The end is nigh!

[ivbinconned]

Boy did this topic swing.

I think Paul Jackson has a point. In Ed's first news conference he echoed some of the concerns Morton has been articulating for a long time.

Isn't this what Ralph would have done, and did do for years...utter the words that resonate with a certain constinuency hoping they will think your a champion of their concerns. Meanwhile having no intentions to do so.
Morton would have been the logical choice for intergovernmental affairs or some such thing that is more in line with his well known interests.

Is this Ed's way of keeping him close... but marginalizing him??

[coppertop]

I highly doubt that Ted Morton is the only cabinet minister with intellectual toughness. One example that may surprise a lot of people is Ray Danyluk, the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Firstly: the Premier decides on which individual to put in particular cabinet porfolios. Morton has NEVER been in cabinet, SRD is a challenging ministry, and I would suspect that the Premier wants to see how Morton will do dealing with the various and sundry issues that face that porfolio.
Secondly: Ministers do NOT necessarily get appointed to the ministry THEY feel best suits their interests, Cabinet is NOT a shopping list for MLA's. Ed has worked with all these folks and has had plenty of time to see how they perform as MLA's, so it is very likely he has placed them in Ministrys where he feels their talents lie.
The leadership campaign is over, Morton is NOT the Premier, so perhaps we need to let the Premier do his job and not second guess his every move, until he shows that he isn't capable. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to not only make cabinet choices but to ensure that each Minister is doing the job they were appointed to do. He has indicated that this is the cabinet that will go into the next election, so he is going to set some goals and expect results.

[cowman]

Coppertop: I agree with you on this one! Eds the man and I think he will manage the show as good as anyone could. In reality if you are the boss you have to be the BOSS and make the tough decisions?
He made his picks, he has to live with them, so I would think he knows what he is doing?
I will tell you I have never been much of a supporter of the PC party of Alberta, although I did vote for Ralph second time around...partly because I thought he should be rewarded for keeping his promise to cut government...and partly because I was worried the Decore Liberals just might get in! And I think if the Liberals look like they stand a chance next time...I would definitely vote PC!
The other thing is this: Whoever is premier of this province...he is MY premier and deserves our support? I always supported Ralph on this site...no matter what stupid things he did...because I believe he was a true Albertan and had the best interests of the people at heart! I believe Ed Stelmach has the best interests of the Alberta at heart, too! He is ours...and yes the election is over!

[blackjack]

...here here cowman...but someone should remind ty lund ...he seems to be a little bitter with his cut in salary...hey ty ...now you can feel like us ranchers with the cut in pay we have endured the last 5 years...lol

[coppertop]

Ty Lund seems to feel that by virtue of the fact he has been an MLA forever he is ENTITLED to a cabinet post !! Personally, I respect Ty for his contribution not only as an MLA but a municipal councillor and Reeve, however, there comes a time when new blood is necessary, and Ed has obviously chosen that route.

cowman, over the years I too, supported Ralph, although his lacklustre performance the last few years certainly put his tried and true supporters to the test. Our new premier needs to know that Albertans are willing to give him the chance to govern. From what I am hearing, there seems to be overwhelming support for his cabinet other than in the major cities who also have a feeling of ENTITLEMENT regarding influence in cabinet.

Dinning has made it clear that he is NOT going to run whenever there is a by-election to fill the seat vacated by Ralphs retirement. No surprise there, he wanted the whole enchalada or nothing.

[ivbinconned]

Elections are never over! What have you guys been smoking.

At what point will you all decide closer scrutiny ... of the new premier...elected only by party members...many of them instant...is....ok??

[cowman]

ivbinconned: In Alberta, basically the PC nomination process...is the election? And unless a really dark horse comes on the scene in the next two years Alberta will have another PC government two years from now? Just a fact?
The Alberta Alliance is not going anywhere with Paul Hinman as the leader. Frankly he just doesn't have it!
I beieve we have to give Ed Stelmach his chance to prove what he can do? He has a tough job right now pulling all the boys together and cleaning up a lot of Ralphs screwups? Now is not the time to shoot him in the back, but to hope he rises to the occasion? He is not a very flamboyant guy but I think he will do his best for the Alberta people and I think he will stand up to Ottawa...or I sure hope so!
And on a local note...although I'm not very fond of my own MLA/cabinet minister(Luke Oulette) he came out and said in the local paper, some good things for our area...as well as some needed things around the province! I think we can pretty well count on finally getting the airport upgraded and a couple of really bad highways fixed locally! He mentioned those specifically.
His comments about the Fort Mac road also looks promising.

[coppertop]

cowman, you may not personally care for your MLA, but he is a mover and shaker and the Transportation portfolio suits him. I think he is going to to what he can with the budget dollars his ministry is allocated. Remember, every constituency has a huge infrastructure deficit due to the pressure on highways by industry traffic, etc., so your area is only one with their hand out for projects.

[cakadu]

Despite what I see on this site regarding drilling, that sure isn't stopping companies from trying to get things relaxed so that when they can profitably make a move, they can and WILL.

We have spent the better part of the last year getting notices on a company wanting a relaxation in a huge area to get to drill 4 gas wells per section versus the current 1 per section. Talk about getting options limited. So far the EUB hasn't given them much - instead of a 200 metre setback from boundaries, the EUB has kept it at 300 meters, but that still puts it in a very bad spot for us anyway.

The thing that I am most appalled over is how little the company (through their agent) has to do in terms of notification and informing landowners. It actually is quite a joke and with the way some of these things are worded, it is no wonder that the unsuspecting get taken in.

[coppertop]

Linda, just keep in the EUB's face with respect to lack of notification etc. The company will not be in the EUB's good books if they do not consult with landowners in good faith.