Dave Yadallee's personal blog

February 21, 2008







Tory platform costing: Even more bloated spending, even less accountability, and still no plan for the future







Edmonton – The struggling PC campaign’s debate-night stunt of finally releasing their costing has blown up in bumbling leader Ed Stelmach’s face.







Out of 70 commitments, only 28 have dollar figures next to them. Over half the commitments of the PC platform will be paid for through “ongoing commitments,” “policy initiatives,” or will be determined later.







The Tory costing priorities would continue the long-standing practice of burning through Alberta’s resource revenue without a plan to save for future generations.







Here are the highlights and low-lights:







$40 million to support Alberta’s bid to host the National Portrait Gallery – it’s a gallery, Ed, not the Olympic Games!







$12 million over four years for another committee to study homelessness. How many more committees do you need to tell you what you should already know?







$250 million over four years to attract 225 new physician spaces – something Stelmach’s own Health Minister Dave Hancock said "We can't do that," (Edmonton Sun, February 7, 2008)







$120 million over four years to “help tenants faced with unaffordable rents” – You might as well call this the landlord slush fund.







NOTHING for clean energy – clean energy technologies, the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, ensuring emissions regulations inspire new technologies that reduce CO2 emission – they’re all listed, but have a big goose-egg beside them.







NOTHING for monitoring water use, water storage, connected use of ground and surface water, and water re-use – apparently they’ll be paid for through “policy initiative.”







* NOTHING for carbon capture storage – this is one of the PCs marquee plans to combat climate change, but there’s no costs associated with it in the platform costing.







You can’t trust Ed Stelmach to shoot straight on the numbers. It’s time for a change to get the job done right.

February 22, 2008







You can't trust Ted Morton to protect Alberta's wildlife



PC MLA campaigns at the Alberta Fish and Game Association conference his

government funds; Alberta Liberals shut out







Edmonton - This afternoon, Foothills-Rockyview MLA Ted Morton addressed the

Alberta Fish and Game Association conference in Edmonton, in the middle of

an election campaign.

The Alberta Liberals also wanted to address the conference, but were denied

by AFGA president Maurice Nadeau. Nadeau also denied the Alberta Liberals

the opportunity to distribute a letter of greeting to the conference. He

also refused to read a statement of greeting into the conference record from

the party.







The Alberta Liberals wanted to tell AFGA members about the government's Open

Spaces Alberta pilot project, and our vision to protect Alberta's natural

wonders.







We would have told attendees that Open Spaces amounts to a "pay-to-hunt"

system that will enable only the wealthy to hunt legally.



We would have told them that Open Spaces is essentially privatizing

wildlife, since landowners would have the right to resell hunting tags.







We would have told them that Open Spaces is nothing more than another PC

government boondoggle designed to benefit large landowners, but penalize the

average Alberta hunter.







We would have told them how Morton, who was Minister of Sustainable Resource

Development and, thus, responsible for Open Spaces, still hasn't released a

land-use framework with input from ALL stakeholders.







We would have told them how Open Spaces would bring vast swaths of Alberta's

pristine wildlife habitats under the control of private landowners, with no

responsibility to protect it or allow free access to the public.



And we would have told them how we have heard from hunters across the

province who are outraged by Open Spaces.







You'd have to ask Nadeau why he didn't allow the Alberta Liberals an

opportunity to address AFGA in the middle of an election campaign. But it

might have something to do with the $621,000 in grants AFGA received from

Sustainable Resource Development Alberta over the last five years, part of

nearly $1.1 million in total grants from the Alberta government (source:

Alberta Treasury "Blue Books").







It's time for a change to get the job done right.

February 22, 2008







Kevin Taft is ready to govern Alberta after televised leaders' debate,

viewers and experts say







Edmonton - Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft is ready to lead the next

government of Alberta.



Taft demonstrated in last night's leaders' debate that the Alberta Liberals

are the only party with a comprehensive long-term vision for the province.







But the debate also showed PC Leader Ed Stelmach to be incapable of being

straight with Albertans on the legacy of his government or a vision for the

future.







