Arrested Development - Ex-Pats Mexico

For 38 years the Progressive Conservatives of Alberta have remained the dominant political entity in the Province.
Remarkably, the Wildrose Alliance (the wild rose is the Provincial flower) began its ascent with the by-election win of Paul Hinman on Sept. 14/09, in the long-held Tory riding of Calgary-Glenmore with 37 per cent of the vote.

Calgary-Glenmore had been held by the Progressive Conservatives since 1969 and was considered one of their safest seats.
Since then, the Wildrose Alliance has been buoyed in the polls, approaching nearly 22 per cent of popular support across the province.

On Oct 17/09, Alliance members wisely chose libertarian Danielle Smith over social conservative Mark Dryholm by a 3-1 margin.

The Wildrose Alliance is now a force of two (2)...and a new generation of support... and about to take down the 38 year old P.C (Tory) dynasty in Alberta.

Danielle Smith is a dream candidate for many libertarians and is one of the few individuals willing to say the word “libertarian” out loud. She has strongly asserted her belief in a woman’s right to choose, does not oppose same sex marriage and has refused to enter into a dialogue of religious conservatism.

Fortunately Smith’s views are well grounded in support for personal responsibility, choice, privacy and individual liberties. Smith represents an opportunity to dispense with the divisive politics of social conservatism and instead focus on lowering taxes, slashing the size of the state and maximizing individual rights. While described in the press as “a fiscal conservative and social liberal,” her views can be best described as libertarian in nature.

Danielle Smith’s libertarian credentials are impeccable. Smith began with an internship with Canada’s pre-eminent free market think tank, the Fraser Institute. Afterwards Smith worked for the Canadian Property Rights Research Institute, numerous lobbyist organizations and even has a distinguished career in both television and print media.

http://thesheaf.com/2009/10/meet-wildro ... lle-smith/

Hardly started and already being compared to Sarah Palin...in some ways.

fun to read....... http://www.conservatives4palin.com/

I understand Alberta has been particularly hit hard by the economic downturn. Prior to the downturn, Canadians were relocating from all over the country to work in the oil patch. Now, with the oil prices down and the Tar Sands not fully operational, massive lay offs have been seen.

What is her response to this situation? Is it like the American GOP all-purpose answer to whatever ails that nation......"tax cuts"?

The Alberta issues as viewed by the Wildrose Alliance:

--The present Alberta government went from a multi billion dollar surplus a few years ago to a $4 to $7. billion deficit right now and are still green-lighting double-digit spending. It is being accused of mismanagement by not having saved during the boom to finance the bust. A cycle that always happens in an economy reliant on oil and gas like Alberta. They have been in power for the past 40 years and still have not learned that.

-- That Albertans send $16 billion more to Ottawa each year than they receive back and that the equalization payment system is a corrupt system. A statement where one can almost hear the entire province stand up and shout hear, hear.

--By breaking faith with business by changing the oil royalty scheme and mismanaging health-care delivery, while delivering to itself extravagant perks and pay packages.

--Asking teachers and nurses and other public sector employees to voluntarily freeze their wages to help solve the crisis, while a year ago they voted themselves a 30 to 34 per cent salary hike after winning the general election and also reports that members of Stelmach's (current Premier) inner circle received five-figure bonuses on top of six-figure salaries last year.

Commentators and political scientists labelled Smith a big-tent moderate, who could appeal to a wider range of conservative voters.
Smith won after a hard-fought, at times divisive campaign for the party that espouses grass roots involvement, property rights, lower taxes and less government.

The question is how are they going to play the game? Are they going to stay focused on the job or is the growing membership going to get sidetracked and fight over little things, like activist church groups demands, social and self serving group interests. Things like that, that are not important at this stage.
Smith is pro developing Alberta's energy sector, encouraging self reliance and adjusting government spending to it's revenue.