At The AAP Convention

A quick Primer for the US readers (because you folks havn't gotten the full story [about Canada] down there and this event will have an impact on you in one form or another)

Alberta is one of many provinces and territories that make up Canada. We're set up in a manner similar to your republic in that our provinces are supposed to be operating autonomously within a constitutional framework.

Our federal government, like any socialist entity, has been slowly encroaching on our provincial authority. It's to the point right now that we have very little left in the way of autonomy.

Here are some examples of our province's grievences:

• Federal transfer payments - Being a socialist society, the federal government takes money from prosperous/productive provinces and gives it to provinces/territories that aren't. A recent study showed that over the past 41 years, Alberta has paid $2,500.00/person/year to this transfer scheme. The other main net contributor, Ontario, has paid a measely $758.00/person/year. To look at it another way, Alberta has only 10% of the country's population but funds over 67% of the transfer scheme (including the monies transfered by BC which is the only other net contributor).

• The federal gun registry - Albertains as a whole don't like the idea that the federal government has taken the first step in total confiscation of firearms. This is also a program that we were told would only cost $2M. The actual cost is approaching $2B.

• Public Healthcare - Healthcare falls within provincial jurisdiction. The feds don't like that and have put a system in place where they are in control. Albertains know that the current socialized system is bloated and inefficient and would like to make changes. The feds don't like that either and have put serious restrictions in place. Our hands are tied when it comes to administering our own system.

The list goes on and on and if I keep it up, so will this post. Some other examples include; having SSM forced on us, forced bilingualism, an anti-US stance on everything, etc. These are things that most folks in Alberta don't value.

Suffice to say however that over the past decade, we have been trying to reverse this situation by putting a conservative government in power at the federal level. It hasn't worked. The majority of the canadain electorate (also recipients of all that transfer cash) are in the east and they like things just the way they are. During this decade there have been inumerable financial scandals within the federal (Liberal) government and the folks out east still continue to elect them.

They know which side their bread is buttered on.

To further our efforts, we've been pushing for reforms within the Canadian Senate. Currently all senators are appointed by the Prime Minister (head of corrupt liberal government) and there is very little representation for Alberta. Our efforts towards change have been repeatedly squashed.

To quickly summarize our position:

Alberta is a mule under the yolk of confederation pulling the pork-laden wagon that is the rest of Canada. We're the only "red state" in a blue country.



As Albertains however, we've traditionally been reluctant to look at ourselves as the source of the problem. We've always elected the "most conservative" provincial government available. It's become abundantly clear in recent years that we really are to blame though. We've given up our provincial autonomy without any argument. Without any fight. We relied on our "conservative government" to argue for us. The reason that the Alberta government hasn't resisted is because it, itself, is socialist. The population may be conservative but the government and it's leader Ralph Klein are true liberals. Ralph Klein is showing himself lately to be about as conservative as John Kerry.

There is a growing number of people who are now looking at our provincial government and the "light bulbs" are turning on. We're starting to figure it out. So what's the population to do? Start a new party. A truly conservative group.

Enter the Alberta Alliance Party (AAP) and the Seperation Party of Alberta (SPA). These are groups of people who want to regain Alberta autonomy.

The SPA whishes to meet it's mandate by removing us from confederation altogether and making a go of it as a seperate country. The republic of Alberta would be born. The vast majority of folks I've spoken with don't wan't that though and it's going to be a very hard sell.

The AAP however has a different plan. It wants Alberta to become an equal partner within confederation as opposed to the mule. It also sees seperation from the rest of Canada as an possible end result, but believes that specific measures have to be taken first. Methodical steps. We have to try to regain control of our provincial autonomy, at the provincial level. If that fails, which is likely to happen, a refferendum will be held letting the people of Alberta decide whether or not to opt-out of confederation. This is an easier sell.

Both of the above groups have alot more substance to them than I can discuss in these summaries (this post is going to be huge as it is). You'll have to follow the links for more info.

I've put my support behind the AAP. I may even run as a candidate in the next election.

