Alberta Politics

[policyenthusiast]

Also, aren't a few ridings being adjusted/added so that potentially a couple of Edmonton seats coupled with surrounding areas are more winnable for UCP even without increasing overall vote %.

It's hard to say if the gerrymandering will go through. Neudorf and the UCP can't just "pass" new electoral boundaries. It's not like municipal zoning.

The report on proposed boundaries would come from a Speaker-appointed commission which includes no MLA's. The commission also has to include representatives elected by the opposition. Here's who's eligible to chair the committee:

Electoral Boundaries Commission
2(1) From time to time as required by this Act, an Electoral
Boundaries Commission is to be appointed consisting of

(a) a chair appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council,
who must be one of the following:

(i) the Ethics Commissioner;
(ii) the Auditor General;
(iii) the president of a post-secondary educational institution
in Alberta;
(iv) a judge or retired judge of any court in Alberta;
(v) a person whose stature and qualifications are, in the
opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, similar
to those of the persons referred to in subclauses (i) to
(iv),

The intent is to have the Chair be someone with minimal political affiliation, and from there, the commission has a mandate to represent a variety of perspectives. Neudorf's shouting about "rural urban hybrid ridings" is hot air from a politician, not a bill on the floor of the legislature.

 

[BrettB]

It's not a bill now because it's already the law. Bill 31 made municipal boundaries just one consideration among many.

 

[policyenthusiast]

It's not a bill now because it's already the law. Bill 31 made municipal boundaries just one consideration among many.

Well yes, it could affect the mandate of the commission, but the striking of 14 d) and 14 e) is somewhat offset by the new 14 f). Either way, the commission is expected to be non-partisan specifically to prevent gerrymandering. Here are the two specific amendments made in 2024 (through Bill 31):

And here's the old version:

 

[David A]

It's also worth noting that approval/disapproval of the Premier does not necessarily mean that same sentiment is shared for the UCP as a whole. In 2019, Kenney's approval was 60%.

Yes, but that would have been closer to the beginning of his term. How would they compare to a bit further into the term, like Smith is now?

 

[policyenthusiast]

Yes, but that would have been closer to the beginning of his term. How would they compare to a bit further into the term, like Smith is now?

You mean during the "greatest summer ever"? Around 20%.

 

[David A]

You mean during the "greatest summer ever"? Around 20%.

Well yes, but for Smith she hasn't had anything quite disruptive happen as what happened in 2020 so the decline may continue to be more gradual rather than fall off a cliff.

 

[fjordgard]

Well yes, it could affect the mandate of the commission, but the striking of 14 d) and 14 e) is somewhat offset by the new 14 f). Either way, the commission is expected to be non-partisan specifically to prevent gerrymandering. Here are the two specific amendments made in 2024 (through Bill 31):

View attachment 682388
And here's the old version:

View attachment 682386

I don't think people should sleep on the possibility that the Commission is stuck using population data from 2021 (date of the last census). See section 12 below. The population in the urban centres has skyrocketed since then but that may not be considered at all, which could result in Edmonton and Calgary both getting less seats than they likely should.

 

[The_Cat]

Teachers vote 89.5% in favour of strike action.

 

[trevorhayden]

Premier and Education Minister will address the media (on what is supposed to be a solemn holiday about first nations). Bring on the battle!

 

[Gronk!]

Bruce McAllister needs to be fired

Moderator on Smith’s Alberta Next panel sorry for saying teen should be spanked | Globalnews.ca

The moderator of Premier Danielle Smith's Alberta Next town hall in Calgary has apologized for his "inappropriate" behaviour towards a teen who tried to ask a question.

globalnews.ca

 

[The_Cat]

Bruce McAllister needs to be spanked!

 

[The_Cat]

If Alberta is willing to pay families $30 per student per day, for a population of 825,000 students, that's over $24 M per day (nearly 25 M). If the average teacher is paid $100,000 per year, for 51,000 teachers that's 5.1 billion per year, or about $25 M per day. Is that a good way to spend money?

 

[EdmTrekker]

I have been considering provincial politics for some time. I am hoping to replace Marlin Schmidt in Edmonton-Gold Bar.

If anyone has gone through this process of seeking election, I would be happy to take you for lunch/dinner.

I'm ready to represent y'all, my name is Matthew C.X. Langford.

I am confused whether you plan to challenge Martin Schmidt for the NDP nomination in Edmonton-Gold Bar or another political party or as an independent?

 

[TAS]

If Alberta is willing to pay families $30 per student per day, for a population of 825,000 students, that's over $24 M per day (nearly 25 M). If the average teacher is paid $100,000 per year, for 51,000 teachers that's 5.1 billion per year, or about $25 M per day. Is that a good way to spend money?

I think it's for students 12 years and younger. Not sure how many that is.

 

[TAS]

Bruce McAllister needs to be fired

Moderator on Smith’s Alberta Next panel sorry for saying teen should be spanked | Globalnews.ca

The moderator of Premier Danielle Smith's Alberta Next town hall in Calgary has apologized for his "inappropriate" behaviour towards a teen who tried to ask a question.

globalnews.ca

I shouldn't be, but I continue to be annoyingly shocked by Smith's response to this.

Brutal, really. Can't believe they didn't even let the student finish his question, which in no way was disrespectful. And then insult him on top of it. And no one on the UCP panel says boo or stands up for him.

Apparently Nenshi is doing a live youtube talk with the high school student tonight.