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 […]
The Politics of Northern Gateway
Last week, Prime Minister Harper said a decision about the contentious Northern Gateway Pipeline would be determined by science, not politics. Difficult to say if the PM’s statement was a directive or a desire, but at this stage, the more “politics” becomes involved with the project, the less likely it will be built. Northern Gateway […]
A Post-Mortem of Alberta’s “Fear & Loathing” Election and a Lesson for Pollsters
Monday April 23rd was the most exciting election Albertans have ever seen. Indeed, it marks one of the greatest political “comebacks” in Canadian history. And in 850 words we’ll cover what happened and why. First, let me begin with a mea culpa. The polling industry did a poor job calling this election – not […]
Campaign 2012: This Might Get Loud
Last month, on this very page, I said voters are restless and this provincial election will be one to watch; unlike most Alberta campaigns, this will be one that matters to the election outcome. But the dramatic change in the interim has startled even we who were expecting it. If a writ had been […]
Early Days are Good Ones for Redford
They say the two most important times for any political leader are: the FIRST 100 days after an election (particularly for a new leader or government) and the LAST 100 days before Election Day. The logic here is the strength of first and last impressions – these are the times when voters tend to […]
Is there such a thing as an underdog in the lead?
What’s more difficult? Being an underdog who must overcome steep odds to achieve an unlikely win or being the “odds-on” favorite who must fend off all challengers to try to hold on to a lead? That’s a question that Premier Alison Redford may be able to answer next spring. Flashback just a few months […]