"Thirty-seven years in power is too long for one party," Taft said. "Alberta

has changed, but the PC Party and Ed Stelmach have not changed with it. The

Alberta Liberals have the plan to restore confidence and trust in government

- a plan that looks out for the future of Albertans."







To date, the Alberta Liberals are the only party to release a comprehensive

election platform to voters, including strategies for strengthening the

health care system, making post-secondary education more affordable,

increasing access to child care and fighting climate change. The Alberta

Liberals have also taken a stand on critical issues like auto insurance, and

restoring accountability in the elections process.







Here's what some viewers, experts and media reports had to say:







CBC analyst Duane Bratt:



"Kevin Taft looked very premier-like, looked very statesman, was very

solid.I think Kevin Taft by far was probably the most articulate and most

interesting candidate in terms of ideas and where he wants to bring Alberta

in the next few years."



Edmonton Journal:



"Doreen Barrie, a professor at the University of Calgary.thought [Alberta]

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft did particularly well. 'I thought that Kevin Taft

put in a really good performance. I think he looked like a

premier-in-waiting. He looked comfortable and animated, and he got his

message across,' she said.







Editorial: "Were you unable to picture Kevin Taft as premier? The [Alberta]

Liberal leader probably made his aspiration believable even to those who

don't care for the policy alternatives he offered. Defying Mason's attempts

to paint the [Alberta] Liberals as a sort of corporate-backed Tweedledum to

the Tories' Tweedledee, Taft insisted that the best way of protecting jobs

is to be more aggressive on climate change, not less so, and rather

effectively claimed that an estimated $1 billion environmental charge is not

so large in a $244-billion provincial economy."



"Stelmach's biggest weakness is an inability, as a former Klein minister, to

evade responsibility with his party for the many problems he promises to

fix.. Taft likely improved his credibility as an alternative."







"Since moving to Alberta in 1939, Louis Broten has voted for all the major

provincial parties. This year, he has no idea who to support. .Broten

worries Premier Ed Stelmach doesn't represent enough of a change since

former premier Ralph Klein left office in 2006. 'When (Stelmach) was

elected, I was pleased. I thought, "There's a change, a guy from the farm

industry,"' Broten says. 'To be honest, I don't think there's that much

difference between Klein and our present premier. And we needed the change.

We need change in Alberta. I don't see it coming with Stelmach.'"







"Taft, who was the most animated of the four, said Stelmach was part of the

government that blew up the Calgary General Hospital and wrecked the

health-care system, and can't be trusted to fix it."





>From on-line "Sound Off" - Susan: "I thought Taft was the clear winner.

Stelmach didn't address the questions, just spouted the same old tired Tory

lines. Brian Mason was predictable, and Hinman clearly didn't understand

some of the issues, especially health care. Kevin Taft was the only one that

truly looked like a premier."







Calgary Herald:



"Political analysts and communications specialists were torn as to how Tory

Leader Ed Stelmach fared against his opponents in Thursday leadership

debate. .'Ed really had some problems,' said Robyn Braley, president of

UniMark Creative Services, which specializes in image coaching and media

training.Braley and [political scientist David] Taras agreed, however, that

[Alberta] Liberal Leader Kevin Taft held his own..Taft showed his passion,'

said Braley. 'He was comfortable with the medium and with his views. . . .

He looked like he was having fun.'. Taras also thought Taft's knowledge

shone through and connected him with voters."



Columnist Don Braid: "The stakes were just as high for Taft. As the only

leader showing positive momentum in the polls, he had a chance to impress

large numbers of voters, and perhaps shove Tory support into serious

decline. Well aware of the stakes, Taft came charging into the ring right

from the start, clenching his fists theatrically as he talked about grabbing

the future."







"For the first time heading into a provincial election vote, Coventry Hills

resident David Hartwick is utterly conflicted as to which party to support.

A lifelong Conservative voter, the air traffic controller with two

elementary school-aged children feels the party -- which has held power for

37 straight years -- has failed Calgary. Hartwick was impressed with

[Alberta] Liberal Leader Kevin Taft and Wildrose Alliance chief Paul Hinman.

