Comments on: Wildrose Alliance by-election win shakes up Alberta politics

By: Dave Hart Dyke

Dave Hart Dyke — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:17:57 +0000

In addition to keeping environmental issues on the table, a Green vote is a lovely way for voters to show the big parties how angry they are at their failure to work together and govern the country.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:57:54 +0000

Alberta, despite its modern one sidedness has an interesting history with political parties. It was home to the United Farmers turned Progressive Party, then Social Credit, before giving way to the current PC dynasty. Federally, the reform grew out of there as well.

The original social credit party as formed there was actually the first party to propose a guaranteed annual income..

By: dylan

dylan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:25:49 +0000

I wouldn’t necessarily celebrate the Wildrose Alliance message in the legislature. If the Wildrose Alliance replaces the Progressive Conservatives (which will happen if the Liberals do not do some serious re-branding) we’ll have a provincial government that mirrors the right wing ideology of our federal representatives.

I’ll take a left-leaning PC party over an overtly right-wing Wildrose Alliance.

By: John Ogilvie

John Ogilvie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:21:28 +0000

Their campaign theme “Send a message to the government”, has been used a million times before (probably because it works so reliably). But it could work for GPC this fall.

“If you are tired of the mainstream parties calling needless elections every year to serve their own self-interest, Send a Message. Vote Green this time.”

But that would require us to criticize the Liberals in fair measure, which is still apparently forbidden.

By: Camille Labchuk

Camille Labchuk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:31:31 +0000

Mark, perhaps “newish” would be a better term! I’m still thinking of the entire Alberta Alliance/Wildrose Alliance phenomenon as relatively new as both parties only formed in the past five years or so.

At any rate, you make a lot of great points in your recent post on targeting conservatives.

By: Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:22:57 +0000

I share your sentiment on the PCs losing a seat in Alberta however, just to clarify, the Wildrose Alliance isn’t a “new” party. Hinman was a sitting MLA from 2004 – 2008 while serving as the Leader of the Alberta Alliance (the precursor to Wildrose Alliance) before losing his seat in the 2008 general election.

As I pointed out on my blog (http://reportongreens.blogspot.com/2009/09/be-nice-to-conservatives.html), the Greens could make serious inroads with small-c conservatives by targetting big-C Conservatives ridings with messaging highlighting the GPC’s conservative side.

It’s the whole “attract more flies with honey than vinegar” strategy.

By: Ken Szijarto

Ken Szijarto — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:01:31 +0000

Alberta is truly an interesting place, as Albertans feel they are god’s chosen people. While following this by-election I came across something called the “Democratic Renewal Project” http://www.drproject.ca This group advocates cooperation between Alberta’s LIBS/NDP/Greens by running single candidates, in order to defeat the governing PC party. Funny the DR Project has received little buzz outside the province of Alberta. I would like to see the current Harper defeated in the same manner, using non-compete agreements and running just a single candidate against a CPC opponent. Apparently there is currently little support for such a scheme, at this time. God forbid if Harper gets his majority, the left will have no choice but consider this option, in the future!