The panicky PCs have a new campaign message: “Okay, voters, you dropped us 20 points in the polls so here’s your damn money back.”
Public forgiveness is not a sure thing.
At every stage of this scandal over the committee that paid for no work, Alison Redford’s PCs have only done what they were forced to do.
On the eve of the election call, after a vitriolic six-hour meeting of MLAs, they agreed to give back $6,000 – the pay since Redford became premier.
Only two days ago Redford was saying they weren’t paid from the moment she took office.
Not quite true. They were paid, the public found out about it, and the PCs rebated the bare minimum under extreme pressure.
Will Giving Back the Money Buy Back the Votes?
March 29th, 2012Premier Alison Redford doesn’t like Alberta, says Wildrose leader Danielle Smith
March 28th, 2012Smith attacked the $275 million renovation of what is called the old federal building on the legislature grounds as “the Taj Mahal of provincial waste,” saying the money would have been better spent on schools, highway upgrades, hip replacements, cataract surgeries.
“That money is being spent so that PC MLAs can have bigger corner offices and a nicer view of the river valley,” Smith said. “It is emblematic of this government’s out-of-control spending that has evolved into a full blown spending addiction.”
PCs’ “Fixed election” still unfixed
March 26th, 2012Most other jurisdictions now have truly fixed dates. Alberta still does not, despite Redord’s leadership promise last summer.
Alberta Tory leadership candidate Alison Redford wants fixed election dates
March 26th, 2012Way back on September 23, 2011, Alison Redford called for fixed election dates.
“Redford told reporters in Calgary that set elections would allow Albertans to focus on issues and take away the political games that parties play when calling elections based on poll results.”
Opposition sees red as Tories keep writing cheques
March 24th, 2012… careful work with the legislature calendar has given Redford’s Tory government unprecedented chances for cash drops of taxpayer bucks from a record budget into the electorate.
…
Asked where this week’s $182 million in extra-budget dollars would come from for an agreement with Alberta’s physicians, Redford said it wasn’t a problem.
“Is this what change looks like?”
March 24th, 2012Politically speaking, the past 6 weeks have been a disaster for the PCs.
How bad? Like Stelmach bad. There has been no clear and consistent message coming from them – it’s been reactive, tentative and at times just plain confusing.
Redford’s political deal with doctors leaves taxpayers in the lurch
March 23rd, 2012Alberta Premier Alison Redford, who has yet to face the electorate, seems to be taking cues from the playbook of the Ontario Liberals.
PCs mysteriously find money just before election
March 23rd, 2012Wednesday’s surprise pay deal between the province and the doctors raises an obvious question: has the government bought their silence during the coming election campaign?
Redford’s political deal with doctors leaves taxpayers in the lurch
March 22nd, 2012“The fact that this large spending announcement came a matter of hours after the budget was passed shows that it was purely a political move.”
Public doesn’t trust Redford on health care
March 22nd, 2012EDMONTON – A growing distrust of Alison Redford’s leadership, especially on health care, will be a key election issue.
