PC Leadership Hopeful Starke Proposes Plan To Defeat NDP
Published
8 years ago
4 minute read
By Sheldon Spackman
One of four men seeking to lead Alberta’s PC Party to victory in the next provincial election, is proposing an alternative approach to defeating the NDP in 2019. Vermillion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke says he has a better option to defeat the current government in two years, rather than merging the PC’s and Wildrose as fellow leadership candidate Jason Kenney has suggested.
Starke says through a release that “Albertans tell me that they want a real change in the Alberta government but do not necessarily like the risky 5-point Unity power grab.” Adding, “Today, I am introducing a proposal that would see Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose working together on a Common Sense Plan; Alberta’s conservative parties collaborating to eliminate the risk of vote splitting in the next election. This Common Sense Plan could include:
Both parties would fight the 2019 election from positions of strength with a common goal – defeating the NDP.
Both parties would continue to work as separate but collaborating entities – two parties, two leaders, two caucuses.
Giving Albertans an option to ensure that there will be no splitting of conservative votes in the next election.”
Starke says Kenney’s plan to dissolve the PC’s and Wildrose and create one new right-wing party instead, is too risky. He says with the next provincial election only two years away, it’s frankly not enough time to start a new party from scratch and be ready for an election. He says his Common Sense Plan preserves two political parties that want to remain. Adding however, that the two parties still need to talk about it, which hasn’t happened yet. As far as vote splitting is concerned, Starke says “There are mechanisms that could be employed to make sure that doesn’t happen”.
Starke goes on to say “It has become apparent that the Progressive Conservative Leadership race is no longer just about selecting the best leader for the Party, but it has changed into who can defeat the NDP in 2019. I believe strongly that Alberta needs to be governed from the centre-right, and that the NDP cannot see another term in office.”
Starke also says “One of the hallmarks of leadership is to listen, and to respond. I have been listening to Albertans who are desperate to see the end of the NDP government. But I have also listened to Progressive Conservative and Wildrose members who do not want to see their parties destroyed. Many have told me they support “unity” because they believe it is the only way to defeat the NDP.”
Starke adds, “I have stated unequivocally throughout the campaign that the 5-point Unity proposal will not work as it depends on the rushed destruction of two existing political parties and other complicated, high risk political maneuvers. It will result in a second NDP term in office. Working together in collaboration rather than competition is the most effective way to defeat the NDP while avoiding the major upheaval of both parties proposed by Jason Kenney.” The two other PC Leadership hopefuls include Byron Nelson and Stephen Khan.
A Leadership Town Hall is taking place in Grande Prairie on Friday, January 27th, with a Leadership Debate in Medicine Hat February 1st. The Leadership Convention and Vote happens in Calgary March 17th, 2017.
Pushing back the date would preserve the pensions of some of the MPs who could be voted out of office in October 2025.
Aides to the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that MPs from the Liberal and New Democratic Party (NDP) did indeed hold closed-door “briefings” to rewrite Canada’s elections laws so that they could push back the date of the next election.
The closed-door talks between the NDP and Liberals confirmed the aides included a revision that would guarantee some of its 28 MPs, including three of Trudeau’s cabinet members, would get a pension.
Allen Sutherland, who serves as the assistant cabinet secretary, testified before the House of Commons affairs committee that the changes to the Elections Act were discussed in the meetings.
“We attended a meeting where the substance of that proposal was discussed,” he said, adding that his “understanding is the briefing was primarily oral.”
According to Sutherland, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, it was only NDP and Liberal MPs who attended the secret meetings regarding changes to Canada’s Elections Act via Bill C-65, An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act before the bill was introduced in March.
As reported by LifeSiteNews before, the Liberals were hoping to delay the 2025 federal election by a few days in what many see as a stunt to secure pensions for MPs who are projected to lose their seats. Approximately 80 MPs would qualify for pensions should they sit as MPs until at least October 27, 2025, which is the newly proposed election date. The election date is currently set for October 20, 2025.
Sutherland noted when asked by Conservative MP Luc Berthold that he recalled little from the meetings, but he did confirm he attended “two meetings of that kind.”
“Didn’t you find it unusual that a discussion about amending the Elections Act included only two political parties and excluded the others?” Berthold asked.
Sutherland responded, “It’s important to understand what my role was in those meetings which was simply to provide background information.”
Berthold then asked, “You nevertheless suggested amendments to the legislation including a change of dates?”
“My role was to provide information,” replied Sutherland, who added he could not provide the exact dates of the meetings.
MPs must serve at least six years to qualify for a pension that pays $77,900 a year. Should an election be called today, many MPs would fall short of reaching the six years, hence Bill C-65 was introduced by the Liberals and NDP.
The Liberals have claimed that pushing back the next election date is not over pensions but due to “trying to observe religious holidays,” as noted by Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen.
“Conservatives voted against this bill,” Berthold said, as they are “confident of winning re-election. We don’t need this change.”
Trudeau’s popularity is at a all-time low, but he has refused to step down as PM, call an early election, or even step aside as Liberal Party leader.
As for the amendments to elections laws, they come after months of polling in favour of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre.
A recent poll found that 70 percent of Canadians believe the country is “broken” as Trudeau focuses on less critical issues. Similarly, in January, most Canadians reported that they are worse off financially since Trudeau took office.
Additionally, a January poll showed that 46 percent of Canadians expressed a desire for the federal election to take place sooner rather than the latest mandated date in the fall of 2025.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, Trump leads Harris by 184,935 in a 53%-46% split.
Former President Donald Trump was declared the winner Saturday night in Arizona, marking the final swing state for the Republican to collect in his landslide victory.
Arizona was the seventh and final swing state to be decided, securing Trump 312 Electoral College votes.
All but Coconino, Apache, Santa Cruz, and Pima counties favored Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris. Maricopa County, the source of dozens of electoral challenges including a partisan ballot review of the 2020 election, is currently favoring Trump by more than 78,000 votes. Trump lost the state to President Joe Biden in 2020 by little more than 10,000 votes.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, Trump leads Harris by 184,935 in a 53%-46% split.
Complete election results aren’t expected for at least another week, which is no different from previous cycles. Two-page ballots with dozens of judicial retention races and ballot propositions led to slower results in the days after polls closed. A new election integrity law enacted this year requiring polling stations to count envelopes before they can send off ballots added to the lag in results.
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns made Arizona a priority throughout the election cycle, either hosting rallies themselves or sending big-name surrogates.
Campaign volunteers descended on Maricopa County to join local activists who knocked on thousands of doors in the days before the election. Many residents complained about the barrage of phone calls, texts, emails, and flyers from numerous organizations.
