ALBERTA VOTES 2008

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Election Blog Squad

We asked four people from around the province to be our citizen commentators during the campaign. You'll hear from them between now and election day, and we encourage you to react to their comments below.

Naaaaaaa...

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 11:31 AM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

I remember as a child watching a CBC program called Fraggle Rock.

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We, the opposition

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 11:25 AM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

I was a scrutineer at one of the polls in Lethbridge last night.

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A disappointing landslide

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 11:22 AM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

bit the bullet yesterday and voted for the Wildrose Alliance candidate in my area – much to my own surprise.

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It's an honour just to be able to nominate

Monday, March 3, 2008 | 03:17 PM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

Election day speeches are rehearsed and strategic.

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The dilemma

Monday, March 3, 2008 | 03:12 PM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

Today is Election Day. I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced one that felt so “boring” in many ways.

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Predictions of a political junkie

Monday, March 3, 2008 | 03:00 PM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

Bring out the popcorn folks because tonight is the night political nerds like me get to sit in front of their televisions and watch the results of the 83 ridings roll in.

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More conservative than the Conservatives

Friday, February 29, 2008 | 11:01 AM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

Maybe I am slow, but it just struck me that Hinman wants to be the new Klein.

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Fundraising for public institutions

Thursday, February 28, 2008 | 12:00 PM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

I was just watching the news that featured a story about the latest “dream home” lottery to support hospital's needs.

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Rent controls: a help or a hinder?

Thursday, February 28, 2008 | 01:00 AM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

As some of the parties call for rent controls I thought I would tell a story about a middle-aged couple I know.

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Whither the issues?

Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | 01:57 PM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

The debate was what I expected...sorta.

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A muddled truth

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 | 03:54 PM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

My friend Patty is an avid home schooler.

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What are you doing next Monday?

Monday, February 25, 2008 | 03:24 PM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

Yes. There’s an Alberta election next week.

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Hospital chaos, part 2

Friday, February 22, 2008 | 08:00 AM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

Now, not only do we have a serious shortage of staff, we have some other weird things happening in the hope of saving money.

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It's all right... or is it?

Thursday, February 21, 2008 | 10:54 AM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

It seems Greenpeace’s environmental minions are intent on dogging the premier on every stop of his campaign.
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The more something changes...

Thursday, February 21, 2008 | 08:00 AM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

In the Calgary Herald or Sun the other day it said "It's disconcerting that a startling number of Canadians would rather vote for a U.S. presidential candidate than have a say in electing our next prime minister."

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Hospital chaos, part 1

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 | 08:00 AM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

My friend Marilyn is a nurse. She’s passionate about nursing and has a high degree of qualification. She was chatting with me the other day about what it’s like to nurse here in Calgary. Our conversation was a little disheartening.

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It's about communication, part 3

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 | 08:00 AM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

I'm taking a look at the Wildrose Alliance and PC Party websites...

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Train 'em up

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | 10:56 AM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

Sorry I have been absent with posting and giv'n my opinion -- it is not like me -- but I have been finishing my master's thesis.

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Impending disaster?

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | 10:36 AM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

Kevin Taft says “Climate change is real, and it is bearing down on Alberta like a locomotive. We must act, and we must act urgently." And “it’s an issue of national security” that “threatens virtually everything we value in this province."

If that doesn’t scare you maybe Brian Mason and the NDP’s green energy plan document on their web site will. As “glaciers finish melting," it will lead to “much lower lake levels, new tropical disease, more pests like the pine beetle," “tornadoes” and “major flooding of coastal areas” and “mass starvation."


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It's about communication, part 2

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | 10:22 AM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

I'm casting a critical eye on the Liberal and Green Party websites.

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It's about communication, part 1

Monday, February 18, 2008 | 08:00 AM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

As someone who deals with web communication for a living, I thought I should take a look at the websites of each of the parties. I'm looking at the NDP, Liberal, Green Party, Wildrose Alliance and PC sites in that order because that's the way I like 'em.

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Trainsportation

Friday, February 15, 2008 | 04:03 PM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

A huge issue for me is Alberta's roads and highways. The Queen Elizabeth II Highway is getting busier every year and even three lanes all the way from Calgary to Edmonton doesn't seem to be enough on the days that I have to do a morning commute.

