The rumours have been circulating for some time now, and tomorrow Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith will be holding a media conference to announce "significant changes" to their provincial team.
Is this code for "floor crossing"?
Probably not, but there is significant potential that we could see certain Progressive Conservative MLAs cross the floor before the next election (especially if the Wildrose Alliance keeps their poll numbers up).
UPDATE: A media release on Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson's website has announced that he and Calgary-Fish Creek MLA Heather Forsyth are crossing the floor to the Wildrose Alliance. Anderson was first elected in 2008 and Forsyth was first elected in 1993 (and served in numerous cabinet positions under Premier Ralph Klein). The Wildrose Alliance caucus will now be the third largest caucus in the Alberta Legislature, bumping the NDP to fourth.
Monday, January 04, 2010
wildrose code for floor-crossing?
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11 comments:
Definite floor crossings. Two from the PCs plus bringing in Fort Mac's favorite pariah MLA. That makes four Wild Rosers by my count.
I'd hate to be Brian Mason tomorrow, waking up and realizing I'm leader of the fourth party in the legislature.
Time to merge the NDs and Alberta Liberals!
All of the jockeying with the Wildrose on the far right only keeps the Tories in the middle and ensures their victory. If the Liberals and NDP merged and moved more to the centre, there'd be a real threat to the government but not with the Wildrose and their extremist leader.
Someone on the Wildrose party executive has already confirmed to the Calgary Sun that two Tories are crossing.
Dave Rutherford says it is Forsyth (Calgary-Fish Creek) and Rob Anderson (Airdrie-Chestermere).
If I picked the 5 easiest ridings for Wildrose to win in Alberta these 2 would be among them so no surprise really.
Huh. I stay up late and I get to see that yes, indeed, tomorrow is going to be a bad day for Brian Mason: Don Braid is reporting (in an "exclusive" that I read here first) that Forsyth and Anderson have jumped to the Alliance.
Brian is right - Airdrie-Chestermere would be one of the easiest ridings for a Wildrose Alliance candidate to win in. But Calgary-Fish Creek? Not at all. I live in this area and it is solid PC. There's a real backlash against the Wildrose here and Heather will be leaving a lot of money in the PC bank account which will be used against her.
What are the other 3 ridings you'd see as easy?
Looks like the PCs already have their communcations branch up early with post like the one from ANON at 4:41 AM.
Come on Ed's team! You know your days are numbered.
Reform! - as if. As if any of them work that early. Man, put that tin foil hat of yours back on - it's interfering with the conspiracy communications you get from aliens!
WooHoo! I'm not sure what to be happiest about, the implosion of the PC's or the imminent demise of Swann's liberals. There will be defection(S) from the ALP to the WRA also by years end.
So, Anon @ 8:02:00 AM... your ideal Alberta is governed as a one party state with no opposition?
Why do you hate democracy?
I don't hate democracy! You'll notice I didn't mention anything bad about the NDP. They will be the opposition. That's democracy in action. David Swann and his party are undeserving of their paychecks, let alone being the opposition. At least the NDP try, and DON'T want to join the ranks of the 'irrelevant' Liberals. The NDP will be an EFFECTIVE opposition.
I gotta say, though, I would be grumpy if I were Danielle or Shawn Howard this am and Rob Anderson's first act is to scoop his own leader's press conference...
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