Alberta Votes!

[Desmond Hawkins]

I don't know how many people care about this thread, as there seem to be fewer Albertans on CFC than there used to be (I don't think newfangle, SuperBeaver, and a few others come on here anymore). But perhaps other Canadians will take an interest. Alberta is having a provincial election today, and it is time to vote!

So the skinny is this:

The Progressive Conservative Party (PC) has been in power for 37 years straight (before them, the Social Credit Party was in power for 30-some years straight). There is a lot of genuine support for this party, but there are other things going for it too. For one, the rural districts that traditionally vote conservative most reliably generally have fewer people in their ridings, making the average rural persons vote worth more. In fact, while Calgary and Edmonton have nearly two-thirds of the population, they have slightly fewer than half the seats.

The Liberal Party has traditionally been strongest in Edmonton (or "Redmonton"); however, in the last election, the Liberals made a breakthrough in Calgary as well, picking up a few seats in the traditionally conservative stronghold (including the most highly educated riding in the province). There is an expectation that this seat count could grow again this year considering the general disgruntlement of the city with a party (the PC) that has shifted it top brass to the rural areas.

One advantage the Liberals will have in trying to make inroads in Calgary is that the New Democrat Party, a more left wing party, has virtually no support in Calgary, thus avoiding the vote splitting on the left that sometimes hands seats to the Conservatives in Edmonton. The NDP will be looking to expand in Edmonton, and that is where they are concentrating resources.

The Wildrose Alliance Party is a new party made up of a couple of old far right wing parties. They are a new wild card that could pick up seats from the conservatives in rural Alberta, but also could split the vote for the Conservatives in Calgary. They are generally wacko.

The Green Party is pretty much useless as their platform is almost non-existent. Also, they are not very left wing on social policy, so they tend to draw votes from both the left and the right, thus having a net effect of zero.

My personal hope is that this awful government gets shown the door, but that looks unlikely to happen. I will vote Liberal to try to make this happen, though my natural inclination is towards the NDP. Even if the Liberals and NDP win the popular vote and pick up all of Edmonton and most of Calgary, the PC would likely form a MAJORITY government. But hey, at least the pendulum seems to be swinging somewhat. Considering that the province has been ruled by right wing parties for over 7 decades, that can only be a good thing.

AND GIVE ME YOUR OPINION!!!

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Come on people, I am sure some of you just like voting for the hell of it!

 

[Trajan12]

Green would be my choice...I'd think they'd be stronger in Canada.

Wildrose, never in America would that name be taken seriously.

 

[philippe]

I voted New democrat becuase you described them as the left-wing party although, could you please in your OP specify more what program they are trying to furfill? Now it's unfortunaly only the political manouvering that is being described, not the programs.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Green would be my choice...I'd think they'd be stronger in Canada.

Wildrose, never in America would that name be taken seriously.

Well, the NDP has an environmental policy that is about as strong as the Green, but it also has a platform for a whole host of other issues. The Green party is pretty shallow beyond their core. For instance, a Green Party health policy may be something like, "if we reduce toxins in the evironment, we won't NEED as much health care". Some BS like that.

The wild rose is Alberta's provincial plant/flower. It says "Wild rose country" on our license plates. Well, I think it does anyway... how am I not sure about that? I think the name is suppose to evoke some sort of right wing Alberta nationalism. Anyway, the Wildrose Party merged with the Alberta Alliance Party, which is why it is now the Wildrose Alliance.

I voted New democrat becuase you described them as the left-wing party although, could you please in your OP specify more what program they are trying to furfill? Now it's unfortunaly only the political manouvering that is being described, not the programs.

I know, I was in a hurry, and I have to leave now... but this link should help

[URL="http://www.cbc.ca/albertavotes2008/"]http://www.cbc.ca/albertavotes2008/[/URL]

You can click on the "promise" tracker. Although, it isn't a perfect account, because they all promise the same kind of things. That is the best I can do for now.

 

[QuoVadisNation]

Which is the one that supports secession?

But, yeah, I would probably vote for the Liberal party. Probably because I figure if the current government is as bad as you say it is, any new blood should be welcome.

 

[T.A JONES]

You didn't talk about the biggest issues in regards to all that oil you got there. How do all thes guys differ when it comes to sharing the profits with Fed?.

What about housing? Who is more adapt at focusing on new residential construction or temporary work residence? Those Fort Mctrailer parks are skid 3rd worlds conditions you must agree. I'll tell you nowbody from my town wants to stay once they make their money there and we have a large skilled labour force in Thunderbay(Norcat was funded by the GOV after paper mills shut down)

So are they building slow to keep oil prices up or is the oil refinery or new stages of surface extraction on hold?. Id like to hear what a native says on How will your oil sand worker conditions improve under new government . That would be cool seeing Ive been postponing any trip to that part of Canada for these reasons.

