wall. Over 24 years later, Ronald Reagan demanded, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Whomever becomes the next U.S. president, I'd ask our Prime Minister to tell him or her the same thing.

O Canada! Our flag and reputation

2011-09-28T12:35:00.001-05:00

The Conservative government is introducing a bill that will make it illegal for someone to prevent you from flying the Canadian flag.

I didn't know this was an issue, but apparently it is. That said, let's call this bill for what it's real purpose is... to stop some overzealous nationalist folks in Quebec to prevent you from flying the Maple Leaf in their neighbourhood. There, I said it.

Patriotism is obviously great and all, but I wonder if it infringes on the freedom for private multi-unit residence boards to ensure a level of aesthetics to their choosing. Many do not allow political signs, signs of any kind, or certain tacky decor.

I guess the flag will be the exception, and only when it is displayed properly. There are specific rules for that as well. So what if you're displaying the flag improperly, can someone call you out on that and what will the government do then?

In my many travels in the U.S., I saw a larger percentage of home than in Canada that very proudly and properly displayed the American Stars and Stripes. But meh, that's not our style and that's fine.

But speaking of Canada, apparently, we have the best overall reputation in the world. Yay us!

The Reputation Institute study measures the trust, esteem, admiration and good feelings the public holds towards 50 countries, as well as perceptions of peoples' quality of life, safety and attention to the environment. Results from 42,000 respondents worldwide ranked Canada first, Sweden next, followed by Australia, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Edmonton's Mayor Mandel may not be an idiot

2011-09-27T14:31:00.002-05:00

A week ago, I called Edmonton Mayor Mandel an idiot for suggesting that the current old metal Walterdale bridge that links south with north over the river could remain next to the new modern bridge and be used to host a restaurant. It really is an idiotic idea and will block the view of the new bridge from the west.

The first proposal of the new replacement bridge had three one way lanes, which when I first saw it, thought that was definitely idiotic considering there are four lanes of regular traffic and one bus/taxi lane merging onto it and then once over, spreading out to four main lanes again. It's one of the top bottlenecks in town on workers' commutes to downtown in the morning.

So now, our Mayor has pushed back on the planner's three-lane proposal for four lanes.

"We've asked them to make it four lanes," said Mayor Stephen Mandel. "It's silliness to build it three lanes. I can't emphasize how much money we're going to save by doing it now." "You can make it just as wide but have now more space to make the fourth lane work, so it doesn't cost you more money."

Wow, common sense. Mandel may not be an idiot afterall.

Who'll be Alberta premier?

2011-09-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

As Alberta PC members vote in the final round advance polls this week and in the final vote on Saturday October 1st, there are rumours that 2nd place finisher, Alison Redford has some momentum over Gary Mar. Gary's campaign has radio ads out with general platitude statements, while Doug Horner's keep calling me and for the first time I think I've ever seen, political lawn signs out for a leadership race.

Today, Gary Mar said he's got a four month action plan once he becomes premier. That means the election won't be until around March 2012. But part of this action plan isn't about governing, it's about getting his party in order with nominating candidates and election planning.

But wait a sec, if he's not sitting in the legislature until he is an elected MLA, who's the actual premier? Is that Ed Stelmach still, or someone else? Am I missing something here? Will this premier then simply follow Gary's "action plan"?

Albertans deserve to know.

The "Return" of Rasputin

2011-09-26T17:37:00.002-05:00

Surprise surprise, but "interim" Russian President Dimitri Medvedev is stepping down. And golly gee, guess who's gonna "replace" him? And guess who's gonna be Prime Minister again?

And now with two, six year term limits, old Rasputin, will likely be in power for 12 years. And maybe he'll have term limits dropped altogether so he becomes a dictator again. Wouldn't surprise me.

With the Russian language and influence continuing to dominate Eastern Ukraine, let alone "former" Soviet republics, and the Kremlin's ability to turn on and off oil and gas taps at will, Russia will surely continue to dominate with even more vigour than before over much of Asia.

I'll never forget what one of my distant cousins in Ukraine wrote me back in 1991 after Ukraine gained "independence" from Russia (paraphrasing): "It's amazing how all these former communists are now all of sudden so-called pro-democrats. Nothing has really changed."

If anyone in the democratic world ever believed that former KGB boss Vladimir Putin was all pro-democracy, foreign policy-friendly, and pro-capitalist, they need to have their head examined.

The return of Rasputin is upon us.

How will this affect Canada? Well, with Russians continually pushing their military and claim in the disputed Arctic, possibly into Canadian waters, it's only going to get worse under more Putin rule.

And gee, you wonder why one of the first things Prime Minister Harper did in 2006 was push for more Canadian military presence in the North and continues to do so?

"Oh those Russians"

Gary Mar and integrity

2011-09-22T13:51:00.001-05:00

Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason has rightfully questioned leading PC leadership candidate Gary Mar's ethics in receiving a hefty severance package a year after he became the Alberta envoy to Washington, DC.

- While health minister, he paid an aide $374,000 between 2001 and 2004 yet no evidence of services were actually provided

- His envoy salary was $264,000, then deferred his severance package, but for only a year where he received $478,000.

- And recently, his campaign was buying memberships. While not against party rules, it surely draws into question his tactics and optics.

Gary Mar says we should instead focus on the future. I couldn't agree more. You and your ethics are about to be that future, Mr. Mar, and we have every right to question your past. Don't think you can deflect and hide.

Is this the kind of premier you want?

Unite the right in Alberta

2011-09-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

Kevin Libin from the National Post explores a new Blue Committee led by conservative stalwart Ken Boessenkool to unite the two right-of-centre parties.

I just don't see this happening for a very long time, if it all, for a few reasons:

1. There is no threat from the Liberals or NDP to forming government, especially the Liberals who saw their own exodus of brain power to the 'newish' Alberta Party. With no threat, there is no fear from Wildrose supporters to stay put.

2. Therefore, it's not the same situation at the federal level when the Canadian Alliance and PC Parties finally joined forces. The expediency of a "Paul Martin juggernaut" was a strong motivator back then.

3. The PC Party, save a few policies and cabinet ministers, is mostly a Red Tory party. It is NOT right-of-centre, despite what some liberal bloggers say. It is essentially a liberal party. Finding common ground on key Wildrose principles likes property rights, small government, and democratic reform, are no where on the radar for the PCs.

4. Boessenkool's prediction that next election, the PCs could be in a minority situation and then form a coalition with the Liberals is laughable at best and that the Wildrose should fear that. Actually, Ken, it would be an ideal situation and would further invigorate true conservatives to join the Wildrose.

5. When the Wildrose Party becomes official opposition next election with somewhere between 12 and 20 seats, Danielle Smith will be in the Legislature, garner more attention and distinguish itself from the PCs. That will be the launching pad for more donations and further support.

Therefore, this Blue Committee is premature and simply an attempt by PCs to swallow the Wildrose, but the same folks entrenched in the PC party and government at the bureaucratic level all need to be replaced, which takes a lot of effort to change, yet it's healthy for our democracy. I may be in favour of a merger if it was called simply "Conservative" like the federal party but it would need to adopt more democratic and fiscally conservative policies.

Hudak: "once they taste my pulled pork, I think I can turn them around"

2011-09-22T11:15:00.003-05:00

You can't help but read it another way! Who the heck is running the Tim Hudak campaign in Ontario? It should be a lesson for political science students on "what not to do", or "how to have a insurmountable lead then lose it in 30 days".

When I was in Mississauga on business throughout June, I heard the radio ads, I saw the TV ads. They didn't do much for me. The messaging and policy were all over the place. Chain gangs? Is that what the average person thinks about? It wasn't simple and clear.

The Liberal War Room led by Warren Kinsella has been pounding away at every misstep and questionable quote the PCs have given to the media and now the Liberals lead in the polls. The "foreign workers" quote is probably the most telling.

So now, Tim goes on radio and challenges the two other leaders to a BBQ cookoff?

“I am laying down the gauntlet, I’m throwing down the gloves, I’m saying I’m going to challenge Andrea Horwath and Dalton McGuinty to a barbecue contest to see who people would rather have,” said Hudak.

“I just don’t believe this poll. Once they taste my ribs, once they taste my pulled pork, I think I can turn them around,” he said.

“Don’t believe the polls till you have the pulled pork.”

Seriously? This counts for leadership? "Pulled pork"?

McGuinty will be premier for another four years and Ontarians will be hit with a carbon tax and continue their "have not" provincial status.

Morton and Orman campaign managers leave with "bad taste" and "just about puked"

2011-09-21T13:36:00.001-05:00

Ted Morton and Rick Orman's campaign managers are not too happy about their former bosses supporting Gary Mar.

“All I’ve got is a very, very bad taste in my mouth about everything,” said Sam Armstrong, Morton’s campaign manager and longtime adviser.

In a stinging criticism of Alberta’s former envoy in Washington, Armstrong said Mar becoming premier will not bring “renewal” to the party. He said some of the advisers working for Mar have been entrenched in the top levels of Alberta politics for far too long.

“It’s the same old, old boys’ club around Gary that’s been there forever,” Armstrong said. “If this party is going to prosper and renew, and go anywhere in the next decade, that group of people needed to be pushed out.”

