Looks to me like "Steady Eddie" is not so steady any more. Stelmach's policies on H1N1, health care and education have caused him to fall out of favour with Alberta voters. His choice of a high school dropout as health minister is widely resented by many Albertans. Even my old pal Paul Stanway, former Edmonton Sun editor and legislative bureau chief who went on to become Stelmach's press secretary is bailing out in January. The beginning of the end of the Alberta Tory dynasty?

Upstart party would form gov’t if vote held now, new poll reveals

The Wildrose Alliance party would form the next provincial government in Alberta if an election were held tomorrow, according to a new poll of decided voters that gives the rightof-centre party a double-digit lead in popular support over the long-ruling Tories.

A new Angus Reid Public Opinion survey of 1,000 Albertans, provided exclusively to the Calgary Herald, suggests 39 per cent of voters would cast a ballot for Danielle Smith and the Wildrose Alliance.

The fledgling party is pulling away from Premier Ed Stelmach’s Progressive Conservatives, who were tied with David Swann’s Liberals for second place with the backing of 25 per cent of decided voters provincewide, according to the poll.

Edmonton Journal Digital (http://digital.edmontonjournal.com/epaper/viewer.aspx)

Wow, a right wing party ousting another right wing party. Yawn. Wake me up when Alberta moves towards the centre or *gasp* to the left.

"Alberta, we're so right we can't possibly be wrong!"

Frying pan, fire what's left to say, from, to?

The beginning of the end

one can hope it's a nationwide pandemic....

for Tories that is...:D

Interesting. I am curious which of Stelmach's policies on education have caused him to fall out of favour with Alberta voters.

Interesting. I am curious which of Stelmach's policies on education have caused him to fall out of favour with Alberta voters.

Deep cuts to funding. Big increases in classroom sizes. Closing schools and bussing students afield. Elimination of teacher's aides in schools with special needs children. 60% increase in university tuition. How's that for starters? The list does go on.

SINC: The Wildrose Party has a distinct libertarian flavour. I like it!

As much as I'm tired of Stelmach's BS for at least a dozen reasons, there's no way that WR is ready for the Show.

We'll see what 2 years and a few floor crossings will do...

Deep cuts to funding. Big increases in classroom sizes. Closing schools and bussing students afield. Elimination of teacher's aides in schools with special needs children. 60% increase in university tuition. How's that for starters? The list does go on.

Amazing, given that there is the Heritage Fund that could be used for this sort of funding. What might the Wildrose Party do re education?

As much as I'm tired of Stelmach's BS for at least a dozen reasons, there's no way that WR is ready for the Show.

We'll see what 2 years and a few floor crossings will do...

It may just make the party in power behave a little more like their ancestors.

Are there any WR members in the provincial legislature yet?

Are there any WR members in the provincial legislature yet?

Yes, Dr. G., a lone member from a Calgary riding was elected in a by-election in September.

Morning Sinc, should be interesting .... do you think the WR will wind up like the NDP in Ontario under Uncle Bobby? They have virtually no experience in the legislature and it showed .... on term and gone, or do they have members with some experience?

I think Alberta is ready for a change Rp. With continuous Tory governments since Lougheed back in 1971, there is reason to believe people are finally tired. And with Klein gone and Stelmach turning out to be a bitter disappointment with the personality of a cupcake, their popularity has dropped through the basement floor.

There are plenty of politically savvy former Tories who would step forward and run for the WP. And furthermore, I very much doubt inexperience would matter. Voters are poised to jump at a change. Now whether or not it would be a one term wonder would depend entirely upon the party's performance if it indeed could form a government.

Incidentally, it is the Wildrose Party (WP) not the Wild Rose Party (WR).

Is the elected member from Calgary also the leader of the WP?

Is the elected member from Calgary also the leader of the WP?

Dr. G., the leader is Danielle Smith, and Deputy Leader is Paul Hinman, the man who ran against her for the leadership.

He is also the sole elected member of the Wildrose Alliance Party or WAP and represents the riding of Calgary-Glenmore in the legislature.

You can find the party’s web site here:

Wildrose Alliance Party (http://www.wildrosealliance.ca/)

... bussing students afield...Well, if he's out in a field kissing students, I'm not surprised that he's less than popular!

Dr. G., the leader is Danielle Smith, and Deputy Leader is Paul Hinman, the man who ran against her for the leadership.

He is also the sole elected member of the Wildrose Alliance Party or WAP and represents the riding of Calgary-Glenmore in the legislature.

You can find the party’s web site here:

Wildrose Alliance Party (http://www.wildrosealliance.ca/)

Interesting point about bringing "back the Alberta Advantage". From what my wife's family, who live in Calgary and Edmonton tell me, they see the current government letting this advantage slip away.

...do they have members with some experience?
They do now: Calgary-area MLAs defect to Wildrose, saying concerns not addressed by Tories (http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+area+MLAs+defect+Wildrose+saying+concerns+ addressed+Tories/2403794/story.html)

Heather Forsyth is my MLA, she strikes me as competent and has cabinet experience.

The Wildrose Party now has some credibility, and more seats than the NDP. This can't be good news for Ed Stelmach...

It looks like the PC riding association owns http://www.heatherforsyth.com, I wonder she will be able to get it back?


Domain: heatherforsyth.com

Date Registered: 11/28/08
Date Modified: 12/01/09
Expiry Date: 01/19/11
DNS1: NS1.CANADAWEBHOSTING.COM
DNS2: NS2.CANADAWEBHOSTING.COM

Registrant

Calgary Fish Creek PC Association
Christopher Gibbons
Box 43140,Deer Valley RPO 1221 Canyon Meadows DR SE
Calgary, ab (CA)
T2J 7A7

They do now: Calgary-area MLAs defect to Wildrose, saying concerns not addressed by Tories (http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+area+MLAs+defect+Wildrose+saying+concerns+ addressed+Tories/2403794/story.html)

Heather Forsyth is my MLA, she strikes me as competent and has cabinet experience.

The Wildrose Party now has some credibility, and more seats than the NDP. This can't be good news for Ed Stelmach...

Saw this on the news tonight. Sadly Heather picked a bad hair day to change sides, she generally looks better than that.beejacon

Trust Alberta to replace a right-wing party with one even further to the right. But I must admit, Danielle Smith is kind of a hottie.

Funny, Google ad's lumps WP, Heather Forsyth/Danielle Smith with Sarah Palin at least on Jan 5/10

Trust Alberta to replace a right-wing party with one even further to the right.
They can't go ~too~ far to the right if they want to get elected.

I think Ralph Klein said "Figure out which way the parade is going, and then get out in front of it" - that populist approach worked for him for a long time.

Mainstream voters don't want anyone too rigid and ideological...