Thoughts on BC Politics and More

So let's put the conclusion up front. How much confidence can you place in two MLAs who want to revivify a party that's dead and buried and more particularly, didn't exactly embody the virtues they want to highlight in their new creation, whatever it's called? Not so much. Worse, it represents the kind of principled conservatism that splits the vote and gets the NDP elected ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Two former members of Alberta's governing United Conservative Party are resuscitating the province's once-dominant Progressive Conservative Party. Former infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie and legislature member Scott Sinclair were booted from caucus earlier this year for pushing back against the Premier Danielle Smith's government and now sit as Independents. Sinclair says the province's two-party system has become too divisive, and they want to galvanize support from Albertans who feel they don't have a political home ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Yesterday, in a post I wrote about the Throne Speech by the Alberta government, I stated: While many are expecting to hear a call for a provincial election in Alberta – likely in the month of May, Premier Rachael Notley’s Throne Speech today sounded more like an election rally, and call to members to prepare campaign teams in all ridings across the province. It also highlighted how the Alberta NDP government had been building long-term beds, diversifying the economy, and been constructing new schools.  And those of course are what voters like and want to hear. I also quoted Premier Rachael Notley stating, “ Our government has kept the promises we made to Albertans over the last four years, fighting for what matters to everyday workers and families – good jobs, pipelines, a more diversified economy and strong schools and hospitals. There is more work to do , and this year’s throne speech lays out the work ahead .” Very much the start of a campaign ...

The gnashing of teeth by our neighbours, next door in Alberta, continues frothing away yesterday (July 25th).   On the heels of the Progressive Conservatives, and Wildrose parties coming together on the weekend, the NDP's Sarah Marjorie Hoffman, current Deputy Premier of Alberta, and Minister of Health in the NDP cabinet of Rachel Notley Sarah Hoffman got herself in a lather against the forces of evil -- that being the new United Conservative Party. Rachael Notley's Deputy Premier, Sarah Hoffman, had this to say: blah blah blah ... all conservatives hate LGTBQ ... blah blah blah ... we / me / you will know it because he's a white Anglo-Saxon male  blah blah blah ... he held views that were anti LGTBQ previously, and so those will always be his beliefs ... blah blah blah ... I will rake the new United Conservative Leader over the coals because as a self-righteous leftie I am allowed to do this ... blah blah blah ... no one had better eve r ...

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean and Progressive Conservative leader   Jason Kenney May 18th announcing tentative deal to unite parties Next door in Alberta over the weekend, members of the Progressive Conservative Party -- and the Wildrose Party -- both agreed to a merger. And how was that hailed by the mainstream media, including CTV?   Their focus was on the paltry number (5%) of Progressive Conservatives who were 'lamenting the death of Alberta's historic PC party' . The former President of the party, Katherine O'Neill   spoke of a lot of grieving going on ... and that a lot of people were heartbroken .   It should however be noted that O'Neill left the party, after Jason Kenney's victory as party leader.   From what I have read, I take that to mean that she was far more progressive (left-leaning?) than she was conservative.   And therein, lies the rub, as it were, with attaching the word progressive , to the word conservative ...