Also on Tuesday, the man who ran Orman’s campaign said he was shocked the day before when he learned his candidate had given his support to the former health minister.

“I found out about it at 4:23 yesterday afternoon on Twitter, right before a press conference in which I saw my boss get off the bus with Gary and Ted, and I just about puked,” Patrick Walsh said. “I know politics makes strange bedfellows but that’s the weirdest threesome I’ve even seen.”

No kidding eh? "Same old, old boys' club." Yep, how anyone can vote for this party is truly beyond me now, unless perhaps you're somehow on the take.

And you wonder why Ted Morton didn't even come close to winning?

“The minute you get into politics and you’re the member of a party, you begin to compromise your principles because you’re part of a team,” he said.

Good ol' Ted. Compromise for power.

Let's vote 'em out people!

Edmonton's mayor Mandel is an idiot

2011-09-21T13:26:00.003-05:00

EDMONTON -- The two-lane one way metal Walterdale Bridge is to be replaced by new fancy three-lane modern one. It costs less to tear the old bridge down than maintain it annually. But our genius mayor wants to keep it and put a restaurant on it.

"A single remaining span can pay homage to the historical nature of the existing bridge," concluded the report. "It is possible to build a restaurant on the bank adjacent to the bridge and use this remaining span as the patio or outdoor space.".

The Walterdale is ugly, an eyesore, and a bottleneck. Councillor Bryan Anderson is bang on correct...

Maintaining the old bridge next to the city's new signature structure after 2015 would be ridiculous, Coun. Bryan Anderson said.

The new bridge is something people will stop to photograph and immediately to the west will be the "Walterdale mess," he said.

"I just think that when you're spending $40 million to make this an iconic piece of new infrastructure that could conceivably last 150 years, it doesn't make to me a lot of sense in confusing that signature appearance with a piece of 70-year-old, girder-style bridging."

Exactly. Mayor Mandel is an idiot.

Doug Griffiths now at the teet

2011-09-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

Last place candidate Doug Griffiths, who last week questioned the integrity of the Mar campaign buying memberships and selling them at advanced polls, is now right at his teet.

Yep, sounds like all these folks are lining up for cabinet posts and plum jobs.

I now won't be voting on Oct. 1 on the final ballot. There's no one to vote for in this lame party and it's obvious who'll win. Or I might go and write Danielle Smith on the ballot. It's not illegal to destroy or defame a party ballot as far as I know.

Anyone know if anything's happening to anyone who released the list to the media and to Environics polling? My guess is nothing will happen. And with that, I will also be requesting the PC party take my name off their lists and I will be ripping up my membership, maybe right after I put the ballot in the box.

So long Regressive Wrongservative party.

Premier Mar and health care

2011-09-19T17:37:00.000-05:00

The Twitterverse is reporting that in a few minutes (4:30pm MDT) Ted Morton and Rick Orman will be throwing their support behind Gary Mar, essentially swallowing up the "Conservative" part of the PC party. This will be enough to crown Mar as premier.

Gary Mar has been touting private health care delivery solutions and I do commend him for saying that. It's nothing new though. But I just don't see any big "change" with this party.

If I was Gary Mar, I'd catch the other parties off-guard and call an election for November. The Wildrose has no money, the Liberals have a brand new leader and no money, the NDP never have money but have finally figured out how to concentrate their efforts in a few ridings, and the Alberta Party, while it has a leader, can you remember his name, because I forgot, and the party itself hasn't really resonated to a wider audience.

Mar will win with over 60 seats, the Wildrose will be opposition with a dozen seats, and the Liberals will remain or drop a seat or two as it splits votes with the Alberta Party and NDP. The NDP might be able to ride the Jack Layton wave and gain another seat or two, but with former leader Ray Martin going against Sue Huff, former interim-leader of the Alberta Party, it'll be the race to watch how the progressives split votes.

This election will be all about health care. With Mar touting private delivery, Danielle Smith calling for a more European approach with a competitive hybrid, Raj Sherman calling for management reform, the NDP calling for more money, and the Alberta Party, although their "common sense" should dictate that private delivery is needed, they'll want to keep it totally public.

It will be an interesting and lively debate. All the leaders are well spoken. But with Mar's private health care, I think it's possible that a chunk of "progressives" in the PCs jump ship to the Alberta Party. And if the Alberta Party was smart, they'd take advantage of that.

Alberta PC leadership - 1st round

2011-09-19T13:58:00.000-05:00

Saturday I sat at home debating whether to vote in this leadership race although I do not support the PC Party. I ran some errands to fill in the day and drove by the Oliver Community League where the polling station was. I parked and walked to the door and then had a strong feeling that I should turn around. Then I said to myself, "You get to pick who you think would make the best premier." So I entered and was quickly greeted by a volunteer. I didn't have a $5 membership so I bought one in mostly quarters--coinage I'd never use and so I wouldn't waste a perfectly good $5 bill.

At that moment though I thought, "What are you doing? You can't stand this party and yet you have a membership now?" Then the volunteer interrupted the thought and told me to take my membership and voting card to the desk and then to get a ballot.

I knew going in who'd I vote for. Rick Orman--essentially the closest candidate to being an outsider in this race and a self-professed libertarian. Unfortunately, his campaign never took hold

Why not Morton this time like last time for me? I think most of us libertarian-conservative type folks had the same feeling about him. As provincial treasurer, he saw the largest deficits in Alberta history. To me, this simply shows a lack of leadership, and just following the party line. Morton's biggest blunder was becoming treasurer in the first place instead of staying on the outside perhaps as it highlighted his "unconservativeness". When a conservative stops being conservative, they lose support fast. And in Ted's case, that's exactly what happened.

For Doug Griffiths, the relatively young MLA was smart to enter this race to keep his profile up.

So now onto the top three, if it's really even that; it's more like top one with scraps now.

With Mr. Integrity Gary Mar at 41%, sweeping Edmonton, will the remaining Redford and Horner campaigns abandon him as their second choice? Will Horner garner the swift support of new Edmonton voters and Northern Alberta like Ed Stelmach did? Ed had 15% and won so it's not out of the question but that was because Jim Dinning and Ted Morton were polarized enough and both from Southern Alberta to invigorate Edmonton and Northern folks to buy a membership and mark an "X" for Steady Eddie.

While most true conservatives and libertarians have already abandoned the PCs, where will those remaining park their support on the run off vote October 1st? My bet is on Alison Redford or no one.

So now if there ever was a clear choice for libertarian-conservatives, it's certainly with Danielle Smith and the Wildrose Party. That is, if the party gets better organized and more media attention. As I said to the National Post last month, it's not ready for prime-time governing, but a successful stint as official opposition, and being able to raise some real cash, the possibility of governing in say 2015 is not out of the question, if not as a serious challenge to the PCs.

Forty years with the same party in power is not healthy for any democracy. I urge Albertans to vote for anyone but the PCs in the upcoming election. Even if you're a soft PC supporter, you'll be doing the province a favour.

In the meantime, I'll be debating whether I'll be voting in the final run-off vote on October 1st.

"Gary Mar unrepentant on improper membership sales"

2011-09-15T15:38:00.002-05:00

And super blogger Alberta Ardvark is relentless on following this story...

PCAA leadership candidate Gary Mar said his campaign volunteers did nothing wrong by selling party memberships within 50 metres of an Edmonton polling station. Adding that his supporters were only trying to help people who can't speak English. "Within the polling station, the advance polling station, you could buy a membership from the party," Mar said. "Except that there's no one at the party table that speaks three different dialects of Chinese."

Update: A scrutineer from the advanced vote says that she "spoke with at least 3 volunteers who were acting as interpreters and always available."

This is how Gary Mar runs his campaign. If he were premier, this is one example of how he'd run our province. ~~Integrity.~~

And another thing... If I were on another campaign, I'd have the party double check the resident addresses of the members signed-up from other campaigns, or maybe just a specific one. Call it a hunch. I've seen it happen on other nomination races and it disgusts me. Luckily the candidate who was doing it didn't win.

Rick Orman questions latest poll

2011-09-15T12:06:00.000-05:00

Alberta PC leadership contender Rick Orman has challenged the validity of the latest poll released by Environics which put Gary Mar on top with 31%.

And he has every right to considering the unusual circumstances.

Not only that, but PC Party president, Bill Smith (no, not that Bill Smith) has also published a scathing rebuke of the release of this poll saying that it is a breach of the party rules. Read blogger David Climenhaga's article for more info. Here is the text from the PC Party website:

Statement on unauthorized use of membership list
The Progressive Conservative Association is very concerned with respect to the recent use of what appears to be a private Party membership list by a public research company. Any unauthorised and inappropriate use of our Association’s private membership lists is absolutely unacceptable. The privacy of our members is of paramount importance to myself and our organisation.

We have been able confirm that the list did not come from the Party. What we have determined is that a list was given to a media outlet who subsequently gave it to a polling firm. We are surprised that any public research firm would use a list that was obtained in such a manner. Furthermore the list in question is not at all an accurate reflection of the membership that will be participating in our leadership process.

We will be contacting all leadership campaigns regarding this issue . It should be noted that all Leadership Candidates signed a confidentiality agreement not to disclose or disseminate the membership list prior to receiving it.

