Alberta Election

[caesar]

I would be interested too. I don't think Alberta is any worse than most other provinces. Living here in Vancouver; you would be lucky to rent a regular cheap apartment for that much.

[caesar]

This page has a table comparing the payments made by various provinces. Alberta, despite its wealth is not one of the most generous.

http://www.ncwcnbes.net/htmdocument/report...m#_Toc500047774

[playfullfellow]

Living here in Vancouver; you would be lucky to rent a regular cheap apartment for that much.

Just like BC, rent in Alberta depends on where you live. In our area you can still get a basement suite for 500 a month. But you are right, AISH in Alberta needs an update. The current level is not sufficient at all.

[Cartman]

After 33 years in power, I think that the Progressive Conservatives in Alberta should be forced to field at least two candidates in each riding. That way, there would be something contentious and interesting about the provincial election here. On election night, you would wonder if PC party "A" (label them extreme socialists and big spenders like their leader Klein) would win or PC party "B" (label them extreme right wingers like their leader Klein) would win.

(ps...I am just joking)

[caesar]

Well Alberta politics are boring but stable.

[Big Blue Machine]

What do the polls look like for Klien and Taft? Klien will win bu with a reduced majority.

[Cartman]

CBC story on the Alberta election by a former PC...harsh?

http://www.cbc.ca/albertavotes2004/comment...one_110104.html

The Conservative government has earned a reputation for being heartless, that it doesn’t care as much about kids in school, kids going to school hungry, the homeless, the handicapped and the disadvantaged as it cares about the economy and debt.

Remember the shameful midnight episode at the homeless shelter in Edmonton two years ago? Then his stomping out of a news conference when he didn’t appreciate reporters’ questions about BSE. Then his verbal attacks on Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman who asked for his travel receipts. Then his stomping out of the health summit in Ottawa last summer.

[stamps]

Ralph Klein will go down in history as one of this country's greatest leaders.... our social programs are inline with the rest of this country and all this criticism is mostly sour grapes... here's to another term for Ralph and more years of prosperity for our great province... cheers...

[Newfie Canadian]

And here's to the price of oil staying above $50 a barrell.

Just kidding stamps.

[playfullfellow]

You are not far off the mark newf but what the heck, I am not going to complain when I see the revenue brought in by such high oil prices. Can you just imagine if we didn't the BSE problem right now? Agriculture would be pumping tonnes into the coffers too.

There are issues of course in Alberta and Ralph does not necessarily always do or say the right thing. Well, he is human and an Albertan, we tend to say what we think. I see people defend Parrish in one sentence but condemn Ralph in another. Double standards across the board. Though I may not agree with all of Ralphs statements, he makes it clear he hates it when people misuse the system set in place to help the disadvantaged. As most Albertans, he appreciates hard work and innitiative.

I am glad to see a wide variety of issues being brought up this election by some of the new parties but in the end, we have to decide who is going to stand up for what we Albertans believe as being important. I think Ralph still does care though he is getting tired and it's probably a good thing this is his last turn at bat.

[Big Blue Machine]

Too bad this election will be his last.

[takeanumber]

Klein's AISH policy is awful.

I hear tons of Cons complain daily about Klein.

The difference between the Cons I deal with on a daily basis and the Cons on these boards is the cons I know in real life are educated.

[Cartman]

Ralph knows that this is the time to retire. This election is a given, but the PCons gotta start thinking about a replacement. There is no well known PC member besides him at the moment.

[Pateris]

The biggest problem in Alberta is that the Conservatives have no real opposition. The NDP will never appeal to a wide cross section of Alberta voters, and the Liberals are too far to the left (Taft is a socialist through and through). The Alliance and Social Credit are too extreme in some of their views and haven't thought through a lot of their other policies. And the Separation Party doesn't appeal to most of us.

Ralph needs to be replaced, and hopefully the Conservative party can find a good candidate after this election.

[kimmy]

Klein has said this is his last election, but he's also said he's committed to serving a full term.

Alberta's Liberals are rather invisible. The ND are more visible and vocal critics of the government. There has to be an opposition in the Legislature, and I don't think the Liberals have the stomach for the job. I will be voting NDP, and not because I especially like them, just that there has to be some opposition under the Dome and the NDP are, as I see it, the only party with the intestinal fortitude for the job.

-kimmy

[Cartman]

I will be voting NDP, and not because I especially like them, just that there has to be some opposition under the Dome and the NDP are, as I see it, the only party with the intestinal fortitude for the job.

Thanx a lot Kimmy. I fell off my chair and spilled my coffee when I read this. Are you sure you wrote this or is this a practical joke by a friend? C'mon, admit it "Kimmy".

[Big Blue Machine]

how is the Alberta alliance doing?

[Cartman]

how is the Alberta alliance doing?

I think they are pretty inept. I figured they might shake things up but not really. Things are relatively good in Alberta so nobody really cares about this election. It looks like voter turnout is going to be very low. I don't even think that the PC's are doing much because this is a non-election. When you drive around Calgary, there are hardly any signs out and of these, there are a few PC's and just as many Social Credit and Alberta Sep Party signs.

[kimmy]

Thanx a lot Kimmy. I fell off my chair and spilled my coffee when I read this. Are you sure you wrote this or is this a practical joke by a friend? C'mon, admit it "Kimmy".

Seriously, Cartman. I mean it. Do I seem *that* right wing? I don't really think I am. Just because I make fun of Maplesyrup a lot doesn'tmean I'm an arch-conservative... it just means I find Maplesyrup funny.

The Tories are going to form the government, which truthfully I don't mind. And even if my vote helps elect an NDP MLA in my riding, there's no chance of them forming a government. That would be ridiculous.

Democracy works best when there's credible opposition to the party in power. I don't mind the Tories, but I don't want them to get any more complacent or arrogant than they already are. So yes, I'm voting for the NDP, even though I honestly couldn't care less about what policies they hold.

-kimmy

[Cartman]

Seriously, Cartman. I mean it. Do I seem *that* right wing? I don't really think I am.

I guess I just assumed that voting for the NDP was beyond your comfort range. I never really thought you would vote for a weak opposition party (no offense).

The PC's do need an opposition. I am surprised that we have heard of no scandals (like the sponsorship program) since they have held power for so long.

[Big Blue Machine]

I just they have no scandals and are very politically clean.

[kimmy]

I guess I just assumed that voting for the NDP was beyond your comfort range. I never really thought you would vote for a weak opposition party (no offense).

Well, they'll never form a government, so their policy platform doesn't matter to me. I think Brian Mason is better suited than Taft to the job of opposition leader.

-kimmy

[ticker]

The old anti Klein opposition trick eh kimmy.

NDP= liberal and after the liberal GOD did damage to Canada and Alberta with his socialist policies kimmy couldn't stand supporting a liberal opposition.

[Cartman]

Well, they'll never form a government, so their policy platform doesn't matter to me. I think Brian Mason is better suited than Taft to the job of opposition leader.

I highly doubt they will form gov't here anytime soon. Alberta has a history of electing right-wing gov'ts (although Socreds were a little of both at times). You do realize, however, if they elect 5 or more MLA's, I expect you to buy me a Coke.

(10+ ...I wanna Duff).

[maplesyrup]

Alberta NDP produces Health Care for Dummies booklet for Premier Ralph Klein

I would imagine that this is the issue - only in Alberta would a premier get away with this crap, eh!.