Alberta Election

[wilagro]

Before you vote...please go to all of the websites provided by the parties and read their policies.

For example: from the Wildrose Alliance site, I gleaned this gem..."A Wildrose Alliance Government will mandate that hospitalization costs of vehicle accidents caused by inebriation will be covered by the individuals vehicle insurance."

I wonder if skiers or snowboarders will be treated the same, after all these people are into risky pastimes and many are injured each year.
-
They also want to withdraw from the CPP and Employment Canada and run provincially operated schemes. I don;t agree with this at all.
-
Anyway, keep informed and don't forget to vote.

[food4u]

I think provincial run pension plans(CPP) and employment insurance are great idea. It has worked for Quebec for years and it keeps that money in the province.

[FarmRanger]

“hospitalization costs of vehicle accidents caused by inebriation will be covered by the individuals vehicle insurance”

That would put financial pressure in the form of increased premiums on drunk drivers as well. Is that a bad thing? As for snowboarders and skiers, if they are injured as a result of being inebriated, maybe they should pay their own medical costs? I’m all for compassion, but should we all be responsible for individual irresponsible behaviour?

[wilagro]

FarmRanger: One problem with trying to get the accident victims insurance to pay is determining the legal alcohol limit. According to law the hospital can't take a blood test for alcohol without the patients permission.

If one is just under the legal limit who is to say that the booze caused the accident? I see a whole bunch of litigation involved and that isn't cheap for the individual OR the medical facility. If you want to increase health care costs then these changes, as advocated by the Wild Rose Alliance, will do just that.

[FarmRanger]

That’s an easy one.

If you want insurance from XYZ insurance company, you agree to provide to the necessary authorities a sample for testing blood alcohol immediately after any accident you’re involved in. If you refuse, XYZ insurance will assume your blood alcohol was over the legal limit for any future insurance premium calculations.

You’ll have to explain to me how that would increase health care costs.

[coppertop]

I wonder if the intent is just the drunk driver's heath care and hospitalization costs be paid by his insurer. That may make some sense but I would hate to see an innocent victim of a drunk driver have to depend on third party insurance to cover their costs. The Wildrose/Alliance has as much chance of forming the government as either of my donkeys, so doubtful if that policy will ever come into effect.
I think the Wildrose folks might pull off a couple of surprises on election day, but I doubt if they will get more than three seats if they are lucky enough to get that many.

All in all, I think we will see more opposition MLA's, likely in Calgary and perhaps one in Lethbridge. Edmonton has a few shaky seats as well for the PC's so it will be a very interesting election.

[per]

A more balanced house would be a good thing. The trick for the opposition is that if the numbers in the house are close then you know that Stelmach will not survive and someone more appealing to the cities will come along and replace him. If the PCs get a huge majority then Stelmach will stay and be an easier target next time around. Maybe that will be the time for the 35 year paradigm shift.

[coppertop]

From what I see in the other parties there aren't any who I would want leading the province.
Tonight on Global each leader was asked what they felt should be done to assist the livestock industry and Taft seemed to trip all over his tongue and appeard to say we needed more auction markets !!!!!
The only one of the three opposition leaders that made much sense was Hinman.

[cropduster]

So,coppertop,could I get from your statement that your`re NOT going to vote?? Or would you give Paul Hinman a chance.Even tho` not in power, they still stand a chance of positively influencing gov`t.

[coppertop]

cropduster I have always voted.I try and attend any candidate's forums with an open mind, but none are scheduled for this constituency.
One candidate has travelled far and wide, attending auction sales, various functions speaking to farmers about issues facing their industry. She is hosting a luncheon tomorrow and has invited a large contingent of the local agriculture community. I might add that she is the only candidate that has gone to any lengths to get input on issues from the agriculture community.
I do think that Hinman had a handle on issues facing the livestock industry, judging by his comments on the Global news last evening, but I haven't felt that he has been very effective in the legislature. It will be interesting to see if he holds on to his seat. He won by a slim margin last time and is facing the same PC candidate.