The conduct in question does not reflect our Party’s values, our commitment to our membership, or the ideals expressed by all campaigns throughout this Leadership process.

Bill Smith
President PC Alberta

Why was a private list given to the media? A list, by the way, that has my name on it from the previous leadership campaign where I bought a membership to vote. I wonder if any lawsuits will result.

But I think we all know what really happened here. Same with campaigns selling memberships at advanced polls. So what happens now? Will the guilty campaign's candidate have to resign? Or will they put the blame on "overzealous supporters".

Again, if the party cannot even hold an above-the-board leadership vote, is this a reflection of how they govern the province by stretching and breaking rules?

Of course it is.

Where's the integrity?

There isn't any.

If this isn't enough to show you that it's time to punt these corrupt bastards out of office, then I think you should start to question your own political ethics and decide what's best for our provincial democracy.

Strathcona County drops photo radar

2011-09-14T13:16:00.002-05:00

Credit is given where credit is due. Strathcona County smartly voted 5-4 in favour of dropping photo radar and using a more physical police presence to curb speeding and other infractions.

"Our officers on the street can enforce a whole lot more than just speeding," said Botterill. "They can go after the root cause of the accidents, not just the contributing factor.

"We have the advantage of telling our residents we're no longer doing the random road tax," said Botterill.

Wow. Common sense prevails!

"Another bad day for Team Gary Mar"

2011-09-14T12:52:00.002-05:00

Here's another Alberta Ardvark article on the questionable tactics of the Gary Mar campaign. This is typical old-school politics crap... ship them in by bus and sell memberships at the polling station door by a campaign, not by the party. And then put the blame on someone else by using the old "overzealous supporters" line. Yeah, whatever. I call that lack of leadership in ethics.

Doug Griffiths, another candidate is right in saying "If you can't run the campaign with integrity, then how can you promise integrity after?"

So I think I might vote in this race now. But not for Gary Mar, that's for sure. And I don't think anything will change in this province with him at the helm either.

Gary Mar campaign buying PC memberships

2011-09-13T11:42:00.000-05:00

Blogger Alberta Ardvark has delved into the story that the Gary Mar campaign has been buying PC Party of Alberta memberships for supporters. And unbelievably, it is not against the party rules.

The Ardvark is right in saying these are "antiquated rules for an antiquated party".

I've also checked various campaign websites to see if you can still buy a membership at the polling place just before you vote (as in the last leadership votes) and they all say you need to show your membership card. So are they selling them there or not? I don't know.

I have received numerous emails from each of the campaigns. The only phone call I got was from Gary Mar's team while I was at the Eskimo game. Friends of mine on some of the teams have not contacted me to try and win me over.

So with that, it's looking more and more likely that I won't be voting in this race.

"Alberta has the stupidest gov't in Canada"

2011-09-06T11:07:00.004-05:00

Ezra goes off on how stupid the Alberta PC government is. I couldn't agree more--40 years is enough of this drifting, visionless, anti-liberty, and wasteful government party. The PCs need to go.

Have not McGuinty

2011-09-06T10:57:00.002-05:00

I normally don't bother with Ontario politics, but I do note that in general, after some time to reflect, when Ontarians put the Liberals or NDP in power at Queen's Park, they then soon balance it out with a federal Conservative government, so it doesn't bother me who's running the show there.

That said, before Dalton McGuinty, Ontario was a proud "have" province. Since McGuinty, Ontario is a "have not", which puts the pressure on "have" provinces--BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador--to dish out even more.

I don't care whether you like Ontario PC leader, Tim Hudak, or not, even if you're a Liberal, Ontario needs to go back to being a "have" province again and it seems the only way is to ditch McGuinty. He's had his time. If you're on the left, even slightly, then vote NDP already.

Very tired of this Alberta PC Party

2011-09-02T11:48:00.002-05:00

Oh here we go again.. PC leadership candidates yapping about high-speed rail, like it's some dangling carrot. Well, this bunny's not gonna bite.

The only way this rail link would work and makes sense is if it went from downtown Edmonton to Red Deer to downtown Calgary. Otherwise, folks will continue to drive since they'll still want to get around their destination city. And what about winter time and the blowing snow? Oh, and why not have it go to Ft. McMurray too?

Speaking of the Mac, more people died on Highway 63 yesterday.

Before we even begin talking about luxury items like high-speed rail, why isn't more effort being put in to twin Highway 63 and get it done before more people die? Years ago, I also advocated that to pay for maintenance it should be a toll road since it's mostly business that uses it, and if workers are headed up there, they should be allowed to expense the toll. You know who also advocated that? Peter Lougheed.

On another note, with this stupid distracted driving law in effect yesterday, people in Calgary are being pulled over for.. wait for it... drinking coffee. What's next, switching stations on your radio? *Sigh*.

I've really had it with this PC party. They have no idea what they're doing anymore (and haven't for many years). Come on people, it's not like there's a threat from any of the left leaning parties. Isn't 40 years enough already? I doubt I'll bother voting in their leadership race.

Robocop Nation

2011-09-01T17:28:00.001-05:00

And you wonder why we are relying on machines and nanny-state laws more and more for lack of policing...

Police were ill-prepared for riot: report

An independent report has found that confusion among police caused them to lose control of the sprawling crowds gathered on Vancouver's streets to take in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final on June 15, setting the stage for the rioting that followed.

...

"A huge factor in what happened that day was alcohol," Furlong said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. "It had an enormous impact on the atmosphere and the attitude and the behaviour of people from fairly early on and right to the end of the day."

My bet is if this type of event is occurring, they'll look at having bars and liquor stores close early or not be open at all that day; yet another intrusive law that won't stop anything. What would have stopped the rioting is having police better managed with a strong presence prior to the game. Let people go to the bars, sure, but when they exit, they'll see well-policed streets.

Oh, and no one has been charged yet. Apparently, due to the lack of police, they're relying on citizens' video and pictures to convict. Has it really come to this?

Public surveillance cameras, red-light cameras, photo radar, Tasers, useless redundant laws, draconian bylaws, and now relying on cellphone cameras... sorry folks but none of that can hold a candle to having the physical presence of law enforcement personnel maintaining good public order.

Alberta PC leadership race - Southpark version

2011-08-30T11:31:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've done this, but here we go!

Doug Griffiths

Rick Orman

Doug Horner

Alison Redford

Gary Mar

Ted Morton

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, hoping Albertans choose none of the above

Premier Ed Stelmach on his way out...

NDP and Liberals

2011-08-29T12:04:00.000-05:00

With the passing, deification, and Saturday's memorial for Jack Layton, pundits, bloggers, and journos were quick to begin the speculation on who should run for the NDP leadership. Names such as party prez Brian Topp and Quebec MP Thomas Mulcair, uh, top the list. And Jack was right in his final letter saying they need to pick someone as soon as possible. Because with Quebec Solidaire member Nycole Turmel as it's interim leader, the worse the NDP will fair in the public eye or be taken seriously in the House of Commons and in the media.

For the other interim leader, Liberal Bob Rae says a merger with the NDP is not his focus "at the moment". Ah Bob, always leaves a slight crack open. As the Liberals gear up for a meeting among MPs, senators, and more failed candidates than ever, they need to do a lot of things to get back in the game. Merging with the NDP right now is the dumbest thing the Liberals could do from a position of great weakness. As well, that all depends on who they and the NDP pick for their leader. And even if that leadership candidate says a merger is not in the cards, I'd dare them to ask Stephen Harper and Peter Mackay their thoughts on that.

Even though he said he's not running (they all say that at the start), the best hope for the Liberals, in my humble Hatrock opinion is Justin Trudeau--maybe not in 2015 but 2019. That said, I've heard of absolutely no rumours of anyone running, which is how Bob would like it. My guess is that a lot of Liberals think Harper will win the next election, but then the public will grow tired of him and that's the time to run. Bob Rae will finally step down and a new Liberal leader will emerge. And if I was Justin Trudeau, that's exactly what I'd do.

Entering the political fray is about three things: patience, timing, and momentum.

So back to the NDP speculation. Patience is short, the timing is in the next month, and the momentum is derived from a build up of the speculation. I'll be honest I don't know who Brian Topp is, although I've heard the name before and that name is certainly being built-up. So is former Manitoba premier and Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer. The more they resist the urge to run, the more build-up and support occurs. That said, Thomas Mulcair has the best advantage being from Quebec, which is where most of the NDP is from now. Olivia Chow should not run because she won't win, which will be an embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Stephen Harper and the Conservative government sit back and run the show with a majority in both houses and yet not too much attention on them.

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage...

2011-08-26T13:21:00.000-05:00

For the continent he was on 45 years ago, his words are quite fitting to this year, don't you think?

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
- Robert F. Kennedy, South Africa, 1966

(Photo taken by me at the Arlington National Cemetery, March 15, 2008)

Jack Layton (1950-2011)

2011-08-22T13:17:00.000-05:00

A sad time for Canada. My sincere condolences to his family and especially Olivia (his wife and MP).

I need to dig up some of my old posts on him regarding his flawless, positive campaigns--a model, really, on how a fringe socialist-based party can galvanize a nation in less than a month. No one saw or has been able to explain how he was able to win over Quebec this last election.