Regina is getting ready to undergo the same transition to energy mecca. I bet that is threat to labour shortage in the industry, which might reduce the need for new buildings. Off shore oils has apped your EAst coast worker supply in recent years I know thats something you must consider. Anyway ya, If you have any ideas like whats going on from what you hear on CBC radio or TV that would be cool.


I know they both (or all three?) missed their forcast production levels because of short staff but this was related to housing so That is the center of all the issues Id think. A political hot spot in the election is how they let these companys run things, how much control they have over output. Im mean do the politians decide? More housing means more oil money which equals more improvments all around Id think.

 

[downtown]

Has the energy boom caused demographics to change significantly in Alberta? Demographic shifts in some of our more conservative states have caused certain communities to become more liberal, particularly in the west. If lots of people from Ontario move to Calgary to work in the Oil industry, would the Liberal Party be more of a force?

 

[Red Door]

I voted Wildrose Alliance for the name.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Wildrose since they are the most right wing. To bad the Canadian national socialist party isn't in the poll.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Has the energy boom caused demographics to change significantly in Alberta? Demographic shifts in some of our more conservative states have caused certain communities to become more liberal, particularly in the west. If lots of people from Ontario move to Calgary to work in the Oil industry, would the Liberal Party be more of a force?

This is a huge wild card, and people don't know how it is going to turn out. A lot of people have moved from other parts of Canada to Alberta for the energy boom, and they come from traditionally more liberal provinces. However, that does not guarantee they will generally vote Liberal. In the past, people who had previously come from "have not" provinces change their tune as soon as they get a good job and a big truck of their own (even if they spent the previous ten years benefiting from government assistance). Another thing is that a lot of them might not feel integrated enough to exercise their right to vote. There is an expectation of low voter turnout amongst this group (who probably feel more interested in Saskatchewan or Newfoundland politics).

@T.A. Jones. I feel too sick to put a concerted effort into outlining the intricacies of the oil politics (which is why I didn't even mention it). Needless to say it is HUGE. My hope was that fellow Canadian posters would be informed enough to just know what I was talking about (that isn't a sarcastic remark, I was just lazy). I am going to go rest and get rid of this fever now, but if there is enough interest in the thread tomorrow, perhaps I will go more indepth.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Voted Green.

Wasn't sure which one wants succession.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Green would be my choice...I'd think they'd be stronger in Canada.

The Federal Green Party is stronger than its provincial counterparts. Alberta's version is too new to have much organized yet.

I voted New democrat becuase you described them as the left-wing party although, could you please in your OP specify more what program they are trying to furfill? Now it's unfortunaly only the political manouvering that is being described, not the programs.

The New Democrats evolved from an earlier party that actually had clout... back in the 1930s. It was in the province of Saskatchewan (one province east of here) that the NDP really pushed for public health care and other social programs.

Which is the one that supports secession?

But, yeah, I would probably vote for the Liberal party. Probably because I figure if the current government is as bad as you say it is, any new blood should be welcome.

There are probably a fair number of separatists in the Wildrose Alliance. Every few years, the same people pop up and register a "new" right-wing party and pretend it's nothing like the crazy right-wing fringe parties that were here before. But it's only pretense.

Has the energy boom caused demographics to change significantly in Alberta? Demographic shifts in some of our more conservative states have caused certain communities to become more liberal, particularly in the west. If lots of people from Ontario move to Calgary to work in the Oil industry, would the Liberal Party be more of a force?

Oil Industry --> Boom Economy --> Demographic shifts --> Housing crisis in communities unprepared for a mass increase in people --> Increase in homelessness, both for people with jobs who can't afford the increased rents the landlords are charging AND for the people who can't find work in the first place --> Increase in crime, particularly drugs/prostitution

And when our new premier was asked how he planned to deal with these social problems that developed along with the boom economy, he just shrugged and figured things would work out.

And places in town that used to be perfectly safe for a person to walk alone at night aren't safe anymore, period.

I voted Wildrose Alliance for the name.

Then you just voted for the separatist, fundamental lunatic fringe.

Wildrose since they are the most right wing. To bad the Canadian national socialist party isn't in the poll.

Some ridings have other parties/independent candidates on the ballot. Those mentioned in the OP are the ones that are province-wide.

Now for my own opinions on this...

- I almost literally ran into my MLA (Mary Ann Jablonski, Red Deer North) at Wal-Mart the other night. Not with anything more lethal than a shopping cart, but oh, well... (she was shopping for Easter chocolate ) Actually, as representatives go she hasn't been that bad. She's certainly more intelligent than Stockwell Day, who doesn't know which way the Niagara Falls flow and thinks the world is literally 6,000 years old. But I'd never vote for Ms Jablonski anyway.

