Alberta Legislature

Portrait unveiling stands in for the fond official farewell former premier Dave Hancock never had from his PCs

| February 14, 2017

The unveiling of Dave Hancock's portrait in the Legislature yesterday may have been presided over by a New Democrat Speaker and featured a speech by an NDP premier, but it had the warm family quality one might have been expected from the official farewell the former premier never really got from his own Progressive Conservative Party.

Hancock was unexpectedly elevated the premiership by his caucus colleagues at the start of the summer of the Tories' discontent -- the date when he was sworn in was March 23, 2014, immediately after the PC caucus had for all intents and purposes fired his predecessor Alison Redford.

For the sake of a healthy democracy, Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission needs to extend submissions deadline

David J. Climenhaga

| January 11, 2017

By trying to ensure the boundaries of Alberta's 87 electoral districts are reviewed in an orderly and responsible way, the province's Electoral Boundaries Commission risks putting the bureaucratic cart before the democratic horse.

The commission, which by law must review provincial constituency boundaries with population changes in mind by Halloween this year, has scheduled 15 hearings and asked for written submissions from interested Albertans by Feb. 8.

Pondering a day of ironic and depressing juxtapositions

David J. Climenhaga

| November 24, 2016

Yesterday was a day of ironic and not very happy juxtapositions.

In yesterday's posts, I commented on Sandra Jansen's passionate member’s statement to the Alberta Legislature Tuesday quoting and shaming the hateful comments she endured during her run to lead the provincial Progressive Conservative Party and since her decision last week to cross the floor of the House and join the NDP government.

Jansen implored the members of the House: "Don't ignore it. Don't look the other way. Don't excuse it. Because our daughters are watching us."

Brian Jean's Wildrose leadership is unquestioned: The fall of Derek Fildebrandt explained

David J. Climenhaga

| May 29, 2016

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The Wildrose Party's Legislative caucus has without doubt homophobes in its ranks. Derek Fildebrandt, notwithstanding many flaws, is not one of them.

But it was an injudicious social media message unintentionally implying the Wildrose finance critic endorsed a homophobic view that brought him down.

What makes sense for pill presses in Alberta doesn't make sense for firearms: Discuss

David J. Climenhaga

| May 18, 2016

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Hmmmm… Canada's conservative parties -- first among them Alberta's Opposition Wildrose Party and its federal auxiliary, the Conservative Party of Canada -- have long found a certain segment of the population's enthusiasm for unrestricted firearms ownership a politically profitable way to wedge votes away from other parties.

In Alberta, being a Tory means never having to say you're sorry!

David J. Climenhaga

| April 20, 2016

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Being an Alberta Tory, apparently, still means never having to say you're sorry!

Wildrose leader advocates a return to deep cuts and deep freezes for public services and public employees

David J. Climenhaga

| November 2, 2015

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Wildrose Leader Brian Jean is starting to sketch out his party's policies in broad strokes and, if you're a public sector worker in a union job or in management, the picture is not a pretty one.

Start work at nine in the morning? Never! Alberta's Wildrose picks another great hill to die on

David J. Climenhaga

| November 1, 2015

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You have to admit, Alberta's Wildrose Opposition sure knows how to pick a fight!

When they're not dissing The Globe and Mail's Alberta reporter for asking hard questions, thereby ensuring she gets a raise and a promotion, they're preparing to filibuster long into the night on a question of high moral principle -- to wit, their God-given right to sleep in till a civilized hour on days when the Legislature sits.

Reaction to this afternoon's Alberta Budget Speech is bound to be completely predictable

David J. Climenhaga

| October 27, 2015

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Reaction to this afternoon's Alberta Budget Speech should unfold in a completely predictable fashion.

When written about after the fact by modern journalists, this kind of political event is termed Kabuki theatre, which is to say, we all knew that was going to happen.

Inside baseball: Legislature picks Speaker; Albertans to get first glimpse of NDP policy Monday

David J. Climenhaga

| June 12, 2015

Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner was elected Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly in a House vote yesterday, and it was all done peaceably enough.

The only competition to Wanner, who retired as the City of Medicine Hat’s top civil servant a decade ago, was Progressive Conservative David Rodney, the MLA for Calgary-Lougheed who is best known for having climbed Mount Everest twice.

Alberta Legislature

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