EMBARGO LIFTED: POST TO WEB RELEASE Good morning all, As valued clients and Eye on Alberta subscribers, we’re pleased to provide you with this “sneak peak” at material being released through PostMedia this morning related to the provincial PC leadership election. These are excerpts from our May Edition of the Eye on Alberta report. Please note: These materials […]
Alison Redford’s Leadership: By the Numbers
Is 77% among party members a “strong vote of confidence” in a sitting Premier? For Ed Stelmach in 2009 it wasn’t. Five years ago, 77% was a message from the PC Party rank and file for Ed to pick up his game. He didn’t. Ultimately, embattled Ed faced a caucus revolt over budget deficits that triggered his resignation. […]
Albertans’ Views on Private MRIs
When it comes to private MRI clinics, Albertans seem to hold a “let sleeping dogs lie” view. According to our September Eye on Alberta report, nearly 6-in-10 (59%) Albertans approve of the current “hybrid” system for MRI diagnostics, compared to 1/3 (33%) that disapprove. The issue briefly surfaced in late August, when the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons […]
“Sprawl Subsidy”: Facts & Fiction
“All Calgarians currently subsidize development of new suburban communities by approximately $4,800 per home. In 2012, this subsidy cost Calgarians approximately $33,000,000…That subsidy has led to nearly $1.5 Billion in debt to The City of Calgary.” – Naheed Nenshi What?! If that’s true homeowners should be storming the polls on Election Day to stop it. If it’s not […]
Post-flood Political Ground Can Be Slippery
There’s a general rule about public opinion and taxes. Most voters will support increased taxation if: a) They feel it is necessary, and; b) They feel the proceeds will actually be going towards the services they want. This may seem painfully self-evident, but you’d be surprised how often this simple guide is forgotten or ignored. Case in point: […]
Ralph’s Revenge: A Provincial Sales Tax Referendum
“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.” – George Orwell, 1984 With all the discussion lately about the upcoming March 7th budget, and the difficult financial straights our province now navigates, I find myself thinking about Ralph Klein and how history will mark his place in the story of […]
Albertans to Politicians: Spend less before you ask for more
About 6 or 7 months ago, on this very page, I said the Government of Alberta had a budget problem – well, actually 3 problems: 1) Energy royalties would be well short of budget projections; 2) The Provincial Budget had no spending “cushion”, i.e. every nickel of revenue was slated for spending, along with $900 million drawn from savings, […]
Smart Growth Not as Simple as Saying, “We don’t do suburbs”
Too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. Let’s say you’re sick, and the doctor prescribes medication for you. You take a pill and start to feel better. Some logic might say – if one pill makes me feel a bit better, taking a whole bunch would make me feel great, right? Most of us know […]