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In search of an identity...

Friday, February 15, 2008 | 09:48 AM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

Alberta seems to always have had a rather unique identity – at least as long as I’ve been paying attention.

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Crime and punishment

Thursday, February 14, 2008 | 10:45 AM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

A few things I noticed on the party’s websites concerning crime…

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Where have all the doctors gone?

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 | 03:20 PM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

My family moved to Calgary from France in 1997. One of our first concerns upon arrival with two small children was to find a great family doctor. It took us five years to find one taking patients in this city.

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Giving back

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 | 01:18 PM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

Infrastructure in my community has been a hot topic like many northern Alberta communities. A large influx of hard working men and women looking for wealth in the oil patch have found their jobs, thanks to Alberta’s “Texas tea” and the energy companies. What they didn’t expect to see were sinking roads, lack of schools, and insufficient medical care.

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A vote for small to medium-sized businesses

Monday, February 11, 2008 | 12:47 PM ET
PaulPaul Bellows

I’m an Edmontonian, and I’m very aware of the fact that our city’s economy is uniquely driven by small to medium sized businesses that thrive on the current economic boom. You can see it from the way people live around the perimeter and commute to businesses in the industrial zones of the city.

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Accentuate the positive

Friday, February 8, 2008 | 09:30 AM ET
Darlene HullDarlene Hull

On the positive side ...

One thing I hate about election time is the negativity that abounds. All we hear about is what’s broken, and what everyone’s done wrong – or still doing wrong – to fix it.

The truth is most of us take for granted the freedoms and opportunities we have in this country that people in many other countries can’t even imagine.

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Oil companies are not our enemies

Thursday, February 7, 2008 | 01:05 PM ET
Cyril CookCyril Cook

The NDP are using an interesting election slogan of “on your side." They didn’t appear to be on the side of pipefitters, drillers, or operators as they came out guns blazing against the oil and gas industry, asking for an extra $4 billion a year. This is the same industry that directly employs one in six Albertans, countless spin-off jobs, and provides roughly $12 billion to the provincial treasury already.

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Where are the women?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 | 02:10 PM ET
Loralee EdwardsLoralee Edwards

Last night I was watching Super Tuesday on CNN — they were discussing the record numbers of voters that had come out — and the amazing rise of young people and women who were voting. It occurred to me that maybe we (young people and women... OK, I'm not in the young category, only in the woman one, but you get my point) need someone to vote for.

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Election Blog Squad »

About the Authors

Darlene Hull

Darlene Hull has turned mothering into a business. In addition to homeschooling her teenagers in Calgary, she runs Mom-Defrazzler.com, which offers tips, seminars and motivational speeches for modern mothers.

 
Cyril Cook

Cyril Cook is an IT support technician for the grand City of Grande Prairie. His personal blog keeps a sharp eye on politics when not exploring his newfound involvement in the local live theatre.

 
Loralee Edwards

Loralee Edwards is completing a Master's in Women's Studies at the University of Lethbridge. She transformed the public boulevard in front of her house into a community garden that not only provides food, but also a gathering place.

 
Paul Bellows

Paul Bellows is the founder and director of Yellow Pencil, a web design company in Edmonton. He loves hockey, songs, squash (both the sport and the vegetable), his dog, films, bicycles and The Internet.

Riding Profiles

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More Alberta Votes Headlines »

It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep 00
Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned 00
As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government Video 00
Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
Political tide turns in Edmonton
Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
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World »

Honduras prison fire kills hundreds video
A fire started by an inmate tore through a severely overcrowded Honduran prison, burning and suffocating inmates in their locked cells and killing as many as 356 people in one of the world's deadliest prison fires in a century, authorities said Wednesday.
Syria's Assad calls for vote but steps up assault video
As Syrian forces stepped up their assault on rebellious cities, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a referendum on a new constitution that would create a multiparty system in a country that has been ruled by his autocratic family dynasty for 40 years.
Malnutrition kills 2 million kids a year
Five children around the world die every minute because of chronic malnutrition, according to a new report.
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Canada »