- Almost 20 years ago, the provincial Liberal party had a leadership convention at the same Calgary hotel as NonCon, an annual Thanksgiving weekend science fiction convention I was attending. In fact, our room was at the end of the hallway, next to Nick Taylor's suite (he was the leader whose job was on the line). When I told a friend about this, she inquired, "What god did YOU offend?!" Well, I had nothing against Nick Taylor himself; he was a capable politician who had good ideas for improving Alberta, but never had the opportunity to implement most of them. It was his delegates who completely turned me off from the provincial Liberals, with their behavior and attitude of "you sci-fi people are weird and don't belong at this hotel and we're gonna get you kicked out." And they tried. They called the cops and told them there were illegal drugs in the consuite; when the cops investigated, they found TWO people sitting there, talking quietly and drinking coffee. Long story short: The Liberal delegates did a lot of nasty, antisocial things that weekend, including transporting open alcohol in the hallways, and the hotel (the Palliser) kicked THEM out -- the entire Liberal convention! It was sweet karma to sit in the filking room in my hall costume, watching the exodus of grumpy delegates make their way out of the hotel to somewhere else. And I vowed to never vote provincial Liberal ever again. It was a really insanely stupid attitude they had toward us, as with a couple of exceptions, all of us at that SF convention were of voting age, and NO friend to either provincial or federal right-wing parties. They alienated a lot of voters that weekend.

- However, I did eventually vote Liberal a couple of times... over 10 years later, and I knew the candidate personally and that he was an intelligent person with good ideas, who would do his very best for the constituency.

- These days I tend to vote either Liberal or ND, depending on which candidate I think is better. But this time around, I'm voting strategically.

- I hated Ralph Klein. I hated him so much that if he'd been run over by a steam roller, I would have literally danced in the street. I haven't had time to develop hatred for Stelmach, but there has been enough time to develop contempt. He has done nothing sensible or beneficial for the ordinary people of Alberta since taking office. On the other hand, he has done quite a bit to give himself and his friends lots of $$$$$$.

Every time another provincial election comes around, people grumble about it being time to vote the Conservatives out. Forpetessake, the only real difference between Conservatives and Social Credit is that the Socreds have a much more fundamental religious agenda. In essence, Alberta hasn't had a real change in government in over 70 years. I've asked my online friends from other provinces what it's like to actually live in a place where they kick the government out every few years when they figure it's not working. As a lifelong resident of Alberta, I've never had that experience.

Oh, well. I'm off to vote now. I don't expect anything to change in Red Deer, but I'll cross my fingers for Edmonton and Calgary.

 

[Stevenpfo]

Oh, well. I'm off to vote now. I don't expect anything to change in Red Deer, but I'll cross my fingers for Edmonton and Calgary.

Good post. I dislike the conservatives and despise the liberals. Apparently my politics fall even more left than the NDP (according to such things as the political compass). I'm not fond of the NDP, however. This is mostly because I do not like Layton. I really do not like a few of their stances and I hate the way to represent certain issues.

Last time I voted independent. This time? I would have voted NDP but I do not have time. I go to work, get home and the wife leaves for work 10 minutes later. Ah well.

 

[jeps]

NDP all the way. I support them Federally, and this once provincially even though I hate howard hampton because I would never vote Tory and my liberal candidate sucked, and hampton couldnt have won anyways.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Good post. I dislike the conservatives and despise the liberals. Apparently my politics fall even more left than the NDP (according to such things as the political compass). I'm not fond of the NDP, however. This is mostly because I do not like Layton. I really do not like a few of their stances and I hate the way to represent certain issues.

Last time I voted independent. This time? I would have voted NDP but I do not have time. I go to work, get home and the wife leaves for work 10 minutes later. Ah well.

Thanks.

Actually, Jack Layton is federal, and his policies are not necessarily the same as the provincial ND policies.

And did you know that by law, your employer is REQUIRED to give you time off to vote?

(and now I really am going... got a bit sidetracked, but I'm out the door in about five minutes for sure... )

 

[Stevenpfo]

Yeah, I know they are required to give us time. 3 hours. But I get off work at 4:30PM and polls close at 8:00PM which means it's my responsibility.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

An election in Alberta? I wonder who will win...[/sarcasm]

 

[Stevenpfo]

Yeah, I know. I honestly have hope for the future. With the influx of new people and the great leadership things will change. Even a minority would be nice.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

One would hope. But the Liberals winning in Alberta might just cause the world to implode.