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Trick or Treat
It’s interesting to see the Tories rush what would have been a good news spring budget up to October and take a 1% GST cut out of their next election platform by bringing it in now. I suppose with money to burn and Dion calling for tax cuts, it was inevitable that Flaherty would be […]
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Would a right wing party by any other name, smell as sweet?
The Wild Rose Party still don’t have a leader, but they now have a policy platform. Among the highlights of their founding convention: -Setting up an Alberta provincial pension plan -Abolish health care premiums -Allow private health care in Alberta -No funding of abortions by health care (except in extreme circumstances) -Their view on Stelmach’s […]
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SaskWatch
There are only 9 days to go in the Saskatchewan provincial election and due to a complete absence of any polling data, there’s actually a bit of intrigue around the whole thing. I tend to agree with the common concensus that the NDP have hit a wall and the Sask Party is marching to a […]
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Reviewing the Review
While the oil companies do Stelmach a million favours by claiming he was too tough on them, every independent expert in the field continues to say that the Stelmach compromise will cost Albertans billions of dollars. The latest: An independent energy economist who worked closely with the province and royalty review panel said Saturday the […]
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The 5 Rs: Royalties Raised. Report Recomendations Rejected.
Somewhat predictably, Stelmach has compromised with the oil industry on the royalty review. He’ll leave half a billion dollars on the table each year and delay the changes until 2009 but there will be no grandfathering of existing deals and the rates will be going up – something the government Stelmach was a Cabinet Minister […]
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Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said distributors and retailers should lower prices “as soon as possible” to reflect a soaring Canadian dollar, and held up a copy of the latest Harry Potter book as an example of how some items are still much cheaper in the U.S. […] Flaherty said he looked at a copy of […]
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Ed TV
Tonight, Ed Stelmach makes his much anticipated TV address to Albertans. Oil companies have been anticipating this for weeks, fearing a raise in royalties. The media have been anticipating this for months, since it finally allows them to break out the “Ed TV” pun they’ve been itching to use since Stelmach was elected Premier last […]
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They Lasted Longer Than New Coke
Let’s shed a moment of silence for “Canada’s New Government” which is, alas, no more. After 21 months, the oft-ridiculed slogan is gone. It appears the “North Star” is gaining favour as the new catch phrase. I guess it’s no surprise that the hockey historian PM would pick a defunct hockey team to brand the […]
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What’s the French word for "sorry excuse for a party"?
It’s kind of refreshing to see a party in worse shape than the Liberals: Curzi backtracked from suggestions a sovereign Quebec could strip West Island anglophones of their right to vote, saying that once Quebec became sovereign, all residents of the new country would automatically become Quebec citizens, with full voting rights. In an interview […]
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Enter Fergie
The Liberals hire a new national director – former Rae leadership guy, Greg Fergus.