I rarely agreed with his policies. His politics alluded me at times. Remember when he suggested that we should talk with the Taliban? Everyone laughed. But then guess what?

In the previous Parliaments, Jack showed how the NDP, as a small opposition party, can still be effective in "getting things done" within a minority government situation.

His performance in the debates last Spring was really quite outstanding--especially the French one. If there's one thing my father taught me about politics, no matter what stripe, it's that you have to have passion and conviction. Jack had that.

I also know that Prime Minister Harper respected him greatly. It is really too bad we weren't going to see more of these two men debate in the House of Commons--a huge loss for our democracy. You all know my detest for Liberals--primarily for their lack of ideas and well, ideology altogether. But I praise the NDP for having convictions and fighting for their cause. Jack did that. He inspired others to do so.

Jack proved that campaigns matter, that polls up to then don't really matter, that personality, warmth, and character matters--that despite a bummed hip and cancer treatments, you can still fight to the bitter end.

So there's something that Jack had that most politicians don't -- chutzpah and humility. Here's a couple old clips that show this side of the man.

Singing at the Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner...

Not Jack's greatest parliamentary moment, but one of my favourite comebacks.

And here's his last appearance in Question Period only two months ago fighting for Postal Workers. Note his calmness--bringing some needed dignity in the House of Commons, a place that will never be the same without him.

"To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer...

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

RIP Mr. Jack.

"No comparison between London, Vancouver riots"

2011-08-17T17:09:00.000-05:00

Article here.

Both police forces had a somewhat slow response to the criminal incidents.

But yeah, he's right--no comparison. The London riots occurred only a couple weeks ago with over 1000 people being charged.

In Vancouver? The riots occurred two months ago and not one person has been charged.

That'll teach 'em.

Edmonton knife ban?

2011-08-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

The top cop is pondering a city-wide knife ban. I don't need to say much on this because journalist Mindelle Jacobs from the Edmonton Sun outlines exactly what I and many are already thinking.

"Despite legal obstacles and the practical impossibility of controlling edged weapons, police Chief Rod Knecht is seriously exploring the idea.

"This is probably of little comfort to the couple viciously beaten unconscious last weekend with either an aluminum bat (according to witnesses) or a piece of wood (according to police).

"Will we ban bats and sticks next? And anything else that Edmonton's lowlife goons find handy to terrorize, maim and kill anyone in their path?

"If you think the cops are swamped now, imagine them searching every suspicious- looking character for edged weapons. Then watch the defence lawyers storm into court to get their clients off because of unreasonable search and seizure.

"Yes, folks, this zany plan will be deep-sixed because it's impractical, unworkable and unconstitutional.

"Alberta government repeating 1980s missteps with deficits, denial"

2011-08-15T10:59:00.000-05:00

The Fraser Institute sent out a release today, coupled with appearing on the Rutherford Show on radio this morning.

Here's an excerpt:

Examples of government statements from both eras:

“Alberta is not in debt”
In his 1985 budget speech, then treasurer Lou Hyndman said, “There are few governments in the world that can match the financial strength of the Province of Alberta.”

In February 2009, Finance Minister Iris Evans noted that “Alberta has absolutely got more resources available to it than anybody else facing a decline.”

The four-year budget target is missed
By June 1989, the Alberta government admitted its earlier forecasts of a balanced budget would be delayed one year. Then treasurer Dick Johnston insisted the deficit would be eliminated by 1991/92, a year later than projected; however, it wasn’t balanced until 1993/94.

In a late-2010 interview, Premier Stelmach announced a four-year balanced budget deadline would be pushed off further into the future, until at least 2013/14—one year later than initially forecast.

Fiscal comparisons between both eras:

Overspending leads to deficits
Between 1980/81 and 1985/86—before any significant (later) decline in revenues—Alberta’s revenues rose by 49 per cent, but program spending increased by 85 per cent.

Between 2003/04 and 2008/09—before any significant (later) decline in revenues—Alberta’s revenues rose by 38 per cent, but program spending increased by 70 per cent.

The ramp-up in real per-capita spending
In the 1980s, real per-capita program spending hit a high of $11,496 in 1985/86 and took significant reductions to bring the books into balance. Real per-capita program spending declined to a low of $6,498 in 1996/97.

Since then, the trend-line has been mostly upward. Real per-capita program spending hit $10,235 in 2008/09, dipped slightly in the next year, and rose again to $10,204 in 2010/11.

Yeah, wow, that PC Party sure has a real darn good organizational memory. Must be all that experience and all.

Alberta PC leadership debate! - Ft. Mac version

2011-08-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

I didn't watch it. But I did read the tweets from various journalists and blog pundits.

I have one point on a loooong-standing issue that basically defines where I stand with the PC party. They all agreed that the Highway of Death (HWY 63) needs to be twinned. Well holy Tory, now that's progress! Aren't/weren't all of these candidates in government when promises were being made about it years ago.

So how is anything going to be different? It's not.

This just cements my opinion that this out-dated party needs to get punted from governing this province.

Yeah, that oughta stop 'em -- UK gov't to disrupt BBM

2011-08-11T10:59:00.000-05:00

In a total knee-jerk reaction, I can't believe the British prime minister is even considering this draconian move which will do nothing to thwart riots.

“Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them.”

Ok, so disrupt Blackberry Messaging. Then what? Facebook? Twitter? The Internet itself? Or how about texting and phones altogether?

When will politicians learn?

The Bloc is dead. Long live the Bloc!

2011-08-09T13:55:00.000-05:00

With all the talk of the current NDP interim leader being a Bloc and Quebec Solidaire member, and other former Bloc members switching to federal parties, I've been trying to understand Quebec politics for years. This past federal election seemed to uncover some truths about voters there.

- They will turn their back on you in an instant (goodbye Bloc, hello NDP)
- They are quietly organized

So who is behind this quiet organization? How did so many former Bloc voters switch over to the NDP and why?

Is it Quebec Solidaire? And who the heck are they anyway? Let's have a look...

From Wikipedia:

Québec solidaire (QS) is a democratic socialist and sovereigntist political party in Quebec, Canada, that was created on 4 February 2006 in Montreal.^[1] It was formed by the merger of the left-wing party Union des forces progressistes (UFP) and the alter-globalization political movement Option Citoyenne, led by Françoise David. The party uses the name "Québec solidaire" in both French and English, as does the mainstream media, but the party's name is sometimes translated as "Solidarity Quebec" or "Quebec Solidarity" in English.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Declaration of principles
At the party's founding, the congress unanimously adopted a document called the Déclaration de principes which laid out the principles and values that led the two organizations to merge. They are:
"Nous sommes écologistes" ("We are environmentalists")

"Nous sommes de gauche" ("We are on the Left")

"Nous sommes démocrates" ("We are democrats")

"Nous sommes féministes" ("We are feminists")

"Nous sommes altermondialistes" ("We are alter-globalists")

"Nous sommes d'un Québec pluriel" ("We are from a plural Quebec")

"Nous sommes d'un Québec souverain et solidaire" ("We are from a sovereign and united Quebec")

"Un autre parti, pour un autre Québec!" ("Another party, for another Quebec!")

Well there you go.

So here's what I think happened. QS members dropped their Bloc support and established informal ties with the NDP because it more closely aligned with the socialist labour union movement or vise versa and saw an opportunity to become official opposition or perhaps involved in a coalition government with the Liberals.

It had nothing to do with Jack Layton's charisma. And now, because of his unfortunate illness, the Quebec Solidaire has one of their own leading the official opposition.

new tag: Quebec Solidaire

Ezra Levant's "Shakedown" is top political book

2011-08-03T18:21:00.000-05:00

Congrats to my friend Ezra Levant who won the prize for top political book of the last 25 years. That's good because not only did I vote that way, but while visiting his Sun Network studio in Toronto in June, I was handed a copy (by whom, I won't say) right off the shelf where he broadcasts "The Source".

"Shakedown" is in my left hand (!) and "Ethical Oil" is in my right.

Quoted in the National Post

2011-08-03T11:54:00.000-05:00

In today's National Post, yours truly was quoted by journalist Kathryn Blaze Carlson on my views of Alberta politics--particularly the PC leadership race.

“Everyone knows this is a chance to select the next premier, and people want to be involved in that process — I know a lot of NDP and Liberal voters who will [buy a Tory membership so they can cast a ballot],” said Mike Bayrak, an Edmonton-based blogger who was involved in Progressive Conservative campaigns until he became disenchanted with the party’s direction.

“I used to be a Morton supporter, but I haven’t been impressed with him while he was finance minister and I disagree with his position on the Edmonton arena,” said Mr. Bayrak, who says his views today align with the Wildrose, a party he said is not quite ready for prime-time. “I like Orman’s libertarian stance, which is something he talks about often knowing it appeals to the Wildrose.”

Oh, yeah, by the way, my name is Mike Bayrak--I've never mentioned that on this blog before, and will likely stay that way. I'm an Edmontonian and not involved in any provincial political party, and as you know, I describe myself as a libertarian conservative--economically slightly right of centre (I distaste private or public monopolies), and socially quite libertarian.

