Let’s be honest folks, this election win by Rachel Notley and the NDP was completely unexpected here in what has been fortress Tory Alberta for the last 44 years. I watched the election write itself out with trepidation for the first hour and a half, because one can never forget, this is Alberta, and for the longest time you could elect a half a bag of stale nacho chips here as long it sported the Tory Blue colours.
And then it happened. The seat count exploded for the NDP and the Orange Crush never looked back. No Tory Minority, No NDP Minority but… damn son… an NDP Majority government. The missus and I, around 9:30, broke out the Honey-Jack and toasted Rachel Notley and the new political future of Alberta.
I am very glad that we have a new government as of today, the old PC’s by now could be nothing but rife with patronage, cronyism and corruption. Out with the old corruption and all that; hopefully we’ll have a nice long window of reasonable governance before the new wave of graft starts.
It is important for the NDP in Alberta to make good on their promises to the people of Alberta. For the record here are the highlights
Notley campaigned on having the wealthy pay more to fund better health care and education. She’s promised:
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A Resource Owners Rights Commission to review the royalties oil companies pay to the province.
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A boost in the corporate tax rate to 12 per cent from 10 per cent. Increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2018. Current wage is $10.20.
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More tax brackets for high earners than the Tories are proposing: a 12 per cent rate on income between $125,000 and $150,000; 13 per cent on income between $150,000 and $200,000; 14 per cent between $200,000 and $300,000 and 15 per cent over $300,000. NDP would also roll back the Tory health levy.
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The creation of 2,000 long-term care spaces over four years.
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A ban on corporate and union donations to political parties.
Well there we go. Let’s hope that we see movement on these issues as early as the new budget that will be coming up
Another thought does occur to me, as I am still processing this NDP win in Alberta: How does this affect the prospects for the upcoming federal election? Is there enough momentum to carry the Orange Crush to the next level – and in Harper’s hometown to boot. I’m thinking the political landscape has become a lot more volatile, not only in Alberta, but in Canada as well.
For once, the polls in Alberta were right.
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
8 comments
May 6, 2015 at 11:29 am
VR Kaine
@Arb,
“It is important for the NDP in Alberta to make good on their promises to the people of Alberta.”
The only way I really think they’ll get their tax increases passed or staying is by focusing on reducing government waste. Since much of what was in the AHS bureaucracy, it would be a big deal to see Notley continue to “clean house” there and make things more efficient.
Beyond that, though, I think the Alberta electorate has a second step to perform if they really want to have change in this province. The election was the first step, but I see a big pushback coming from business in protest to much of that list above so it’s not smooth sailing just because the NDP won.
Like the Royalty Review, for instance. Good luck with pulling that off, NDP, but this is really where Albertans need to step up and say “the free ride was over”. Don’t stand for companies threatening job losses if the math doesn’t add up. We largely buckled simply under the threats last time and can’t do so this time.
On that note, here’s a thought: ban the employee stock option benefit – that would be a real shaker-upper!! :)
Anyways, I hope just because Albertans “sent a message” through the ballot box we don’t all think the battle is over. These thoughts still have to become a reality. (With the exception of the corporate tax increase, however – that one is pure leftist fiction but at least saying it during campaign time gave companies a hint of what is to come).
p.s. I really like the ban on corporate and union donations to political parties. I see first hand what it does in the States and it’s ridiculously out of control there. It’s done enough damage here.
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May 6, 2015 at 12:43 pm
The Arbourist
@Vern
I’m wondering how many ‘surprises’ the PC’s have left for our incoming government. 44 years is a lot of time for skeletons to accumulate in closets.
Like the large turd that was deposited on the Edmonton Journal Op-Ed this Monday – the vested interests have not gone away because the NDP won. We agree on this, the democratic spirit that infused the NDP voters this election must be kept front and centre to steel the wills of the new NDP candidates in the legislature. Business has a place in our society, but it’s primacy in affairs of government and state must be changed.
You are sounding mysteriously out of your usual stance on issues like this. We concur on this point as well.
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May 6, 2015 at 12:54 pm
bleatmop
My new desktop background
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May 7, 2015 at 10:42 am
VR Kaine
“I’m wondering how many ‘surprises’ the PC’s have left for our incoming government. 44 years is a lot of time for skeletons to accumulate in closets.”
A very good point/question.
“You are sounding mysteriously out of your usual stance on issues like this.”
I hope not. I’ve always believed that government should do things to support business, but never be actually “in bed” with business. I’ve said that since the beginning, that it should create a landscape for the fairest of markets possible where every business has a chance yet provide appropriate protections for citizens at the same time. The PC’s were basically run by a few families and factions, which means the province was run by a few families and that’s not right.
I’ve also believed in the power of the vote. You’ve seen me argue time and time again the notion of how “no one can win against such big money/corporate interests” and instead argue that the citizen has just as much power if they’d only realize it. This overthow is the best example I’ve ever seen of Democracy working in that regard, and I’m proud to see it in my province even if I don’t entirely agree with the ruling party’s positions or gameplan.