Now, why is all of that important to you folks down south? Here it is in a nutshell:

• It's almost a given - Alberta's seperation from the rest of Canada is the likely end result of any action we take. It'll result from inaction as well.
• Oil - Our reserves of oil are second only to Saudi Arabia.
• Location - Alberta is landlocked - attached to your northern border
• Economy - We're going to have to decide on currency and it won't be a weak Canadian dollar
• Military - We'll need one. The Canadian army can't protect us with it's outmoded, broken equipment and understaffed forces.

We'll be looking to you.

If seperation does happen, we'll have two choices.

• Join the US republic or
• Go it alone with help from the states

Either way, you're going to be involved.

Now, onto the AAP Leadership Convention:

Friday Evening - Opening Reception

I showed up as a supporter of David Crutcher for leader. (Yes, that's important)

One of the first things I noticed when upon arrival was the age of the attendees. Not very many young people. The second thing I noticed was a couple of guys walking around in "Crutcher T-shirts" and looking more like they were part of a hit squad than anything else. They didn't seem to be too awful friendly which was an impression of the Crutcher camp that stayed with me. As a Crutcher supporter I scored one of the shirts.

I'm not a mingler so I hung back until Aiz and Greg showed up. They pulled me out of my bubble and forced me to meet people.

(Aizlyne and Greg)

After a while, each of the candidates got up and said a few words. Here's the exact text of my notes about their comments:

"Marilyn Burns: I missed it, what did she say?"
"David Crutcher: Free booze in my hospitality suite!"
"Paul Hinman: Very well done! - actual substance."
"Ed Klop: Well spoken - provided substance"

At this point I was beginning to feel less "warm and fuzzy" about my choice of candidate.

I should note that during the campaign I'd been hearing rumblings about concerns with Crutchers support team. His campaign manager Craig Chandler in particular. I was looking forward to meeting him and seeing what he's all about.

I was appropriately rewarded and was not left with a great impression. Don't get me wrong, I was still feeling "warm" towards Crutcher's campaign but "fuzzy" had left the building.

In the Hospitality Suite:

I was pretty well lubricated at this point so I won't comment too much the hospitality suite.

...

(Craig Chandler explaining the virtues of Craig to our friend Aiz)

...

(David and Greg)

It wasn't too much longer and our hero (me) had to stumble back to his room for the night.

Saturday Morning

This was the first time I'd slept in in a very long while. I got back to the convention 35 minutes late and missed the majority of the candidates speeches. I did however get there in time to see Chandler's hit-squad (Crutchers support team) standfront and center as Crutcher gave his speech. I thought this was a little out of line and I wasn't the only one. Eyebrows were raising and eyes were rolling throughout the room.

(Chandlers hit-squad)

I'm going to call it Chandlers campaign from here on in. Somewhere during the previous night I came to realize that Crutcher had lost control of his campaign and that Chandler was in the drivers seat.

"Warm" just left the building.

Next up on the agenda was the candidates Q&A:

It was a lengthy session and I made lots of notes. Don't worry, I'm not going to go over them all. Here are the highlites of what I got from listening to their answers:

Paul Hinman: Very well spoken. Prepared. Articulate. Clear. Showed exemplary leadership qualities.

Marilyn Burns: As with Paul, very well spoken and articulate.

Ed Klop: Ed was well spoken too but he seemed to lack substance with his answers.

David Crutcher: David was frequently tripped up and didn't seem to have a good grasp of party policy. I have to admit though that his conviction and right-wing stance on issues was inspiring - it's what drew me to support him to begin with.

It was about 3/4 of the way through the Q&A session that I decided to vote for Paul Hinman instead of Crutcher. I was extremely impressed with Paul's performance.

Once the Q&A was finished we placed our votes in the box and wen't for lunch. About midway through the afternoon, we got word that they were going to the second ballot and didn't have a winner yet. They did let us know however that Paul was in the lead with David and Marilyn tied for a distand 2nd.

(David Crutcher and Craig Chandler after hearing the news that they were running a distant second. Is Craigs expression giving anything away? The writing was on the wall at this point.)

It wasn't until 4:00pm that we got the results back. Paul won and rightfully so.

Marilyn Burns came in second.

(Marilyn Burns and myself after the voting - She was my second choice)

Here he is folks, Paul Hinman, the man who could very well become the next Premier of Alberta and who gives us our province back.

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(Paul Hinman speaking with the press after the announcement)

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(Aiz, Paul and Greg after the press left)