Scramble for federal nominations begins in Alberta
TweetIt’s a fight – or at least it could be if two southern Alberta Conservative Members of Parliament seek their party’s nomination in the same riding. Boundary changes in the next federal election...
View ArticleConservatives approach a full-slate of nominated candidates in Alberta
With the next federal election less than one year away, the Conservative Party of Canada is close to nominating a full slate of candidates in Alberta’s 34 newly redrawn ridings. By my count, Calgary...
View ArticleDust, Sweat and Blood: In defence of the modern political campaign
Guest post by Ryan Hastman Note: Sarcasm function is set to 8/10 for the remainder of this piece. Thank you to my good friend Dave for the opportunity to contribute this guest blog. As everyone in...
View ArticlePilot Episode: Julie Payette and Jason Kenney
In a first of what we expect to be a regular feature, I have joined forces with conservative political commentator Ryan Hastman in launching the Daveberta Podcast. In our pilot episode, recorded on...
View ArticleEpisode 1: Calgary-Lougheed by-election, Alberta Party leadership and more.
The Calgary-Lougheed by-election, the Alberta Party leadership race, a new ThinkHQ poll, Rachel Notley as Canada’s Pipeline Paladin, and changing electoral boundaries are just some of the topics...
View ArticleEpisode 2: Twitter Discourse, PACs, Election Reform and more.
The state of discourse in Alberta politics (and social media), Political Action Committees, election reforms, the Calgary-Lougheed by-election, and federal candidate nomination gossip are just some of...
View ArticleAlberta Conservative MPs face nomination challenges ahead of 2019 election
At least three Conservative Members of Parliament from Alberta are expected to face challenges for their nominations ahead of the expected 2019 federal election (news of two of the nomination...
View ArticleEpisode 3: Best of Alberta Politics 2017
In the latest episode of The Daveberta Podcast, Ryan and I discuss Kara Levis‘ entry into the Alberta Party leadership race, the results of the Calgary-Lougheed by-election, Conservative MPs being...
View ArticleEpisode 4: The Alberta Party (again), leaked UCP policy, and predictions for...
The Alberta Party leadership race (it’s finally a race!), the United Conservative Party’s leaked policy document, predictions for 2018, and hot gossip from the Alberta Legislature are just some of the...
View ArticleEpisode 5: #MeToo rocks Canadian politics, Kara Levis and the PST, goodbye...
A look at how allegations of sexual misconduct have rocked Canadian politics, Alberta Party leadership candidate Kara Levis‘ sales tax idea, how a change in leadership could change Alberta-Saskatchewan...
View ArticleBest of Alberta Politics 2017: David Shepherd, MLA for Edmonton-Centre
After the dust settled and more than 1,200 votes were tallied, Ryan Hastman and I were delighted to present David Shepherd with the Up and Comer in 2018 Award from the Best of Alberta 2017 survey....
View ArticleEpisode 6: Alberta-BC Pipeline War, UCP loses 2 MLAs, and Alberta Party...
We’re back! After a brief hiatus because Ryan was down south helping Make America Great Again, we are back with a new episode of The Daveberta Podcast. In this episode, Dave and Ryan discuss the...
View ArticleEpisode 7: #MeToo, Women in Politics, Education and another old white male...
This week on the Daveberta Podcast, guest hosts Lianne Bell, Kyla Fisher and Janelle Morin discuss the #MeToo movement and how it has impacted them and the latest on Alberta’s political landscape,...
View ArticleEpisode 8: The Return of the Leg, Pipelines, and prep for the 2019 election
With Alberta’s Legislature back in session this week, Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman deliver their takes on the hottest issues facing MLAs, including Premier Rachel Notley’s Pipeline motion and how...
View ArticleBest of Alberta Politics 2017: Formation of the United Conservative Party
Photo: Ryan Hastman, Dave Cournoyer, and Jason Kenney. It was the clear winner in the first round of voting in the Best of Alberta Politics 2017 survey. With a solid 59 percent of votes, readers of...
View ArticleBest of Alberta Politics 2017: Greg Clark, MLA for Calgary-Elbow
Photo: Ryan Hastman, Greg Clark, and Dave Cournoyer. After the dust settled and more than 1,200 votes were tallied, Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman were delighted to present Greg Clark with the Best...