Stelmach's performance, however, pushed him farther away from the Tory

party. 'Stelmach just continued to show that his government continues to be

out of touch . . . with the average Albertan,' he said."



CBC "online townhall":



Lisa Hurst (Banff): "Kevin Taft said it very well -- 'the voters want the

pot-holes fixed, the leaky roofs in schools repaired, the hospitals built,

etc. We have the money, now let's get on with the job.' I think Kevin Taft

is clearly exhibiting the strongest leadership abilities, the most

knowledge, and passion." Paula (Edmonton): "Kevin Taft is the only one who

seems to understand the needs of Alberta and able to articulate a practical

plan for change." Julie Kearns (Calgary): "Kevin Taft is demonstrating

strong leadership - he has a clear vision for the future of Alberta, he has

charted a course for the future, he looks like a leader." Marc (Southern

Alberta) wrote: "Taft has been the most positive and focused. Time and time

again, I find he says what I am thinking. Mason has been an annoying barking

dog. He attacks anyone and everyone and then beats his chest on issues he

claims are NDP issues. GIVE ME A BREAK. Saskatchewan NDP closed

hospitals!!!!!" Rob Wilson in Edmonton, a non-Liberal: "Taft is creaming the

lot of them so far"; Jeff from Calgary: "Mr. Taft has the best TV

personality.Mr. Stelmach a stuffy cardboard cutout."; Warren Gallin from

Edmonton: "Taft making major policy points, making a clear contrast with

Stelmach's babbling about all his non-initiatives"







Breakfast Television -- City TV:



Bob Hooey , Executive Speech Consultant -- "..the other thing that [Kevin

Taft] did well, and from the beginning, is he talked to people. Like, if you

noticed when he was talking, he was talking to the panelists and actually

making contact and he was the only one of the four that, for example in

their 45 second opening, didn't use a speech. He didn't use notes, and it

made a difference."







CITY TV Calgary:



Bruce Foster, Political Scientist: -- "Who was the most personable, the most

friendly, the most at ease? I think it was Kevin Taft of the Liberals by a

long shot."



Blogger CalgaryGrit:



"Ed gets asked where his figure of 300,000 lost jobs comes from ...and...

we're on to talking points...I'll give Ed credit - he's not showing any

emotion or any sign of life, but he's sticking to the script."







Blogger Daveberta:



"'If you protect the environment, you protect jobs and the economy.' Taft

did a pretty solid job answering the question on the environment."







CBC political analyst Paul McLouglin:



"I think Taft, once he calmed down, did an admirable job in terms of

explaining his position."







630 CHED:



"Taft argued that Alberta voters want a new government and a fresh

beginning, not more government from a crew that hasn't got it right to

date."







This election is a choice between staying with a drifting, clueless,

incompetent government or changing directions with a strong leader and

strong team that embraces the opportunities of the future.







It's time for a change. Let's get the job done right.

February 21, 2008







Ed Stelmach can't be trusted on climate change







Bumbling PC Leader goes into fulminating rage over Alberta Liberal climate

change plan



Edmonton - Safely ensconced in his Tory bubble and staying away from real

voters, bumbling PC Leader Ed Stelmach again repeated his fibs last night

about the Alberta Liberal climate change plan.







Between foaming at the mouth and running down dead prime ministers at his

Calgary speech last night, Stelmach again blurted out the nose-stretcher

that the Alberta Liberal climate change action plan would cost over 300,000

jobs - essentially, every job in the oil sands energy sector.







The Alberta Liberal climate change action plan, announced in the first week

of the campaign, would establish hard caps on industrial greenhouse-gas

emissions in five years. It would also establish Alberta as a leader in the

green economy, creating thousands of jobs in research, development and

renewable energy.



At some point during the campaign, Stelmach must be held accountable for his

fibs and disinformation on climate change, which he has yet to back up.

That's what a real leader would do.







In related news, the Conservation Voters of Alberta rated the Alberta

Liberals' platform the best of all the major parties this election with a

grade of B+. The NDP and Green Party received a B, the PCs and Wildrose

Alliance received a D.