The Wildrose Party most closely fits with my views and will likely vote for the candidate in my riding this time as she seems connected with the community (just tried to find her info on the Wildrose.ca website but couldn't!). Sure I said they're "not fit for prime-time", and by that I mean, while there are some shining stars as candidates, some are not, and so I see them as possibly the official opposition, which will be good for them to gain more legislative experience and work out the kinks so they're fit to govern. The party is going through growing pains trying to find the balance between grassroots and pragmatism.

Do I hope they become government in 2016? You bet. Why? I don't see the PC party really changing, regardless of who leads it, which means the government won't either and after 40 years, it's about time.

Like the federal Liberals, the PC Party of Alberta needs to implode and find itself because I don't believe it has any sense of direction or vision, which is dangerous for a party that's actually governing this great province as we speak.

Lordy lordy, look who's 40 -- The PC Party of Alberta

2011-08-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

Today marks 40 years in Alberta when Peter Lougheed's Progressive Conservative Party defeated Premier Harry Strom's Social Credit government. The Socreds had been in power for 35 years prior to that.

So without trying to date myself, that has been my entire life--one party rule in Alberta. I admit that I was a long-time soft-supporter of the PCs way back when Les Young was MLA for our riding in West Edmonton. I didn't think Don Getty was all that great and I didn't get involved in the leadership race that saw Ralph Klein win. While in my first year of university, I had many friends who were trying to coax me into supporting Rick Orman. I didn't bite.

Then King Ralph dominated for many years and we libertarian conservatives voted as he and his cohorts Stockwell Day and Steve "The Knife" West lowered taxes, slashed the deficit and debt, and then literally starting giving money away.

Then at Ralph's last election kick-off rally in Edmonton, which I attended as I was supporting my friend Shannon Stubbs who was running for MLA in Edmonton-Strathcona, I heard a rambling speech, directionless, without vision, and no concrete plans for anything other than to ride the wave of the past. I walked out in the middle of the speech disappointed and a month later, voted for the Alberta Alliance candidate in my riding.

Then the PC Party basically saw the same thing I did and turfed the guy, soon replacing him with "Steady" Eddie Stelmach, a nice man with deep roots in this province. In the leadership race, Eddie was my 2nd ballot choice with Ted Morton first.

Soon after, I saw the Tory government go into deficit, record spending, raising taxes on booze, waffle on infrastructure, begin the largest nanny-state encroachment in Alberta history next to prohibition, raise oil and gas royalty rates--driving out business, and putting Ron Leipert in charge of Health--who yet again, changed the organizational structure of an ever-changing bloated healthcare bureaucracy. Then top it off with Stelmach's disdain for pushing for a Triple-E Senate.

They did eliminate health care premiums and bring in $25 ID cards for homeless folks who could then use shelters as an address, I'll give them that.

But all that said, it was to the point that I don't think the title libertarian could be truly attributed to the ideology of the party as it doesn't represent my beliefs anymore.

So since then, I've made it no secret that I don't support this party or government.

After 40 years, I think it's time for a change. Don't you?

So you may ask, who am I supporting then? Well, I currently hold no membership, am being courted by many of the PC leadership candidates through phone calls and emails (hey, Gary Mar campaign, don't call me in the middle of an Eskimo game, ok?) and perhaps the only candidate there who I'm looking at is Rick Orman, but geez, he ran 19 years ago!

So far, Danielle Smith of the Wildrose Party is the only one out there whose policies represent most of my views for the direction of this province. But, that party needs to get its act together if it has any hope of becoming the next opposition, nevermind government. It needs a good crop of candidates and more cash. I fear that because Ed Stelmach is stepping down soon, that the Wildrose momentum is lost ... well actually, it has.

And so it is... we'll soon be saying "45 consecutive years with an Alberta PC government", definitely marking it as one of the most successful political parties in western democratic history, if not ever.

Wow, we should be so proud.

Alberta poll: PCs 54%, WR 16%...

2011-07-29T16:11:00.000-05:00

Zoiks!

PCs at 54%
Wildrose at 16%
Liberals at 13.5%
NDP at 13.5%
Alberta Party at 2%
Undecided at 19%

It is summer and these numbers don't mean much, but the media and bloggers are dumping on Danielle Smith and the Wildrose for "plummeting". That's what happens when you peak way too soon.

When Danielle went through a honeymoon period, the Wildrose was tops. Mind you, Ed Stelmach was still intending to be leader and premier. Since he's stepping down, the numbers have changed. And now the PCs are currently in a leadership race, drawing support and attention. I've always felt that the best the Wildrose can do in next year's election is official opposition somewhere at 10-18 seats. But even now that seems difficult. The problem is that the party touted itself as grassroots but had a top down management style as well, which ticked off a lot of riding associations and soft supporters.

"Hey, but the Liberals are in a leadership race too, why aren't their numbers up like the PCs?" Because really, no one really cares about that race, other than maybe Raj Shermann.

The NDP haven't moved much. And the Alberta Party? Well, not much to say really. Each will get 1-3 seats next time.

Anyway, when the PCs pick their leader, that's when a new poll will mean something, whether it's Gary Mar, Ted Morton, or Rick Orman vs. Danielle Smith, it'll really depend on how they're perceived ideologically. For Danielle, the further left the PCs go with a leader, the better off she and the Wildrose are.

Edmonton downtown arena funding

2011-07-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

Mayor Mandel and Premier Stelmach are meeting today to discuss funding for the new downtown Edmonton arena to host the Oilers, along with a casino, hotel, bars, restaurants and a whole entertainment area.

The project is $100 million short.

Mandel wants the province to kick in. Stelmach's right for not just handing the money over, but the tax revenue generated from alcohol taxes alone (especially in this town) will eventually make up the amount.

Or why not a loan? Wait, the province doesn't exactly have a good history with Oilers owners and loans, do they?

Or, here's another idea from Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith.

The leader of the Wildrose Alliance is saying "no" to the idea of tax hikes to help pay for a new arena in downtown Edmonton, but Danielle Smith has an idea of her own.

Smith is proposing a special lottery to help raise money for what would be the new home of the Oilers. Progressive Conservative Party leadership hopefuls Ted Morton and Alison Redford have both suggested that the province could help by raising sales taxes, even by just 1%.

Smith says under her plan, "interested Albertans" could buy tickets, with proceeds going towards arena construction. The City of Edmonton has a framework deal in place with the Katz Group, but the sides are still about $100 million short on funds.

Shame on Morton and Redford for their stupid tax idea. Why should folks in Calgary pay for an Edmonton arena? Is that their solution going forward to fund any new project? Raise taxes? I thought Morton was smarter than that. Guess not. Now I have no idea why I supported him when he ran for the PC leadership years ago. I'm certainly not supporting him now. (I haven't decided yet, but if I were to choose, Rick Orman is now on my radar although the PCs have completely lost my support.)

Anyway... a lottery? A simple yet effective idea. While I'm not sure it would generate enough revenue to make up the entire amount, it wouldn't hurt either. I'd buy a $50 ticket. Why? Because I want a new arena downtown. Those who don't want an arena, don't have to buy one.

Jack Layton

2011-07-25T17:40:00.000-05:00

Very sad news about Jack Layton. I wish him a speedy relief from his suffering and a quick return to his role as leader of the opposition. If anyone can beat cancer, it's him. He has now appointed Nycole Turmel from Quebec as the interim leader.

In other political news, this summer has not turned out to be your usual "silly" one... thankfully. We'll leave the silliness up to the mainstream media.

Anyway... get well soon, Mr. Layton!

Leadership races

2011-07-07T22:47:00.001-05:00

Hey, now that Will and Kate have completed their Canadian journey, did you know that the Alberta PC Party is having a leadership race? Did you even know that Premier Ed Stelmach is stepping down this fall sometime? Do you know that the PC Party has been the governing party in Alberta for 40 years? Well, it's all true!

Can you name all the candidates? Can you name three? Does it matter who wins?

Oh and did you know the Alberta Liberals are having a leadership race too? Does anyone care? Who's running?

Well, there are a lot of candidates. Seems everyone wants to be premier these days. And don't forget about Danielle Smith from the Wildrose Party (they dropped the Alliance part). Oh and the new (old) Alberta Party has a leader too but I forget his name. I know he's the mayor of Hinton though. Then there's the old vet, Brian Mason of the NDP.

More importantly, did you know that the pub near the Leg. that Alberta MLAs frequent is no longer in operation? It's true. A month ago, Martini's Pub and Grill, a staple neighbourhood pub on 109 Street and 99 Avenue, one of my favourite establishments, closed its doors after a bazillion years in business.

I know, I'm not happy about it either.

Will & Kate in Canada!

2011-06-30T16:18:00.001-05:00

I have never heard Canadians so simply and eloquently described than what was said today by HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge on the steps of Rideau Hall to kick-off their visit to Canada.

"Merci beaucoup, Votre Excellence et Monsieur le Premier Ministre, pour votre accueil chaleureux.

Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada. Instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, who love this country, we have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time - and before we were married, we both had a longing to come here together.

The geography of Canada is unsurpassed and is famous for being matched only by the hospitality of its people. We are so very excited about having this opportunity to experience both - and learn much more about this amazing country.

