Reboot Alberta

Friday, November 24, 2006

It is Now in the Hands of Albertans

So the political punditry is all but past and who the next Premier of Alberta is going to be in the hands of the public, if not tomorrow then next Saturday for sure.

Not a great many of the public are going to make this decision by the looks of things. Those political die-hard will show up for sure. Those other citizens who have been able to overcome their philosophical and personal resistances to joining a political party will participate too. We owe all of them a debt of gratitude for taking the time to be part of this process and for ultimately making the decision.

They have seen the opportunity, and the threat, inherent in this party leadership contest and how it can impact the future of Alberta. Many have had to overcome some serious angst in order to becoming a political party member. that has been a barrier to many but the reality of the next PC leader also being the provincial Premier has had an impact on their decision I suspect.

Others who have risen to the occasion by showing real leadership and engagement on policy issues must be acknowledged too. They have become effective activists in promoting causes where they want to affect policy changes. The most successful and effective of these have been those citizens involved in the full range of disability issues and services. Thank you for your superior citizenship.

This process has been open and democratic but not as transparent as it needs to be, especially around disclosure and tactics used for soliciting campaign contributions. It has been too long a campaign in some ways but the extra time has given people, and candidates, more time to identify and understand the issues. Albertans have had the time to get more informed about the character and capabilities of the various candidates.

We are being offered two clear and different visions for Alberta’s future. We have a social progressive agenda within a fiscal conservative overlay that demands value for taxpayer’s dollars. This vision is represented by Hancock and Dinning. Alternatively we have social conservatives coupled with a fiscal attitude that sees government as a necessary evil. They believe more tax cuts, the marketplace and individual initiative is the best way to run a society. This vision is represented by Morton and Oberg.

Alberta is going to see a dramatic change of political direction, if not now, then at the next provincial election for sure. Neither of these two alternative are extensions of the current status quo. Each represents a significant change of direction from the past 5 years of the "cruise-control" Klein government.

The different approaches and the outcome of this leadership campaign is either the change itself, a prelude of the change to come, or if the PC party gets it wrong, about which party forms the next government. No small stakes are at issue here!

Just like no one knows the leadership outcome today, we will have to wait to see what Albertans want their future to be like and what principles and values will drive the direction of their next Alberta. Albertans know we are living in interesting, scary and uncertain times but we have great opportunity and a good reason for a sense of optimism - but some things have to change. Times of change demand wise leadership from politicians with real depth, significant experience and, above all, quality characters of the highest order.

So Alberta – bundle up, show up and vote carefully tomorrow – your future will depend on the choices that are being made. Those choices will be made by you - or by others "for you." Again, no small stakes. It is your choice, your values and your future that is at issue at the ballot box.

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:26 pm

    Ted favours individual initiative? Too scary for me.

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  2. Anonymous3:04 pm

    Another endorsement for Dinning EVEN after his campaigners straightarmed Mrs. Hancock - trying to force Hancock out of the race. This is rich. For shame.

    Chapman for the Status Quo! After time and time again arguing that there needs to be change. "Neither of the two alternative are extensions of the current status quo". What are you talking about? Have you seen Dinning's supporters. Does Rod Love ring a bell? Does the entire Calgary entourage say anything? Dinning may have a corporate suit and less rough edges than Klein, but his backers will push him into Klein-like ideas.

    How is Dinning socially progressive when he supports Morton's bill to protect religions? I smell a lot of hypocrasy. Dinning has also publicly stated that he is OPPOSED to same-sex marriage. What do you say about this Ken? I didn't think you'd believe that to be your "progressive" policy.

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  3. Anonymous3:19 pm

    Dinning opposed to SSM - news to me! Support for Bill 208 you say. Where is the proof and authority for these statements?

    You are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts.

    Volunteers in campaigns are not the candidates. Janet Hancock knows Dinning was not behind the bullying and said so!

    Dinning status quo - maybe. He was not status quo in 1993 as Treasurer. Has he changed?

    Morton is really status chaos. The changes core social conservative supporters will demand of him are too scary to consider in a modern diverse, inclusive society.

    Calgary corporate mafia or Reform/Alliance mafia - not a pleasent choice. Neither Dinning or Morton will be a continuation of Klein governance...no status quo.

    Don't like the front runners - don't blame me - I will be voting Hancock.

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  4. "They believe more tax cuts, the marketplace and individual initiative is the best way to run a society."

    God forbid that a conservative actually becomes leader of a Conservative party. That scary free market and allowing people to spend their own money according to their own preference would simply be to much to swallow.

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  5. Anonymous6:11 pm

    I love how Morton's folks talk up all the big changes he will make - the conservative revolution in the making.

    Revolutions are not always a good thing. Ask a Cuban next time you visit that area of the world.

    The real success Morton has had is to convince people he is an articulate one of the good ol' boys, rather than just another articulate ivory-tower academic.

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  6. Anonymous11:36 am

    Ken, here's one example: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/govrel/news.cfm?story=52134

    He says he supports the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. Like Morton, he states that provinces don't have the constitutional authority to define marriage.

    It's odd how you'd miss something like this. So is he still progressive to you?

    I believe that Hancock is the ONLY candidate that supports SSM. Having said that, you chide all the other candidates except Dinning - very odd.

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  7. Anonymous11:39 am

    Okay, Dinning did not direct his campaigners to go after Janet Hancock. That's an easy way to get around improper action. He should have instantly booted them from his team and make a public announcement that he in no way condones such behaviour. He could have taken the high road but he didn't. That's not leadership.

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  8. Anonymous12:32 pm

    Why would Dinning boot out volunteers in this situation?

    Should Oberg have booted Calahasen off his team in light of the Auditor General report this week on her 2004 election fundraisers accepting campaign contributions from organizations that are legally not allowed to make political donations?

    Should Morton decline the endorsement and support of Rob Anders who's nomination is currently being challenged in the Courts? Or because he thinks Nelson Mandala is a terrorist?

    Albertan's can take these fact and exercise personal judgement about the leadership candidates judgement and suitability to govern.

    These volunteers did not break any laws. They just showed bad taste or bad manners. This is politics and some people get overly competative.

    If they broke rules - which is practically impossible in this campaign given that there are no rules, then volunteers should be cut. Not the case here!

    Candidates have to live with the consequences of the character flaws of over zealous supporters.
    This stuff is just another piece of information that helps Albertans make up their minds as to who is best able to govern and who worthy of Albertan's consent to govern.

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  9. Anonymous3:29 pm

    I must disagree Ken. Candidates are reponsible for the actions of their supporters, whether they condone them or not. Otherwise, you get this plausible deniability BS that the Dinning campaign and others use to protect their candidate. You cannot tell me that the guy running to be leader is purposely kept in the dark by his backroom boys. Either he is complicit in what is being done, or he is ignorant. Neither is a virtuous quality for a potential leader.

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