The Conservation Voters of Alberta's full analysis of the parties'

environmental platforms can be found here:





http://www.conservationvoters.ab.ca/Documents/CVABPlatformAnalysis.pdf



It's time for a change to get the job done right.

February 20, 2008







"As I mentioned before, even though the health budgets were reduced, health

service delivery was maintained or improved." (Ed Stelmach-Hansard, February

14, 1996)







"[As] the Premier of the province of Alberta and as the leader of this

government I am accountable to Albertans, and I'll stand up for every

decision that this government has made in the past." (Ed

Stelmach-Legislative Assembly of Alberta, November 13, 2007)











Alberta Liberals will build Calgary's new cancer centre







Calgary - The Alberta Liberals will build the long-awaited new facility for

the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. Kevin Taft made the announcement

today as part of the Alberta Liberal Action Plan for Health Care.







Because of a pressing shortage of trained professionals, Taft noted, new

facilities will only work if we make a new level of commitment to training.







"The 600 new acute care beds planned for the Capital Region won't open

unless we have the staff to run them."







"Despite the Tory government's billion-dollar promise in 2005 for new cancer

centres, the Tom Baker Cancer Centre has been left on the back burner by Ed

Stelmach," said Taft. "Tory promises don't help Albertans who need

specialized care, and Tory promises don't move cancer research forward. It's

time to get this built."







The Tories promised a new hospital in south-east Calgary in 1998, Taft

noted, and left Calgarians in the waiting room for a decade.







The Alberta Liberals also committed to a new hospital in Grande Prairie, and

to re-development of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital earlier in the

campaign.







Because of a pressing shortage of trained professionals, Taft noted, new

facilities won't work without a new level of commitment to training.







"The Tories laid off a whole generation of nurses in the 1990s," says Taft.

"And they let the number of graduating nurses in Alberta fall by half. They

created the current crisis in staffing not by neglect, but by slashing and

burning an excellent public health system." He noted that 1 in 4 Calgarians

cannot find a family doctor-a widespread problem throughout Alberta.







"Albertans are literally dying for lack of timely care because we're short

of professionals, and this government still spends twice as much each year

on subsidizing horse racing as it does on its Health Workforce Action Plan,"

Taft says. The Alberta Liberals will invest $60 million a year to expand the

health care workforce-$30 million more than the Tory government is currently

spending.







"A government spends on its priorities; it's that simple. The Alberta

Liberal priority is excellent, sustainable, public health care for

Albertans," Taft said. "The Tories tell us public health care is

unsustainable while channeling over $50 million a year to the ponies and



signing a half billion dollar, 10 year deal. While health regions are forced

to plan year to year, horseracing gets 10 years of stability. The Tories

have lost their way."







The Alberta Liberals will work in close partnership with post-secondary

institutions to determine how many additional training spaces for nurses and

other health care professionals are needed, and to provide them with a

framework of stable funding to expand programs. "We'll set clear targets

supported by dedicated resources."







"It's time to stop a boom-and-bust approach to Albertans' health," said

Taft. "It's time to recommit to excellent, sustainable, accessible public

health care for Albertans, and to a healthier future."

Today from CTV Calgary Poll 22 Feb 2008



Which party leader performed the best during the debate?

Paul Hinman

212 votes (16 %)

Brian Mason

115 votes (9 %)

Ed Stelmach

435 votes (32 %)

Kevin Taft

583 votes (43 %)



Comment On Today's Poll



View Today's Poll Results



Disclaimer: The poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate.

Comments may be edited for use on our broadcasts.

