Showdown with Ottawa: Alberta's New Premier | Premier Danielle Smith | #306
Danielle Smith should take notes from Arizona's election losers
A polarizing ex-broadcaster struggled in what used to be a very conservative state. Sound familiar?
This column is an opinion by Rahim Mohamed, a Calgary-based freelance writer who has studied political science in the United States. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith no doubt has a lot on her plate, but she may also want to watch the recent election returns from the newly-competitive Grand Canyon State closely before her own re-election bid next May.
Alberta is often compared to the deep-red conservative state of Texas on account of surface-level similarities like oil wealth and cattle. In fact, it's grown much closer politically to the "purple" state of Arizona.
It wasn't too long ago that Arizona, home to conservative icons Barry Goldwater and John McCain, was redder than red; a state election handicappers could comfortably put in the Republican column before the first ballot was even cast.
But Arizona's changing demographics have made it one of America's most competitive states in recent election cycles.
Appraising Arizona
Arizona, like Alberta, is a fast-growing place, welcoming tens of thousands of migrants from neighbouring regions each year. Arizona is also notably multi-ethnic and has one of the largest Native American populations in the United States (5.5 per cent of Arizonans and seven per cent of Albertans claim Indigenous ancestry).
And Alberta has also become far more competitive at the ballot box in recent years, having gone from 44 straight years of Progressive Conservative rule to one term of New Democrat government (2015-2019). Now there's another conservative ruling party and what polls show may be yet another change coming next spring. (Both of Arizona's U.S. senators are now Democrats, which hadn't happened since 1952.)
As in Arizona, demographic change has driven Alberta's electorate to the middle; Alberta's population has grown steadily over time, with many new Albertans arriving from more politically moderate provinces.
Smith might want to pay particular attention to the fate of Kari Lake, the losing Republican candidate for governor.
Much like Smith, Lake is a polished, well-spoken and telegenic politician with a populist bent and a professional background in broadcasting.
Lake, a favourite of ex-president Donald Trump's base, gained national attention by repeatedly claiming that she believes the 2020 presidential election was stolen. This is a theory that Smith herself has lent credence to in social media posts.
Last week, Lake went go down in defeat, as the Arizona governor's race was called for Democrat Katie Hobbs.
All known election deniers running for statewide office in Arizona have lost or are behind in their races, including Senate candidate Blake Masters and Mark Finchem, the Republican nominee for secretary of state.
Sixty-three per cent of Arizonans told exit pollsters they believed Joe Biden "legitimately won" the 2020 election and nearly three-quarters were "confident" their state's elections were fair. This indicates the rhetoric espoused by Lake and other prominent election deniers failed to sway Arizonans, including many who identify as Republican.
Meanwhile, next door in Nevada, Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo had accepted Donald Trump's endorsement but also said that he did not believe that the 2020 election was rigged. He won narrowly over incumbent Steve Sisolak.
The electoral results reaffirm that Arizonans are equipped with finely-tuned BS detectors. It's no coincidence Arizona's most beloved public official in recent memory, the late senator John McCain, was known for his "straight talk."
As Kari Lake tweeted (ironically) on Monday night: "Arizonans know BS when they see it."
Like a Phoenix
So what can Danielle Smith do over the next six months to avoid the fate of her fallen counterpart in Arizona?
Above all, Smith should take Lake's fate as a cue to address her own credibility problem. Smith has courted opprobrium for her dubious statements about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an argument that cancer is within a patient's control before it reaches Stage 4, and alternative COVID treatments. If Albertans can't trust the words that are coming out of Smith's mouth, how will they trust her enough to vote to keep her in the province's top job?
Smith also needs to understand that the Alberta of today is a different place than the province she knew almost a decade ago as leader of the right-wing Wildrose Party. She can no longer take for granted that Alberta voters are reliably conservative, even in Calgary and smaller communities. Alberta is now a "brown" (blue + orange) province. Smith will need to adjust to this reality to give her UCP a fighting chance in May.
Albertans, like their relatives on the American frontier, know BS when they see it. Danielle Smith may just find that the truth will set her free — and on a path to re-election.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Outcome of Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection to determine premier's future in legislature
Byelection called for this riding only, despite Calgary-Elbow having no sitting MLA
Premier Danielle Smith is running as a candidate in the byelection in that riding because she was not a sitting MLA when she was elected leader of the United Conservative Party last month.
Smith had initially announced she wanted to run in her home constituency of Livingstone-Macleod. Ultimately, a UCP MLA who wasn't planning to run again stepped down early so the premier could run sooner in the vacant Medicine Hat seat.
The 28-day race started the day Smith was sworn into office. So less than a week after 124,000 UCP members elected her leader, she turned to convincing 34,060 residents of southeastern Alberta to vote for her.
During advance polls in Brooks-Medicine Hat, 4,231 people voted — 12.4 per cent of eligible voters.
Smith told a candidates' forum in the riding last week that residents are talking to her about jobs and economic growth, affordability, health care and pushing back against Ottawa. Smith said those will be her focus areas for the riding if elected.
She is running against NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk; Barry Morishita, who leads the centrist Alberta Party; and two other candidates from further right parties — Bob Blayone for the Independence Party of Alberta and Jeevan Mangat of the Wildrose Independence Party.
"I don't think it's likely that anybody but Danielle Smith will win," said Lori Williams, an associate professor of political science and policy studies at Mount Royal University.
"But that's not the whole story. I think the margin of victory makes a difference, and a lukewarm win could again raise questions about the viability of Danielle Smith's leadership."
Former Brooks mayor Barry Morishita is up against Alberta's premier in Tuesday's byelection. (Alberta Party)
Morishita, who is a former mayor of Brooks, says there's a misconception that the riding is completely rural, and people don't understand it has urban components and deals with problems from health care to agriculture.
"I don't think Danielle does, with all due respect, know the area," Morishita said.
"She talks about rural, but I don't think she understands the dynamics and the uniqueness of this riding."
The NDP candidate also questioned Smith's understanding of the constituents. Dirk says the UCP government cut funding to the post-secondary institution where she taught and she eventually decided to get involved with the NDP.
"It doesn't scare me," she said of campaigning against the premier. "I actually know what our community needs."
The byelection was called for this riding only, despite Calgary-Elbow having no sitting MLA.
Polls close at 8 p.m., with results expected shortly after.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2022 17:11:31 -0400
Subject: Fwd: I wonder Danielle Smith remembered me after I called her
hubby at his Diner
To: livingstone-macleod@ab-
lheintz@okotoks.greatwest.ca, coms@ab-independence.com,
leader@wildrosenation.com, info@albertaparty.ca,
contact@wildrosenation.com, SHARON.NOULLETT@ab-
Bob.Blayone@ab-independence.
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, premier
<premier@gov.ab.ca>, ministryofjustice <ministryofjustice@gov.ab.ca>,
news@lethbridgenewsnow.com
A large crowd gathered outside of the Lethbridge Courthouse on
November 4, 2022, in support of three people charged in connection to
events at the Coutts border blockade. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)
By David Opinko
Hundreds gather to support ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters charged with mischief
Nov 4, 2022 | 12:55 PM
LETHBRIDGE, AB – A large crowd formed outside of the Lethbridge
Courthouse on Friday, November 4, 2022, showing their support for
three people charged in connection to alleged events at the Coutts
border blockade in February 2022.
The rally was held to show support for Marco Van Huigenbos, 32, of
Fort Macleod; Alex Van Herk, 53, of Fort Macleod; and Gerhard (George)
Janzen, 43, of Taber. They are each charged with one count of mischief
over $5,000.
Benita Pedersen helped with the rally and says she was “blown away” by
how many people showed up and the level of enthusiasm they displayed.
“I am so happy with this turnout, just amazing. An amazing show of
support for Alex, Marco, and George,” says Pedersen. “It just warms my
heart to see all of these people, and what warms my heart even more is
how the people came with a positive attitude of peace and love.”
Members of the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) attended the rally to
ensure everyone there remained safe.
Officers counted approximately 500 people at the event.
LPS says there were no major issues to report.
“With the exception of a few parking challenges as a result of the
influx of people and vehicles, the gathering was peaceful and no
police action was required,” reads a media release from LPS.
Peter Van Liere also spoke at the rally, saying that when COVID-19
restrictions were first enacted in March 2020, he felt like he was
alone, but the freedom convoy protests restored his faith that things
would get better.
Following their appearance in Lethbridge Provincial Court, the three
men accused made brief remarks to those in attendance at the rally.
