I saw lots of energy in the meeting rooms, hallways and hospitality suites at the Alberta PC AGM this weekend. At last April's AGM in Calgary, the party decided to tell Ralph Klein it was time for him to retire, and he did. It was an example of the membership taking back its power as a political party. It was a decision that shocked the status quo players and astonished most of the media...but it had to be done.
This convention there was still more changes happening, that may not be as dramatic as last year, but will be just a profound and potentially just as far reaching.
New Faces Elected to the Executive:
The party executive election results underscored the displeasure of the party delegates with the performance of the party executive and the continuing focus on change. They chose a new face for VP Calgary over old regime options and a much younger new face option for VP North over an older experienced party stalwart.
The defeat of Joe Lougheed for party president by a 90 vote margin of the 900 voting delegates will be seen by Calgary as another slap. It is not. This vote result was not and Edmonton over Calgary choice but the old guard power brokers in Calgary may have trouble believing that right now.
I think the selection of St Albert lawyer Marg Mrazek for president was the party opting for a proven organizer and a respected party activists. She is going to lead the PC Party through the next series of changes they clearly want. I know her and believe she will implement these changes very carefully, without any hesitation - and she will definitely not lead reluctantly. She will be independent from undue influence from the Premier's office too. This has been a serious problem in the past as far as I am concerned.
She will be steady and wise hand at the tiller as we shake things up and get set to sail into the next election under new leadership. Speaking of the new leadership, some 1500 delegates attended the AGM. That shows the transition to the new leadership is well in hand but there is lots of post leadership fence mending still to do. Ed Stelmach is clearly on top of that challenge but it is not a done deal yet.
More Change Coming:
There were other notable events at this weekend AGM with serious implications that offers insight into the hearts and minds of the PC Party of Alberta. Policy development and discussion is a big part of any successful political party and it was front and centre at the AGM.
Policy Process Proposal Rejected:
A centralizing and narrowing policy process option presented by the executive was rejected. The new executive will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how to design an effective, inclusive, open and comprehensive policy development process. A unilateral party executive decision to double membership fees to $10 per year was rejected too.
Delegates Demand More Leadership Campaign Funding Disclosure:
Delegates were not impressed with the disclosure and accountability standards of the recent leadership around campaign funding disclosures. Delegates made it known they want serious and binding changes in place to assure transparency and accountability in such matters in the future. A legislated approach to apply to all political parties was the recommendation.
Democratic Reforms Well Received:
The new democratic reforms for all-party committees and the new processes and powers recently put in place were well received as positive and necessary democratic reforms. Internet streaming video of the entire legislature session and now even some committee proceedings will be streamed in video on the Internet to further enhance citizen’s access so they can see how they are being governed were innovations that were applauded.
Housing Crisis is Serious - Rent Controls are not the solution
Housing issues were top of mind. Rent controls were soundly rejected as an option but the shelter problem for Albertans was now seen to be a crisis and delegates wanted the government to come up with better solutions and fast.
Study Nuclear Energy Option for the Oil Sands
Then we have nuclear energy. A Calgary constituency put forth a resolution to look at the option for the oil sands exploitation. There was lots of controversy but in the end, it was pretty clear that the PC Party believes something has to be done and all options are worth studying.
There will be lots of spin and misinformation circulating over this nuclear power decision I expect. For the record, here is the wording of the nuclear power option resolution that what was passed:
Resolution to immediately set up a committee to study and come up with
recommendations for the construction of nuclear power plants for use in tar sands
development, including public consultations with experts from the private sector.
PC Party is Late in Adopting new Technologies:
Finally, it was pretty obvious that this political party has some technological literacy issues when we are told we only have e-mail address of about 20% of members. Part of that would be the result of instant party members who want only to participate in the leadership selection and not the life of the PC Party. Still, it is astounding that so few members have put their email addresses on record. On a positive technology note, the Premier's AGM speech was actually taped and uploaded on You Tube – it is a start and shows that some one is thinking ahead.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteI was at the AGM as well, and was encouraged to see the appearance of optimism and the belief that the membership was back in control. I think "grassroots" is a horribly over-used term, but in this case it is appropriate.
