# Meanwhile in Alberta - is a once-in-a-lifetime electoral shift in the offing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 7, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086 "2012-04-07T15:07:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/81 "2012-04-19T10:13:06Z")
“Corporations she represents”, means what then? What conclusions should I draw from this sort of language? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/82 "2012-04-19T12:55:06Z")
Make something up; you’re on a roll. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/83 "2012-04-19T13:40:03Z")
You’re not against business, just business she ‘represents’, is that it? How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/84 "2012-04-20T00:23:59Z")
I wonder what problem she’ll pretend doesn’t exist next because doing something about it is against her ideology. Do you pretend anyone who supports any sort of business regulation is “against business”, or just those who support environmental regulations? ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/85 "2012-04-20T00:37:17Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > I wonder what problem she’ll pretend doesn’t exist next because doing something about it is against her ideology. Like every other party out there who bases what they do on their ideology? > [@](#): > > Do you pretend anyone who supports any sort of business regulation is “against business”, or just those who support environmental regulations? Do you think that someone who is dubious on a scientific claim is automatically pro-business and against environmental regulations? Hey, I agree there is climate change happening and that it is, at least partially if not entirely, caused by humans. Any beef I have is with the solutions proposed to rectify it which I think tend to be short sighted and ineffective. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/86 "2012-04-20T00:43:12Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Like every other party out there who bases what they do on their ideology? Copping to the facts of the matter is a matter of facts, not ideology. > [@](#): > > Do you think that someone who is dubious on a scientific claim is automatically pro-business and against environmental regulations? If they’re free-market libertarians of the Calgary School ™, yes. Smith’s either ignorant and thus not fit to govern, or she’s deliberately lying, and thus not fit to govern. > [@](#): > > Hey, I agree there is climate change happening and that it is, at least partially if not entirely, caused by humans. Any beef I have is with the solutions proposed to rectify it which I think tend to be short sighted and ineffective. Well I haven’t proposed anything, just expressed my contempt at Smith’s attempt to blow sunshine up my ass. So get off my back. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/87 "2012-04-20T14:01:54Z")
Well, voting has started! I’m so excited! (Well, kind of excited. I get to not really make much of a difference, since I won’t be voting PC or Wildrose.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/88 "2012-04-20T17:50:55Z")
and the [polls suggest that the race is tightening](http://m.ctv.ca/topstories/20120420/alberta-election-race-narrows-120420.html). Why? possibly as a result of nasty comments from one Wildrose candidate that he has an [advantage with the voters because he’s white](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/albertavotes2012/story/2012/04/17/albertavotes2012-wildrose-leech-advantage-white.html)? maybe because of another Wildrose candidate saying that [homosexuals are going to burn in hell, along with the public schools that try to be accepting of gay and lesbian students](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/albertavotes2012/story/2012/04/17/albertavotes2012-wildrose-leech-advantage-white.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/89 "2012-04-20T18:04:44Z")
I think both of those are factors. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/90 "2012-04-20T23:09:17Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Jim raised an interesting point earlier today - as pointed out by Premier Redford during the debate, Danielle Smith declined two opportunities to run for election as an MLA since she has become leader of the party. Does anyone have any speculation as to why she would do that? Missed this - the last thing a leader of a fledgling party wants to do is lose in her first attempts to get a seat in the House. You want an air of inevitability, of progressing to power, not knocking futilely on the doors to get in. If she didn’t think she had a good chance in either of those two seats, best to pass and not lose. Also, for a completely new party starting up, organization is crucial. Having the leader out in the ridings, building the party’s structure, meeting people and getting herself and the party known is very important, perhaps more important than becoming an MLA. If that’s the analysis that Smith and her backers made on this point, it seems to be paying off. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/91 "2012-04-22T03:06:10Z")
I voted today! Yay! There was a bit of a line, but not too bad. I was ruminating on how lucky I am to live in a place where I can vote, and the people counting the votes take the results seriously and everyone lives with them (whether you like them or not). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/92 "2012-04-23T13:43:22Z")
If you haven’t voted yet, head on out today. No excuse from the weather in Calgary. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/93 "2012-04-23T18:38:33Z")
I’ll be heading out after work. Probably be busy, but I have a book so don’t mind waiting. It’ll be a change at least lol. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/94 "2012-04-24T00:45:59Z")
I got out and voted tonight. There were a lot of people there–it’s going to be interesting watching the returns. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/95 "2012-04-24T01:59:35Z")
We’re planning on watching it Chez Pipers if we can find it on the tv somewhere - promises to be interesting! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/96 "2012-04-24T02:22:46Z")
Good - CBC Newsworld has it on. I have a box of Sleemans and I’m set! Other folks get excited by NHL playoffs - I’m an elections junkie! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/97 "2012-04-24T02:24:03Z")
9 Tories, 5 Wildrose at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/98 "2012-04-24T02:32:24Z")
25 Tories 14 Wildrose 1 Lib 1 NDP ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/99 "2012-04-24T02:40:27Z")
CBC’s listing the PCs leading in 45 ridings so far. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086/100 "2012-04-24T02:40:44Z")
It looks like we have another PC majority. Damn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-in-alberta-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-electoral-shift-in-the-offing/618086.md?page=6)