Van Herk thanked everyone who came out to show their support, and said
he hopes the court proceedings will be over quickly.
“I think this thing needs to end as soon as possible,” says Van Herk.
Chad Williamson, the lawyer representing Janzen, provided an update on
the courtroom proceedings.
He said that although today’s appearance in Lethbridge Provincial
Court was brief, it was an important one.
Williamson explained that lawyers for both the crown and defense have
decided to proceed by indictment, which gives them the right to be
tried by a judge and jury.
“We believe that 12 randomly-chosen representative jurors reflects the
common-sense, the values, and the conscious of this community and is
very important in this case,” said Williamson. “Once disclosure has
been properly received, we’ll proceed to trial by jury immediately.
There will be no deals and no concessions of any kind.”
The next court appearance for Van Huigenbos, Van Herk, and Janzen is
scheduled for December 12, 2022.
Peter Van Liere gives a speech about the freedom convoy movement
outside of the Lethbridge Courthouse as Marco Van Huigenbois, Alex Van
Herk, and Gerhard (George) Janzen make a scheduled court appearance.
(Video: Lethbridge News Now)
During a rally outside of the Lethbridge Courthouse on November 4,
2022, three people facing mischief charges in connection to alleged
events at the February 2022 freedom convoy deliver speeches. (Video:
Lethbridge News Now)
Hundreds of people attended a rally outside of the Lethbridge
Courthouse on November 4, 2022, in support of three people charged in
connection to alleged events at the Coutts border blockade. (Image:
Lethbridge News Now)
Read more background on this story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Grasslands ATA Education Forum
David Brown
87 subscribers
624 views Streamed live on Nov 1, 2022
Welcome to the live broadcast of the Grasslands ATA Education Forum.
We are pleased to broadcast this event to our community. This forum
will provide insight into the education platforms of each political
candidate partaking in the upcoming by-election for the
Brooks-Medicine Hat riding.
This stream is a broadcast of the live event taking place at Griffin
Park School on Nov 1/22. As this is an amateur production we request
your patience as there may be audio or video difficulties. We always
hope things go smoothly, but technology is great until it isn't!
1 Comment
David Amos
Hmmmm
MLA Roger Reid withdraws from Livingstone-Macleod UCP nomination race
UCP MLA Roger Reid was elected to his first term in 2019, and despite
submitting his papers ahead of the nomination deadline, said he no
longer feels it is possible for him to seek another term.
Lauryn Heintz
Nov 2, 2022 10:00 AM
lIvingstone-macleoddebate2
Roger Reid speaks at the Livingstone-Macleod candidates forum in
Nanton on April 3, 2019, ahead of the last general election. He
announced Nov. 1 he is no longer seeking a second term.
Livingstone-Macleod MLA Roger Reid has removed himself for the
constituency's United Conservative Party nomination race.
In a post to the constituency association's Facebook page Tuesday,
Reid said he made the decision "after much personal wrestling."
Reid was elected to his first term in 2019, and despite submitting his
papers ahead of the nomination deadline, said he no longer feels it is
possible for him to seek another term.
"The last couple of years have been particularly challenging for our
province," he wrote. "Neither I, nor our government have been perfect,
but I believe the work we have done has put Alberta back on track.
"We are stronger and in a better position to weather the current
storms than we were four years ago."
The MLA will stay in his position until the next election in the
spring and said he will ensure that the concerns and needs of his
constituents are "kept in front of our Premier and her cabinet" until
that time.
During her leadership campaign, Premier Danielle Smith said she
intended to run for the UCP seat in her home riding of
Livingstone-Macleod, but later declared candidacy in Brooks-Medicine
Hat, after the resignation of MLA Michaela Frey.
Nadine Wellwood, who ran in Banff-Airdrie for the People's Party in
last year's federal election, posted to social media this week that
she plans to run for the UCP nomination in the riding.
She also ran as a PPC candidate in Alberta's Senate nominee election.
Author and conservationist Kevin Van Tighem is running for the NDP
nomination in the riding.
Lauryn Heintz
About the Author:
Lauryn Heintz covers Okotoks and Foothills County news for
OkotoksToday.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper.
For story tips contact lheintz@okotoks.greatwest.ca
https://www.abindependence.
Meet your Livingstone-MacLeod Constituency Association Board:
President: Rhonda Wilson
Treasurer: Brandy Beveridge
Secretary: Natalie McPhate
Director at Large: Jason Lemieux
Director at Large: Maureen Moncrieff
Director at Large: Alex Van Herk
Director at Large: Lorraine Norgard
Director at Large: Sherrill Benns
Director at Large: Naomi Smart
Contact Information
Email: livingstone-macleod@ab-
https://www.albertandp.ca/
A nomination meeting to select the Livingstone-Macleod NDP candidate
in the next provincial election will be held on Wednesday, November 23
at 6pm.
There is currently one eligible candidate for the nomination:
Kevin Van Tighem
Albertans deserve better leadership from their government. Rachel
Notley is building a strong team of local candidates. Together, we can
bring positive change to Alberta by working for a diversified economy
that lifts everyone up, we can have the backs of frontline healthcare
workers, and stop the race to the bottom.
Buy your membership today and share with your friends.
Wednesday November 23rd
6:00pm - 7:00pm ()
Doors open at 5:30pm, and the meeting will begin at 6pm.
High River Library
909 1 ST SW , High River, AB (map)
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/
Southern Alberta MLA not running for re-election
Nov 4, 2022 | 1:48 PM
Roger Reid has announced that he will not run for re-election as the
MLA for Livingstone-Macleod. (Image: Livingstone-Macleod Constituency
Association)
By David Opinko
CLARESHOLM, AB – A new MLA will represent the Livingstone-Macleod
riding following the 2023 Alberta provincial election.
MLA Roger Reid has announced that he will not run for re-election and
he is withdrawing his name from the United Conservative Party (UCP)
nomination.
“While I hoped to serve a second term, I no longer feel it is possible
for me to do so,” Reid said in a Facebook post on the
Livingstone-Macleod UCP Constituency Association page.
In an updated statement to LNN, Reid says he would rather focus his
efforts on advancing the many pressing issues in his riding and across
the province than running a re-election campaign.
Some of the issues he says he believes are important to the people of
Livingstone-Macleod include inflation and the rising cost of living,
the availability of ambulance services, and the shortage of family
doctors.
“Because these are important issues for Livingstone Macleod and for
Alberta, I have chosen to put my energies into assisting the Premier
and her Cabinet to ensure real solutions move from discussion to
action,” says Reid in a statement to LNN.
Reid continues, “To ensure this happens, my time and energy is better
spent on these than a nomination race or even an election campaign.
Actually solving these issues and bringing real relief to Albertans is
more important to me than my nomination and political future, and they
will be my focus for the remainder of my term.”
He adds that the last couple of years have been particularly
challenging for the province, and while he nor the provincial
government have been perfect, he believes the UCP government has
successfully put Alberta on track for a strong economic recovery.
The MLA says it has been a privilege to meet with constituents, who
span communities including High River, Claresholm, Fort Macleod,
Pincher Creek, and Crowsnest Pass.
Reid is currently serving his first term as MLA after winning the 2019
vote with over 70% support.
The 31st Alberta general election is scheduled to be held on May 29, 2023.
READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now
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---------- Original message ----------
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2022 19:42:39 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: I wonder Danielle Smith remembered me after
I called her hubby at his Diner
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Danielle Smith challenged on Power & Politics
38 views
Oct 11, 2022
FactPointVideo
8.34K subscribers
Incoming Alberta Premier Danielle Smith gets some challenging
questions during her October 7, 2022, appearance on CBC News Network's
"Power and Politics." It turns out you can't spin yourself out of
every misrepresentation you make.
5 Comments
David Amos
I wonder Danielle Smith remembered me after I called her hubby at his Diner
https://edmontonjournal.com/
'I've never learned anything while I was talking': Todd Loewen's UCP
leadership campaign focuses on listening
Author of the article:
Matthew Black
Publishing date:
Oct 05, 2022
6 Comments
Independent MLA Todd Loewen.
Independent MLA Todd Loewen. Photo by Postmedia, file
While other UCP leadership candidates talk to voters, Todd Loewen says
he prefers to listen.
“I was able to hear a lot of people and hear their concerns,” he said
of his campaign in an interview last Friday.
“I always say that I’ve never learned anything while I was talking,
only when I’m listening.”
The Central Peace-Notley MLA hasn’t drawn the attention of the other
candidates for the premier’s job, but insists reflecting the views of
those who elected him is most important to him.
