Alta Election

[coppertop]

I have always felt the way to effect change within government is to work with the party in power. Of course business has an important voice in Alberta, business is what drives the economy of the province. Municipalities have the opportunity for a strong voice, but it is only as strong as the municipal representatives elected by the public.


I am sure the Premier heard many concerns during this election campaign, hopefully he and his caucus will to what is necessary to address some of the issues facing Albertans.

[per]

There are two ways to affect change. Boot the old or work from within. I guess we will have to do the latter. A shame that Anglin never won his seat. He would have been an asset to the Legislature.

[blackjack]

wow...liked to have seen the wildrose alliance fare better...quite surprized with the urban vote...this was a great opportunity for opposition parties but you wonder how could they really out spend down the middle pc already without big deficits...i know many do not like big business but personally i dislike more bureaucrats and red tape more...

[coppertop]

I don't think it was a case of over spending the opposition, it was the fact that Ed and crew ran on positive change, accomplishments over the past 14 months etc., where the opposition ran on negative ads. The Wildrose/Alliance didn't have time to mount an effective campaign, and now they have no standing due to their leader losing his seat, although that will be a definite recount.

I think Albertans liked what they saw in Ed, he isn't a loose cannon like Ralph, and he doesn't have the fatal flaws Ralph did. You will never see Eddie drunk at a homeless shelter !!!
He will have the biggest challenge of all trying to pick his cabinet. I hope we see a cabinet minister from this part of the province, McQueen in Drayton Valley/Calmar has a good shot at cabinet, much more likely than the new fellow in Yellowhead or Vanderburg in Whitecourt/Lac Ste Anne. Ty won't have a chance at cabinet but he is a good MLA, sure represents his constituents well.

[grassfarmer]

As a constituent of Ty Lund I would beg to differ. He has maintained the party line of supporting the exploitation of our beef industry by foreign corporations. When asked to intervene in the local fresh water oil flood project in my area he has indicated support of the landowners position to us but does nothing about it. Not a peep does he make in the legislature. Talking out both sides of his mouth just like Ray Prins proud supporter of Government spying, Bill 46 and the packer monopoly.
What a joke calling these puppets representatives of the people.

[GreenValley]

hmm, this is obvious that Albertan who vote PC has systemic problem and they are actual true brainwash by enemies of Eastern Canada and the National Enegry Program who stole Alta $30 billion ego macho. Well all I can say to Quebec may go ahead to separate in Canada that I am against it but now I am seeing it and we are enemies within anyway. We don't want that, need to soften that but these vote can tell that, meaning we are in history. There is chance water selling down to USA with Bill 46 that weaken us. More Power Tranmission getting down to States with ease. And agree grassfarmer more packer increase control and thanks to Bill 46 and PC gotta love that.

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, MLA's are elected in democratic process, so obviously the majority of the electorate in Ty's constituency felt he was the man for the job. Single issues that face those of us in rural areas, don't matter a damn to most urban folks......that is why someone like Anglin didn't have a chance. Altough many rural folks felt he had represented their concerns and basically exposed the EUB skullduggery....the majority of the voters preferred Prins.

This is why it is crucial that rural Alberta have their fair share of cabinet ministers.....ones that realize rural issues vs urban folks that don't understand.

I have heard from folks in my area that opposed the AltaLink line that Ty was a good ally, and was willing to take concerns forward in the legislature, but perhaps the individual that advised me didn't know what he was talking about. He seemed to feel that Ty was one of the very few MLA's that showed interest in listening to concerns .

At any rate that process has to happen all over again...

The new Land Use Framework may show clearly where power and pipeline corridors are to be placed....hope we get another look at it shortly.

[grassfarmer]

"Single issues that face those of us in rural areas, don't matter a damn to most urban folks......that is why someone like Anglin didn't have a chance."
But Ponoka Lacombe is a rural seat and Joe was much more than a one issue candidate.
I note you state that he exposed the "EUB skullduggery" when it was in fact PC Government skullduggery - and this has been proven. A successful lie machine certainly helps get the PCs re-elected. Too bad that so many AB voters were fooled by it.

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, although we like to think we are rural, we do need to remember that there are urban centres within our constituencies that are made up of many people who do not follow rural issues, or care for that matter.
I think the Premier did make some necessary steps to address the EUB issues, the acting chair cleaned house at the EUB, and overturned the AltaLink decision, so that, in itself showed leadership in my opinion. The
WestEnergy decision at Rocky Rapids is going to the court of Appeal, and if the decision is overturned or found to be flawed in any way by the courts, I would suspect that there will be more changes to the ERCB mandate.
The turnout in the election was dismal to say the least, but it is certainly comparable to the very low turnout and complete lack of interest in the October municipal elections. The people that have issues get out and vote, and one thing for sure the PC party got their vote out this time around.

[per]

If the people of Alberta were mandated to vote by law, who would the other 58% vote for.

20% green
30% liberal
20% WRA
15% NDP
15% PC

It would still have been an PC win but there would have been plenty of opposition. I guess we never will really know for sure.

[grassfarmer]

"I think the Premier did make some necessary steps to address the EUB issues..." Yes he certainly did - introducing Bill 46 so that landowners no longer have the few rights they had in the past. In future any pipeline, powerline or water injection project can be steam rollered through regardless of citizens concerns. Just another indication of the "puppet of big business status" of our PC government. Still I guess you can justify that the same way as the Premiers transport donations - corruption is ok because the other guys are at it too.

[coppertop]

grassfarmer, it appears that you are suggesting that I condone corruptness....pretty strong statement !
In my time I have helped oust a corrupt municipal council that were bent on self serving ways...nobody has ever accused me of condoning corruption.
If candidates for political office did not accept any donations, only the very rich would be able to serve, which is something I hope I never see. I am proud to live in a society where a farmer who is the grandson of immigrants that came to this province without a dime, can work hard, earn the respect of his community first and then his party, and finally the people of Alberta. Bill 46 obviously didn't concern the majority of the people who voted on Monday....if it would have, the result would have been very different.I was in attendance at the AAMD C Convention when the question was posed from the floor regarding Bill 46, and the answer given by Mel Knight seemed to satisfy the majority of those in attendance....and they represent every citizen in rural Alberta.
I think that the Land Use Framework is going to dictate where pipeline and power line corridors will be, and hopefully those affected landowners will receive appropriate compensation. Pipeline corridors are long overdue, there is so much land sterilized by pipelines across the province that certainly has a monetary effect on numerous land owners. Hopefully when pipelines are proposed people are fighting tooth and nail to be compensated for the loss of use of those lands for any purpose other than agriculture....eg: subdivision and location of buildings etc.
All one has to do is view the presentation by Brad Stelfox and you can see what effect pipelines, lease roads, cutblocks etc. have on land use in our Province.
Still, without these resources, we would be a have not province, particularly if we had to depend on the livestock industry to support rural Alberta communities. The situation the livestock industry is facing worries me a lot more than Bill 46.