7-Apr-2013 Posted by Chris

The Wildrose Reinvented. Maybe it’s time?

Maybe it’s time? Yesterday the Wildrose Party of Alberta came together and laid the foundation for a more moderate policy framework, mostly by removing or clarifying their contentious social policy. It has yet to be submitted to the approval of the membership, but I think that’s a formality. By doing this, the rigid social conservatives, those who joined the party to protect ideologically based... read more

31-Mar-2013 Posted by Chris

Ralph Klein – The Alberta Everyman who led with authenticity

Ralph Klein gave protesters the finger. He derided “Eastern bums and creeps”. He drank too much. He apologized a lot, often for good reason. But Ralph Klein could lead us with authenticity, because he was like us; with fault. Premier Klein also balanced the damn budget. Ralph wasn’t idolized just because he balanced the budget, which was formidable enough; the success he enjoyed politically was for... read more

15-Mar-2013 Posted by Chris

Wildrose populism offers no real solutions.

I spent 2 hours on Monday this week in an Edmonton criminal courtroom (as an observer, not a defendant!) Here is what I observed: - A 59-year old aboriginal woman who was charged with shoplifting. She was charged with her first criminal offense, after shoplifting 8 bottles of perfume, with the intent of reselling it to feed her family. According to the duty council, she has been on AISH for most of her... read more

29-Nov-2012 Posted by Chris

How to recover from a Government stall.

As a pilot, one of the first things you learn how to recover from is a stall. In aviation terms, a stall is simply when the speed over your wings fails to provide the lift they have been designed to provide. In political terms, at least recently in Alberta, a stall may be when the opposition steals your lift…. and the government fails to provide enough power to fly through the dynamic. Today the... read more

22-Oct-2012 Posted by Chris

Danielle Smith on feeding the poor?

Being poor and hungry in the Country’s richest province, arguably one of the richest places on the planet, just got a lot worse. Today on Twitter, Danielle Smith, the self-professed Libertarian leader of the right-wing Wildrose Party, is flirting with the idea of feeding “treated-safe” beef product, suspected to be contaminated with E-coli, to our Provinces needy. (edited: now she suggests... read more

22-Apr-2012 Posted by Chris

One Vote Matters

The power of one vote is as meaningless or meaningful as you want to make it. Today when I voted for Alberta Party candidate Julia Necheff in Edmonton Whitemud, it was most meaningful to me indeed. Our votes, often feel insignificant amongst the thousands alongside them, regardless of which side of the popularity you may be on. Without a doubt in the last 20 years of voting, none of my votes have made the... read more

15-Apr-2012 Posted by Chris

Edmonton Rutherford – Election 2012

If you live in Edmonton Rutherford, you will have access to one of the most interesting and possibly meaningful elections in decades. Tonight, we were reminded why your choice not only matters, but represents the best of opportunities to set a new forward looking course for moderately minded constituents. On twitter, the Alberta Liberal candidate Rick Miller made what has become a common war-cry against... read more

13-Apr-2012 Posted by Chris

What’s next for Alberta.

Ok, now what? Alberta will likely see it’s first change in government in 41 years. The Wildrose Party had an opportunity to lose its lead in political polls during tonight’s debate, and by most accounts, it looks like they only strengthened their grasp on the legislature. As many of you know, this is not my first choice for the Province and especially Edmonton, which will almost certainly lose much of... read more