“I plan on living in my community the rest of my life,” Loewen said.
“I hope I can look people in my community in the eye and feel like
I’ve done my best and they feel the same way.”
What those people have told him is at the centre of his leadership
effort, and what he calls a consistent set of concerns he’s heard from
around Alberta.
He says those he’s met with have cited the performance of Alberta
Health Services, the province’s relationship with the federal
government, the UCP’s response to COVID-19 and the rising cost of
living as issues of note.
“I’ve met a lot of really good people and was able to listen to a lot
of people.”
Veteran backbencher
Loewen, 56, has run for office four times, first as a Wildrose
Alliance candidate in 2008.
He was first elected in 2015 as a Wildrose MLA and was re-elected as a
UCP member four years later.
Perhaps once best known for endearing himself to colleagues by making
and serving waffles throughout late-night legislative debates, Loewen
emerged as an unlikely catalyst that ultimately sparked the current
leadership contest.
After publicly criticizing the government’s COVID-19 response, he
resigned as caucus chief in May of last year and posted a public
letter calling on Premier Jason Kenney to resign, “so that we can
begin to put the province back together.”
He and fellow government MLA Drew Barnes were both expelled from the
party’s caucus soon after and have since sat as independent MLAs.
Seventeen months later, he says he has “not even a little bit” of
regret over speaking out.
“The night I got kicked out of caucus I had the best night’s sleep ever.”
‘We wait and we accept what happens’
He says Kenney’s imminent departure helps the party come together
after splintering over the past year.
“Him leaving alone should help a lot of the divisiveness right there.”
Loewen says he has no expectations ahead of Thursday’s results and
hasn’t instructed his supporters on who else to vote for on the
ranked-choice ballot.
“(I’m) just looking forward to hearing what the voters have said. Just
like any other election, we wait and we accept what happens.”
Most pollsters forecast him finishing between fourth and last place
among the seven leadership candidates, though ranked ballot contests
are notoriously unpredictable.
Regardless of the outcome, he hopes his approach is one that can win
the party back the public belief that’s eroded over the prior years.
“The next election will be fought on the issue of trust,” he said.
“Albertans need to choose a leader that they can trust and can build
the trust of other Albertans.”
mblack@postmedia.com
6 Comments
David Raymond Amos
'I've never learned anything while I was talking' Yea Right
However not once would come to the phone or return a call from me EVER
I just called this clown again and left another voicemail before
emailing him again
Iqbal Paneer
"“The next election will be fought on the issue of trust,” he said."
What a literal stupid thing to say. What does he think can be done
before May aside from collect a paycheck? The next election should be
now and it should be a provincial one once they have a leader.
Iqbal Paneer
Who even takes these clowns seriously?
"Well, I didn't like the party but I said and did nothing and just
went along with all these things I disagree with. Vote for me!" -Every
UCP MLA
Iqbal Paneer
"“Him leaving alone should help a lot of the divisiveness right there.”"
The UCP only exist because they knew that there's no "united" in
conservatives here and that they could only win by merging parties.
Nothing will change that. Nothing will change the fact they've kept up
this infighting charade for literal years. They're broken no matter
what and it shows. Enough with the deflection. Too bad they weren't
taught as children what accountability looks like.
Anne Bouscal
"I’ve never learned anything while I was talking"
Best campaign slogan ever even if I don't agree with his political leanings.
Dwayne Wladyka
Reply to Anne Bouscal
What's to agree with the UCP, given how they have only carried on with
the fiscal ineptitude and poor planning that the Alberta PCs did, ever
since Don Getty was premier of Alberta, by doing well over $60 billion
in very costly debacles and mistakes, giving Alberta a mammoth debt of
well over $100 billion? Giving Alberta the most per capita rate of
people with covid in Canada, many times, and the most per capita rate
of people with covid in all of North America, in May of 2021, also
isn't something to brag about. Neither is treating the vulnerable,
seniors, medical professionals, teachers, students and rural property
owners badly, any good. Alberta can do without the UCP.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2022 12:39:56 -0300
Subject: Methinks your minions in the RCMP and your buddy Jason Kenney
would be upset if Patrick King of Wexit and I had a little Pow Wow
today EH Billy Blair?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Under the Dome: Danielle Smith, Thomas Lukaszuk chime in on the latest
UCP caucus brouhaha
37,525 views
May 21, 2021
Edmonton Journal
31.9K subscribers
Danielle Smith, president of the Alberta Enterprise Group and former
Wildrose leader, and former Deputy Premier and Progressive
Conservative (PC) MLA, Thomas Lukaszuk join host Dave Breakenridge to
break down the latest developments in the United Conservative Party
(UCP) caucus brouhaha on a new episode of Under The Dome.
Could removing MLAs Drew Barnes and Todd Loewen from caucus
potentially backfire for Premier Jason Kenney and the UCP? Will there
be more people walking away? Or is the worst over for Kenney?
Sign up for the Under The Dome newsletter:
https://link.calgaryherald.
48 Comments
David Amos
Too Too Funny Indeed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Alberta MLAs Todd Loewen, Drew Barnes expelled from UCP caucus
29,094 views
May 14, 2021
CBC News: The National
1.38M subscribers
Jason Kenney has quelled a revolt on his party's backbenches, after
two vocal critics were expelled from his United Conservative Party
caucus. However, this may just be the start of a bigger battle for the
Alberta premier.
(780) 835-7211
CentralPeace.Notley@assembly.
toddloewen.com
https://thecommunitypress.com/
Amisk is a village in east central Alberta, Canada in the M.D. of
Provost No. 52. The name comes from amisk, the Cree word for “beaver.”
The site was surveyed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1906. That
same year settlers from the United States, Scandinavia and Great
Britain arrived. The first general store was built in 1907, and the
school went up in 1916. Amisk boasts the oldest registered public
library in rural Alberta. Amisk was incorporated on January 1, 1956.
The population is 204, according to the 2016 census. Bill Rock is the
current Mayor.
Contact Village of Amisk:
5005 50th St
Amisk, AB T0B 0B0
Ph: 780-856-3980
News Submissions, Inquiries, Ideas, Tips – news@thecommunitypress.com
Direct Email to Editor as well as Letters, Feedback, & General
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https://daveberta.ca/tag/
The First Four: Travis Toews, Brian Jean, Danielle Smith and Todd
Loewen enter the United Conservative Party leadership race
Post author
By Dave Cournoyer
Post date
June 2, 2022
9 Comments on The First Four: Travis Toews, Brian Jean, Danielle
Smith and Todd Loewen enter the United Conservative Party leadership
race
Former finance minister Travis Toews launched his United Conservative
Party leadership bid this week with a social media video.
Former finance minister Travis Toews launched his United Conservative
Party leadership bid this week with a social media video.
The race has started.
Four candidates have filed their intent with Elections Alberta to join
the race to replace Jason Kenney as leader of the United Conservative
Party:
Travis Toews: Finance Minister since 2019. MLA for Grande
Prairie-Wapiti since 2019. Former president of the Canadian
Cattleman’s Association. Looks comfortable in a business suit or
Carhartts. Sounds like the adult in the room but is connected to a
northern Alberta Bible college with some fairly backwards views about
yoga and same-sex relationships. Probably one of the more hardline
fiscal conservatives in the UCP cabinet. Grand champion of the 1976
4-H calf show in Hythe. Likely UCP establishment favourite.
Brian Jean United Conservative Party Leadership Wildrose
Brian Jean during his 2017 bid for the United Conservative Party leadership.
Brian Jean: Leader of the Wildrose Party from 2015 to 2017. Target of
a kamikaze campaign during the 2017 UCP leadership race. MLA for Fort
McMurray-Lac La Biche since 2022. MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin from
2015 to 2018. MP for Fort McMurray-Athabasca from 2004 to 2014. Toyed
with COVID skepticism and Alberta separatism. Jason Kenney’s worst
enemy. Lawyer, businessman and Golden Boy of Fort McMurray.
Jim Prentice Danielle Smith Alberta Wildrose Merger PC
Former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith and Premier Jim Prentice on
December 17, 2014.
Danielle Smith: Leader of the Wildrose Party from 2009 to 2014. MLA
for Highwood from 2012 to 2015. Crossed the floor to the Progressive
Conservative Party in 2014. Calgary public school trustee from 1998 to
1999. Alumna of the Fraser Institute, Canadian Federation of
Independent Business, Calgary Herald, Global TV, and Chorus Radio.
