Via email;
Over the weekend I learned from a good source that all our Alta. teachers are taking out memberships in the Wildrose Party so they can vote in favor of retaining the party as is, and thereby keeping the right split, as has been the case for the past 10 years, thereby giving the Dippers a better shot at another mandate.
Furthermore, the individual teacher will not be out of pocket for the cost, needless to say they’ll be buying memberships like crazy. Their union or some other outside interest is covering their cost.
Can anyone out to the west of me confirm or shoot this one down?
Update in the comments from a reliable source: “Wildrose is monitoring this carefully but so far there is no indication this rumour is correct.”
That iron rule of institutions; why doesn’t anyone think it applies to THEIR organization?
I can never understand why organizations can’t cut off voting rights for members joining after a vote is called. Teachers already ruined the PC Party twice with Special Ed and Alison the Red. Why wouldn’t they interfere again?
Great point! This would certainly prevent this sort of abuse taking place.
The NRA requires three years continuous membership before you can vote.
That seems to fix this sort of problem.
Doesn’t fix the problem of long time members who seem to be effectively brain dead voting, however.
Another reason to BAN public sector unions. You want freedom of association? Then don’t work for the government.
We need to start doing this back!
Hi-jack the NDP!
http://www.poletical.com/hijack-the-ndp-new-democrats.php
I copied and pasted your comments on their FB page…now they are asking for some kind of confirmation.
I told them that you have never knowingly posted BS or incorrect info – at least in the 7 years I have been here. I mean it makes perfect sense for them to do exactly this. Shrewd tactical move. I said after that it would not hurt to see who is buying memberships and to cross reference against a list of Teachers in the Province..?? fFgured that should be doable…
I just bought a membership for 10.00 online.
Marxist Bastards….
Teachers were prevalent in the PC party for decades. Back when I was a brown shirt with the Pc’s they occupied many positions within the party from constituency level to cabinet minister. If you spoke to them on issues of say the workings of capitalism a confused countenance would come over their face.
Notley is married to a top ranking union thug. Make no mistake about it, the unions will be meddling at a level in Alberta much more than the ruskies achieved in the U.S.
That is a damned good idea!
It’s a rule that should extend to all our political Parties as well so we don’t have to watch the disgusting spectacle of last minute signups paid with cash, but then that would mean the end of vote stacking for Party leadership in B.C.
Funny how no political Party anywhere in Canada has EVER mentioned that type of legislation. Funny.
Interesting. As the process isn’t fully finished let’s hope that both parties implement a rule that only members in good standing prior to the agreement to discuss a merger will be eligible to vote.
Max Bernier lost by a handful of votes thanks to the milk communists…
Party membership should include an IQ test. That would eliminate all but a hand full of Teachers.
Unionized public employees should not be allowed to participate in the democratic process in any way shape or form. It is a gross conflict of interest to be represented on both sides of the negotiating table particularly when the taxpayers are footing the bill as an under-represented third party. If they want a vote, they can’t have a union, it’s that simple.
At least the Parties should do what Gord Tulk suggested.
here in ontarIowe there is a meme circulating on FB that demonizes P Brown (well deserved IMNSHO) but I do think it is fronted be liberal interests. But then Brown is a Christian who feels the golowballwarming. Time to give all politicians a means test.
Whoa, whoa, whoooa! Hang onto those reins, folks. Don’t let those horses get away.
First off, there may be perfectly legit reasons why at least some of the teachers are buying memberships. There are a ton of people in this province who want Red Rachel gone, many teachers included. Period. Even some of the hardcore NDP supporters are feeling burned, what with no salary increase to offset the carbon tax. However, not all of us are happy with the proposed merger between PC/WR.
I’m certainly not & my better half, a teacher for nearly 30 years, isn’t either. Those seats got mighty comfortable for the PC’s after 44 years and not nearly enough of the CINO’s have left the party to make it palatable for many of us. We’ve both been WR supporters for years & the last thing we want is to have the party watered down by a bunch of elitist, arrogant, entitled SOB’s looking to get their jobs back. They need us a helluva lot more than we need them.
While we haven’t bought memberships, I wouldn’t be surprised if some had done so simply because they don’t like the idea of a merger, not because they’re trying to split the right.