From http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3819



Alberta Tories Well Out Front In Election Where Few Voters Feel Good

About Their Choice

Progressive Conservatives (49%) Hold Huge Lead Over Liberals (28%), NDP

(14%), Wildrose Alliance (5%) and Greens (4%)



Only Three-in-Ten (28%) Voters Feel Good About Their Choice



Progressive Conservative Support Also Most Firm



February 19, 2008



Contact Kyle Braid at (778) 373-5000



Category Ipsos Reid/Global/National Post , Politics & Elections (City/Regional)

Location Canada







Press Release Detailed Tables

Related Information

For more information, contact:

Kyle Braid

Recent Polls & Research



February 16: Steady As She Goes: Election Rhetoric Fails To Sway Voters

February 12: Majority (52%) Says Price Of Basic Food Staples ^QNot

Affordable^R For Average Canadian

January 31: Majority (53%) Of Canadians Support New Government

Policy Not To Automatically Seek Clemency For Canadians On Death Row

Abroad



Calgary, AB ^V As the Alberta provincial election campaign reaches its

midpoint, a new Ipsos Reid/Global Calgary poll shows the Progressive

Conservatives well on their way to another majority government. The

governing Tories have the support of 49% of the province^Rs decided

voters. The Liberals are next best at 28%, followed by the NDP at 14%,

Wildrose Alliance at 5% and Greens at 4%. These results exclude the

two-in-ten (21%) Albertans who are undecided or express no preference.



Albertans are not feeling enthusiastic about their choice at this point

in the campaign. Only three-in-ten (28%) Albertans say they ^Sfeel good

about their choice of party or candidate^T. Seven-in-ten (69%) say they

are ^Sjust making the best choice from the options available^T.



Not only do the Tories have a sizeable lead, their voters are also the

most firm in their support. Only 22% of Progressive Conservative voters

say it is ^Svery likely^T or ^Ssomewhat likely^T that they will change their

mind and end up voting for a different party on Election Day. This

compares to 35% of voters for other political parties.



These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid telephone poll conducted between

February 14 and 17, 2008. The poll is based on a randomly selected

sample of 804 adult Albertans. With a sample of this size, the results

sample of 804 adult Albertans. With a sample of this size, the results

are considered accurate to within ± 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out

of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of

Alberta been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions

and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were

statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex

composition reflects that of the actual Alberta population according to

Census data.



Progressive Conservatives (49%) Hold Huge Lead Over Liberals (28%), NDP

(14%), Wildrose Alliance (5%) and Greens (4%)



The Progressive Conservatives have a huge lead among decided voters at

the midpoint of the campaign. The Tories have the support of 49% of

Alberta^Rs decided voters, well ahead of the second place Liberals at

28%. The NDP is in third with 14% support, followed by Wildrose Alliance

at 5% and the Green Party at 4%. These results exclude the two-in-ten

(21%) Albertans who are undecided or express no preference.



The current results are very similar to the 2004 election outcome where

the Progressive Conservatives garnered 47% of the votes, compared to 29%

for the Liberals. The biggest difference from the 2004 outcome is that

the NDP is now up 4 points (14% today vs. 10% in 2004) and Wildrose

Alliance is down 4 points (5% today vs. 9% for Alberta Alliance in

2004).



The regional results breakdown as follows:



In Calgary, the Progressive Conservatives (42%) hold an 8 point

lead over the Liberals (34%). The other parties include NDP (10%),

Wildrose Alliance (8%) and Green Party (7%).

In Edmonton, the Progressive Conservatives (47%) hold a 20 point

lead over the Liberals (27%). The other parties include NDP (19%), Green

Party (4%) and Wildrose Alliance (2%).

In the Rest of Alberta, the Progressive Conservatives (60%) hold a

38 point lead over the Liberals (22%). The other parties include NDP

(12%), Wildrose Alliance (6%) and Green Party (2%).



Only Three-in-Ten (28%) Voters Feel Good About Their Choice



Albertans are not overly enthusiastic about their choice in this

election. Only three-in-ten (28%) Albertans say they ^Sfeel good about

their choice of party or candidate^T. Seven-in-ten (69%) say they are

^Sjust making the best choice from the options available^T.



The results are consistent for the two major party contenders.

Three-in-ten Progressive Conservative voters (31%) and Liberal voters

(28%) say they ^Sfeel good about their choice^T.



