Alberta - Interesting Times

Smoky Lake Signal Article No. 188 (September 14, 2011)

Whispering in the Wind

Politically speaking, Albertans are living in some interesting times:

PC Alberta First Ballot Vote - September 17
PC Alberta members do have an awesome responsibility on Saturday, September 17 - voting for one of six candidates seeking the Alberta PC leadership job (and Premier, Province of Alberta).  And if none of the six candidates wins a clear 50 percent of the vote - the PC party members will make a preference choice (first and second choice of the top three candidates) on Saturday, October 1.  For those wanting to vote at the Smoky Lake poll on Saturday September 17 (at the Ukrainian National Hall between 9:00am - 7:00pm) please take note of the following requirement:  be a Canadian citizen; present a 2011 PC Alberta membership card; two pieces of identification that indicates residence in the Athabasca - Redwater constituency.

From Six to Three?    
The election of Alberta's next premier has moved into the first phase of a two phase election process - most political observers have suggested that none of the six candidates will get 50 percent of the vote so a second ballot on October 1 is likely.  In my view the Alberta PC leadership campaign has to a large extent been an Oh-Hum campaign with only one or two of the six showing the least amount of interest or passion to be leader - in some cases some of the candidates think it is their political birthright to be Premier - let's hope Albertans will see some sparks fly over the next couple of weeks.  Below is a thumbnail sketch of the six candidates and how I think they've faired on the campaign trail:
Doug Griffiths:  Too young and inexperienced; watch out, he'll be a force in ten years; interesting to see who he supports for the second ballot; visited Smoky Lake.
Gary Mar:  Was front runner; made a bad mistake on suggesting two-tier health care system (I think he was mis-understood); will be on the second ballot; visited Smoky Lake.
Doug Horner:  Has a lot of support in rural Alberta, particularly in the north; needs to show himself as premier, with passion; will be on the second ballot; visited Smoky Lake.
Ted Morton:  Very capable; looks like he could do the job; smeared by someone on the question of secret e-mail addresses; not known in the north; never visited Smoky Lake.
Rick Orman:  Unknown in Alberta, old hat; nice guy but out of the question; won't make it to the second ballot: never visited Smoky Lake.
Alison Redford:  Clear, articulate and knows her stuff; will make it to the second ballot; has a chance if her campaign can show herself to be strong enough to fight the big boys in Calgary; will be on the second ballot; visited Smoky Lake.
 
Alberta Liberal Leader, Raj Sherman -
Former Tory MLA Raj Sherman is now leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.  Mr. Sherman garnered something like 54 percent support in a week long electoral process that ended last Saturday - a voting system that some have said was confusing, it included Alberta Liberal Party members as well as non-party member Albertans who simply registered to vote in the leadership race.  It is worthy to note that Mr. Sherman, an emergency room doctor and a former Progressive Conservative MLA, was ousted from the PC caucus last November over healthcare disagreements with Premier Ed Stelmach.  As expressed in the leadership campaign, Mr. Sherman outlined his political priorities to be: responsible government; stable economy; healthcare; education and support for seniors.  A specific priority Mr. Sherman has mentioned - the need for Albertan's to further up-grade Alberta's oil sands products.  On Monday the eight Liberal caucus members in the Alberta Legislature welcomed Raj Sherman as their new leader, which suggests to me that Mr. Sherman will be moving the Liberal Party of Alberta to the right of what it was.