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Conservatives give 77% support to Ed Stelmach's Leadership

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | November 8, 2009 at 04:30 am

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Amidst public discontent with the Alberta Premier's and his Health Minister's leadership, the Alberta Conservative Party ignored Albertans by giving a resounding 77.4% vote of confidence to Ed Stelmach.

Ed Stelmach, was elected leader of the Alberta Conservative party after a re-run election when Ralph Klein retired. The re-run was based on selecting your number one and then selecting your second choice. Stelmach had been number three on the first ballot, which did not give a clear 50+1 majority to any candidate. Obviously, although this was legal, it was a flawed way to select a leader, since those that preferred either Number one or two, would not select them as their second choice.

Since he took the Premier's office, Stelmach rearranged the oil and gas royalty scheme, which critics claimed, in fact, lowered the roalties received by the province.

Stelmach's Gouvernment, for the first time this year will be running up a deficit of not millions, but billions.

Health Care funds have been cut and some services have been eliminated completely.

Albertans over 65 years of age now receive a drug benefit through Blue Cross which costs them $25 per prescription for approved drugs. The Stelmach gouvernment introduced a new scheme based on premiums, depending on income. They claim that this will help 60% of Seniors. Seniors disagree.

They reversed a promise to build a Seniors Centre in Fort MacMurray, a city that was instrumental to Alberta's economic success. The local MLA and Minister in Stelmach's government, Guy Boutilier, was ousted from caucus for standing up for his constituents.

Last year Stelmach's government voted themselves a 53% pay hike. This same Gouvernment is now advocating a pay freeze for the Alberta's civil service.

Recently there has been a total mismanagement of the H1N1 vaccination program. While the public waited in line ups up to eight hours to receive vaccinations, it would seem that some received special treatment. The Calgary Flames were able to arrange to jump the queue.

Over the weekend it also came to light that Health Care Executives jumped the queue. Friday the vaccination program resumed,taking care of chidldren under 5 years of age.

Despite the fact that senior over 65 seem to be the most vulnerable in society when it comes to Swine Flu, the program with continue tomorrow by vaccinating the age group from 6-24. The Health Minister seems to be oblivious to all of this.

The Premier has not shown leadership since his sweeping election victory, where the Conservatives took 72 of 83 seats in this province.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach received 77 per cent support in a leadership review vote by Progressive Conservative delegates meeting in Red Deer on Saturday.

"It's good support given some of the issues that we're facing," Stelmach told reporters after the results were announced to 1,300 cheering delegates.

"It's a big tent and that's one of the reasons for the success of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party over the decades."

After Stelmach's confirmation by the Conservative Party of Alberta, the new emerging Wild Rose Alliiance leader issued the following statement:

"The outcome of tonight's vote was exactly what we expected, but it goes against what I am hearing across the province. Albertans are upset with this government for destroying investor confidence in our energy industry, for mishandling our health care system and for taking us back into deficits. Tonight's decision by the Alberta PC's doesn't change a single thing that the Wildrose Party will do in the coming months. We will work hard to show Albertans that we are the alternative to the PC's and that we will give Albertans the kind of government they expect and deserve."

- Danielle Smith, Leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta

Alberta Liberal Party Leader Statement:

“The premier has survived this leadership review, thanks to his ability to motivate his tightly knit cadre of supporters. But I’m afraid that this won’t help him win back the support of the wider public,” Liberal Leader David Swann said. “His administration has dropped the ball too often for Albertans to forgive.”