Politics

[grassfarmer]

Wow, the naivity of the Alberta population never ceases to amaze me! Why would any electorate ever give a party an overwhelming majority like the PCs get here every time? It allows the corruption of Government by big business to continue. Now we can look forward to uncontrolled exploitation of our resources, increased CBM drilling, waterflood injection projects etc etc Those in agriculture complain how bad things are then every rural seat in the Province elects a PC candidate. Voting to have our ag policy dictated by Cargill.

[wilagro]

I give up. My gawd...37 bloody years. I'll be dead before Albertans finally smarten up and change the party in power. I have voted in every election where I was eligible and it has always amazed me as to how Albertans are so bloody well brainwashed that they can't see the forest for the trees. Ralph and his gang HALVED the hospital beds allocated per capita years ago and that formula still exists despite more aged people and despite many years of surplus cash. The Regional Health Authorities are a cruel joke foisted upon us and should be eliminated and a return to the old local authority run facilities be enacted.
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[coppertop]

There has been an increase in Long Term/Assisted Living beds in Alberta, and that is where you will likely see a focus.
Interestingly enough three of my neighbours have experienced serious health issues over the past few weeks and all have reported excellent care, both at the local level and in hospitals in Edmonton.

There is a dire shortage of nurses, and doctors, but there is also still abuse of the health care system, and that isn't the fault of government. When people choose to abuse alcohol and drugs etc. and get themselves into health crisis we all pay.

[rkaiser]

We can choose to give up or work with the people we now have folks.

Personal political opinions aside, I believe that we have the right man on the job in the Ag Minister portfolio as he has shown the vision to make change that will affect our industry for years to come.

George Groeneveld is a very good man and building a relationship with him will help each of you to accomplish your goals.

Find the positives and move on folks.

[farmers_son]

I would not blame the naivety of the Alberta voter. I think the results show how terrible the opposition is. What a complete bunch of idiots we saw running as opposition candidates and the voters really had no choice in most ridings except to vote PC.

There were so many issues the PCs were vulnerable on, hospitals in rural Alberta included. The opposition was not able to capitalize on any of those and really did a very very poor job of bringing voter discontent with the PCs into the debate. It is not the job of the ruling party to highlight problems during an election. I would expect both the Liberal and ND leaders will step down even if it means choosing a new leader who is not an elected MLA. There is certainly opportunity in this province for a credible opposition.

It is interesting to see how Rod Love has been sidelined.

I like Ed Stelmach, he came across as a more decent human being than Klein ever did. The PCs had a kinder gentler face this time around. Still I think the big win may spell the end for the PCs if they believe the vote results are a reflection of how great a job they are doing instead of what a lousy job the opposition did. There is voter discontent in rural Alberta and rural Alberta will turn on the PCs if they are ever given a viable alternative. There just was no viable alternative in this election.

Presently Calgary and Edmonton have 42 out of 83 seats. Not to mention other cities like Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie. I understand there is going to be another riding redistribution and rural Alberta is going to loose even more seats. The dramatic population growth that Alberta is experiencing is happening in the cities, not in rural areas. What history will show is not the dramatic win for the PCs in 2008 rather 2008 was the last election in Alberta where the rural vote was even a factor.

I think George Groenveld will be lucky to hold onto any portfolio, certainly not Agriculture. Hey, how about Jack Hayden or Arno Doerksen. As Jack was Ed Stelmach's rural campaign manager in the leadership race I think he will get the nod. It could be the last chance for an Agriculture Minister who comes from a rural riding. Next election there will not be very many truly rural ridings left.

I expect you will see more ministers coming from the cities, especially the ridings where the election was close.

[per]

I couldn't agree with you more Randy. Lets play the cards on the table and stop lamenting (ranchers lament, farmers whine) over the cards left in the deck. It doesn't mean that you can't start working for change in four years. Designing something new and all encompassing to run in the future might be fun.

[blackjack]

...arno for ag minister...oh how i imagine the abp would love that hey fathers_son...i agree with randy in that groeneveld appears to be trying to actually direct some positive change in ag...so ed give him another crack at it...

[blackjack]

oops...should have read farmers_son..

[rkaiser]

LOL ---- I thought you were saying that father_son was some kind of a hillbilly or something blackjack-----

Is farmers_son showing us his true identity for once. Arno for Ag minister --- you have to be kidding batman.....

[farmers_son]

Not kidding at all. Lets see...the Honourable Arno Doerksen. Could happen. After all other former chairs of ABP or ACC went on to hold Ministers porfolios like Tom Thurber. Arno is pretty new to the Legislature but there is little question that Jack Hayden will be a minister, perhaps Municipal Affairs if not Agriculture.

Why it is even possible that rkaiser could run for government someday and end up as a minister of something or another. Could happen too...

Maybe this is agriculture's last stand in this province but we do have a farmer as Premier and several farm boys elected too. We need those people in Edmonton, many of the so called rural ridings are represented by people who are not rural at all.