View ArticleBest of Alberta Politics 2017: Rachel Notley, MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona...
Photo: Ryan Hastman, Rachel Notley and Dave Cournoyer (photography by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta) With more than 1,200 votes cast, Premier Rachel Notley was chosen as the Best Alberta MLA of...
View ArticleEpisode 9: Rachel Notley, Jason Kenney and 12 months until the next election
This episode includes exclusive interviews with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Official Opposition leader Jason Kenney. Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman asked both leaders a few questions they...
View ArticleEpisode 10: Week 300 of the Trans Mountain Pipeline debate, and predictions...
This episode includes analysis from Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman about week 300 of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline dispute (including updates from Ryan, who was behind enemy lines in...
View ArticleEpisode 11: UCP policy, NDP abortion clinic bubble zones, and turning off the...
The United Conservative Party‘s founding convention, the New Democratic Party‘s abortion clinic bubble zone and plans to turn off the oil and gas taps to British Columbia, are just some of the topics...
View ArticleEpisode 12: Trans Mountain Pipeline deadline, NDP family conflict, and...
How are Canada’s political leaders are positioning themselves ahead of the Kinder Morgan corporation’s imposed May 31 pipeline deadline? What will federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau say when he...
View ArticleEpisode 13: Doug Ford’s big win, Andrew Scheer’s deal with the Cheese Mafia,...
In this episode of the Daveberta Podcast, Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman discuss Doug Ford’s win in Ontario’s election, the NDP’s mid-campaign surge, and the Green Party’s surprising growth across...
View ArticleEpisode 14: Alberta Equalization, NDP Attack Ads, and Social Media Advice for...
What does the renewal of the national Equalization formula mean for Alberta? What should Rachel Notley and Jason Kenney be doing this summer? What do we think about the New Democratic Party’s latest...
View ArticleEpisode 15: Politicians pretending to be Cowboys. It’s Stampede Week in Calgary!
It is Calgary Stampede season, which means politicians from across Canada are flocking to Alberta’s largest city to show off their recently purchased plaid shirts and cowboy hats. In this episode of...
View ArticleEpisode 16: Derek Fildebrandt introduces the Derek Fildebrandt Party
In this episode of the Daveberta Podcast, Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman discuss whether Derek Fildebrandt‘s Freedom Conservative Party will be relevant in the next election, Rachel Notley‘s role at...
View ArticleEpisode 17: Partisanship and the future of Alberta politics
This week on the Daveberta Podcast, guest hosts Erika Barootes, Janis Irwin and Natasha Soles chat with our producer Adam Rozenhart about their experiences in provincial politics and where they see...
View ArticleEpisode 18: Maximum Bern and The Disgruntled Politicians of Canada
In this episode of the Daveberta Podcast, Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman discuss the what’s happening in Alberta politics, including the New Democratic Party convention on September 28, 29 and 30,...
View ArticleEpisode 19: Quashing Pipelines and Political Dreams
In this episode of the Daveberta Podcast, Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman discuss the latest news in Alberta politics, including Premier Rachel Notley’s response to the quashing of approval of the...
View ArticleEpisode 20: Five Months until Alberta’s Next Election
This week Dave and Ryan are joined by our friend Kate Kerber as we discuss how Rachel Notley‘s New Democratic Party government is doing and what the NDP might need to do to win the election in 2019. We...
View ArticleEpisode 22: Special guest Jamil Jivani, author of Why Young Men
Jamil Jivani joined Dave and Ryan on the podcast this week as we discussed his new book, Why Young Men: Rage, Race and the Crisis of Identity, and delved into how Political Action Committees are...
View ArticleFor the Podcast: Share your wishes and hopes for Alberta in 2019
This month marks one year since we launched the Daveberta Podcast. With tens of thousands of downloads over the past twelve months, we are sending a big thank you to everyone who has listened,...
View ArticleEpisode 23: Special guest Kristin Raworth
Kristin Raworth joined Dave and Ryan on the podcast this week as we discussed women in politics and how Alberta’s political parties are addressing harassment and sexual violence. We also delved into...
View ArticleVote in the Best of Alberta Politics 2018 Survey
Photo: Ryan Hastman, Rachel Notley and Dave Cournoyer. With more than 1,200 votes cast, Premier Rachel Notley was chosen as the Best Alberta MLA of 2017 in the Best of Alberta Politics 2017 survey....