Current President of the Alberta Enterprise Group. Running for the UCP
nomination in Livingstone-Macleod. Embraced COVID conspiracy theories.
Independent MLA Todd Loewen Free Alberta Strategy Separatist
Independent MLA Todd Loewen
Todd Loewen: MLA for Central Peace-Notley since 2019. MLA for Grande
Prairie-Smoky from 2015 to 2019 and Wildrose candidate in the riding
in 2008 and 2012. Resigned as UCP Caucus chair in 2021 after calling
on Kenney to resign and was kicked out of caucus the next day. Formed
a UCP Caucus-in-exile with fellow ousted MLA Drew Barnes. Drove his
motorhome in the Freedom Convoy to Ottawa. Renowned in the UCP Caucus
for his pancake cooking skills.
These four have registered others are expected.
Rajan Sawhney
Transportation Minister and Calgary-North East MLA Rajan Sawhney has
tapped longtime conservative strategist Ken Boessenkool to run her
exploratory committee.
“[W]hat this race needs right now is just not more of the same,”
Sawhney told reporters in a statement.
Children’s Services Minister and Calgary-Shaw MLA Rebecca Schultz
isn’t in the race yet but already has an endorsement from former
Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall. Schultz worked for Wall’s government
before she moved to Alberta in 2016.
Government House leader and chief Kenney lieutenant Jason Nixon is
rumoured to be thinking about running.
So are former cabinet ministers Leela Aheer and Devin Dreeshen.
And Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner is rumoured to be
testing the waters. She would be an interesting addition to the race,
though recent history has not been kind to federal politicians jumping
into provincial politics in Alberta.
The party has appointed a committee that is expected to release rules,
entry requirements and timelines for the leadership race before the
beginning of summer.
UDPATE! Village of Amisk mayor Bill Rock has registered with Elections
Alberta to run in the UCP leadership race. Rock was the Wildrose Party
candidate in the Wetaskiwin-Camrose riding in the 2015 election. He
was parachuted into the riding after previously nominated candidate
Gordon Hatch withdrew from the race and endorsed PC MLA Verlyn Olson
following Danielle Smith‘s floor-crossing.
Note: Registering as a candidate with Elections Alberta does not mean
automatic approval as a candidate by the UCP. Registering with
Election Alberta allows the candidates to fundraise under Alberta’s
current political finance rules.
https://www.brianjean.ca/
brian@brianjean.ca
https://
Constituency Phone780.588.7979
EmailFortMcMurray.LacLaBiche@
https://www.toewsforalberta.
info@toewsforalberta.ca
https://
Minister Toews was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on
April 16, 2019, as the MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti.
A lifelong resident of Alberta, Toews and his wife live in the Grande
Prairie region and have three children and eight grandchildren. He has
considerable business experience, and holds a CPA, CMA accounting
designation and, prior to pursuing business interests, spent twelve
years in a public accounting practice. In the past fifteen years, he
and his wife Kim, have invested in, managed and grown a corporate
family cattle ranching operation and an oilfield environmental
company.
Toews has served as a Director on a number of local non-profit boards,
as well as provincial and national industry boards and committees
including the Alberta Beef Producers and the Canadian Agri-Food Trade
Alliance. He was elected President of the Canadian Cattlemen’s
Association in 2010 and served until the term end in 2012. Toews
co-chaired the Agri-Innovators Committee for then federal Agriculture
Minister, Gerry Ritz.
As a Canadian representative on the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
committee on food security and a member of the Country of Origin
Labelling Canadian World Trade Organization Legal working group, Toews
has worked globally to support Canadian interests in international
trade. In 2012, he received the QEll Diamond Jubilee Award presented
by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston
for contributions to Canadian Agriculture and Trade.
Travis Toews was appointed as Alberta’s President of Treasury Board
and Minister of Finance on April 30, 2019.
Constituency Phone825.412.2050
Legislature Phone780.415.4855
EmailGrandePrairie.Wapiti@
https://www.facebook.com/
https://thediningcar.ca/
(403) 652-7026
david@thediningcar.ca
---------- Original message ----------
From: Office of the Premier <Premier@gov.ab.ca>
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:02:41 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks your minions in the RCMP and your
buddy Jason Kenney would be upset if Patrick King of Wexit and I had a
little Pow Wow today EH Billy Blair?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for contacting the Premier of Alberta.
A state of public health emergency remains in effect in Alberta. For
the latest and most accurate information related to the COVID-19
response, visit alberta.ca/covid19<http://www.
canada.ca/covid-19<https://
Workplace guidance and supports to help businesses and non-profits
affected by COVID-19 are available at
www.alberta.ca/biz-connect<htt
For information about the Critical Worker Benefit, visit
www.alberta.ca/critical-
To connect with program staff, email
cwb@gov.ab.ca<mailto:cwb@gov.
Stay safe.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:02:40 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks your minions in the RCMP and your
buddy Jason Kenney would be upset if Patrick King of Wexit and I had a
little Pow Wow today EH Billy Blair?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for taking the time to write to us.
Due to the high volume of emails that we receive daily, please note
that there may be a delay in our response. Thank you for your
understanding.
If you are looking for current information on Coronavirus, please
visit www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
(506) 453-2144.
Thank you.
Bonjour,
Nous vous remercions d’avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
Tenant compte du volume élevé de courriels que nous recevons
quotidiennement, il se peut qu’il y ait un délai dans notre réponse.
Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension.
Si vous recherchez des informations à jour sur le coronavirus,
veuillez visiter
www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
S’il s’agit d’une demande des médias, veuillez communiquer avec le
Cabinet du premier ministre au 506-453-2144.
Merci.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000
Fredericton, New-Brunswick/Nouveau-
E3B 5H1
Canada
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/
---------- Original message ----------
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:00:55 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks your minions in the RCMP and your
buddy Jason Kenney would be upset if Patrick King of Wexit and I had a
little Pow Wow today EH Billy Blair?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Original message ----------
From: Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:01:19 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks your minions in the RCMP and your
buddy Jason Kenney would be upset if Patrick King of Wexit and I had a
little Pow Wow today EH Billy Blair?
To: david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you very much for reaching out to the Office of the Hon. Bill
Blair, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest.
Please be advised that as a health and safety precaution, our
constituency office will not be holding in-person meetings until
further notice. We will continue to provide service during our regular
office hours, both over the phone and via email.
Due to the high volume of emails and calls we are receiving, our
office prioritizes requests on the basis of urgency and in relation to
our role in serving the constituents of Scarborough Southwest. If you
are not a constituent of Scarborough Southwest, please reach out to
your local of Member of Parliament for assistance. To find your local
MP, visit: https://www.ourcommons.ca/
Moreover, at this time, we ask that you please only call our office if
your case is extremely urgent. We are experiencing an extremely high
volume of calls, and will better be able to serve you through email.
Should you have any questions related to COVID-19, please see:
www.canada.ca/coronavirus<http
Thank you again for your message, and we will get back to you as soon
as possible.
Best,
MP Staff to the Hon. Bill Blair
Parliament Hill: 613-995-0284
Constituency Office: 416-261-8613
bill.blair@parl.gc.ca<mailto:b
**
Merci beaucoup d'avoir pris contact avec le bureau de l'Honorable Bill
Blair, D?put? de Scarborough-Sud-Ouest.
Veuillez noter que par mesure de pr?caution en mati?re de sant? et de
s?curit?, notre bureau de circonscription ne tiendra pas de r?unions
en personne jusqu'? nouvel ordre. Nous continuerons ? fournir des
services pendant nos heures de bureau habituelles, tant par t?l?phone
que par courrier ?lectronique.
En raison du volume ?lev? de courriels que nous recevons, notre bureau
classe les demandes par ordre de priorit? en fonction de leur urgence
et de notre r?le dans le service aux ?lecteurs de Scarborough
Sud-Ouest. Si vous n'?tes pas un ?lecteur de Scarborough Sud-Ouest,
veuillez contacter votre d?put? local pour obtenir de l'aide. Pour
trouver votre d?put? local, visitez le
site:https://www.noscommunes.
En outre, nous vous demandons de ne t?l?phoner ? notre bureau que si
votre cas est extr?mement urgent. Nous recevons un volume d'appels
extr?mement ?lev? et nous serons mieux ? m?me de vous servir par
courrier ?lectronique.
Si vous avez des questions concernant COVID-19, veuillez consulter le
site : http://www.canada.ca/le-
Merci encore pour votre message, et nous vous r?pondrons d?s que possible.