Tories move to curb 'bogus' refugees
The Conservative government is poised to change the refugee system yet again in an attempt to deter what it considers "bogus" claimants, CBC News has learned.
Drummond report on Ontario calls for cutbacks video
The Ontario government must curtail its spending with the kind of cuts not seen since the Mike Harris years, according to a report by former TD Bank chief economist Don Drummond.
B.C. house party trial hears from tearful teens video
Two teenagers cried as they testified at the trial of a B.C. woman who was charged after a teen died while her son was hosting a party at her house in 2008.
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Politics »

2 NDP MPs back final Commons vote to kill gun registry
Two NDP MPs broke party ranks to vote with the government in the final House of Commons vote on scrapping the long-gun registry.
Tories move to curb 'bogus' refugees
The Conservative government is poised to change the refugee system yet again in an attempt to deter what it considers "bogus" claimants, CBC News has learned.
Online surveillance bill could change, Harper signals video
The government says it's open to amending its bill that would give police and intelligence agencies new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications and get telecommunications subscriber data.
more »

Health »

Chronic fatigue may be reversed with exercise
Taking it easy is not the best treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, rather exercise and behaviour therapy are, a large study finds.
AT&T buys T-Mobile USA for $39B US
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion US, becoming the largest cellphone company in the U.S.
Milky Way home to 50 billion planets: NASA
Scientists have compiled the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy: at least 50 billion planets are estimated to call the Milky Way home.
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Arts & Entertainment»

Whitney Houston funeral to be livestreamed
Whitney Houston's funeral will be livestreamed, to satisfy the desire of fans to grieve alongside family members at the Saturday memorial.
blog Hudson Bay Co. archives includes film treasure trove
A Hudson's Bay Co. collection of films from the early 20th century showing fur-trading life in the North has been transferred back to Winnipeg and is to be screened at the Archives of Manitoba.
Missing Karel Appel works found in British warehouse
More than 400 works by Dutch artist Karel Appel have been discovered in a British storage warehouse a decade after they went missing.
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Technology & Science »

new Swiss satellite will clean up space junk
Swiss scientists plan to launch a "janitor satellite" specially designed to get rid of space junk, the orbiting debris that can seriously damage satellites and manned space ships.
Online surveillance bill may breach privacy law, charter video audio
A new bill that would require telecommunications providers to give police subscriber information without a warrant will likely be challenged in the courts if crucial changes aren't made, critics say.
Canada's air pollution experts moved to 'other priorities'
Environment Canada has drastically cut back on its monitoring of air pollution that can cause health problems for Canadians, reassigning scientists involved in that monitoring to "other priorities."
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Money »

Drummond report highlights
The Drummond report on reforming Ontario's public services includes 362 recommended reforms to balance the books by 2018.
Nortel collapse linked to hacking attack audio
A former systems security adviser to Nortel Networks says he has no doubt that extensive cyber attacks on the technology company contributed to its downfall.
Competition Bureau investigating global banks
Canada's Competition Bureau is investigating allegations that certain global banks or financial brokerage firms conspired to manipulate interest rate derivatives for more than three years.
more »

Consumer Life »

Honda recalls Fit subcompacts
Honda Canada says it will recall 14,640 of its 2009 and 2010 Fit subcompact cars to replace lost motion springs.
U.S. travel fee proposal criticized by Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't think much of a new border tax that's being proposed by the United States, calling it a cash grab designed to help a budget crisis.
Bell class action suit approved by Que. court
A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit to go ahead against Bell Mobility.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Leafs snap 4-game skid with OT win over Oilers video
Tim Connolly scored in overtime as the Toronto Maple Leafs snapped a four-game losing skid with a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
Canucks continue dominance over Avalanche video
Jannik Hansen scored with 6:29 remaining Wednesday as the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. The Canucks have not lost to the Avalanche since Nov. 1, 2009, posting a 13-0-2 record in that 15-game span.
Habs need dazzling deadline day to erase painful season
The Montreal Canadiens four-year playoff string is in serious jeopardy this year. The famed organization has authored quite a soap opera with injuries, firings, spats and trades this season. Is there enough in the tank to make a late-season playoff push or will deadline day be a chance to build for the future?
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Diversions »

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