View ArticleEpisode 24: Oil, Pipelines and Alberta’s next election.
The First Minister’s Meeting, oil prices, and Premier Rachel Notley’s performance on the national stage are where we started the discussion in this episode. Dave and Ryan also delved into the latest...
View ArticleEpisode 25: We answer your Alberta Politics questions
We asked listeners to send us their Alberta politics questions and we dedicated our final episode of 2018 to answering them! We kicked off this episode with a game of “is it more likely,” where we...
View ArticleEpisode 26: Bighorn Country, Oil Refineries, and the Best of Alberta Politics
Controversy over the Bighorn Country proposal and Premier Rachel Notley’s oil refinery announcement are where we started the discussion in this episode. Dave and Ryan also delved into the latest...
View ArticleEpisode 27: When is Alberta’s next election? And will Don Iveson be the next...
In this episode of the Daveberta Podcast, we stare deep into our crystal ball to figure out when Premier Rachel Notley will call Alberta’s next election, dissect some of the key messages from the party...
View ArticleEpisode 29: Alberta is in serious pre-election mode
We are in pre-election mode in this episode as Dave and Ryan discuss the health care and education curriculum debate between the New Democratic Party and United Conservative Party, the unsurprising...
View ArticleEpisode 30: The creepy Prab Gill video, the return of Joe Anglin, and Brian...
With the Speech from the Throne coming on March 18 and Premier Rachel Notley expected to call an election soon afterward, Dave and Ryan discuss how the parties are trying to frame the upcoming...
View ArticleEpisode 31: Game on. Week 1 of Alberta’s 2019 Election.
Alberta’s provincial election has been called and Albertans will be going to the polls on April 16. For the duration of the campaign, we’re going to be recording a new episode of the Daveberta Podcast...
View ArticleEpisode 32: GSAs, GSAs, GSAs. Week 2 of Alberta’s Election.
Alberta’s provincial election is 16 days away and for the duration of the campaign, we are going to be recording a new episode of the Daveberta Podcast each week. In this episode Dave and Ryan talk...
View ArticleEpisode 33: Ballot Questions, the Leaders’ Debate, and your great Alberta...
In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss the latest Alberta’s election developments, including the fallout from Mark Smith’s homophobic comments, Jason Kenney’s interview with Charles Adler and how it...
View ArticleEpisode 35: The big UCP win, an Alberta Election Recap
The Alberta election is over. In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss the election results, who Jason Kenney might pick for the United Conservative government cabinet, what is next for Rachel Notley and...
View ArticleEpisode 36: Jason Kenney’s first week and what’s next for Rachel Notley
In this episode of the Daveberta Podcast we discuss the election results, Jason Kenney’s first week as Premier of Alberta and who he appointed to the United Conservative government cabinet, and Rachel...
View ArticleWorking under the Dome: A look at some political staffers hired to work for...
One of the results of a change in government is a mass turnover in the political staffers who occupy the offices of the premier, cabinet ministers and caucuses. As a new government enters office in...
View Article15 years ago I started a blog about Alberta politics
It is remarkable how quickly time flies by. Fifteen years ago I was probably sitting on my couch in the living room of my heavily-subsidized and very run-down University of Alberta-owned residence in...
View ArticleMinisterial staff changes follow UCP mini-cabinet shuffle
The recent mini-cabinet shuffle is being followed by a series of staffing changes among the senior ministerial ranks of the United Conservative Party government. Announced during last week’s shuffle...
View Article3 Years of the Daveberta Podcast!
Time flies when you’re having fun! Three years and 63 episodes ago, we launched the Daveberta Podcast and it continues to be a thrill to share the platform with many great guests who continue to bring...
View ArticleEpisode 83: Take care, stay safe, be kind, and see you next time.
We got the band back together for the final episode of the Daveberta Podcast. That’s right, folks. We are going on a semi-permanent hiatus. And to help mark this announcement, our good friend Ryan...
View ArticleRace to replace Jason Kenney takes shape – Rajan Sawhney and Rebecca Schulz...
Hey there politics fans! The United Conservative Party released its leadership race rule book! UCP members will choose a replacement for Premier Jason Kenney on October 6, 2022. It will cost $150,000...
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