Cordialement,
Personnel du D?put? de l'Honorable Bill Blair
Colline du Parlement : 613-995-0284
Bureau de Circonscription : 416-261-8613
bill.blair@parl.gc.ca<mailto:b
< mailto:bill.blair@parl.gc.ca>
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2021 12:00:49 -0400
Subject: Methinks your minions in the RCMP and your buddy Jason Kenney
would be upset if Patrick King of Wexit and I had a little Pow Wow
today EH Billy Blair?
To: "Bill.Blair" <Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>,
premier <premier@gnb.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, Norman
Traversy <traversy.n@gmail.com>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "wayne.easter"
<wayne.easter@parl.gc.ca>, "Brenda.Lucki"
<Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, Brian Ruhe <brian@brianruhe.ca>,
themayor <themayor@calgary.ca>, "barbara.massey"
<barbara.massey@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, kingpatrick278@gmail.com
https://www.bitchute.com/
Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson
LauraLynn
4709 subscribers
Kevin J. Johnston and Pastor Art Pawlowski join us to discuss civil
liberties and Saturday's freedom march in Edmonton.
All of my content is completely, 100%, viewer supported and funded.
Thank you for your kindness to keep information like this coming
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.bitchute.com/
https://www.bitchute.com/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2021 19:28:19 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Attn Lin Wood and Lawson Pedigo I ust called
both of you Corrrect???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for taking the time to write to us.
Due to the high volume of emails that we receive daily, please note
that there may be a delay in our response. Thank you for your
understanding.
If you are looking for current information on Coronavirus, please
visit www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
(506) 453-2144.
Thank you.
Bonjour,
Nous vous remercions d’avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
Tenant compte du volume élevé de courriels que nous recevons
quotidiennement, il se peut qu’il y ait un délai dans notre réponse.
Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension.
Si vous recherchez des informations à jour sur le coronavirus,
veuillez visiter
www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
S’il s’agit d’une demande des médias, veuillez communiquer avec le
Cabinet du premier ministre au 506-453-2144.
Merci.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000
Fredericton, New-Brunswick/Nouveau-
E3B 5H1
Canada
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:28:14 -0400
Subject: Attn Lin Wood and Lawson Pedigo I ust called both of you Corrrect???
To: lwood <lwood@fightback.law>, klpedigo@mkp-law.net,
rjc@dhclegal.com, "Bill.Blair" <Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca>, washington
field <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, "Mark.Blakely"
<Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet"
<martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>
<hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, intake@clarelocke.com,
media@dominionvoting.com, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>,
Nathalie Sturgeon <sturgeon.nathalie@
security@dominionvoting.com, news-tips <news-tips@nytimes.com>, mcu
<mcu@justice.gc.ca>, "Ian.Shugart" <Ian.Shugart@pco-bcp.gc.ca>,
"Kevin.leahy" <Kevin.leahy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, premier
<premier@ontario.ca>, Jim Karahalios <jim@jimkarahalios.com>,
"Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Robert. Jones"
<Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, "Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>,
"rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, "blaine.higgs"
<blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "barbara.massey"
<barbara.massey@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Yankees say
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/
Rudy Giuliani Sued by Dominion Voting Systems Over False Election Claims
https://lawandcrime.com/high-
Rudy Giuliani Hires Defense Attorney Previously Accused of Dangling
Pardon to Michael Cohen
Jerry LambeNov 6th, 2019, 6:09 pm
http://davidraymondamos3.
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump I just got
off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why does he lie
to me after all this time???
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Finance Public / Finance Publique (FIN)"
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:52:33 +0000
Subject: RE: RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump
I just got off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why
does he lie to me after all this time???
To: David Amos
The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance
électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos
commentaires.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:51:14 -0400
Subject: RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump I
just got off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why
does he lie to me after all this time???
To: president , mdcohen212@gmail.com, pm ,
Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.
B.English@ministers.govt.nz, Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
pminvites@pmc.gov.au, mayt@parliament.uk, press , "Andrew.Bailey" ,
fin.financepublic-
"CNN.Viewer.Communications.
Cc: David Amos , elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca, "justin.ling@vice.com,
elizabeththompson" , djtjr , "Bill.Morneau" , postur ,
stephen.kimber@ukings.ca, "steve.murphy" , "Jacques.Poitras" ,
oldmaison , andre
---------- Original message ----------
From: Michael Cohen
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:15:14 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just
called and left a message for you
To: David Amos
Effective January 20, 2017, I have accepted the role as personal
counsel to President Donald J. Trump. All future emails should be
directed to mdcohen212@gmail.com and all future calls should be
directed to 646-853-0114.
______________________________
This communication is from The Trump Organization or an affiliate
thereof and is not sent on behalf of any other individual or entity.
This email may contain information that is confidential and/or
proprietary. Such information may not be read, disclosed, used,
copied, distributed or disseminated except (1) for use by the intended
recipient or (2) as expressly authorized by the sender. If you have
received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and
promptly notify the sender. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed
to be received, secure or error-free as emails could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late, incomplete, contain viruses
or otherwise. The Trump Organization and its affiliates do not
guarantee that all emails will be read and do not accept liability for
any errors or omissions in emails. Any views or opinions presented in
any email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of The Trump Organization or any of its
affiliates.Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an
electronic signature under applicable law.
Robert J. Costello
Partner
P: 646-428-3238
516 987 0213
E: rjc@dhclegal.com
CBC says
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/
Toronto's Dominion Voting Systems sues Rudy Giuliani for $1.3B US
Trump's personal attorney the latest to be served by Canada-U.S.
voting systems company
Thomson Reuters · Posted: Jan 25, 2021 10:03 AM ET
I say
http://davidraymondamos3.
Saturday, 26 December 2020
ATTN Sidney Powell et al I just called your office in Texas and many
of your associates within the Dec 11th filings
---------- Original message ----------
From: Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2020 19:08:11 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: FWD ATTN Sidney Powell et al I just called
your office in Texas and many of your associates within the Dec 11th
filings
To: motomaniac333@gmail.com
Thank you very much for reaching out to the Office of the Hon. Bill
Blair, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest.
Please be advised that as a health and safety precaution, our
constituency office will not be holding in-person meetings until
further notice. We will continue to provide service during our regular
office hours, both over the phone and via email.
Due to the high volume of emails and calls we are receiving, our
office prioritizes requests on the basis of urgency and in relation to
our role in serving the constituents of Scarborough Southwest. If you
are not a constituent of Scarborough Southwest, please reach out to
your local of Member of Parliament for assistance. To find your local
MP, visit: https://www.ourcommons.ca/
Moreover, at this time, we ask that you please only call our office if
your case is extremely urgent. We are experiencing an extremely high
volume of calls, and will better be able to serve you through email.
Should you have any questions related to COVID-19, please see:
www.canada.ca/coronavirus<http
Thank you again for your message, and we will get back to you as soon
as possible.
Best,
MP Staff to the Hon. Bill Blair
Parliament Hill: 613-995-0284
Constituency Office: 416-261-8613
bill.blair@parl.gc.ca<mailto:b
**
Merci beaucoup d'avoir pris contact avec le bureau de l'Honorable Bill
Blair, D?put? de Scarborough-Sud-Ouest.
Veuillez noter que par mesure de pr?caution en mati?re de sant? et de
s?curit?, notre bureau de circonscription ne tiendra pas de r?unions
en personne jusqu'? nouvel ordre. Nous continuerons ? fournir des
services pendant nos heures de bureau habituelles, tant par t?l?phone
que par courrier ?lectronique.
En raison du volume ?lev? de courriels que nous recevons, notre bureau
classe les demandes par ordre de priorit? en fonction de leur urgence
et de notre r?le dans le service aux ?lecteurs de Scarborough
Sud-Ouest. Si vous n'?tes pas un ?lecteur de Scarborough Sud-Ouest,
veuillez contacter votre d?put? local pour obtenir de l'aide. Pour
trouver votre d?put? local, visitez le
site:https://www.noscommunes.
En outre, nous vous demandons de ne t?l?phoner ? notre bureau que si
votre cas est extr?mement urgent. Nous recevons un volume d'appels
extr?mement ?lev? et nous serons mieux ? m?me de vous servir par
courrier ?lectronique.
Si vous avez des questions concernant COVID-19, veuillez consulter le
site : http://www.canada.ca/le-
Merci encore pour votre message, et nous vous r?pondrons d?s que possible.