Even if the right is split, Red Rachel is gone as premiere next election. The only plank needed is to run on rescinding everything she’s passed. Bill 6, carbon tax, etc. Worst case, no merger & WR/PC govern as a minority. I’ll take a minority gov’t over what we have now 7 days a week. It’ll be a cakewalk by comparison. Nobody on the right would be stupid enough to pair up with the NDP. It would be committing political suicide.
The disdain this province holds for Red Rachel, outside of the urban centres, is palpable. And if even a few of those come to their senses over the next two years because of Red Rachel’s budget, she won’t be anything but a smear on the history of this province.
No surprise as this was a tactic used during the conservative leadership convention. Three NDP supporters were interviewed saying they only bought memberships to have a vote, but were not really interested in becoming a member of the conservative party. How many more were there with the same idea? No one knows. I agree that the membership/voting rules need to be changed so only those in “good standing” (whatever that means) get to vote. And I hope that the disdain people feel for Red Rachel is genuine. Good luck Alberta!
Wouldn’t it be easier to infiltrate the PC party rather than the Wildrose? The proposed merger requires only a 50% approval by PC members vs. a 75% approval by Wildrosers.
The untimely and suspicious death of Antonin Scalia … gave the CA Teachers UNION and deadlocked 4-4 SCOTUS vote and therefore victory against the removal of the UNIONS forcible TAKING of members UNION dues for political activities NOT supported by members. The Teachers UNIONS won Bigly … and can continue to appropriate ALL the UNION dues $$$$$ for extremist leftwing purposes. A sad and terrible coincidence that Justice Scalia did not survive the UNION vote.
Oliver Stone … where are you ? Not to mention where is his film about the Clinton executions ?
Just checked with my son who is a teacher in Alberta. He hasn’t heard or seen anything and he follows politics pretty closely.
Tim: you are missing the point:
if the teachers buy enough memberships they can defeat the union much more easily inside the WP – as only 25% plus one is required.
Gord,
With the bar set high at 75% I had this concern as soon as I read of the ratification plans. This is exactly how Alison Redfraud was chosen PC leader.
Unless Brian Jean is daft, it should be fairly easy to restrict voting to those who held memberships prior to the merger agreement.
Or at least one would hope . . .
At the very least, no organization should be allowed to pay for those memberships. That really is dirty pool.
If the majority of teachers out there think the NDP running a $10B deficit is good for Alberta, just think what else they are teaching our kids. If you have children, get them into a private school.
This would be an excellent time to use the enemy’s tactics against them, folks.
I wouldn’t mind signing up as a Dipper or a Lib and stabbing them in the back the same way….
Gord, thanks for correcting me, I was thinking backwards. Anyone know how many members each of the parties actually have? I am under the impression that the Wildrose has a much larger membership than the PC party.
Wildrose is monitoring this carefully but so far there is no indication this rumour is correct.
Just before read this, had a phone call from a “Jean for Premier” person. Did not commit at this time – waiting to see how much draining of the swamp the merger would accomplish. On the other hand, the one teacher I know is NOT an NDP supported, perhaps because spouse has a small business. It’s surprising what contact with reality will do to you.
Seconding what ‘Dumb Biker’ said. I’m a WRer. Done with CINOs. Also have no use for Jason Kenney. I am voting to keep WR as its own party and then I am voting WR in the next election. Want a united right? Buy a WR membership and vote WR.
p.s. My wife is a teacher and this is news to her. She supports and votes WR, too.
Did someone say?
At one time, a person could not be a member of Alberta NDP if they hold membership in another party.
Perhaps someone can confirm if it is still true.
NDP membership form states:
“I hereby declare that I accept and will abide by the constitution, principles and policies of the Alberta New Democratic Party. I am not a member or supporter of any other political party.”
Teachers who join WR or PCS would cancel their NDP membership.
nothing will be noticed, nothing will be done, but it will happen.
The WR and PC parties SHOULD cross ref their new membership sign ups with the ATA.
Then send that list to the NDP. They would have to cancel all previous NDP memberships held by those 2 party card holders according to their rules.
Or they could just ignore the list and be hypocrites of opportunity.