Dave Yadallee's personal blog

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 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







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 %)



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