Alberta Premier Stelmach has just announced some additions to Cabinet with three changes for Calgary.
Ron Stevens is Deputy Premier in addition to his role as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. This is a very wise move at so many levels by Premier and not just to appease Calgary. Stevens is one of the most respected and capable Ministers in the fold.
Cindy Ady (Calgary Shaw) is Associate Minister of Tourism Promotion (with responsibility for Alberta's participation in activities pertaining to the 2010 Olympics in British Columbia). Another capable person but a strange mandate I must say. But the backgrounder on the News Release adds “Sport” in terms of “participation in communities, schools and workplaces” …maybe she is the anti-obesity Associate Minister too? We could use an emphasis on this problem (including me). Another Cabinet Vote for Calgary is the politics at play here.
Yvonne Fritz (Calgary Cross) is back but working as Associate Minister of Affordable Housing and Urban Development. She had her challenges in the Seniors and Community Services portfolio before, especially in getting crown land released for Fort McMurray housing…lots of false starts mostly because the corporate history of the government had been let go during the Debt and Deficit civil service purging in the mid 90’s. Ray Danyluk needs the help because of volume of work and the complexity of issues…an Associate Minister should help carry some of the work load. Politics is more voice for Calgary.
Finally we have Gene Zwozdesky, MLA for Edmonton-Mill Creek, as Associate Minister for Capital Planning. This is a very bright light move. Edmonton now has 2 Ministers to Calgary’s 5 but the real story is the need for more urban voices has been heard by the Premier. The importance of infrastructure planning in managing growth is a key focus of the Stelmach government. There has been serious political damage caused by years of neglect in this area. Gene is on top of the issues and at the top of his game. It is good to see this important function given the Cabinet status it needs.
I am pleased to see the quick response to the obvious need for more urban representation in Cabinet and a capable newcomer like Cindy Ady getting a chance.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Name the Alberta Neo-Con Party
Link Byfield’s new Alberta based political party is looking for a name. In an e-mail today Link said:
“Albertans need a viable alternative to the Liberals. If we don't create one, the Liberals will win by default. The Conservatives are collapsing before our eyes, and so is the Alberta Alliance. But what should this new party be called? Eight names have been suggested:
Alberta Progress Party
Alberta Unity Party
Conservative Alternative Party
Freedom Party
New Vision Party of Alberta
New West Party
Right Party
Wildrose Party
Finally, we must prepare to sign up thousands of members this summer, hold a founding convention in the fall, and fight an election next spring. Sound impossible? It would be, except that it has happened repeatedly in Alberta, and can happen again. It just takes the right vision, the right people, and the right plan.”
I am starting to wonder if Link Byfield is a nascent neo-Preston Manning? Meech Lake and the Charlottetown Accord gave the Preston Manning Reform Party the boost it needed to get traction and momentum to do in Mulroney and the federal Progressive Conservative Party.
Has Mr. Harper’s nod to Quebec Nationhood and his buying into the myth of Quebec fiscal inequality revitalized the far right against him now? Is Link Byfield setting Harper up for the same fate as Mulroney?
Hell hath no furry like a Neo-Con scorned.
BTW - what name would you suggest for these folks?
“Albertans need a viable alternative to the Liberals. If we don't create one, the Liberals will win by default. The Conservatives are collapsing before our eyes, and so is the Alberta Alliance. But what should this new party be called? Eight names have been suggested:
Alberta Progress Party
Alberta Unity Party
Conservative Alternative Party
Freedom Party
New Vision Party of Alberta
New West Party
Right Party
Wildrose Party
Finally, we must prepare to sign up thousands of members this summer, hold a founding convention in the fall, and fight an election next spring. Sound impossible? It would be, except that it has happened repeatedly in Alberta, and can happen again. It just takes the right vision, the right people, and the right plan.”
I am starting to wonder if Link Byfield is a nascent neo-Preston Manning? Meech Lake and the Charlottetown Accord gave the Preston Manning Reform Party the boost it needed to get traction and momentum to do in Mulroney and the federal Progressive Conservative Party.
Has Mr. Harper’s nod to Quebec Nationhood and his buying into the myth of Quebec fiscal inequality revitalized the far right against him now? Is Link Byfield setting Harper up for the same fate as Mulroney?