Second last (before this starts sounding like a Manifesto!), I believe basic universal health care for all is a responsibility of government and that we can’t trust human nature or individual generosity enough for citizens not to have to be essentially “forced” to take care of our elderly, our sick, or our disadvantaged. That the PC’s were trying to spin doctor the difference between hospital beds and long-term beds to basically screw our elderly. I just experienced this “screw over” under the PC’s first hand while trying to care for our 90yr old grandmother. It was disgusting the options that were presented.
Last is that I’ve always admired true leadership, branding, and strategy – again, even if I don’t fully agree with the ideals of those exhibiting it. I didn’t fall a single bit for the “hope and change” b.s. of Obama or the Democrats eight years ago, but I totally admired and respected his campaign and said from day one that he deserved to win. He ran an amazing campaign, and even though he isn’t being an actual “leader” today (in my opinion), his party continues to wipe the floor with the Republicans asses on almost all the issues (even in spite of losing the House and Senate to protest votes).
My admiration is similar for the NDP. Notley said things which she knew would both be popular AND unpopular, just as a leader does. She had a clear message, a great branding strategy, and stayed consistent with the message the entire time. She had the guts to be, and stay, strong. Once she got over her nervousness in the live debates, she kicked ass and beat the others not on rhetoric, but rather on the small details which is what real leaders do. Now all that remains to be seen are if her policies are going to remove roadblocks or create more of them. She might lose my leadership vote there down the road, but she certainly deserves all the credit now. There was FAR too much crony capitalism with the PC’s anyways, so I’ll support ANY party or leader that I believe is going to clean house in that regard and I hope she does (including a lot of the waste).
We concur on this point as well.
I like it when we agree. :)
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May 7, 2015 at 10:51 am
VR Kaine
Thoughts on NDP going forward:
Overall, I’m happy with the election turnout from a democracy and cronyism standpoint but I do have serious concerns with so many “juniors” elected that are going to be ministers and what appears to be hardly any experience in systems thinking or negotiating, so we’ll see. I also have concerns with the consequences of the power struggle that’s surely going to happen between government and big business. The people running these companies are savvy and astute, and they’ll run circles around those who don’t know the politics of big business.
Here’s the thing we need to keep in mind about elections: it’s a vote that says what people want to have happen but it doesn’t address the how of it, and on that note the fact is most people don’t have a clue about implementation because most don’t have the knowledge, experience, or skill to execute on anything at the command level.
For that, we’re supposed to trust the government we’ve elected, but with so many juniors and non-business – or even anti-business – types in this new government, can the NDP’s actually execute on any of this? Look at Obama trying to close Gitmo, “fix” the financial system (even though I don’t think he wanted to), or all his messes with Obamacare. All decent ideas with no evidence of a clue as to proper execution. That’s my concern here.
And yes, I get the argument for fresh thinking and new blood, but it’s not about ideas anymore. Principles, ideas, and morality statements can win an election but they can’t run a province on its own efficiently. Often, when driven more by ideals than anything, it’s turned out to be just the opposite.
Side note: what was interesting to me was that Notley didn’t play the “Fair Share” card – that was the Liberal guy spouting that off at every turn,.
I’m hoping that Notley – in continuing to be a leader and manage perceptions – can balance ideology with practicality and take a pragmatic approach to move our province ahead rather than simply just trying to push ideals, which will be like pushing a rope. Instead, if she creates the right balance and model here between fiscal and social, recognizing that we have a resource-based and with it a seasonal/cyclical economy, then I think there’s something for everybody with this election win, and who knows – maybe a political model that the NDP can take nationally.
Actually, scratch that – I think Mulcair’s a buffoon and the NDP is utterly shit useless when it comes to anything regarding foreign economics and foreign/domestic defense, so I’ll just keep my support at a provincial level and that’s it. ;)
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May 7, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Sedate Me
Alberta NDP majority government???
brain…kaboom…pieces….on carpet…skull fragments…stuck in wall…must reassemble
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May 12, 2015 at 9:27 pm
The Arbourist
@Vern
Good. The business class has had untrammeled influence and connections with the government for 44 years – its gotten the people of Alberta nowhere fast (insert Norway comparison here). If they have to take a number to get in the government – it’s about damn time they were not automatically at the head of the queue when comes to political favor.
I am glad that we don’t have many business types in government now. Alberta is not a corporation, it is a province made up of people with a huge diversity of backgrounds; our elected government should reflect that.
Notley won this campaign on a populist, pragmatic platform. I doubt she’ll stray far from what she campaigned on. However, I find it fascinating that dire warnings that the NDP might start pushing its ideology in Alberta. I’m pretty sure that the PC’s pushing their neo-con light, business friendly ideology would be/has been warmly accepted for years with no one really worrying about big scary ideologies.
Quite frankly, I’m happy if some of business is shitting their pants about the change in government. Changing to a more people friendly ideological basis puts them not at the top of the trough, and really, its about time.
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May 13, 2015 at 1:00 pm
The Intransigent One
I think the other thing to keep in mind when you’re scared, is the public service. It’s somewhat recovered from the gutting it received during the Klein years, and those who are left, and those who have come on board since, are professionals who know their shit. They’ve been through a bazillion cabinet shuffles and dealt with who knows how many inexperienced ministers being parachuted in and wanting to CHANGE ALL THE THINGS, and through it all, they’ve just kept on trucking. And will continue to do so. The day to day work of keeping this fine province running, will continue.
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