The increased use of technology is welcome. Posting the speech on YouTube, opening up Legislature sessions on internet, etc. is good, as it also serves to loosen the hold of the mainstream media. One disappointment for me, is that when I got back to Calgary I was appalled at the biased coverage from the Calgary Herald. If one had no other information source, Don Braid and crew would have one think the we set up a Calgary punching bag in the corner and let everyone take a turn. Yes, I know - some wag will say that the PC Party gets a free ride from the MSM. I beg to differ. From going through the three papers on my doorstep when I got back, I saw nothing if not selective reporting of the facts. Studious avoidance of reporting anything but the negative does not translate into journalistic integrity/independence, folks.
That was not the case. I voted for Joe Lougheed. I was disappointed that he did not win, but I am not afraid that "the wrong choice was made." I knew less about the winner - Marg Mrazek - but she appears eminently capable. And it was a tight race - 82 votes on a base of over 900 cast.
There are those that will use her win to perpetuate the notion that Calgary is on the outside now, but these people would have found another reason if Joe had won. The sooner those elements are finished being weined off the party teat, the better.
P.S. - The youth session went over very well. I was pleasantly surprised at the high attendance level also.
Did Ralph Klein show up?
ReplyDeleteNo - Dinning was a no show too. I heard Rod Love was there and Jim Prentice from the CPC was there too.
ReplyDeleteKen, you must have been upset not to see Dinning. In your previous posts - once Hancock was sounded defeated in the first ballot - you instinctively stated that individuals should vote for Dinning (not Stelmach as your post-leadership comments would tend to suggest).
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 11:22 - I tink yo misread me. I could live with Dinning or Stelmach but would follow Hancock.
ReplyDeleteHancock and I had talked about it and decided the best choice for the future of the province would be Ed Stelmach and we went there.
I talked to lots of Dinning people form all over the province at the AGM. They were there in force.
I wonder if Dion voted in France's election.
ReplyDeleteI was not at the AGM - because it cost $250 to register. A $5/yr membership invites participation by ordinary folk, but a $250 registration fee ensures an elitist event. Glad you all had a good time.
ReplyDeleteThe fees for such events effectively ensures that lower-income party members will be unable to attend, which effectively silences them. I don't think that's an "accident".
Roy Harrold
I am very surprised that you do not mention the export of bitumen to the US. This is a terrible mistake. We should process bitumen in Alberta it is fantastic for our economy and jibs. Stelmach said that all bitumen would be processed in Alberta (remeber the comment that selling bitumen is like removing the topsoil from the farm).
ReplyDeleteI am shocked that the PC members did not raise this as a concern.
At last April's AGM in Calgary, the party decided to tell Ralph Klein it was time for him to retire, and he did. It was an example of the membership taking back its power as a political party.
ReplyDeleteNo, it wasn't. The vote was a delegated vote and therefore not open to ALL members. In fact, as newspapers reported a few days later, if ALL members had been allowed to vote, Klein would have gotten a result of around 75-79% (and he would have stayed on). That vote in 2006 was as undemocratic as the delegated Liberal leadership vote.
I was there too. I'm not as optimistic as you are, Ken. The challenge Ed S faces is time. He has a slow, steady and thoughtful style. But reaction and reporting are fast. Stories are written almost before the news is made, thanks to the incestuous habit of spin doctors and media reps giving one another advance feeds on every topic conceivable. So, all the negative press may damage him so badly that he is never able to recover.
ReplyDeleteThat would be too bad. He's good. Even great, when you watch him in action at a session like the Q&As on Saturday. My advice, forget the speeches. Get some tape of the Q&A and distribute it far and wide. That was authentic Stelmach, and as many Albertans as possible need to see it.
I saw the YouTube clips of Mr. Stelmach. He is truly a terrible speech reader. He almost induced a coma while I watched. I only watched the first clip it was so punishigly boring. It is not just the delivey but the content too. It was trite, cliched and visionless.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing missing was the usual tripe about Albertans being mavericks and turning our faces into the wind blah blah blah.
Sorry Ken, but Mr. Stelmach will lose seats next election.
The goods news for you, but not democracy, is that rural Alberta has 50% of the seats despite only having 33% of the population. This bit of election engineering is brilliant because it ensures PC longevity. Democratic reform is a joke with Ed. If he really meant it he would respect that each constituency should have approximately the same number of voters. It is a joke that Dave Hancock gets 8000 votes in a city riding and a rural MLA is elected with 2500 votes.
