Given all the goodies and purchase of urban politicians it would seem that whether the groundhog saw its shadow or not Albertans will be going to the polls soon. I guess Stelmach wants to have the election now in the winter before the Wild Roses have a chance to grow. This is from the Edmonton Sun.
February 1, 2008
Premier comes bearing gifts
Hands out big bucks on his way to the hustings
By NEIL WAUGH, EDMONTON SUN
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On Wednesday, he was Concrete Eddie - announcing a blizzard of schools, municipal projects and a 20-year capital plan. Yesterday, the premier turned into Compassionate Ed.
First, he announced in a speech to Edmonton's Downtown Rotary Club that he was bumping up Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped payments to $1,088 a month.
Then he promoted the government's program to give AISH recipients bridge financing to help them ease into the workforce.
"Every Albertan. no matter what their disability, wants to contribute to this province," he said.
But he wasn't finished, giving blueblood Rotarians a heads-up about today's announcement in which Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture Minister Hec Goudreau will put flesh on the bones of his Community Spirit Program, allowing any outfit with a valid charity registration to issue 50-cents-on-the-dollar tax credits for contributions over $200. Government will also match the donation with a grant.
'NEW CENTURY, NEW IDEAS'
"This is a new time and a new century that demands new ideas," Stelmach boomed, sounding just like a politician on the election stump, even though the election has yet to be called.
Then it was over to City Hall for a little unfinished business with Edmonton's prickly Mayor Stephen Mandel.
The last time Stelmach and Mandel shared a podium together was last fall, when the premier tried to give municipalities $11 billion in infrastructure cash, stretched over 10 years.
Mandel got into a snit over his unsubstantiated belief that Edmonton was being short-changed. That was downright embarrassing.
This week, Stelmach was handing out the first instalments of his Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) - like any good politician about to head for the hustings.
In Calgary, Mayor Dave Bronconnier rolled out the welcome wagon big time. Clearly his battle with the premier - in which his intervention in the Calgary-Elbow by-election cost the PCs the seat - is now long behind him.
Heck, Bronco even gave Stelmach a new Calgary City Hall wallet with instructions on how to bring in more money on the day that Eddie came armed with two giant cheques, worth $153 million.
The same giant cheques - worth $96 million - showed up at Edmonton City Hall yesterday.
Stelmach beamed about the Alberta government's "very important partnership with the City of Edmonton," while no mention was made about the attack ads that Mandel took out when the MSI program was being unveiled.
Stelmach talked about the "close working relationship" he has with Mandel, and he kept a straight face doing it, although he admitted there was a "fair amount of discussion" while the deal was being negotiated.
Stelmach even bought into Mandel's dubious plan to turn surplus school lands - now being used for slow-pitch diamonds and soccer fields - into subsidized row housing.
The premier called the plan a "tremendous idea" and promised to make surplus provincial land available, giving a boost to Mandel and Edmonton's loony leftist council's idea of an affordable housing strategy.
Alberta PC candidates might not like what they hear at the doorsteps when the voters - who weren't exactly Tory friendly in the last provincial election - learn that their neighbourhood parks are going to be turned into medium-density tract housing.
GRACIOUS TO A POINT
Mandel played the gracious host - up to a point.
First, he praised Ed who "true to form, delivered on that (funding) promise."
Then he decided to play Howie Ball. "It's not easy delivering to municipalities," he said. "Sometimes they're not as nice to deal with as they could be.
"My position hasn't changed," Mandel said, returning to his belief that Edmonton was a victim.
This nastiness has apparently carried through to the cash.
While Bronconnier has made several high-profile announcements about where the Eddie money is going, Mandel has been strangely silent.
"We can give you a list if you like," he said.
He did call Stelmach a "great guy" and said "we appreciate the money."
"We've had some differences, but I don't think this is the day we want to rehash old issues."
Seems to me the Edmonton mayor just did that.
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