Progressive Conservative Support Also Most Firm



Three-in-ten (29%) voters say they are either ^Svery likely^T (4%) or

^Ssomewhat likely^T (25%) to change their mind and end up voting for a

different party on Election Day.



Progressive Conservative voters are the most committed to their party

choice. Only two-in-ten (22%) Conservative voters say they are ^Svery

likely^T or ^Ssomewhat likely^T to switch to another party. In contrast,

roughly one-in-three (35%) supporters of other parties (including 34% of

Liberal voters) say they are ^Svery likely^T or ^Ssomewhat likely^T to

change their mind.



And Conservative voters are also just as likely as supporters of other

parties to say they will actually get out and vote on Election Day.

Sixty-one percent of Conservative voters say it is ^Sabsolutely certain^T

that they will go to the polls and vote. This is essentially the same as

the 62% of other party supporters (including 61% of Liberal party

Progressive Conservative voters are the most committed to their party

choice. Only two-in-ten (22%) Conservative voters say they are ^Svery

likely^T or ^Ssomewhat likely^T to switch to another party. In contrast,

roughly one-in-three (35%) supporters of other parties (including 34% of

Liberal voters) say they are ^Svery likely^T or ^Ssomewhat likely^T to

change their mind.



And Conservative voters are also just as likely as supporters of other

parties to say they will actually get out and vote on Election Day.

Sixty-one percent of Conservative voters say it is ^Sabsolutely certain^T

that they will go to the polls and vote. This is essentially the same as

the 62% of other party supporters (including 61% of Liberal party

voters) who say they are ^Sabsolutely certain^T to vote.







Factoring in that 20% undecided



PConvictative 39.2% Liberals 22.4% Undediced 20% NDP 11.2% WRA 4% and

Green 3.2%.



Looks to me anyone's eleciton.



Also the Numbers out of Edmotnon and Calgary, are they correct?



Too bad Rest of Alberta is not broken up into NorthEast, NorthwEst, Cental

and South.



And then there is tomorrow's leaders' debate.



Of course I hae never trusted Angus Reid since John Turner told him to fold over and die!

February 19, 2008







Alberta Liberals to boost wages for child care workers







Edmonton – The Alberta Liberals Action Plan for Child Care will boost wages for child care workers by 15 to 30 per cent, depending on the worker’s level. This is the best way to relieve the crippling labour shortage plaguing daycare centres across the province. The Alberta Liberals released their plan in Edmonton today.







No extra costs will be passed along to parents or centres; provincial funding will offset the higher wages. The plan also calls for increasing the number of total child care spaces in the province and creating child care training incentives to increase the long-term supply of workers.







“Child care workers in Alberta do wonderful work with our children,” said Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft. “Many families rely on them—that means our economy depends on them.”







“Their work is very demanding and badly underpaid. That’s why centres have such a hard time finding and retaining staff. The labour crisis affecting child care operators is the first thing we need to fix. We can’t add new child care spaces if we can’t find the extra workers.”







The Alberta Liberal plan will help child care centres recruit and retain more qualified staff, as well as making careers in child care more attractive to recent graduates.







Taft noted that many parents in Alberta are forced to stop working due to long waiting lists or unaffordable costs for daycare, which contributes to the overall labour shortage in the province.







Under the action plan for child care, the Alberta Liberals will immediately:



Increase wages for child care staff to help centres recruit and retain staff.

Forgive student loans for those who remain in Alberta as child care workers three years after graduating.

Increase start-up and operational funding for accredited child care operators.

Provide specialized financial assistance to centres that offer infant and toddler care.







The Tory child care plan, released last week, calls for tax cuts to create new spaces and temporary foreign workers, but Taft said it won’t work.







“In Ed Stelmach’s fantasy world, tiny tax cuts will magically create 14,000 new child care spaces, and temporary foreign workers will fill underpaid positions no one else wants. Child care in Alberta is stuck in a deep, deep hole, and Ed Stelmach’s government did the digging. It’s time to stop the neglect — we need to get to work. The Alberta Liberals have a real plan for child care,” Taft said.