Hell hath no furry like a Neo-Con scorned.
BTW - what name would you suggest for these folks?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Link Byfield Is Promoting a Reform-Like Party for Alberta
Link Byfield of the Citizens Centre for Democratic Reform is organizing an invitation only meeting in Red Deer this Saturday aimed at forming a provincial political party that would focus on the Alberta Firewall Agenda. That was an idea of isolating Alberta from Canada once supported by Stephen Harper before he became Prime Minister.
At a May 126, 2007 meeting a group of about 50 people “from Tory to separatists” approved a “strongly federalist” political approach noting their take on federalism meant “decentralist.”
Expect an announcement of intent for another political party on the far right to be coming out of this Saturday’s meeting. It will be based on the following approach proposed for Fed-Prov relations for Alberta passed at the May 26th meeting of the group.
“What Alberta most needs done politically”
PREAMBLE
Whereas, The federal government consistently disregards the spirit and plain intent of the constitution with regard to federal spending, the Senate, and the role of the courts;
Whereas, The systematic, needless and inordinate transfer of wealth from Alberta through federal taxation to other parts of Canada damages all regions alike and erodes national prosperity;
Whereas, The climate change response of our governments will unjustifiably transfer more wealth through carbon credit trading;
Whereas, The Alberta government continues to escalate provincial operating spending well above sustainable levels; and
Whereas, The Alberta government is not adequately addressing any of these difficult problems;
Resolved:
That the Alberta government take all political and constitutional measures necessary to restrict federal spending in non-federal jurisdictions, ensure the Senate represents provinces in Parliament, and enhance judicial respect for provincial rights;
That the Alberta government use all measures necessary to eliminate unjustifiable transfers of wealth from Alberta to the detriment of Canada;
That the Alberta government take immediate steps to limit provincial operating spending to a maximum of 2005/06 provincial operating spending plus inflation plus population growthAt a May 126, 2007 meeting a group of about 50 people “from Tory to separatists” approved a “strongly federalist” political approach noting their take on federalism meant “decentralist.”
Expect an announcement of intent for another political party on the far right to be coming out of this Saturday’s meeting. It will be based on the following approach proposed for Fed-Prov relations for Alberta passed at the May 26th meeting of the group.
“What Alberta most needs done politically”
PREAMBLE
Whereas, The federal government consistently disregards the spirit and plain intent of the constitution with regard to federal spending, the Senate, and the role of the courts;
Whereas, The systematic, needless and inordinate transfer of wealth from Alberta through federal taxation to other parts of Canada damages all regions alike and erodes national prosperity;
Whereas, The climate change response of our governments will unjustifiably transfer more wealth through carbon credit trading;
Whereas, The Alberta government continues to escalate provincial operating spending well above sustainable levels; and
Whereas, The Alberta government is not adequately addressing any of these difficult problems;
Resolved:
That the Alberta government take all political and constitutional measures necessary to restrict federal spending in non-federal jurisdictions, ensure the Senate represents provinces in Parliament, and enhance judicial respect for provincial rights;
That the Alberta government use all measures necessary to eliminate unjustifiable transfers of wealth from Alberta to the detriment of Canada;
That the Alberta government proceed immediately to develop a plan to opt out of the Canada Pension Plan and to create its own Alberta Pension Plan in its place.
Our recent column published last Sunday in LaPresse has generated some email interest. This is the last LaPresse column until the fall now:
If money bought happiness, Albertans would be among the happiest people on earth. But they aren’t. Heading into the summer, this remarkably prosperous province is beset by anxiety.
Ralph Klein liked to say that after defeating the debt and deficit he “wanted to put his feet up for a while and enjoy the accomplishment.” He did, and we allowed it for too long. We became focused on the past instead of preparing for the future. As a result some important things are missing in Alberta today. The most obvious ones are leadership, stewardship and citizenship.
There is a shift in Alberta from the feel good sloganeering of the “Alberta Advantage,” past a general grumpiness, into genuine angst about the future direction of this province. For too many this new wealth that is being generated is not reaching them. Not only that, their cost of surviving, not just living, is on the increase. Pressures are mounting and the consequences are not happy ones for many ordinary Albertans. So much so, that in a bye-election on June 12, Calgary voters elected a Liberal to fill Klein’s vacant seat.