RE: distribution of seats
ReplyDeleteThe principle of rep by pop always seems to be invoked by those living in large population centres. Truth is, the rural areas have been losing seats to the cities for decades. With every re-drawing of the boundaries, this happens.
But what people seem to conveniently ignore is the outcome for some areas is a ridiculously HUGE constituency area. Look at a map. There is no way Guy Boutillier can visit his constituents as it is, nevermind what would happen if the ridings were further adjusted.
RE: Premier's Q&A.
I hope that someone in the party reads this blog and takes Olivia's suggestion. The Q&A was awesome. Having it on tape and available to the public would also negate the blatant misrepresentation by Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid and others that the Premier attacked Mayor Bronconnier. He did not. All he did was point out the ridiculous nature of the idea that the C-Train expansion was delayed due to the Alberta budget.
rep by pop: I don't hear federal MPs with large ridings complaining.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we should throw out a fundamental democratic principle for the convenience of the MLA. Bouthilier is not the only elected representative able to serve the region. Particular problems can be, and are, directed to particular ministers or their staff who have the authority to respond to the constituent's issue.
Let's be honest, the PC party benefits greatly inequity of the current system. Ansd Stelmach does not have the will or courage to change it....nor would his party let him.
A few things relating to the post and to subsequent comments:
ReplyDeleteEXECUTIVE ELECTIONS
I sat around the PC Alberta Executive Table alongside Marg Mrazek for 3 years. There were a number of people around that table who were there at the request of the Elzinga machine and who only spoke at their direction. Marg, thankfully, is not one of those people. I have more sympathies for the Calgary crowd than most Northerners, but they should not feel jilted by Marg Mrazek. Joe Lougheed would have been a fine choice, but so is Marg.
I am much more concerned about the disposal of Bill Almdal as VP North. Bill has extensive connections to our party members in the Northern constituencies. Replacing him with a younger face simply for the sake of a younger face was a mistake. I also have very deep concerns about someone who, until recently, was very intimately tied to caucus and legislature staffers. We need to separate the links between party and government, not entrench them.
PREMIER'S SPEECH
I, given my educational exile in British Columbia, was unable to attend the AGM. As such I took advantage of the youtube version of the speech (welcome to the 21st century, PC Alberta). While the Premier certainly isn't where some of his rivals were when it comes to delivering the speech, he has shown considerable improvement. More importantly, he did come across as sincere... and that's something that will count for a lot.
RURAL REPRESENTATION
Just on the comment about Guy Boutilier's ability to represent constituents. Guy's challenge isn't the size of his constituency. About 95% live in the Fort McMurray area, with another small chunk in Fort Chipewyan and the very small remainder scattered around. The representation issue with the Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo riding is the population (easily approaching, if not over, 70000 permanent residents).
Good to hear from you BR. I agree with your comments on Bill Almdal. I worked with him for years and he is a first class guy who really knows the north, its issues and its people. But he was definitley caught in the feeling we needed change this election.
ReplyDeleteAs my mother used to say, "Don't pride yourself. The graveyards are full of indispensable people." I have not yet spoken to Bill since the convention but he will be fine I am sure.
As for Wood Buffalo - size matters and as you note the RMWB is not that big in terms of population distribution. What I done get is why does only 25% of them show up to vote up there? Especially given all of its problems and that most of them ave been caused by the provincial government.
As you know I helped write the municipality Business Case for its infrastructure needs so I have some depth of understanding how poorly these Albertans have been treated in the past.
They are only now getting any real attention under Stelmach's leadership with his acceptance of the Radke Report and a fast $4000million to get started on the issues.
Good to be back, Ken!
ReplyDeleteI lament Bill's defeat not for Bill's sake (you're right, he's got lots to keep him busy)... I lament it for the party. But i've lamented a lot of things for a long time ;)
The case of apathy in the RMWB is, in my opinion, created by a number of factors. Elected representatives who, for whatever reason, don't really work as a team certainly don't help to bring important issues to the forefront. Aside from that there's also the "Fort McMurray factor"... people are just too busy making money to pay attention.
All that being said, I think the next round of municipal and provincial elections have the potential to break the turnout trend... particularily if there are clear alternative visions promoted by sincere and well-spoken candidates.
Don Braid has always worked hard to please his masters. He's just part of a concerted campaign in Calgary to discredit the Conservatives. And, it might work.
ReplyDelete