Nous debutons aujourd'hui notre première tournée ensemble. Nous ne pouvions pas être mieux accompagnés que par la grande famille Canadienne.

[Joking about his French, going off-script] It will improve as we go on.

Thank you so much. We are truly looking forward to this adventure. Nous attendons avec impatience cet aventure. Merci a tous."

"The geography of Canada is unsurpassed and is famous for being matched only by the hospitality of its people."

I don't think there's any higher compliment than that. Thank you, Your Royal Highness for the endearing words and on behalf of everyone here at Hatrock's Cave, we wish you and your lovely wife a wonderful trip. We know you'll be back too!

Wheat Kings

2011-06-29T11:02:00.000-05:00

The monopsony Canadian Wheat Board is planning to have a vote to see how many of the 70,000 Western farmers want out of the pool.

Eliminating the CWB is the right move. Ag Minister Gerry Ritz is correct in saying that farmers should be able to choose who they sell their grain to.

This vote is likely a sham. It's non-binding anyway. But how many of the farmers will actually vote? How are they voting? Are they being lobbied? It seems like a political ploy by this monopsony and nothing more.

Canada Post strike. Air Canada strike. And now the Wheat Board. Methinks unions of mostly monopolistic corporations are flexing their muscle against the Conservative government.

That said, after watching the documentary "Food Inc.", I'd hate for a private corporation to run all the grain in Canada like they bully American farmers with law suits and this is an argument by the CWB to maintain its existence and control while canola farmers are doing just fine in a free market.

This only continues to solidify my distaste for monopolies and monopsonies whether run by government, as an oligarchy, as crown corporations, or as private business.

And let's not forget, the CWB only applies to parts of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Ontario and the rest of Canada are not part of it.

It's time to end it.

Afghanistan has a way more democratic and representative senate than Canada

2011-06-26T23:29:00.000-05:00

Just out of curiosity, I checked to see what kind of senate they setup in war-torn Afghanistan. Here is how it is constructed, and it's way closer to a triple-e than Canada could ever be.

I - COMPOSITION
102 members, or three times the number of existing provinces (currently 34).
The Meshrano Jirga is composed of three different thirds of members:
1. one representative from each of the 34 Provincial Councils, indirectly elected;
2. one representative from each of the 34 local District Councils, indirectly elected;
3. 34 qualified personnalities nominated by the President

II - ELECTORAL AND NOMINATION SYSTEM
Voting system: Two-round majority vote.
Term of office:
- four years for senators elected by the province councils;
- three years for those elected by the district councils;
- five years for appointed members.
Age of eligibility or nomination: 35 years
Half of the members appointed by the President of the Republic shall be women.
Representation of minorities :
Two members appointed by the President shall be disabled people, and two others shall be nomads (Kuchis).
Incompatibilities:
- a senator position with being a member of the local electoral council;
- a parliamentary with a ministerial position.
First elections: 18 September 2005
First nominations: December 2005

Nota: Due to problems related to the definition of certain boundaries and estimates of population figures, District Council elections were not held in September 2005. The National Assembly, once constituted, will resolve such issues. To fill the 34 seats reserved for members of the District Council, the Meshrano Jirga will include, in addition to its 34 appointed members, two representatives from each Provincial Council, or 68 other members. Half of these (34 members) will occupy the posts in question until District Council elections can be held.

Canada? The prime minister recommends to the governor in council who he or she should appoint and they serve until 75 years of age.

Alberta - Strong and Free

2011-06-23T14:37:00.000-05:00

Have a read of this Globe and Mail article about how many Canadians are moving to Alberta over other provinces.

Could it be lower taxes, higher wages, more opportunity, and quality of life?

Duh.

Flogging

2011-06-21T22:11:00.000-05:00

I merely suggest that reform-balking Conservative senators should be flogged because there's no other recourse for their hypocrisy, and then tonight on Sun News Network, Charles Adler discuss flogging on his show with Peter Moskos, author of "In Defense of Flogging".

Coincidence?

(new tag: flogging)

Senate reform bill introduced (again but amended)

2011-06-21T15:50:00.000-05:00

Barely into this session of parliament, as promised, the Conservative government has tabled a Senate reform bill with term limits now set at nine years and will only apply to senators appointed after October 2008 (34 total). It also does not bind the prime minister to recommend appointments, nor does it bind provinces into a democratic process, but it "strongly encourages" provinces to do so.

This will pass the house and hopefully in the senate. If it doesn't pass the senate, but gets stalled and amended there, then I think there are two options, one I've already suggested, and the other I read on Twitter.

1. Flogging. Flog any senator who agreed to be appointed based on their support for senate reform but is now balking. Flog hard. Flog often.

2. Reduce or eliminate their pay and benefits.

The NDP critic wants the government to hold a national referendum on the fate of the senate because the NDP believe Canadians will want to abolish it. Well, he's wrong. Poll after poll suggest a majority of Canadians want it reformed. In fact, there's a Conservative majority in the House of Commons, who have continually campaigned on senate reform, and so that's the mandate given by the people.

So what will happen now? Let's say this bill gets Royal Assent.

Before the next federal election in 2015, we have a pile of (22) senators who have to retire (not including the 34 Conservatives appointed by Harper after October 2008). Broken down as follows:

10 Conservatives
11 Liberals
1 Progressive Conservative

Then by 2019, there will be another 20 (mostly Liberals).

So in the next 8 years, we will have the 34 appointed by Harper, the 22 who have to retire on or before 2015, plus the 20 who retire up to 2019, for a total of 76 out of 105 senators. (There are about 8 who were appoint by Harper before October 2008, for a total of 84 of 105.)

That's a lot of vacancies. What will the provinces do? If I were Harper, I'd stand by his bill and not recommend to appoint anyone from a province unless a province does one of these things:

1a) hold a senatorial election covering the whole province
1b) hold a senatorial election for each region as determined by the province
2a) have the provincial legislature elect senators from a list of nominees to represent the whole province
2b) have the provincial legislature elect senators from a list of nominees to represent a provincial region

My preference is 1b).

And you know what else I'd do? I'd appoint only a certain number from each province, instead of the full amount, drawing further attention to the blaring inequality of representation.

In the next 8 years, there will be
3 senator vacancies in B.C., leaving 3. I'd appoint 3 based on if they're elected.3 senator vacancies in Alberta, leaving 3. I'd appoint 3 based on if they're elected.
4 senator vacancies in Sask., leaving 2. I'd appoint 2 based on if they're elected.
4 senator vacancies in Manitoba, leaving 2. I'd appoint 4 based on if they're elected.
18 senator vacancies in Ontario, leaving 6. I'd leave it at 6.
12 senator vacancies in Quebec, leaving 12. I'd wait until another 6 retire and leave it at 6.
3 senator vacancies in N.B., leaving 7. I'd leave it at 7 and wait for the next one to retire and leave it at 6.
5 senator vacancies in N.S., leaving 5. I'd appoint 1 based on if they're elected.
3 senator vacancies in N.L., leaving 2. I'd appoint 3 if elected, and see about adding another 1 to make it 6.
2 senator vacancies in P.E.I., leaving 2. I'd appoint 2 if elected, and see about adding another 2 to make it 6.
1 senator vacancies in NWT, leaving 1. I'd appoint 1 if elected, maybe more. Same for Yukon and Nunavut.

You see where I'm going with this. Each province gets 6 senators, each representing a provincial region (which regions are basically what we have in some provinces already). After every 3 years, 2 of the 6 senators get elected and serve 9 year terms.

We must must must must remember that we ALREADY have representation by population in the lower house. Even then, it's usually out of balance and needs correction. What we don't have is each province having an EQUAL say in the federation. Canadian provinces are unique and this should be celebrated and acknowledged. Our current senatorial allocation is archaic, unfair, and not based on any logic. Why should one province get even more say than another? Why have provinces then? Having an equal senate is the next step and having six senators per province appears to be the logical outcome over the next decade.

And for those who hold up stop signs in the senate and want proportional representation, an equal senate addresses this need by being a check against provincial domination in the house (Ontario and Quebec have a majority of seats in the house don't ya know).

So in a way, if provinces start to elect senators, based on the bill today, it is permissible that the prime minister can then only choose the right number to balance out the current provincial inequality.

All without opening the constitution.

Sun News Network tour!

2011-06-19T21:07:00.000-05:00

That's right! Lately, I've been religiously watching Sun News Network in various hotels rooms and I've been enjoying it.

I've been working in Mississauga for the last three weeks and have made some trips into Toronto on a couple weekends. This past weekend, I hooked up with a friend of mine (I won't say who to protect his privacy) who gave me a tour of the Sun News Network studios on King St. East. We started off with a peek see into Ezra Levant's "The Source" studio which is actually across the street at the Toronto Sun. An impressive room with robot cameras controlled by joystick across the hall, with lots of books and trinkets on the back wall, and two books which I happened to help myself to a couple copies of were Ezra's "Ethical Oil" and "Shakedown".

Having been only on air for two months, Sun News Network is attracting radio hosts, journalists, and political pundits. It recently hit 70,000 viewers on Brian Lilley's show "Byline". Not tied to any other network, it is very independent and entertaining to watch. It's amazing to me how many lefties in this country wanted to prevent this little network from reaching the airwaves. Free speech for them obviously only goes so far for them, I guess. But it's one of many battles and wars that Canadian conservatives are winning.