From: http://www.630ched.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428327912&rem=85890&red=80132723aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm







Alberta "Scud Stud"

Feb, 18 2008 - 6:10 AM



ALBERTA - The "Scud Stud" says he doesn't intend to curb his tongue as the Alberta provincial election continues. Arthur Kent, who garnered attention while reporting on the Gulf War in 1991, is running for the Tories in Calgary. He was chastised by party officials for publicly complaining about the way Premier Ed Stelmach's staff treat candidates and constituents. Kent says it would appear he is on the right track and that his would-be constituents feel he could be a "vigorous champion." (kc)

- The Canadian Press



With friends like Stelmach who needs enemies? Still the word PC self-destruction come to mind.

From http://www.630ched.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428436912&rem=85893&red=80143623aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm





Albertans Poor at Recognizing Party Leaders

Feb, 18 2008 - 6:10 AM



EDMONTON - More than a year after Ed Stelmach became premier of Alberta, it's still not unusual to find people on the streets of Edmonton who don't recognize his photo. But it's even worse for his political opponents. During an informal survey of a dozen people in the Alberta capital, even fewer could identify photos of Liberal Leader Kevin Taft or the N-D-P's Brian Mason at first glance. The vote will be held March 3rd. (kc)

- The Canadian Press



Come on Alberta!! We are in the middle of an election.

February 17, 2008







Alberta Liberals work hard in Week 2







Edmonton – As Week 2 of the campaign wraps up, the Alberta Liberals continue to work hard putting their plan in front of Albertans.







Last week, Alberta Liberals released announcements on seniors, post-secondary education, empowering major cities and democratic reform.







“We put out a few surprises this week, such as our announcement on a $1000-a-year tuition rollback and our tools and textbooks grant. But most of what we said was consistent, long-standing policy,” Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said.







“That’s what planning is: sticking to the things you say. Albertans shouldn’t have to wonder how we’re going to run the province, because we’ve been telling them for years.







“Our policies aren’t simply one-off spending announcements to capture votes. Each one is like a single brick in our overall blueprint for the province. Everything is consistent and works toward our vision of Alberta: a place where not only the economy thrives, but also each individual citizen,” Taft said.







“Albertans know that after 37 years of one-party rule, we desperately need a change. The evidence keeps piling up as the Tory campaign lurches from one embarrassing gaffe to another.







“The politics of the past need to be replaced if Alberta is to seize its role as a leader in Canada and the world. It’s time to get the job done right,” Taft said.

As you know, the Leader’s Debate is coming up this Thursday. Kim Trynacity of the CBC is taking suggestions on her blog for questions for the debate

http://www.cbc.ca/albertavotes2008/notebook/2008/02/chasing_magic_in_fort_mcmurray_1.html. Have a hard question for the leader of the PCs that you want an answer to, but haven’t had the opportunity to ask before? Now is your chance to suggest a question for the debate, and lets everyone tune in for the debate Thursday!

Palace Coup?! Is Ron Glen the new PC Leader?







Bumbling PC Leader Ed Stelmach hides behind aides







Edmonton – Albertans want to know: Why is bumbling PC Leader Ed Stelmach campaigning in a bubble?







Friday, when faced with more questions about the PC Party members appointed as election Returning Officers, Stelmach was kept away from the microphone and replaced by his chief of staff, Ron Glen, in the Canadian Press:







Stelmach spokesman Ron Glen said the Tories are open to reviewing the recommendations of the chief electoral officer…Glen did concede Alberta's current method of selecting returning officers is an ‘old process.’”







On Thursday, Stelmach’s media handler Tom Olsen had to step in to spin the Returning Officer scandal after Stelmach was caught in a fib saying that his government had nothing to do with elevating party hacks to election officials:







Tom Olsen, a spokesman for the premier, later clarified that Conservative MLAs and Tory constituency associations put names forward to party officials, and those officials submit the list to the chief electoral officer at Elections Alberta. Cabinet then approves the choices through an order-in-council. (February 15, Calgary Herald)







Finally, it looks like veteran conservative Svengali Hal Danchilla and the PC’s million-dollar war room is taking drastic measures to keep Stelmach in the bubble. They’ve stopped posting his schedule on the PC campaign web site.