Albertans aren’t alone in their discontent. Across the country we can see an uneasy feeling that our political class isn’t up to the task of responding intelligently to the needs and aspirations of citizens, or to produce the trans-partisan leadership necessary to achieve this country’s potential.
When we look to Quebec, we have the spectacle of Jean Charest playing chicken with oppositions on his budget and the infamous "tax break for the middle class” that may (or not) trigger an election. The so-called fiscal imbalance in Quebec is shown to be a myth if equalization money from Canada can be used for a tax reduction when it is supposed to provide for equivalent public service levels. The ADQ and PQ parties are both on record as opposed to his cynical budget ploy by Charest. They say the tax break Charest wants would be better public policy if it were provided in the form of a debt repayment. That way the interest saved could be added to operating budgets through enhanced general revenues and that way serve the needs of Quebecers for generations.
That level of pessimistic leadership, and the resulting loss of citizen confidence, is evident in national politics too. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Quebec gambit of buying Charest’s victory with Ottawa tax money is backfiring.
The personal power agenda of the Prime Minister has alienated and aggravated just about anyone who he needs and wants within his sphere of influence. The confrontation with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland regarding the Atlantic Accord is a fight within the same partisan family. It is far removed from confident and competent leadership and governance.The Prime Minister has even managed to devalue his political stock in Ontario with his legislative agenda to add and redistribute new House of Commons seats. That is now perturbing Ontarians even more as Harper moves to realign the seat distribution in a way that undermine their power and influence and short changes the largest voter group in the country. With all the levers of power at his disposal for over 16 months and with no real threat of an election, unless he wants one, Harper has not been able to move beyond his political support ranking of the last election. Loyalty to his leadership from the Reform/Alliance side of the Conservative Party of Canada is eroding and his personal trustworthiness and political integrity is in decline as well.
Given that the big issue is going to be the environment and the fact it will continue to grow in importance this summer, Harper will become increasingly less relevant given his lack of traction, trust and tenacity on those issues.
The limits and limitations of partisan and adversarial politics are all too clear. Among citizens and their institutions, we are steadily abandoning hierarchical and paternalistic models of organisation and interaction. More and more, citizens live in a collaborative and consensual world that is built on relationships and networks, whether in the home, the workplace, or in their leisure pursuits. The very idea of Canada is a sense of inclusion and belonging; the ability to accept one another’s differences and make the most of collaboration on the interests and issues – environment, health care, education, social cohesion – we have in common.
Our tribal politics are far removed from the day-to-day reality of how citizens engage and interact with one another. Unless our political class changes its ways, the summer of discontent may last a very long time indeed.
If money bought happiness, Albertans would be among the happiest people on earth. But they aren’t. Heading into the summer, this remarkably prosperous province is beset by anxiety.
Ralph Klein liked to say that after defeating the debt and deficit he “wanted to put his feet up for a while and enjoy the accomplishment.” He did, and we allowed it for too long. We became focused on the past instead of preparing for the future. As a result some important things are missing in Alberta today. The most obvious ones are leadership, stewardship and citizenship.
There is a shift in Alberta from the feel good sloganeering of the “Alberta Advantage,” past a general grumpiness, into genuine angst about the future direction of this province. For too many this new wealth that is being generated is not reaching them. Not only that, their cost of surviving, not just living, is on the increase. Pressures are mounting and the consequences are not happy ones for many ordinary Albertans. So much so, that in a bye-election on June 12, Calgary voters elected a Liberal to fill Klein’s vacant seat.
Albertans aren’t alone in their discontent. Across the country we can see an uneasy feeling that our political class isn’t up to the task of responding intelligently to the needs and aspirations of citizens, or to produce the trans-partisan leadership necessary to achieve this country’s potential.