Cordialement,
Personnel du D?put? de l'Honorable Bill Blair
Colline du Parlement : 613-995-0284
Bureau de Circonscription : 416-261-8613
bill.blair@parl.gc.ca<mailto:b
< mailto:bill.blair@parl.gc.ca>
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:27:43 -0400
Subject: Fwd: ATTN Sidney Powell et al I just called your office in
Texas and many of your associates within the Dec 11th filings
To: sidney@federalappeals.com, howard@kleinhendler.com,
lwood@fightback.law, attorneystefanielambert@gmail.
eldridge@millercanfield.com, dshare@bsdd.com,
erosenberg@lawyerscommittee.
grille@michigan.gov, dbressack@finkbressack.com, aap43@hotmail.com,
megurewitz@gmail.com, James@jamesfetzer.com, info@lionelmedia.com,
liveneedtoknow@gmail.com, tips@steeltruth.com, media@steeltruth.com,
press@deepcapture.com, bbachrach <bbachrach@bachrachlaw.net>, Norman
Traversy <traversy.n@gmail.com>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "ron.klain"
<ron.klain@revolution.com>, bgaier@finance-commerce.com,
fin.financepublic-
info@thomasmoresociety.org, info@rleighfrostlaw.com,
cferrara@thomasmoresociety.org
mjnew@nationalreview.com, info@aul.org, pr@cato.org, "robert.frater"
<robert.frater@justice.gc.ca>, keith.ward@justice.gc.ca, "jan.jensen"
<jan.jensen@justice.gc.ca>, cxiong@startribune.com
https://fightback.law/team/
News
We stand ready to protect the constitutional rights of people and
businesses that are being destroyed by protesters and rioters.
L. Lin Wood
Chairman of the Board and CEO
lin-mercer-photo
Lin Wood has more than 43 years of experience as a trial lawyer
focusing on civil litigation, representing individuals and
corporations as plaintiffs or defendants in tort and business cases
involving claims of significant damage. Mr. Wood has extensive
experience in First Amendment/defamation litigation and management of
the media in high profile cases.
L. LIN WOOD, P.C.
P.O. Box 52584
Atlanta, GA 30305-0584
(404) 891-1402
lwood@fightback.law
Lawson Pedigo
Co-founder and Vice President
team-lawson-pedigo
Lawson Pedigo, formerly with the United States Department of Justice's
Tax Division and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., joined Miller Keffer
Pedigo as a name partner in 2004. He concentrates on representing
individuals and entities involved in complex commercial and financial
litigation matters as well as governmental investigations of all
types.
214.696.2050
214.234.0440 (direct)
214.696.2482 (fax)
E-mail: klpedigo@mkp-law.net
#FightBack welcomes Bernie Kerik to the Board of Directors
BERNARD B. KERIK is one of the most dynamic, undisputed, controversial
and accomplished leaders in law enforcement, correction, and national
security in the United States. For more than thirty years, he served
his country with distinction, honor, and valor, most notably as the
40th Police Commissioner of the City of New York. He is also the New
York Time’s best- selling author of “The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit
of Justice.”
Bernard Kerik
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation
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Bernard Kerik
BernardKerik.JPG
Minister of the Interior of Iraq
Acting
In office
May 18, 2003 – September 2, 2003
Chief Executive Paul Bremer
Preceded by Mahmud Dhiyab
Succeeded by Nuri Badran
Police Commissioner of New York City
In office
August 21, 2000 – December 31, 2001
Appointed by Rudy Giuliani
Preceded by Howard Safir
Succeeded by Raymond Kelly
Correction Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction
In office
1998–2000
Appointed by Rudy Giuliani
Preceded by Michael Jacobsen
Succeeded by Gary Lanigan
Personal details
Born Bernard Bailey Kerik
September 4, 1955 (age 65)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Linda Hales
(m. 1978; div. 1983)
Jaqueline Llerena
(m. 1983; div. 1992)
Hala Matli
(m. 1998)
Children 4
Education Empire State College (BS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service 1974–1977
Bernard Bailey Kerik (born September 4, 1955) is an American former
police officer, consultant, 40th Commissioner of the New York Police
Department and convicted felon (tax fraud) for which he obtained the
presidential pardon in 2020.[1]
Kerik joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 1986. He is
perhaps best known for his 1998–2000 tenure as commissioner of the New
York City Department of Correction and his 2000–01 tenure as New York
City Police Commissioner, during which he oversaw the police response
to the September 11 attacks. Kerik conducted two extramarital affairs
simultaneously, using a Battery Park City apartment that had been set
aside for first responders at ground zero.[2]
After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, President George W. Bush appointed
Kerik as the interior minister of the Iraqi Coalition Provisional
Authority. In 2004, Bush nominated Kerik to lead the Department of
Homeland Security. However, Kerik soon withdrew his candidacy,
explaining that he had employed an undocumented immigrant as a nanny.
His admission touched off state and federal investigations. In 2006,
Kerik pleaded guilty in Bronx Supreme Court to two unrelated
misdemeanor ethics violations and was ordered to pay $221,000 in
fines. In 2009, Kerik pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New
York to eight federal felony charges, and in February 2010, he was
sentenced to four years in federal prison.[3][4] On February 18, 2020,
President Donald Trump granted Kerik a full pardon.[5] On November 7,
2020, Kerik stood behind Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani,
during the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[6]
https://www.forbes.com/sites/
Lin Wood Will Represent Sidney Powell In Dominion Defamation Case
Alison Durkee Forbes Staff
Updated Feb 12, 2021, 02:43pm EST
Topline
Conservative attorney L. Lin Wood will join fellow lawyer Sidney
Powell’s legal team in a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit brought by
Dominion Voting Systems, even as the pro-Trump lawyer faces the threat
of litigation for spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the
company’s voting machines.
Lin Wood Georgia rally wearing MAGA hat
Attorney Lin Wood at a rally he held with Sidney Powell on Dec. 2,
2020, in Alpharetta, Ga. (AP ... [+] ASSOCIATED PRESS
Key Facts
Dominion is suing Powell for spreading a baseless conspiracy theory
alleging its voting machines fraudulently flipped votes to Joe Biden.
Wood said on Telegram Friday that Powell called him Thursday night and
asked him to serve as her lead counsel in the case, adding, “I quickly
accepted.”
Powell’s attorney Howard Kleinhendler confirmed to Forbes in an email
that Wood will be joining the legal team.
“Sidney and I will not be intimidated,” Wood wrote, claiming he and
Powell “will not go quietly into the night.”
Wood frequently appeared alongside Powell after the election to push
the Dominion fraud claims and was involved with her lawsuits aimed at
overturning the results of the election.
Dominion has sent a letter to Wood warning it may bring a defamation
lawsuit against him, asked social media networks to preserve his posts
and singled out Wood in its lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani as being
particularly “determined to promote” the conspiracy theory against
them (the company declined to comment on Wood’s involvement in
Powell’s case).
Crucial Quote
“Get ready to rumble, Dominion,” Wood wrote on Telegram. “You made a
mistake suing Sidney. You are going to pay a heavy price.”
What To Watch For
Wood is facing wide-ranging consequences for spreading conspiracy
theories since the election, which included outlandish claims
involving former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Supreme Court
Chief Justice John Roberts. He has been removed from an unrelated
Delaware case over his conduct, and attorneys for MSNBC host Joy Reid
have asked him to be removed as attorney in a separate defamation
case. The Georgia State Bar has also confirmed it is moving forward
with an inquiry into Wood’s mental health in light of his
post-election behavior, which could result in his license to practice
law potentially being revoked.
Tangent
Wood’s defense of Powell comes after he recently tried to distance
himself from her post-election lawsuits in Wisconsin, Michigan and
Arizona in a court filing in the defamation case against Reid. After
the MSNBC host’s attorney pointed to Wood’s appearance with Powell as
co-counsel in the suits as a reason for him to be removed from her
case, he noted that he was “not counsel of record” in those cases and
did not try to seek privileges to argue the case in court. He did
acknowledge having a larger involvement in Powell’s Georgia lawsuit.
Key Background
Dominion has launched a large-scale legal effort to seek damages for
the right-wing conspiracy smears it has faced, suing Powell and
Giuliani and vowing subsequent lawsuits that could potentially target
conservative media outlets, Trump allies and potentially even former
President Donald Trump himself. Powell has also been sued by Dominion
competitor Smartmatic over similar claims waged against that company’s
machines, in a $2.7 billion lawsuit that also targets Giuliani, Fox
News and several of its anchors.