I'm watching it right now, and it's great to see them giving our dedicated troops currently in Kandahar a way to say hello to their family and friends. I haven't seen that on other networks much. They're also going to pump up Red Fridays more to support our brave soldiers.

I mentioned to my friend that I remember years ago when former Reform Party leader Preston Manning (then retired) wrote a newspaper opinion piece that for the conservative movement to succeed in Canada, it needed not just a political party to get behind, but other important institutions such as think-tanks, political training organizations, and also having a media class.

Since he wrote that, we now have a unified Conservative party which has had a five year minority government, and now at least a four year majority. Behind that, Mr. Manning created the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, there were more newspaper party endorsements, and a plurality of the electorate that has become comfortable with Canadian conservatism.

So now in Canada, we appear to have a polarized political environment with the New Democrats (new?) on the centre-left and Conservatives (newer) on the centre-right. The debate about senate reform has already become heated and interesting, but I was surprised when the NDP voted with the gov't to extend our mission in Libya.

Speaking of the NDP, I learned today that at their convention in Vancouver, they tabled whether to remove the postfix "ist" from their constitution and call themselves "social democrats" not "socialist" and replace "wealth distribution" with "economic equality".

This is all good news for the Marxist-Leninist and Communist parties. They like their "ist".

Anyway, whether you like SunTV or not, adding more voices to the national debate is simply good for our democracy and to deny it, well, you're being a ninny and stubborn. Canada has been subjected to liberal-friendly TV news for many, many years. It's refreshing to have a new TV news network that opens the debate even wider. I wish everyone at Sun News Network all the success into the future.

And yes, I also made time to call my dad back home in Edmonton and wish him a happy Father's Day, talk about Rory McIlroy at the U.S. Open and them tell him I got a tour of the Sun News Network studios--a channel he's been watching since it went on air. He thought that was pretty neat. And so did I.

Strikes, Riots, and the In Dig Nation

2011-06-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

What a week in Canada!

Postal strike. Air Canada strike. UFCW strike at National/Alamo/Enterprise at YYZ (at the same time I was renting). Postal lockout. Government back-to-work legislation on Air Canada. Air Canada deal. CAW union blowhard saying the government shouldn't be involved (wha?). Government back-to-work for postal workers? Conservative senators appointed by Prime Minister Harper balking at senate reform? Then the CBC claims it actually makes a profit when it receives most of its revenue from uh... taxpayers.

Then Canucks lose the Stanley Cup. Vancouver area hoodlums riot and trash downtown. (See Rex Murphy's direct editorial on The National about it by the way.)

Such disobedience! Such righteous rebelliousness! Such in-dig-nation!

Is it all related somehow?

Probably not, but seriously, why? Why are anarchists, socialists, and unions flexing their muscles now, now that it's a Conservative majority? Are they afraid of their "entitlements" being taken away or something? Maybe. And maybe they want to blame and take it out on someone.

Me? I blame that senate page with the "Stop Harper" sign.

NDP MP wants to ban floor crossing

2011-06-14T15:48:00.001-05:00

I'm now convinced that the NDP have no concept of how our parliamentary democracy actually works in Canada.

They want to abolish the senate. But they also want proportional representation to reflect the actual percentage of the popular vote to match the number of seats per party in the lower house. I've already explained their contradiction in this, but essentially, where are the members for these extra seats going to come from, since the public isn't voting for them specifically, so they only represent a party and not a district, and so how are they held accountable? Their argument is that they want a check against our first-past-the-post system, but an equal and elected senate would actually cover that and balance it out. (I'll save my further arguments against proportional representation in another post.)

And now NDP MP Peter Stoffer wants to abolish floor crossing. Seriously, what planet is this guy living on? He wants to prevent an elected representative of the public from switching caucuses in the House of Commons. During new MP orientation, don't they give them an idea how the Westminster Parliamentary System works? I guess not.

If the NDP won't accept floorcrossers then they can have their own policy and not accept the member until they run in a by-election or general election. But it's typical NDP socialist thinking that their will should be the will of everyone, even upon the public.

Why do I say "public"? I've discussed this before, but in the House of Commons, parties do not actually exist, but caucuses do. Despite what some think or how people base their vote on, we elect people, not parties. It's a person's name on the ballot along with their "political affiliation". Sure the "political affiliation" gives us an idea of their political views and what caucus they're likely to sit with in the Commons, but if we just elected a party, then they should only show the party name on the ballot. But they don't, so really their argument is moot.

Not only that, our parliamentary history books are filled with records showing MPs switching caucuses or forming coalitions. Coalitions. Hmmm, you'd think the NDP would support that. Coalitions are perfectly legal, but if a coalition government formed out of the opposition parties to take over from a minority government without first going to the public, like we recently almost had, then I think those parties should make it known that that is always their intention. We only had ambiguity from the Liberals on that one and I think the voting public deserves to know what the intention is.

Anyway, having MPs switch caucuses is congruent to a typical voter switching who they support at any time. That dynamic is extremely important to our democracy and its will is organic in real-time. There are many examples of where the MP simply states that he or she can no longer support the caucus of the party he or she represents due to policy and then he or she will sit as an independent or ask to join another caucus. But it is their fundamental right to sit and be accepted into any caucus in the Commons. Preventing that from happening instantaneously completely undermines our representative democracy.

Then at the next election, if the voters don't like it, let the voters decide. (By the way, I'm also against recalling an MP.)

I just hope that there are less than 13 Conservative MPs who support this crazy idea or none at all. I'm also shocked that this notion isn't also completely out of order in even making it to the floor.

CPC Convention

2011-06-13T15:20:00.000-05:00

Now that the CPC Convention in Ottawa is done, let's look at a few of the resolutions and their results and my comments. (You'll have to excuse me for not citing the exact wording.)

Kill a pregnant woman and the unborn child and get punished for both? PASSED. I read that one of the delegates who spoke said if passed, this is a slippery slope issue related to abortion and a woman's right to choose because now we're saying the fetus is a person. It's really close isn't it. I don't know about you, but yes, killing anyone is the worst thing. But killing a pregnant woman? That's even worse.

Two strikes your out? PASSED. It just seems too obvious to me that if you commit a heinous crime twice, you're screwed even worse than before. Where's the fine line? Well, it was when the first crime was committed.

The Omar Khadr law--high treason if you're a Canadain and fight against Canadian or allied soldiers? DEFEATED. I preferred naming it the Louis Riel law. It seems to make sense, but underlying this, to me, is a basic fundamental aspect of personal liberty. I believe we should be allowed to defend ourselves if the government becomes oppressive. Not saying that this would happen in Canada, but it certainly happens in many countries... like right now in Syria, Libya, Egypt, Tunisa, Bharain, Angola, ... etc. Speaking of liberty...
Limiting powers of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and tribunals? PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Excellent, but why not just scrap the whole thing? Best argument from my MP, "Edmonton MP Laurie Hawn supported the motion, saying 'we already have hate laws" and the tribunals "punish individuals for expressing legitimate — even if they're controversial — views.'"

Youth wing? DEFEATED. I already talked about this one and glad about it.

Leadership vote riding weight (each riding gets 100 points and up to 400 for more members)? DEFEATED. Not a bad idea though. In looking at the pluses and minuses from both sides (one member one vote vs. equal ridings) we have:

If the bulk of the membership are from a particular areas, then candidates would only need to campaign there and not in every region of the country. I agree. As well, in a general election, our party leader has to basically visit every region because every riding is equal, so why not in a leadership race?
That said, ridings with few members could be easily taken over by a campaign team or by stealth as Belinda Stronach tried to do.

However, having the rule that >=400 members = 400 points could give incentive for ridings to sign up more members. However, we all know that it's the leadership campaigns themselves that sign up the bulk of the members.

Regardless, the system that was originally agreed upon as the last item to bring the Alliance the PCs together remains--with each riding maintaining its 100 points.

And hey, Stephen Harper still won. Not that his job is in any jeopardy now whatsoever.

So all in all, a pretty harmless convention as far as policy. I still wished they had a senatorial flogging policy for any of senator who shows signs of insenaty.

Insenity Within

2011-06-11T14:27:00.001-05:00

I'm surprised that the media (I'm especially looking at you SunTV) haven't seriously latched onto the story that some Conservative senators, even those appointed by Harper in the last five years, are balking at Harper's plans for senate reform without constitutional amendments.

For this blogger, when I read about it, my first thought was, "Fire them." But wait, can't be done, can it? MPs can be easily whipped or pushed out as a candidate in the next election.

"There are a lot of unintended consequences from an elected Senate," Conservative Senator Michael MacDonald told Postmedia News. "(Not only) in terms of its relationship . . . with the House of Commons, its relationship with the government of the day and the relationship of the (senators) with their own provincial governments. These things have to be looked at because . . . the long-term implications are pretty significant."

People often complain the Senate is illegitimate and not democratic but, MacDonald said, "the Senate wasn't set up to be elected."

"It was set up to be a deliberative body and not an elected body and it's been that way for 147 years and for the most part, it seems it has worked pretty well," he said.

