If you're a UCP member, here's how you can do a beautiful thing for the NDP — get rid of Danielle Smith
As leadership review approaches, former Alberta PC attorney-general appeals for party unity
Premier Danielle Smith — as the leader of the United Conservative party — is facing a mandated leadership review at her party’s convention in Red Deer on November 1 and 2. Many have asked me what can happen and what the process involves.
One important distinction is between the “government” and the “party.”
This leadership review is entirely governed by the “party”.
Practically speaking, a leader needs a strong mandate at such a vote to continue in post. (After narrowly winning his review vote with 52% two years ago, former premier Jason Kenney chose to step down.)
Now let’s switch to the “government” side.
In the British model of governance, the Premier is the leader of the party that has the largest number of seats in the legislature. If the Premier is no longer leader of the governing party, she would submit a letter of resignation to the Lieutenant-Governor.
The Lieutenant-Governor would then take the advice of the United Conservative caucus as to whom should be appointed Premier. This is exactly what happened in 2014, after then-premier Alison Redford resigned, and the governing PC party voted for David Hancock as leader.
From this point forward, the UCP would surely have an open leadership convention and elect a new leader. But, this process would hamper the government’s ability to pursue its agenda, while the Nenshi-led NDP would seize this opportunity to gain political ground.
Jonathan Denis KC, 23rd Attorney General of Alberta
Jonathan Denis KC, 23rd Attorney General of AlbertaGovernment of Alberta
So much for the process. What about the politics of it all?
Let's start with a bit of political trivia. Who was the last premier to complete his/her mandate and be re-elected? Why, it was Ralph Klein in 2004... yes, 20 years ago. Alberta had a history of one-party dominance; this statistic shows how volatile politics has become, even in our province.
But volatile it is. The UCP only narrowly won the 2023 election and the NDP are sitting on the largest opposition caucus in our history.
If there is a leadership review, it risks plunging the government into chaos without any heir apparent. The new leader — who would become the premier — will be elected by UCP members and will govern until the next election in 2027.
And so, the Nenshi NDP would seize this opportunity to further de-stabilize the government and do their best to take power in the next election. And many in the media will do their best to further foment division in the UCP’s ranks. None of this bodes well for a government of any stripe.
Speaking personally, I met our Premier at a conference in 1998 and have known her socially since I moved to Calgary a couple of years later. Fast forward a few more years and I’m a cabinet minister facing questions from her when she was leader of the opposition and in recent years I’ve come to be a supporter — noting that I’ve seen her grow significantly as a leader who consults and listens.
Which leads me to say that whichever side of the coin that you’re on, it’s time to leave these past disputes between conservatives behind. They're water under the bridge.
Does this mean that supporters have to be happy with everything the government is doing? Absolutely not — and rarely is anyone in this category.
But perhaps people should consider what could very well happen if the leadership review comes back negatively — as Halloween approaches the scariest thing I can think of would be “Premier Nenshi.”
https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/denis-if-youre-a-ucp-member-heres-how-you-can-do-a-beautiful-thing-for-the-ndp-get-rid-of-danielle-smith/58556
New report denounces Havana and claims ‘campaign of subversion’ has infiltrated highest levels of US government
"...There is overwhelming evidence that the machinery of the Cuban Government has been progressively organized around… a fundamental hatred of the United States,” the report stated. “Many of the most significant upheavals in recent American political history —from the George Floyd riots to the rise of Antifa to the explosion of pro-terrorist activism on American college campuses— can be linked, in some way, shape, or form to Cuban influence.”
The report doesn’t just hand-wave. It names names. It details how the Venceremos Brigade and other “revolutionary tourism” programs have funneled thousands of American activists to Havana for ideological (and sometimes literal) weapons training.
The Venceremos Brigade has brought 10,000 American activists to Cuba since 1969. This is because nothing says “I am fighting for the oppressed working class” quite ...
Now there is a plan! Of course dumb Canadians will not have the courage to vote with their brains, instead of their propagandized feelings of fear.
Canada’s economy is stalling badly.
We just endured the worst decade for real GDP growth per person since the Great Depression.
Over the past ten years, real GDP per capita limped along at an average of just 0.6% annually.
And Bloomberg’s consensus forecast for 2026? A paltry 0.7%.
Why does GDP matter?
Because family disposable income follows GDP like a shadow. Anemic economic growth resulting from lower investment means stagnant wages. Period.
The Liberals and fake Conservatives won't fix this.
The People's Party has a comprehensive plan to unleash private investment, supercharge productivity, and put more money back into your pocket:
Make the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance (ACCA) permanent – Let businesses write off capital investments rapidly and skyrocket cash flow.
End Corporate Welfare – Zero subsidies. Zero bailouts. Zero regional ...
