In the fiefdom known as the province of Alberta, the current right-wing King is stepping down. Ed Stelmach for glancing once to often toward the center has been ousted by the more radical elements(?) of Alberta’s Progressive Conservative Party. But really, does it matter? Certainly the fracture between the PC’s (right) and the Wild Rose Party (further right) will allow some electoral fresh air into the next election.
Doubtful at best.
Thanks to an amazing job of jerrymandering the rural/urban ridings and a political climate laced with near terminal apathy, Alberta is in line for yet another Oil pandering, business friendly (read raping the public-trust friendly) conservative premier. Full marks to the CBC for attempting to make people care about the upcoming election, going through the motions has never sounded so exciting.
“Ted Morton’s appeal to supporters of the Wildrose Alliance could lead to split loyalties for the province’s federal Tories The province’s former finance minister, who resigned from cabinet in order to seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party, said he plans to bring Wildrose Alliance members back into the Progressive Conservative fold.”
Isn’t that cute! They are arguing who gets to wear the boot that continues to stomp on the face of ordinary Albertans. I mean there is the serious consideration of who is going to run the province for the benefit of the oil conglomerates and business, plus differing influence peddling price structures are in place to ensure the correct business policy becomes Alberta Government Policy.
“There isn’t going to be any chance at all that the Wildrose is simply going to fold into the PC Party,” Smith said in an interview broadcast Saturday on CBC Radio’s The House. “People, myself included, were very hopeful that Ted would be able to lead a movement from within the PC Party to get them back on track. And I think that what we’ve seen is he’s not been effective doing that.
This could spell trouble for federal Tories in the province, some of whom have been quietly supporting Wildrose to the detriment of the provincial PCs. But now that Morton hopes to lead the PC Party, those federal Conservatives may have to pick a side.”
Oh the Drama! Which brand of proto-fascism will make it into the Great Leaders Chair? I can only bitterly contemplate this poisonous choice and wonder when if, ever, the population of Alberta will finally have enough of one party rule.
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
20 comments
February 2, 2011 at 10:59 am
Vern R. Kaine
If it bothers you so much, Arb, why not move to BC? You’d still have the CBC, you’d have far less snow, and perhaps best of all, you’d be paying more tax! I would think that would be as close to “Canadian Paradise” as you could get?! ;)
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February 2, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Bleatmop
As a Southern Albertan, I really really really wish there was someone to vote for. No, really. I mean it. I don’t just mean a name on the ballot, but someone who actually campaigns. Someone who wants to win, will go door to door, fund raise, and maybe put an election sign or two up. Last provincial election, I only saw one sign in my town, and it was for the PC candidate.
The Alberta party sounds interesting to because they say they’ll do politics differently. I’m hoping it means they won’t cede a seat to the PC’s simply because of the self fulfilling prophecy “it’s not winnable”.
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February 2, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Vern R. Kaine
Someone worthy of a vote, you mean? I agree. When I lived in Calgary Rob Anders was the MP. Couldn’t believe it. If there was anyone absolutely unworthy it was him, but you had to vote for him to be voting for your party or the leader that you wanted. The Canadian system is goofy that way. The U.S. system has it’s own set of flaws, but I do like the fact that I get to vote directly for who I think should be leader.
http://www.voteoutanders.com/index2.shtml
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February 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm
Rob F
Actually, for most of its history BC has been governed by center-right or right-wing parties. Since the 1950s, for example, the NDP has only won when there was vote-splitting on the right (the NDP would likely have still won in 1991, vote-splitting or not). Before that, there was a coalition to keep the CCF out of power.
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February 2, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Vern R. Kaine
Aren’t the Liberals a left-leaning party?
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February 2, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Bleatmop
Vern, I would have to agree with many aspects of the USian political system. Getting to vote directly for your leader and the (not-so but ideally) complete separation of the judicial, legislative, and administrative branches of government are things I admire. Have a defacto 2 party system is one of the things I do not.
Personally, I think many of Canada’s electoral problems could be solved through some election reform. A single transferable ballot or a mixed member proportional electoral system seems preferable to me. In either system, people could vote for who they actually want instead of worry about strategic voting.
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February 2, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Bleatmop
Vern – From my understanding, the Liberals in BC are the conservative party of choice. Federally, the Liberals seem to have a philosophy to tilt off the center, left or right, in whatever direction they think will get them elected. At least that’s what my social studies teacher told me.
