[bodsbods9090]

I don't know what Parker's plan is, but Smith has mostly neutered and put him in a corner. Her plan is to distract us and it is working.

His Twitter/X account says otherwise as he's working behind the scenes to get things done.

He's one weird/scary dude as he has support from some potentially dangerous people in this province.

 

[MacLac]

Is he our version of a woefully unqualified head as RFK is to Health and Patel is to Justice?

 

[trevorhayden]

Smith does not understand how the notwithstanding clause works. You can't just exempt yourself from the Canadian Constitution.

 

[policyenthusiast]

According to a new Angus Reid Institute Survey, Danielle Smith's approval rating is sitting at 46 per cent, a five-point reduction from June. The poll also found Smith to be among the most polarizing of provincial leaders, with 40 per cent stating they strongly disapproved of her performance, behind only Quebec Premier Francois Legault at 49 per cent. Tracking Premier Danielle Smith’s approval ratings since the 2022 election shows a pattern of fluctuation, with support ranging between 42 per cent and 51 per cent over the past three years.

 

[David A]

According to a new Angus Reid Institute Survey, Danielle Smith's approval rating is sitting at 46 per cent, a five-point reduction from June. The poll also found Smith to be among the most polarizing of provincial leaders, with 40 per cent stating they strongly disapproved of her performance, behind only Quebec Premier Francois Legault at 49 per cent. Tracking Premier Danielle Smith’s approval ratings since the 2022 election shows a pattern of fluctuation, with support ranging between 42 per cent and 51 per cent over the past three years.

The problem is 46% is probably enough to still win an election. Her strategy probably remains to keep the extremists on side and motivated, hold on to the rural vote and get enough suburban support to eke in.

It worked for her last time, although usually the longer premiers are in approval levels go down further, so maybe not.

 

[policyenthusiast]

The problem is 46% is probably enough to still win an election. Her strategy probably remains to keep the extremists on side and motivated, hold on to the rural vote and get enough suburban support to eke in.

It worked for her last time, although usually the longer premiers are in approval levels go down further, so maybe not.

It's also worth noting that approval/disapproval of the Premier does not necessarily mean that same sentiment is shared for the UCP as a whole. In 2019, Kenney's approval was 60%.

 

[TAS]

Also, aren't a few ridings being adjusted/added so that potentially a couple of Edmonton seats coupled with surrounding areas are more winnable for UCP even without increasing overall vote %.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Also, aren't a few ridings being adjusted/added so that potentially a couple of Edmonton seats coupled with surrounding areas are more winnable for UCP even without increasing overall vote %.

It's hard to say if the gerrymandering will go through. Neudorf and the UCP can't just "pass" new electoral boundaries. It's not like municipal zoning.

The report on proposed boundaries would come from a Speaker-appointed commission which includes no MLA's. The commission also has to include representatives elected by the opposition. Here's who's eligible to chair the committee:

Electoral Boundaries Commission
2(1) From time to time as required by this Act, an Electoral
Boundaries Commission is to be appointed consisting of

(a) a chair appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council,
who must be one of the following:

(i) the Ethics Commissioner;
(ii) the Auditor General;
(iii) the president of a post-secondary educational institution
in Alberta;
(iv) a judge or retired judge of any court in Alberta;
(v) a person whose stature and qualifications are, in the
opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, similar
to those of the persons referred to in subclauses (i) to
(iv),

The intent is to have the Chair be someone with minimal political affiliation, and from there, the commission has a mandate to represent a variety of perspectives. Neudorf's shouting about "rural urban hybrid ridings" is hot air from a politician, not a bill on the floor of the legislature.

 

[BrettB]

It's not a bill now because it's already the law. Bill 31 made municipal boundaries just one consideration among many.

 

[policyenthusiast]

It's not a bill now because it's already the law. Bill 31 made municipal boundaries just one consideration among many.

Well yes, it could affect the mandate of the commission, but the striking of 14 d) and 14 e) is somewhat offset by the new 14 f). Either way, the commission is expected to be non-partisan specifically to prevent gerrymandering. Here are the two specific amendments made in 2024 (through Bill 31):

And here's the old version:

 

[David A]

It's also worth noting that approval/disapproval of the Premier does not necessarily mean that same sentiment is shared for the UCP as a whole. In 2019, Kenney's approval was 60%.

Yes, but that would have been closer to the beginning of his term. How would they compare to a bit further into the term, like Smith is now?