Alberta Election - The Week in Review

As the Alberta election campaign moves into the final week, it appears that this election will be Danielle Smith's to lose.  With only one week in the campaign left to go, the Wildrose Party has a healthy lead over the incumbent Progressive Conservative Party.  In some polls the Wildrose Party leads by 17 percentage points. 

While the parties rolled out their platforms, the debate, held on April 12th, seemed to be a defining factor.  While Alison Redford appeared stiff and almost rattled near the end of the debate, Danielle Smith seemed to connect with voters, with her no nonsense approach to many issues.  The attempts to demonize her because of conscience issues and lack of experience did not resonate. 

Here is a review of issues discussed thus far in the campaign:

Wildrose Announces Accountabilty Act and MLA Pay  April 9th

Race is Tightening - Leger Poll April 10th

Are Conscience Issues Bogus? April 11th

Liberals Reveal Carbon Levy Plan April 11th

Wildrose Leader Stance on Abortion-Gay Rights April 12th

Alberta Leader's Debate - No Clear Winner April 13th

Voters Declare Danielle Smith Debate Winner

 On  the campaign trail on Friday, Alsion Redford promised to introduce legislation that would make Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) a claimable condition under the Workmen's Compensation Board.  The problem is that this condition is already claimable, according to Wildrose leader Danielle Smith.  Sometimes it pays to do your homework before putting your mouth in motion.  

Danielle Smith also committed to call a full public inquiry into physician intimidation, a measure supported by the New Democrats and Liberals.   

As the campaign winds down toward the election on April 23rd, there should still be a number of surprises.  Alison Redford will have to go full out to try and overcome the impression Albertans have of her.  She comes across as a bureaucrat, who knows best and gives the impression that she leads by committee.   

The Progressive Conservative Party is no longer the party of Ralph Klein, in fact it has almost made a 360 degree turn.  Support in Edmonton is divided evenly between Redford and Smith, while the majority support Danielle Smith in Calgary.  Smith appears to lead in rural Alberta as well.  

Stay tuned.

 

Alberta Leader's Debate - No Clear Winner

Alberta's Leaders appeared in a 90 minute media moderated debate last night.  Although there was no clear winner, Progressive Conservative leader Alison Redford, who appeared confident at the beginning of the debate, appeared rattled during the final segment.  41 years of Tory rule had taken their toll.  Redford, who found it necessary to pass a budget prior to dropping the writ, did not run on her budget, but had introduced an additional $1 Billion of spending in her election platform.  Brian Mason's New Democrats had introduced a platform that is costed at $1.9 Billion, Raj Sherman's Liberals platform at $820 Million, while Danielle Smith's platform is estimated to cost $308 Million. The figures have been provided by the Canadian Taxpayer Association Party Platform Spending .

With this background, the leaders fast questions and challenged each other.  While the debate was seen to be a contest between Alison Redford and Danielle Smith, Redford soon came under fire by Liberal leader Raj Sherman and the NDPs Brian Mason.  The format consisted of an opening statement by each leader of 45 seconds.  Questions were limited to 20 seconds with answer at 45 seconds, with a 30 second response, followed by an open debate.  The debate concluded with 45 second closing statement.  For the  most part leaders were polite, withe the odd dig.  Overall there was no knock out punch that would give any leader a clear win.

This was good news for Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, since Redford spend most of the night on the defensive, dealing with the "Do Nothing Committtee", physician intimidation, approving a controversial transmission line,  voting for a 30% pay raise for herself.

Smith put in a strong performance, deflecting criticism on conscience issues and citizen intiatives.  When pressed on social issues like abortion and same sex marriage, Smith said that her party would not legislate or have policies on contentious social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

"It's nothing but fear-mongering by a government that's on the run," she said.

These issues have been settled decades ago and for any party to raise them is bogus.  Not only are those rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

There was little discussion on policy issues, although Health Care received some air time.  Brian Mason, NDP Leader accused both Conservative parties of wanting to privatize health care.  There was no discussion on the environment, the oilsands and specifically the construction of both the Northern Gateway and XL Keystone pipeline.

Raj Sherman at one point made a statement to Danielle Smith, which was odd.  "Danielle Alberta is not Alabama."  Thanks Raj, but we already knew,

Overall there was no clear winner of the debate, but Redford was unable to convince voters that she should continue as leader. In the end the debate probably helped Danielle Smith.  The knives should come out for the next ten days.