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February 2, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Bleatmop
“Someone worthy of a vote, you mean? I agree.” I would definitely like that. However, from what I experienced during the last election, I was surprised that there were even LPofAlberta and NDPofAlberta candidates on the ballot. Seriously, that was the only proof of their existence. Did they live in my riding? Were they corporeal? No-one knows is what I’d wager.
I would settle for someone who isn’t worthy of my vote, but at least I know they exist before I see their name on the ballot.
Also, sorry for the multi-posts. Not trying to spam, just an issue I’m passionate about.
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February 2, 2011 at 9:39 pm
theragingfascist
You little pukes do not know true fascism.
Spoiled rotten little cry baby you are, tossing out pejoratives that vindicate your own pathetic worldview.
The very fact you people can bitch and moan all day is proof in and of itself that freedom fails.
Get in line.
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February 2, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Rob F
Bleatmop is correct. The BC Liberals are center-right to right-wing.
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February 2, 2011 at 10:47 pm
The Arbourist
You little pukes do not know true fascism.
And thank goodness for that as fascism usually does not work out so well for most people in society.
Spoiled rotten little cry baby you are, tossing out pejoratives that vindicate your own pathetic worldview.
Thanks for sharing, your opinion is noted.
The very fact you people can bitch and moan all day is proof in and of itself that freedom fails.
Ah yes, because a lack of dissent is the true ring of freedom. You are losing coherency, perhaps a little less trolling and touch more thought?
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February 2, 2011 at 10:49 pm
The Arbourist
Well Vern, I’ve thought about it, but that loosey-goosey BC-bud attitude really does not do much for me. ;) I’m a hard working conservative Albertan after all. ;)
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February 2, 2011 at 10:53 pm
The Arbourist
You are always welcome here Bleat, as you have a track record of insightful discussion provoking comments, how could I say no to that. :)
I agree with you that here in Alberta the opposition gets very little attention and you really do need to work to find out who is running against the the PC candidate in your riding. I think it is possible to nibble away at the monolithic power party we have going here. I mean, if we can elect and NDP federally, we can turn a few PC ridings different colours come election time.
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February 3, 2011 at 9:09 am
Vern R. Kaine
Rob & Bleatmop – didn’t know that about the B.C. Liberals. Is Alberta still the only province with a balanced budget and no debt? (I’m being a bit lazy here, sorry – I could look it up…) I haven’t followed provincial politics too closely since I moved south.
Arb – yee haw! Let’s go shoot some beer cans, then!
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February 3, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Bleatmop
Vern – Alberta is still debt free, though we ran a deficit budget last year, and speculation is that we will do so again this year. We spent about 3.5B of the Heritage fund. It’s expected when Royalty revenue comes back to pre-recession levels that we will be running a surplus again. Also, a large part of the deficit was short term infrastructure spending that will likely continue into this year as a means of stimulus.
I believe Sask has a balanced budget, but still has debt. I’m not sure of any other province.
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February 3, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Vern R. Kaine
What’s a pejorative?
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February 4, 2011 at 8:57 am
Vern R. Kaine
“if we can elect and NDP federally, we can turn a few PC ridings different colours come election time.”
As long as Canadians are intelligent and can understand basic business practices, that (thankfully) will never happen. ;) I think the NDP is much like a union: an anti-economic and anti-business presence to be a voice to (hopefully) balance pro-economic and pro-business ideas.
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February 4, 2011 at 8:59 am
Vern R. Kaine
Yes, Bleat, it would be nice to see improvements in both systems. Unfortunately, as you know, it’s the very people who take advantage of it that would be tasked with reforming it.
I don’t see the general public in either side having enough guts to create true political change. That includes me – would I drop everything, risk my businesses, etc. to go protest in the streets and risk arrest? Nope. I’d rather just buy a politician (if I could). :)
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February 4, 2011 at 11:10 pm
The Arbourist
I think the NDP is much like a union: an anti-economic and anti-business presence to be a voice to (hopefully) balance pro-economic and pro-business ideas.
And that would make you equally wrong about the NDP as you are about unions, but for the purposes of this post, that is beside the point. :)
The monolith that has been the government of Alberta has been in power longer than I have been alive. The corruption and collusion between the government, business and special interests need a reset. A change of government would do that.
My fear is that the the PC’s will be replaced by the Wild Rose Party who are even further to the right, and even more in the pocket of Big Oil, which is a public policy slant we can do with less of.
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February 4, 2011 at 11:12 pm
The Arbourist
“pejorative” – definition here.
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