Further Reading
Pro-Trump Attorney Lin Wood Could Lose License As Georgia Bar Asks For
Mental Health Evaluation (Forbes)
Dominion Had To Use ‘Extraordinary Measures’ To Serve Sidney Powell In
Defamation Lawsuit (Forbes)
Dominion Voting Sues Sidney Powell For Defamation Over Election
Conspiracy—And Others May Be Next (Forbes)
Fox News, Sidney Powell, Giuliani Face Billion-Dollar Defamation
Lawsuits—Here’s Who Could Be Next (Forbes)
Voting Company Smartmatic Sues Fox News, Giuliani, Sidney Powell For
Defamation (Forbes)
If small-town Alberta is wary of Danielle Smith, nothing is a given any more
Think the UCP has ridings outside Calgary and Edmonton sewn up? Think again, or read this poll
As with all polls, this one is a snapshot in time.
This analysis is one in a series of articles to come out of this research. More stories will follow.
The main reason that Alberta election followers have triple-underlined "Battleground Calgary" is that the other two main hunks of the political map seemed to have been spoken for.
Rachel Notley's NDP had all but sewn up Fortress Edmonton, while the United Conservative Party held a long-term lease on the rest of Alberta — Otherland, let's call it, because Canmore, Fort McMurray and 100,000-person cities Lethbridge and Red Deer can't sensibly be lumped into "rural" Alberta.
But what if there is no Fortress Otherland for Premier Danielle Smith's new party? That's the alarming signal from the latest survey by Alberta polling maven Janet Brown for CBC News, one that shows the NDP ahead by nine percentage points overall.
Outside the major cities, UCP leads the NDP by 44 per cent to 36.
Sure, a lead is a lead, but that's not how a Jason Kenney-led party won all but three seats in Otherland. In 2019's election, UCP won 67 per cent of Otherland votes and NDP got 21 per cent.
A 46-percentage-point margin shrinking to eight points will turn conservative heads from Peace River to Medicine Hat — which are, let's note, two districts that Notley's side won in 2015, when the NDP also won government.
Put it a different way: Brown's numbers would make Otherland as much of a battleground as Calgary, where the NDP enjoy a six-point lead (46 per cent to UCP's 40).
2019 election, voting results by region
Oct 2022 poll, voting intention by region
If a provincial election were held in Alberta today, which one of the following parties would you vote for?
Based on Brown's projections, this poll tips the ridings in Banff, Lethbridge and Red Deer into the NDP's orange column, in addition to most of Calgary. Outside of Edmonton — the NDP retain a fortressy-like 26-point lead in the capital city — several bedroom-community ridings would also leave the UCP fold.
It may be unfair to draw a straight line between Thursday's poll reporting and UCP member Brad Rutherford's announcement that evening that he won't seek a second term as Leduc–Beaumont MLA. But perhaps a squiggly line? It's no fun, the spectre of having to scrape by for a seat you won by 30 percentage points last time.
Know what is fun? Team-building paintball afternoons, like the one Smith organized for her UCP caucus days after becoming premier. But team cohesion is trickier when so few MLAs feel politically secure under the new leader's banner, and the word from Smith's teammates after this poll came out was … gulp.
The Prairie chill on Smith's neck
A deeper dive into the survey data suggests that Otherland isn't buying what Smith is selling much more than urban Albertans are.
Voters outside the big cities are just as preoccupied by inflation and health care, and not much more fussed by the federal squabbles that Smith made the centrepiece of her leadership campaign.
Otherland isn't sold on Smith, either. While only 29 per cent of small-city and rural residents said they're highly impressed with Notley, that's better than the 24 per cent for her rival.
Rachel
Notley, on the night she lost her premiership in April 2019. New
polling shows her NDP in position to return to government. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)
This certainly isn't what Smith and her inner circle expected when she won leadership last month. She donned her former pundit's hat in a Calgary Sun interview last month, and more or less took as a given that she'd hang on to the 39 of 41 Otherland seats her party won in 2019, meaning that "we just need to win 10 to 15 seats in Calgary and Edmonton" to get the minimum 44 seats required for an Alberta legislative majority.
Two things about this thinking, aside from the oddity of a premier doing this sort of public punditry. First: Political wisdom holds that the team that tries to win 49 seats will win only 30.
Second: In Danielle Smith's political world, there are no more givens.
The Calgary suburbs aren't safe; large swaths of Otherland are vulnerable; caucus and party cohesion remain tenuous, especially when a coalition built almost solely for winning isn't. (Well, maybe one remaining given is Edmonton's political tilt.)
Waiting for action
Keep in mind, however, that all this early tumult from Smith comes before she's actually made any policy changes or spending decisions as premier.
It's been an oddly quiet first four weeks on the job, with action on inflation, health care and other files teased as coming soon — and this inaction has given more room for the conversation about her premiership to be filled with the surfacing of self-damaging things like her Putin-friendly comments on Ukraine and her take on the epic discrimination of vaccine skeptics.
But again, what can she take as a given? The public has likely come to expect their government, of any stripe, must act on crises like the cost of living. Was Kenney feted as a political hero for giving breaks on fuel taxes and utility bills?
Expect
Smith to use policy and spending to shore up her United Conservatives'
dwindling support. But not everything she announces, like the Alberta
Sovereignty Act, will be widely popular. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)
When or if Smith fills the rest of 2022's calendar with reforms and actions, not all will be broadly popular. The still-promised Alberta Sovereignty Act will remain divisive, and as will her plans to deem businesses as human rights violators if they require agency staff to have COVID vaccinations.
As for Smith's latest bid to put the provincial shoulder into reviving plans for a new Calgary Flames arena, it's not safe to assume that's an easy vote-getter. She should know: Naheed Nenshi won re-election as mayor after being publicly skeptical of a subsidy-heavy arena proposal in 2017, back when she was a radio host and surely had to make some on-air sense of that development.
Smith's UCP has time to regroup and get the ground settled beneath its feet before May's election. But her political history and her short tenure thus far as premier signals a tendency toward volatility, and in the last couple decades Alberta has become a political earthquake zone.
The CBC News random survey of 1,200 Albertans was conducted using a hybrid method between Oct. 12 and 30, 2022, by Edmonton-based Trend Research under the direction of Janet Brown Opinion Research. The sample is representative of regional, age and gender factors. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. For subsets, the margin of error is larger.
The survey used a hybrid methodology that involved contacting survey respondents by telephone and giving them the option of completing the survey at that time, at another more convenient time, or receiving an email link and completing the survey online. Trend Research contacted people using a random list of numbers, consisting of half landlines and half cellphone numbers. Telephone numbers were dialed up to five times at five different times of day before another telephone number was added to the sample. The response rate among valid numbers (i.e. residential and personal) was 16.3 per cent.
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CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|
Danielle Smith's rough first impression puts Alberta NDP in likely majority territory: new poll
Albertans sour on UCP government’s approach to every key issue surveyed
As with all polls, this one is a snapshot in time.
This analysis is one in a series of articles to come out of this research. More stories will follow.
Albertans are in position to deliver a majority government to Rachel Notley's NDP, while the public appears to have deep doubts about the United Conservative Party's new leader, Premier Danielle Smith, according to a new poll commissioned by CBC News.
The poll, conducted from Oct. 12 to 30, also suggests the UCP could lose some parts of the province in and around Smith's rural base.
The survey of 1,200 Albertans by Janet Brown Opinion Research also suggests that Albertans believe the provincial government is on the wrong track on every key issue surveyed, such as creating jobs, managing health care and reducing crime.
The numbers suggest an uphill battle lies ahead for a party barely done sweeping up the dropped balloons from her leadership celebration, with little more than half a year until election day.
The horse race
Since the UCP won power in the 2019 election with 55 per cent support, this new poll suggests their support is now at 38 per cent.
The Opposition NDP, which won 32 per cent of voters in the 2019 election — making Notley a one-term premier — now has the support of 47 per cent of respondents.
Smaller parties barely register on the chart. Three per cent support the Alberta Party, two per cent said they would support the Wildrose Independence Party, while another two per cent prefer other parties, including the Alberta Liberals. An additional eight per cent of respondents are considered "orphaned voters" — those polled who like none of the options.
The poll also gauged respondents' views of Notley and Smith, who won the UCP leadership on Oct. 6 and was sworn in as premier days later.
More than half of respondents said they were not impressed by Smith, while 35 per cent said the same of Notley. Only 18 per cent said they were highly impressed with Smith, while 39 per cent said that about Notley.
"As a result, if elections were held today, I think we get a majority NDP government," said Janet Brown, who conducted the research for CBC News.
"And that really stems from the fact that Albertans are really disappointed in Danielle Smith as a leader."