When we look to Quebec, we have the spectacle of Jean Charest playing chicken with oppositions on his budget and the infamous "tax break for the middle class” that may (or not) trigger an election. The so-called fiscal imbalance in Quebec is shown to be a myth if equalization money from Canada can be used for a tax reduction when it is supposed to provide for equivalent public service levels. The ADQ and PQ parties are both on record as opposed to his cynical budget ploy by Charest. They say the tax break Charest wants would be better public policy if it were provided in the form of a debt repayment. That way the interest saved could be added to operating budgets through enhanced general revenues and that way serve the needs of Quebecers for generations.
That level of pessimistic leadership, and the resulting loss of citizen confidence, is evident in national politics too. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Quebec gambit of buying Charest’s victory with Ottawa tax money is backfiring.
The personal power agenda of the Prime Minister has alienated and aggravated just about anyone who he needs and wants within his sphere of influence. The confrontation with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland regarding the Atlantic Accord is a fight within the same partisan family. It is far removed from confident and competent leadership and governance.The Prime Minister has even managed to devalue his political stock in Ontario with his legislative agenda to add and redistribute new House of Commons seats. That is now perturbing Ontarians even more as Harper moves to realign the seat distribution in a way that undermine their power and influence and short changes the largest voter group in the country. With all the levers of power at his disposal for over 16 months and with no real threat of an election, unless he wants one, Harper has not been able to move beyond his political support ranking of the last election. Loyalty to his leadership from the Reform/Alliance side of the Conservative Party of Canada is eroding and his personal trustworthiness and political integrity is in decline as well.
Given that the big issue is going to be the environment and the fact it will continue to grow in importance this summer, Harper will become increasingly less relevant given his lack of traction, trust and tenacity on those issues.
The limits and limitations of partisan and adversarial politics are all too clear. Among citizens and their institutions, we are steadily abandoning hierarchical and paternalistic models of organisation and interaction. More and more, citizens live in a collaborative and consensual world that is built on relationships and networks, whether in the home, the workplace, or in their leisure pursuits. The very idea of Canada is a sense of inclusion and belonging; the ability to accept one another’s differences and make the most of collaboration on the interests and issues – environment, health care, education, social cohesion – we have in common.
Our tribal politics are far removed from the day-to-day reality of how citizens engage and interact with one another. Unless our political class changes its ways, the summer of discontent may last a very long time indeed.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Harper Cons Going Around In Circles - at NASCAR
So the Cons have gone NASCAR. Not only has Mr. Harper swallowed the Dubya strategy for policy and politics, he is now adopting some iconic American “culture.” By trapping his party into the drivers seat of a NASCAR to appeal to the Canadian equivalent of the Bush “Base.” Step aside Soccer Moms – there is some serious rubber to be burning here.
Will "StockCar" Day trade the wet suit for a jumpsuit? Will Peter “Bubba” Van Loan take on new tasks as Government House Leader a run the Pit Crew? I see they are racing in a Dodge? Will it become known and “the Tax Dodge?” Will anyone else be safe on the track if these guys get serious and try to win a race? I can see the Cons becoming reckless but not “wreckless” with this strategy.
The symbolism is breathtaking. We have the Harper Cons covering themselves with flash and dash, going around in interminable circles, as fast as they can, making as much noise as they can, without regard for the environment. They are doing all of this in front of a crowd who know they are paying too much to be part of “the spectacle.” The spectators are coming mostly to see the crashes and only mildly interested in what is otherwise happening or who wins and what that, if anything, all this really means for them and their plight.
I love it when reality imitates art – don’t you?
Will "StockCar" Day trade the wet suit for a jumpsuit? Will Peter “Bubba” Van Loan take on new tasks as Government House Leader a run the Pit Crew? I see they are racing in a Dodge? Will it become known and “the Tax Dodge?” Will anyone else be safe on the track if these guys get serious and try to win a race? I can see the Cons becoming reckless but not “wreckless” with this strategy.
The symbolism is breathtaking. We have the Harper Cons covering themselves with flash and dash, going around in interminable circles, as fast as they can, making as much noise as they can, without regard for the environment. They are doing all of this in front of a crowd who know they are paying too much to be part of “the spectacle.” The spectators are coming mostly to see the crashes and only mildly interested in what is otherwise happening or who wins and what that, if anything, all this really means for them and their plight.
I love it when reality imitates art – don’t you?
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