And there's the insenaty. Actually, appointed senator, if you knew your Canadian constitutional history, the Senate was actually SUPPOSED to be elected at its formation, but from negotiations, one the main reasons why the founders signed the dotted line was that senators were to be appointed for the time being. And even after that in the late 19th century, for a young Canada, there was a desire, but to amend the rigid constitution was difficult, and it still is.

"It seems it has worked pretty well."???? Excuse me? Senator attendance sucks. Always has. Criminals as sitting senators? They've blocked what, how many bills from the House of Commons? Not many. And how many bills come out of the senate compared to the Commons? Way fewer.

This senator needs to be flogged out in the back chamber. What other punishment can he receive? Flogging. That's about it, really. Maybe the Conservatives at the convention should put in a policy for senator flogging.

The NDP want to scrap the senate because they'll never form government and get to appoint any of them. Which bloggles my mind that they at least wouldn't want to elect them, then at least they have a chance to have senators. Then again, the NDP also favour proportional representation in the Commons. And why's that? To bump them up with more members in the Commons to ensure the percentage vote matches the seat count. But to make up the difference those specific members have to be chosen from somewhere. Not directly by voters though, so by what method? Appointment. Ah. And there's the contradiction.

So back to the senate. Now some of these rogue senators want to extend the term limit to 10-12 years to overlap governments. I agree with the concept of overlap, but the best way to achieve this is to do what the US senate does and elect one of the two senators each election. In Canada's situation, I've proposed that each province get 6 senators, each representing a general provincial region, with half of them elected every three years. Now, I guess if the term limit was 8 years, we could do it every federal election.

Thing is, senatorial elections are run by provinces, and the candidate represents not a federal party, but a provincial one. It's an odd situation, but it's the reality of our constitution. Even then, when a newly appointed senator declares the caucus he sits with, it's with whatever party he or she declares (hence some senators are still Progressive Conservative).

Some provinces are open to having elections to then have the prime minister recommend to the governor general to appoint them to the senate. But this depends on who's premier. Ralph Klein had no problem with it. Ed Stelmach does. Brad Wall in Saskatchewan is open to it. Dalton McGuinty is not. Quebec? I think they want the whole senate, let alone 25% of it.

My only hope in all of this to lead us toward some kind of senate reform is the resilience and political acumen of our Prime Minister. By making the 30 appointments in the first place he did two things. One, he gained seats in the senate to pass bills from the Commons. Two, he drew a lot more attention to the need for senate reform.

And now there's a third. With some of his own senators balking, it now proves that unelected senators are also accountable to no one.

And that, my loyal readers, is not a democracy.

CPC Convention - No to youth wing :)

2011-06-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

Another issue that never seems to go away is the creation of a party youth wing.

Back in the Reform Party days, there were mumblings about creating one, as they had a national youth director, so why not an excecutive and organization?

The party being basically a grassroots organization, had a distaste for top-down style governance. Those of us who were heavily involved in Reform campus clubs, especially out West, were vehemently against this concept. Why? Simply because we were already organized at various universities and colleges. While we appreciated the support and advice of the national youth director (a.k.a. Kory Tenycke), we also got lots of support from the local constituency associations, especially in Edmonton-Strathcona. And the MPs were very supportive, never turning us down to come and speak at our special events and meetings.

But another point against a youth wing, and this, to me, is the #1 reason. Now, some may say, "Hey, it's good to have youth involved in politics." Sure! But consider, if you will, what is deemed as "youth" at the party level. If you're 29, guess what, you're a youth! Ah, don't you feel young again?

We always felt that having any wings merely subjecated those groups into their own little sandbox. If you wanted to be heard and wanted to change policy, you simply got involved at the riding level, heck start a movement within the party, propose policy, go to convention and get it voted on and passed. If you're under 30 and wanted to get involved in the party, well, get involved! Run for a position, or heck, even MP.

I think these youth wings are a way for the main party to push aside the youth, not have them get more involved. Not having a youth wing, a women's wing, a chicken wing, or what have you, actually is more equal, and what is the actual reality of our current democracy.

I remember at the 2002 Canadian Alliance convention in Edmonton, where my friend, Jamie Tronnes, who was president of the campus club, continued our legacy club's policy of "No Youth Wing" and campaigned hard against one, handing out flyers, speaking against it, and giving it her all. In fact, 6 years before that, we elder statemen, enshrined into our Reform Club constitution that we were against a youth wing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that same structure and core belief remains in the U of A Conservative Club constitution to this day.

And I'm very glad at this convention, to see that it got defeated once again.

The Louis Riel proposal...

2011-06-09T21:14:00.001-05:00

But check out this proposal...

Page 24 of Section B:

RESOLUTION B - 060
EDA – Calgary Southeast
Section M – Criminal Justice (NEW)
NEW

98. Canadian Citizenship and High Treason
The Conservative Party of Canada believes that any Canadian citizen, whether by birth or by naturalized grant of Canadian citizenship or by claim of landed immigrant or refugee status in Canada who commits treason by taking up arms against the Canadian Forces or the Forces of Canada’s Allies automatically invalidates his or her Canadian citizenship or claim to Canadian citizenship and, if and when returned to the jurisdiction of the Canadian Legal System, should be tried for high treason under the Canadian Criminal Code.

Take THAT Canadian Talibaners!

Oh, and you too Omar Khadr.

New tag: treason

It's the CPC Convention!

2011-06-09T20:55:00.000-05:00

I know it's going on because I read it on Twitter. But I don't know where. I'd assume Ottawa. Ok, Ottawa it is. And coming off a big win, it's probably going to be a big beer fest. Fun stuff.

The only convention I ever went to was in Edmonton in 2002. I was doing stage security while Mr. Harper spoke and I fended him off from photographers. That was back in the Canadian Alliance days. Back when he said (and I remember because I was the closest person to him), "The Canadian Alliance is strong and the Canadian Alliance is here to stay!" I didn't believe a word of it. I, like him, knew that unless the PCs and Reformers merge, this wouldn't work. I knew right away when they named the party CRAP. Who missed that? Geezus! So when the knives came out for Stockwell Day, I hoped Harper would step up. And he kinda did, didn't he? So I got involved on his leadership team, which morphed into Laurie Hawn's team.

Anyway, so now with the coveted majority, you'd think that some pretty smart people would propose some good policy that will easily become gov't policy, yes? So what policies are on the table for the Conservative Party of Canada this weekend?

Let's have a quick look shall we?

Leadership vote one-member-one-vote vs. equally weighted constituencies? WHAT? I thought they settled that? So must be because there's a looming leadership race, right? Oh, nope, Scott Reid, MP is proposing a more balanced approach formula than balanced ridings.

So with these pressing matters, there's some actual policy. Here are the three policy streams for your perusal:

So now we're going to go through each policy item and discuss it. Wait, let's not. What's the point? Barely any of these are ever going to become gov't policy anyway.

I don't ever remember calling Quebec "a nation" ever brought up at a convention or heck, even discussed. I don't ever remember this idea of the Tax Free Savings Account. Maybe it was, but no one remembers.

So what's the point of these conventions? Well, it's to keep the grassroots old Reform policy wonks happy, like they think they'll actually make a difference. Maybe they will now with this majority--it was REALLY pointless back in the Reform days.

In the meantime, it seems like I'm missing a really good beer fest.

A long time comin'...

2011-06-03T12:19:00.000-05:00

My loyal blog readers will know that I'm a former Reform Party member. I joined back in 1991 after seeing a Reform Party Students' Society booth during my first month at the University of Alberta. It was a small club back then but then after taking the helm of the club in 1996 we rapidly grew and became one of the largest student political party clubs in Canada (with thanks to Kory Tenycke and Rob Anders, MP who helped with recruitment).

I remember meeting Preston Manning many, many times and him thanking me for all the work we were doing at the U of A. I remember loyal club member, Ezra Levant who was just as boistrous then as he is now. And I remember in 1996 meeting Stephen Harper in the kitchen at a Boxing Day party event that Ezra and his family were hosting for Reform VIPs. Mr. Harper was a mild, quiet man back then.

But what I also remember is the 13 years from 1993 to 2006, when Liberal policy after Liberal policy got me very frustrated with the direction our country was headed. Sure the books got balanced, but the taxes upon the middle class went up, the gun registry, our foreign relations, our dollar, and especially our lack of support to the military. There's much more, but I was nearing the point of actually considering moving to the U.S. (I did end up working there for a wihle though on a visa).

Reform went from 1 seat in Deb Grey's byelection in 1989 to 54 in 1993, to 60 in 1997, to 66 in 2000 (Canadian Alliance). Harper then won the Canadian Alliance leadership (a campaign I worked on in Edmonton) and as soon as PC leader Joe Clark stepped down, with Peter Mackay as the new leader, the parties merged. And four elections later, we finally have ourselves a majority.

In that time with Harper at the wheel, a lot has happened on the policy front. Two of my favourite policies being lowering the GST and the TSFA.

And the policies to be now on the table are (a lot of reversing what the Liberals brought in actually):
- Senate reform
- scrap the gun registry
- scrap the party per vote subsidy
- scrap the Canadian Wheat Board
- crime omnibus bill

Finally.

It's been a long time comin'...

And I couldn't be prouder to be Canadian.