Smith courted heavy controversy during her UCP leadership race, primarily with her proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act to refuse enforcement of some federal laws. After becoming premier, she was forced to backtrack on comments about the unvaccinated facing worse discrimination than any group in her lifetime, and apologized for what she said were "ill-informed" remarks earlier this year about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Danielle Smith celebrates after being chosen as the new leader of the United Conservative Party in Calgary on Oct. 6. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Meanwhile, her government has been quiet on the policy and announcement fronts in her first weeks as premier, while Smith has busied herself with team-building among her oft-fractious UCP caucus and fighting to secure a rural legislature seat in a by-election in Brooks–Medicine Hat.
While NDP supporters are solidly behind their leader — more than three-quarters say they are highly impressed with Notley — the same cannot be said for the UCP's new boss, who won the party's leadership with only a narrow majority.
A mere 46 per cent of United Conservative supporters are highly impressed with Smith. While only 12 per cent of UCPers are at the unimpressed end of the scale, a huge chunk (35 per cent) put themselves in the middle.
The poll's findings also suggest that Smith's electoral strategy of needing to win only a few seats in Calgary and Edmonton while sweeping the rest of Alberta is far from a sure bet.
Seat counts
Alberta elections are often sorted into three buckets: Edmonton, Calgary and "other" — smaller cities and rural Alberta.
The poll shows the NDP well ahead in Edmonton, a place Brown described as being potentially lost to the UCP "for a generation." The NDP stands to win every seat in Edmonton.
In Calgary, the NDP has a slight lead.
"There's a few seats in the south end of the city that are very secure for the UCP," Brown said. "But everything else looks like it's prime pickings for the NDP."
Outside of the two major cities, the UCP has a lead, though it's by no means commanding.
A number of those seats are tilting the NDP's way, including Banff-Kananaskis and urban ridings in Lethbridge and Red Deer, according to polling and Brown's seat modelling.
The United Conservatives are especially struggling among certain demographic groups. New Democrats are ahead by 16 percentage points among women, slightly more among any adults under the age of 44, and they have a 30-point lead among Albertans with university or postgraduate degrees.
The two parties are nearly tied among male voters, Albertans older than 45 and seniors. Smith's party is most attractive to people who have no post-secondary education, with 54 per cent support to the NDP's 30 per cent, the poll shows.
Aside from a dislike of Smith as a leader, polling also suggests the majority of Albertans disapprove of the government's performance on many major files.
As many Albertans view the government's job creation performance on the right track as those who think it's on the wrong track, and it's close to even on improving the economy. But on so many other issues, respondents offer very poor marks.
"Especially when you look at areas like health care, education, people overwhelmingly feel negative towards the government, not positive," Brown said.
Even the UCP's backers perceive the government as weak on key measures.
Only 49 per cent of United Conservative supporters feel their provincial government is on the right track when it comes to getting pipelines built.
And a majority of them — 59 per cent — say the government is on the wrong track in managing health care. Those who say they'll vote UCP are also more likely to think the government is on the wrong track on managing the K-12 and post-secondary education systems, as well as reducing crime.
What comes next
Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said what jumped out to him was the lack of a "honeymoon period" for Smith.
"Typically, when a new leader comes in, there's a bump, and they gradually lose popularity over time," Bratt said. "With Smith's case, that never happened. And usually, when you're a premier, it's tough to increase your popularity. It's much easier to decrease your popularity."
Bratt said though the numbers look bleak for Smith, the UCP has been consistently trailing the NDP for two years.
However, Smith's early bumps suggest things could get worse for the United Conservatives, rather than better.
"They're on the wrong track on every issue, and that is similar to what we saw in 2018, a year out from the 2019 election, where the NDP was not popular on any major issue," Bratt said. "And that signifies a change election."
The CBC News random survey of 1,200 Albertans was conducted using a hybrid method between Oct. 12 and 30, 2022, by Edmonton-based Trend Research under the direction of Janet Brown Opinion Research. The sample is representative of regional, age and gender factors. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. For subsets, the margin of error is larger.
The survey used a hybrid methodology that involved contacting survey respondents by telephone and giving them the option of completing the survey at that time, at another more convenient time, or receiving an email link and completing the survey online. Trend Research contacted people using a random list of numbers, consisting of half landlines and half cellphone numbers. Telephone numbers were dialed up to five times at five different times of day before another telephone number was added to the sample. The response rate among valid numbers (i.e., residential and personal) was 16.3 per cent.
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Premier Danielle Smith touts party unity ahead of 2023 election
UCP annual general meeting the first under Smith's leadership
Alberta's new Premier Danielle Smith says the United Conservative Party is ready to fight and win the next provincial election in May 2023.
In a keynote address at the governing party's annual general meeting on Saturday, Smith tried to rally party members who have just come through a year of division marked by a leadership review followed by the resignation of former leader and premier Jason Kenney.
"Our team is now unified, our team is now ready to fight for Albertans," Smith said to loud cheers from at least 1,800 members who crowded into a conference hall on the Enoch Cree Nation, west of Edmonton.
"And come hell or high water, we are going to beat the NDP in 2023."
Smith was chosen leader on Oct. 6 after winning 53 per cent of the votes on the sixth ballot. Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA Travis Toews, who will rejoin cabinet on Monday, came second with 47 per cent of the vote.
In her 20-minute speech, Smith outlined how her team has been transitioning into government and how MLAs bonded during a three-day caucus retreat earlier this week.
Smith received the loudest and longest cheers from the crowd by declaring the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act would push back against federal overreach of what she says is provincial jurisdiction.
"When Ottawa seeks to take control of our sovereign areas of provincial jurisdiction, our UCP government will not enforce those laws or policies in this province, period," Smith said.
Smith addressed critics who have suggested she would start softening the intent of her legislation now that she has secured the party leadership.
"My friends, I did not campaign by saying things to win your favour and your votes only to change the channel on you later," she said. "We will get this done."
Smith said the party's priorities going into the next election include health care reform and easing the impact of inflation on Albertans.
Early controversies
Smith's first ten days in office have been marked by apologies and clarifications of past controversial remarks she made on social media and in her newsletter.
During a live stream with the Western Standard on Friday, Smith criticized an agreement Alberta Health Services signed with the World Economic Forum (WEF).
In 2020, the WEF invited AHS to join the Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare. An AHS release said the coalition looked at "shaping future healthcare on the international stage."
Since then, the WEF has featured in right-wing conspiracy theories.
Smith refused to clarify what she meant by those remarks when questioned by reporters at a news conference following her keynote speech.
About 1,800 party members turned up to hear new UCP leader and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press)
When challenged on her statements, Smith brushed them off.
"There are certain forums that are entertainment forums," she said.
"I was on an entertainment forum for a long time, Corus Entertainment. I recognize that you're in the industry of making sure that you find the most outrageous statements so that you can get a lot of clicks."
Smith was also asked about her promise to grant amnesty to people who were fined for breaking COVID rules.
Smith said she wants to get legal advice to determine whether she has that power. She said her focus would be on people fined for not wearing masks or church leaders who refused to follow capacity limits.
As for the negative news stories from her first days as premier, Smith said the media was engaging in a "parlour game" by finding controversial things she had said or written about in the past.
"I"m turning the page on the past 27 years," she said, adding that the job of government is much different than being a columnist or talk radio host.
New board candidates
The UCP was formed after the former Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties united in 2017.
Smith's call for unity comes in response to the divisions that arose during the long process to get the party to agree to a review of Kenney's leadership, the actual vote and the four-month leadership process.
Smith has tried to heal tensions among supporters of her opponents by offering five of them seats on her cabinet. Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer, who placed last in the contest, will remain in the UCP backbenches.
Take Back Alberta, a grassroots coalition formed to oust Kenney as leader, appears to have succeeded in its quest to get its chosen candidates on the UCP executive. The group said they thought the board was too friendly toward Kenney.
At
the first UCP AGM since Smith became leader, she said the party's
priorities going into the next election include health care reform and
easing the impact of inflation on Albertans. (Nathan Gross/CBC)
UCP members voted on 20 policy resolutions on Saturday.
A resolution proposing a prohibition on teaching students about white privilege, intersectionality, anti-racism and diversity and inclusion was defeated.
Party members passed a resolution that would give parents say over whether their children could be taught about "identity, sexuality, and morality" in school. The resolution proposed that parents not be forced to accept when a child has a gender identity that differs from their sex at birth.
While resolutions passed by members become party policy, they aren't always implemented by the government.
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