Over the past few weeks, I've had a chance to test the political climate in Saskatchewan, particularly in regards to the next provincial election. If an election is held this fall, I first of all expect a heavy turnout. The common theme among the broad cross-section of people I've been in dicussions with, all agree that turnout will be high, higher than we've seen in some time...

As I mentioned in my last post, Calgary Grit is organizing a contest called The Search for Canada's Best Premier. I originally offered to host Saskatchewan's contest because I currently live here, but it seems to make more sense for me to host British Columbia's contest. I have, after all, spent over 92% of my life in BC...

Due to the imminent resignation of perhaps up to 5 New Democrat MLAs, it appears a provincial election could very well be called for this October...

Sean is off the mark a little here. While he's nailed Harper for the ridiculous step of breaking the equalization promise, he's giving credit to the NDP for our current windfall in resource money...

Calgary. The city of Petrobucks and plenty of them. Gleaming skyscrapers. Headquarters of the booming Canadian oil biz. Over a million people with thousands of new arrivals every year. Estate homes worthy of barons and earls. Its companies scour the world in search of the elusive black stuff. And plenty of power too - the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are Calgary MPs. And class . . . . . well, you can't have everything...

I noticed that Harper wouldn't be attending the Gerry St.Germain barbeque the other day on publiceyeonline. I didn't think much of it. I didn't even know about the annual event. Then this morning I was surprised to see that this story merited front page status on the Globe and Mail website. I thought it was a little odd, and that there wasn't anything controversial in the article to merit the placement it got....

Friends, there is a massive real estate boom underway in this province. It is the main topic of conversation this summer...

The Alberta Progressive Conservatives appear to have picked a lemon in chosing Ed "Special Ed" Stelmach to succeed Ralph Klein as premier...

I wonder if my province's unwillingness to teach about pregnancy in sexual education classes in our schools, has anything to do with the high figures Lance points out? I'd guess it's our impoverished communities who are bringing our average up...

I attended a Victoria fundraiser for the Federal Liberal party this evening with Bob Rae, Anne Park Shannon and Keith Martin. Anne was a very gracious hostess meeting us at the door with a big smile and offering up her lovely home for a most enjoyable event. Polite servers laden with delicious appetizers (e.g. salmon wrapped asparagus, lovely seafood) circulated through the crowd tempting all of the guests before Rae's big speech...

The newest of the new in the never halting rotating door of right-wing parties is entering stage right: The Wildrose Party...

Well it looks as though history just might be repeating itself. As Stemach announces that he will have more involvement from Calgary and Edmonton MLA's in the cabinet, in Red Deer today a right wing party is having their founding meeting. They do not want the Liberals to win by default in the next election so they hope to have their party ready for the next election...

That was the rallying cry last night during the annual provincial Liberal Leader's Dinner at the Delta Hotel in Regina. Nearly 300 people (which I am told is a record attendance for the Regina leader's dinner in recent memory) sat in rapt attention during the opening address by special guest Gerard Kennedy and the keynote address by David Karwacki...

The three amigos just grew into the fab four! I'm so pleased to have Craig Cheffins as part of our team here in Calgary as part of the Alberta Liberal Caucus...

Calgary Elbow

Cheffins (Lib) 46%

Henninger (PC) 38%

Reed (Gre) 6%

Greydanus (AA) 4%

Brown (NDP) 3%

Grover (SC) 2%

Willerton (Ind) 1%

Last week, I decided to take a break from bashing Ed Stelmach, to allow Ed Stelmach to bash Ed Stelmach.

Today, I cede the podium to Brian Henninger, who is running for Stelmach's PCs in Tuesday's incredibly important Calgary Elbow by election...

I was looking at the CBC's Green Cities Interactive Map, I was shocked to learn that the City of Calgary is on track to meet a very tough emissions standards...

Have you heard of Express Link? Neither has SaskTel or SaskPower employees I talkd to, even though it's a PAYMENT system set up by Sasktel to accept pre-authorized debit payments of SaskTel, SaskPower [hydro] and SaskEnergy [gas] bills...

For those not following the story closely, a judge ordered the Conservative Party to re-hold the nomination meeting in Calgary West, after it was found that the rules were rigged to ensure an Anders win back last fall...

I know I already posted one of the videos already, but four new online videos have been released with Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft speaking about the Alberta Liberal plan for affordable housing, Alberta's Creative Economy, Alberta's Water, and Sustaining Alberta's future.

For Special Ed, these are tough times. Brutal, in fact. For the past couple of weeks, with a single exception, its been all bad news. Indeed, he picked up plenty of speed going down the steep incline towards the Harry Strom world of political oblivion...

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived in BC today amidst a ceremonial welcome by the provinces First Nations community. Arnold was given three ceremonial gifts before getting down to business with BC Premier Gordon Campbell and signing a five point agreement on fighting global warming...

Judy Kobsar's profile is already gone from the Sask NDP website.

Judy's face is still on the main page, her candidate profile is gone.

This is a very interesting development to say the least.

The outgoing President of the Young Tories took a parting shot at Premier Ed Stelmach on the front page of today's Calgary Herald...

Once again on the by-election campaign trail, I was putting up signs for Craig Cheffins and I've decided to retract my statements from earlier regarding what exactly a Liberal win would mean...

I went out door knocking for Craig Cheffins, the Liberal Candidate in the Calgary-Elbow byelection, yesterday and something absolutely incredible happened...

As I wrote about here, after years of complaints from First Nation leaders, four murals in the B.C. legislature, including one portraying several Indian women in states of partial undress, are coming down because, it is argued, natives are portrayed in them "as a conquered and subservient people"...

When it comes to turning environmental talk into environmental action, this seems like such a simple and sensible idea: the B.C. government wants all future taxi licenses to only be approved for hybrid or highly-fuel efficient vehicles...