Will We or Won't We?

Are Canadian voters going to the polls this spring?  Well maybe not so fast. According to Jane Taber it seems speculation has simmered down, anyway at least amongst  a few of MPs. I agree Liberal MP Glen Pearson.

He noted that the election speculation was “prepped by the media for the last few weeks as various pundits continued to ramp up some kind of ballot showdown.”

It's been hyped by the media ever since Iffy in his Christmas interviews was threatening to trigger a spring election   to  get rid of  the evil Harper government..  With nothing else to report on, the media took and ran with it. The CPC and LPC ads and the tours of the coalition leaders last month has just added to the hype.

Finance Minister Flaherty indicated yesterday that there would be help for low income seniors. That was something  Jack Layton was asking for in the budget in order to get NDP support.  Will it be enough? That's for Jack and the Dippers to decide.

Besides 64%Canadians see no need for a spring election.  So are we going to the polls or not?  My guess is as good as yours.  I tend to agree with the PM, it's  a 50/50 chance We'll probably  not really know until the budget vote takes place. Until then the speculation will keep swirling.

Morton-Dining Rematch?

That's what the Edmonton Journal is suggesting.  We could have a ground hog day type of scenario again just like Dec.2006 where we got Ed Stelmach. He became the Premier  which has been a disaster. His dealings with oil industry concerning the Royalty Formula to his handling of the recession giving us the largest deficit in Alberta history to the chaos in health care.  Ted Morton officially announced his candidacy last Thursday.  Jim Dinning hasn't officially announced he's running but he hasn't ruled it out.  My bet is that Dinning will  put his hat in the ring again.

I don't want to alarm you, but at some time in 2011, we might all be sucked into a political black hole -- and emerge in December 2006.
At least it will seem like December 2006.
Jim Dinning and Ted Morton will be in a head-to-head fight for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party -- just like in the week leading up to the final ballot in the leadership race four years and two months ago. But this time there won't be an Ed Stelmach to come from behind to win as the compromise candidate.
It'll be Jim and Ted in a leadership race do-over. A political mulligan, if you will.

I don't know how it's all going to shake out but in my opinion as far as Ted Morton is concerned, I think he's lost his credibility.  It'll really come down to who else is going to run.  It still won't make much of difference though because the PC party has been in power for forty years, they're old, tired and have run out of ideas.

My money is on Wildrose Alliance and Danielle Smith.  I believe if Albertans want real change and new ideas they should consider Wildrose.

Meanwhile in a side note another leader bites the dust.  Liberal leader David Swann is expected to announce today he's stepping down.  The Libs have not been able to get any traction even with all the struggles that have plagued Ed Stelmach and the PC government.

The Kids Are Back from Vacation

Today kids are back on the Hill after their Christmas break.  The question is will they play nice in the sandbox like grown ups or will they resort to their usual juvenile antics?  Will they do their name calling, temper tantrums and playing their usual games for political opportunism? Or will they be responsible,act like mature adults and get some work done for the benefit of the country?

Jane Giggles Taber reported that the Liberal's own pollster has found that only 15% of Canadians pay attention to federal politics. Is it any wonder? Our MP's act  worse than four year olds sometimes, it's pathetic especially during Question Period. Canadians have contend with their own four year olds at home with their temper tantrums.  Who feels like paying attention to a bunch in Ottawa who should know better, behave like spoiled,whiny children?  Who feels like paying attention to the antics, the faux scandals etc.?  That is a turn off. 

So kids, now that you're back from vacation, please act like adults, get along and get some work done. After all that's what we pay you for. Above all don't waste our time and money on juvenile gamesmanship.   If you're not prepared to do that, then tender your resignation now so we can have an election and elect some MP's that are ready, willing,and able to work and behave like grown ups. 

I say to you juvenile MPs, grow up!  You'll gain more respect.
That's what a majority of Canadians want.  They don't want an election, they want you to work.  I don't know but I'm not holding my breath.

What A Week in Alberta Politics

Wow, who said politics in Alberta was boring?  Well it used to be until lately. It's actually starting to get quite exciting.  With the start up of the Wildrose Alliance Party with an intelligent, articulate leader in Danielle Smith already competitive with the Progressive Conservatives. 

This last week alone has been almost like a soap opera.  Monday, you had Calgary Currie MLA Dave Taylor who had left the Liberals to sit as an Independent join the new left wing Alberta Party.  Taylor had left the Liberals over leadership.  He had run for the position but lost to David Swann who he had problems with.

Tuesday Premier Ed Stelmach surprised everyone announcing he was  resigning.It spurred a flurry of rumors that the PC caucus was divided that was later downplayed and denied. 
Yesterday Finance Minister Ted Morton announced he was resigning from cabinet to be a backbencher so he that he could persue  the leadership.

What a week!  Don Braid from the Calgary Herald reported that there was turmoil in the PC caucus over the budget.
Even though the party is denying any rift within the caucus, I don't believe it.  I think there is more than the eye can see.  The timing seems for all this is bizarre to me. We will for sure have a lame duck Premier,with a lame duck government, in a lame duck legislative session this spring. Until there is a new leader, an election to clear the air, no one will really be minding the store. 

One thing you can say is Alberta politics is not boring anymore.  It's not over yet, stay tuned!

The Bloc's Blackmail

Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Quebecois has stated his price for support of the budget that federal government is to present in March. He wants $5 billion.  It's nothing more that blackmail IMHO. 

QUEBEC — The Bloc Quebecois, with 47 seats in the House of Commons, has announced its price for supporting the Conservative minority government's new budget: The BQ wants $5 billion for Quebec, including $2.2 billion to compensate the province for harmonizing its provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax.

I say NO. They have extorted enough from the ROC already.  They are the spoiled child of confederation and it's about time the pandering stop.  If the government gives in and gives them this money, it still won't be enough.   It's never enough. The hands will still be out.  Besides the Conservatives would lose support in the ROC especially in the west here.

It's time to impose some tough love. Don't cave and let the chips fall where they may.  If the CPC loses seats in Quebec so be it.  They'll gain else where. If they comply with Gilles demands, they will lose seats in ROC.

Please PM Harper, Minister Flaherty, Minister of State for Finance, Ted Menzies, SAY NO!  Don't give in to the Bloc's demands! Enough is enough!
Makes you wonder what the Bloc's coalition partners have promised them.