Ever since Stelmach was elected instead of the choice of the urban and oil kingmakers there have been rumblings and grumblings particularly when Stelmach actually tried to get a bit more from the oil companies in royalties. Certainly his health policies have not been helpful to his cause but one wonders if his opponents are just using this as a means to build support for themselves. I always thought that the Wildrose Party was a right wing populist group but if ten Conservatives MLAs joined it could turn into an alternative Big Oil weapon against Stelmach! Hinman is certainly correct to be a bit worried about the gift of ten former Conservatives MLA's!
Unrest reported in Tory ranks
By KERRY DIOTTE, LEGISLATURE BUREAU CHIEF
Wildrose Alliance Party Leader Paul Hinman's not sure if it's catch-a-Tory time or whether they're chicken.
Hinman says he's taking a wait-and-see attitude toward reports up to 10 provincial Tory MLAs are set to cross the floor to his party if the Wild-rose Alliance picks Danielle Smith as leader Oct. 17 in Edmonton.
The would-be defections are predicted in Alberta Scan, an inside-Alberta-politics newsletter put out by veteran journalist Paul McLoughlin who is based at the legislature.
In his Sept. 25 newsletter, McLoughlin wrote: "Credible Conservative sources say if Smith, a former Calgary broadcaster, wins the leadership ... as many as 10 MLAs elected as Conservatives are contemplating departing government benches in the legislature to sit as Wildrose MLAs."
Hinman said he's heard there's great unrest among Tories with both the party's direction and with Premier Ed Stelmach, but he believes some MLAs may be threatening to cross the floor simply to get their way on some issues and policies.
"They're getting lambasted here in Calgary and elsewhere on health-care changes, and Bill 50 and many things ... Stelmach undermines one section of the province after another with his poor policies," said Hinman, who scored an upset victory in the Sept. 14 byelection in Calgary-Glenmore -- a riding that had been held by the Tory's deputy premier.
Hinman himself has heard several Tory MLAs are upset about health-care cuts, energy royalties, the $6.9-billion deficit and with a strong message they've been given about speaking out against either the leader or government policy.
But he figures the disgruntled Tories will likely wait to see what happens Nov. 7 when Stelmach faces a secret ballot vote on his party leadership at the PC convention.
Even if several Tories wanted to jump ship to the Wildrose Alliance they wouldn't automatically be accepted, said Hinman, who announced in April he was stepping down as leader of his party.
"It would depend who they are and what their principles are," he said. "If they're mad and just running away, no ... we want good people."
Premier's office spokesman Paul Stanway doesn't buy the defection theory.
"Somebody is dreaming in Technicolor," said Stanway. "I guess you could call it a 'wild' rumour."
Calgary chiropractor Mark Dyrholm is running against Smith for the party leadership.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Canada may gain exemption from Buy America policy.
Naturally the deal would also give U.S. firms access to Canadian provincial programs as well. One would think that the Canadian government would need to get the agreement of each province for that but perhaps not. Certainly any exemption would help Canadian exporters and manufacturers. However, it seems not to be a done deal as yet. This is from the Globe and Mail.
Deal would give Canada Buy America exemption, report says
Globe and Mail Update Last updated on Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2009 10:44AM EDT
A deal to exempt Canada from Washington's controversial “Buy American” stimulus package clause is imminent, as Canadian and American officials continue to negotiate the details, the CBC reported Tuesday evening.
If an agreement is reached, it would come as a relief to Canadian manufacturers who have been shut out of lucrative American procurement contracts that are funded by American federal stimulus dollars and, as such, are restricted to American suppliers.
The CBC, citing government sources, said any deal would likely require Canadian provinces to open their stimulus programs to American firms.
Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, would neither confirm or deny the report.
“At this time, I cannot confirm that the matter has been resolved. The Prime Minister and [International Trade] Minister [Stockwell] Day will continue to make our case until such time that the matter is resolved,” Mr. Soudas said in a late-night statement.
Mr. Harper has repeatedly raised the issue with United States President Barack Obama. Earlier this month, the two men met at the White House, and in a press conference afterwards Mr. Obama suggested there may be a way to exempt Canada from the clause.
“Prime Minister Harper, I want to emphasize, has brought this up with me every single time we've met, so he's been on the job on this issue,” Mr. Obama told reporters. “And our teams have been working together. It appears that there may be ways to deal with this bilaterally, but also potentially multilaterally.”
The stimulus package includes another clause saying it must be applied within existing trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Buy American, though popular with voters south of the border, has hurt many Canadian industrial exporters, who have seen American orders dry up. Some have seen their business cut in half.
They characterize the program as a protectionist measure that is impractical in the integrated economies. Among those calling on the White House to issue a Canadian exemption are several American companies, including General Electric, which found many of its programs stalled because of Canadian products included in their planning.
Mr. Soudas emphasized that Ottawa has pressed the issue in Washington.
“The Prime Minister has repeatedly raised our concerns over Buy America with the U.S. President. The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to raise our concerns over Buy America with the Senate and House leadership during his recent visit to Washington,” Mr. Soudas said.
Deal would give Canada Buy America exemption, report says
Globe and Mail Update Last updated on Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2009 10:44AM EDT
A deal to exempt Canada from Washington's controversial “Buy American” stimulus package clause is imminent, as Canadian and American officials continue to negotiate the details, the CBC reported Tuesday evening.
If an agreement is reached, it would come as a relief to Canadian manufacturers who have been shut out of lucrative American procurement contracts that are funded by American federal stimulus dollars and, as such, are restricted to American suppliers.
The CBC, citing government sources, said any deal would likely require Canadian provinces to open their stimulus programs to American firms.
Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, would neither confirm or deny the report.
“At this time, I cannot confirm that the matter has been resolved. The Prime Minister and [International Trade] Minister [Stockwell] Day will continue to make our case until such time that the matter is resolved,” Mr. Soudas said in a late-night statement.
Mr. Harper has repeatedly raised the issue with United States President Barack Obama. Earlier this month, the two men met at the White House, and in a press conference afterwards Mr. Obama suggested there may be a way to exempt Canada from the clause.
“Prime Minister Harper, I want to emphasize, has brought this up with me every single time we've met, so he's been on the job on this issue,” Mr. Obama told reporters. “And our teams have been working together. It appears that there may be ways to deal with this bilaterally, but also potentially multilaterally.”
The stimulus package includes another clause saying it must be applied within existing trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Buy American, though popular with voters south of the border, has hurt many Canadian industrial exporters, who have seen American orders dry up. Some have seen their business cut in half.
They characterize the program as a protectionist measure that is impractical in the integrated economies. Among those calling on the White House to issue a Canadian exemption are several American companies, including General Electric, which found many of its programs stalled because of Canadian products included in their planning.
Mr. Soudas emphasized that Ottawa has pressed the issue in Washington.
“The Prime Minister has repeatedly raised our concerns over Buy America with the U.S. President. The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to raise our concerns over Buy America with the Senate and House leadership during his recent visit to Washington,” Mr. Soudas said.
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