Which unelected handler is going to speak for Ed next week?







You just can’t trust Ed Stelmach to face the music like a real leader should.







It’s time for a change to get the job done right.

Auto insurance premiums need to be taken out of the hands of PC hacks



Alberta Liberals would reform Automobile Insurance Rate Board and freeze premiums







Edmonton – The Alberta Liberals would reform the Automobile Insurance Rate Board to include more consumer representatives, disallow politically connected appointees, and force it to hold more public forums.







These immediate steps will protect Albertans from being gouged on threatened auto-insurance premium increases after the Feb. 8, 2008 decision by the Court of Queen’s Bench striking down the bumbling PC government’s $4,000 cap on soft-tissue injury awards.







“It’s clear the Automobile Insurance Rate Board is beholden to the PC Party and its supporters in the insurance industry,” said Rick Miller, Alberta Liberal candidate for Edmonton-Rutherford and the party’s shadow minister of finance in the last Legislature.







The AIRB assesses and approves basic-coverage insurance premiums and ratings for passenger vehicles.







“Out of nine board members, there’s only one representing consumers. We believe consumers should have at least three voices on this board,” Mr. Miller said.



He added that the board’s current chairman, Alf Savage, is a former president of the Alberta PC Party. “It’s another example of how the PC elite have been able to infiltrate and erode the public interest,” he said.







Finally, an Alberta Liberal government will force the insurance industry to freeze premiums for a year while it sorts out the PC mess left by its illegal move to cap soft-tissue injury claims.







“The industry has made record profits on the backs of hard-working Albertans since 2004, thanks to the government’s discrimination against a class of injury victims. I think we are being more than reasonable.”







“Public auto insurance is not the only option,” he said. “The Alberta Liberals will conduct a full review of how auto insurance works and which system best protects consumers. Public auto insurance has some advantages, but Albertans need immediate protection from the threats of the insurance industry to hike premiums.”







The choice is clear: If consumers want to be protected, the Alberta Liberals have the answer.







It’s time for a change to get the job done right.

February 15, 2008







Alberta Liberals will lower post-secondary tuitions by $1,000 per year



"Every time I talk to them [the post-secondary institutions], I tell them the same thing - you have three customers and we own you. So don't tell me you are going to go off and do this if you haven't brought me along as a partner. We decide - because we paid for it - where the capacity goes." – Doug Horner, Advanced Education Minister (Globe and Mail, November 27, 2007)



Edmonton – Kevin Taft announced that the Alberta Liberals will lower post-secondary tuitions by an average of almost $1,000 per year, starting this fall.







Taft also announced a $300 per year grant for every qualifying post-secondary student, to help with the costs of tools and texts.







“There’s no better investment in our quality of life, our communities and our economy,” said Taft. “Responsible government spends money on its priorities, and this is one of our top priorities.”







The Alberta Liberals will replace the money through direct funding to the institutions, and will go further with funding to boost the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education. It will also bring future tuition increases back under the control of the Legislature.







He said the Alberta Liberals will work in partnership with institutions, and in close consultation with students and other stakeholders, while implementing their action plan.







The Alberta Liberal Action Plan for post-Secondary Education will super-charge Alberta’s post-secondary institutions by improving student/faculty ratios, boosting graduate student numbers, and establishing teacher chair positions.







The Action Plan will also improve access to post-secondary education through the creation of new, targeted learning spaces for areas with high numbers of applicants.







“It’s time we stopped turning away qualified students because we don’t have space for them. We need to make it possible for every qualifying student to benefit from these resources. If the Stelmach government had looked ahead, it would have seen this coming years ago.”







In 2005, the Tory government promised the most affordable tuition in Canada, Taft noted. Because of their neglect, they are nowhere near that goal, and they have no plan for getting there.







“While we can’t make up for years of mismanagement of post-secondary education all at once, we will start with the Alberta Liberal Action Plan,” said Taft. “It’s time to start getting this right, and we have to start now.”