Premier Alison Redford

1 premier

1.1 party leadership
1.2 2012 election
1.3 post 2012 election premiership

1.3.1 fiscal policy
1.3.2 education , labour

1.3.2.1 bill 45
1.3.2.2 bill 46


1.3.3 energy


1.4 fulfilment of mandate
1.5 controversy , resignation

premier
party leadership

on february 16, 2011, redford announced candidate in progressive conservative association leadership race succeed stelmach, had announced in january resign leader , premier once successor chosen. redford largely considered outsider , had support of 1 mla in leadership campaign.

in first round of voting held on september 18, 2011, redford placed second behind gary mar, perceived frontrunner , preferred candidate of caucus, 19 per cent of vote compared 41 per cent mar. redford managed place second largely signing outsiders several campaign promises, particularly reversing $107-million education cut gained support of teachers while upsetting many in party. no candidate winning necessary 50 per cent plus 1 on first ballot second , third round of voting held on october 2, 2011. after third round of voting redford beat mar, winning 51 per cent of vote.

redford sworn in alberta s 14th premier @ alberta legislature in edmonton on october 7, 2011.

2012 election

on march 26, 2012, redford met lieutenant governor don ethell, dissolved current legislature , called election april 23, 2012. after election called, support wildrose party supposedly surged past redford s progressive conservatives. throughout campaign thought wildrose, led danielle smith, win majority government, ending pc s 40-year reign.

however, on election night, progressive conservatives shocked pollsters , media pundits, winning twelfth majority government, taking 61 of 87 seats in provincial legislature—a loss of 5 seats. wildrose party have accused of more moderate policies, thought have attracted liberal , ndp supporters, pundits believed voted strategically stop further right-wing wildrose, forming government. wildrose lost momentum in final weeks of campaign, due smith s defence of 2 wildrose candidates had made controversial remarks. according national post, 2 of wildrose candidates extreme views, smith s refusal condemn them, cost chance of unseating redford. ultimately, wildrose failed foothold in urban areas, winning 2 seats in calgary , being shut out in edmonton. win, redford became fourth woman in canadian history lead political party victory in election, after catherine callbeck in prince edward island, pat duncan in yukon, , kathy dunderdale in newfoundland , labrador.

redford campaigning during 2012 provincial election

as part of pc campaign platform, redford expressed intentions work nonprofits, calling creation of new department of human services single point of entry non-profits. redford promised build, of have opened, 50 new schools, , renovate 70 more on next 4 years.

post 2012 election premiership
fiscal policy

one of redford s first actions premier abolish pay committee work members of legislative assembly. issue of committee pay had been contentious during 2012 election, , news of so-called no-meet committee in mlas paid handsomely little or no actual work had prompted wide public outrage. election issue had been gold-plated pensions , redford rejected advice of panel of experts reinstate handsome pensions mlas, suggestion hike own salary in excess of $300,000, instead vowing not take pension @ all. in wake of public spending scandals involving minister tourism , senior executives alberta health services, redford instituted new transparency measures , accountability in form of public disclosure of expense spending. in 2013, after public discussion following dismissal of chief of staff , refusal discuss severance, redford announced creation of sunshine list - public disclosure of salaries , severances public sector workers in highest levels of alberta s public sector.

despite number of these low-level fiscal policy initiatives, redford s big picture actions have been viewed less favourably.

alison redford s real claim fame in history books of alberta premier returned alberta debt. premier alison redford — , finance minister doug horner — took alberta ralph klein s paid in full, $8.3 billion in debt of today. unless successor radically changes course, alberta have debt of $21 billion fiscal 2016–17. , while did it, tore alberta s best financial transparency legislation, repealing fiscal responsibility act , government accountability act.

a year later, redford s own analysis revealed in globe , mail interview:

after long stretch of soul-searching, reluctant identify specific mistakes made, did point range of other factors contributing difficulties, gender back-stabbing in own caucus.

education , labour

promises made postsecondary education during campaign, however, not kept, angered several unions had supported leadership campaign. in spring 2013, under redford s leadership progressive conservatives tabled first alberta budget since reelection. government failed honour 2012 provincial election promises continue increase post-secondary education @ rate of 2%. instead budget cut 7.2%. on october 9, 2013, following 900 academic staff , faculty job losses across province, thomas lukazuk, minister responsible advanced education, announced $142.5 million had come available construct new engineering building @ university of calgary. figure controversial amount, close $147 million needed reverse cuts 8 months before. decision @ odds government s written assurances university administrators on july 3, 2013 advocate reverse budget cuts if additional dollars became available: guys, re not happy, m not happy budget. reality ... moment have dollars can access, ll first on on knees before treasury board advocating dollars. in meantime, financial houses in order, said. redford s government did not honour promise while held office.

redford s relationship largest public sector union, alberta union of provincial employees rocky. in 2012, redford appeared @ union s annual convention.

bill 45

however, in 2013, government tabled bill 45 increased fines illegal strikes. protests against bill 45 came aupe united nurses of alberta, health sciences association of alberta , canadian union of provincial employees-alberta, representing 85,000 albertans. bill 45 imposes severe economic sanctions on provincial workers strike. workers forbidden striking deemed essential services. on march 20, 2015 reported bill 45 being repealed. premier jim prentice, redford s successor, announced don t agree content of legislation , move forward , define essential service legislation respectful of our employees respectful of taxpayers. aupe felt 1 of odious remnants of redford era gone.

bill 46

the government passed bill 46: public service salary restraint act unilaterally stripped union of right arbitration, right granted premier peter lougheed. aupe launched legal challenge against bill 46, , 2 months later court of queen s bench justice denny thomas granted indefinite injunction, saying legislation irreparably harm labour relations, guts collective bargaining process , emasculates aupe. redford continued defend legislation , reiterated government s intent appeal judge s order. in words of 1 observer, redford government felt necessary come down hard on them in order snuff out hope of wage increases might add provincial budget deficit. following redford s resignation, aupe , hancock government reached tentative agreement calling immediate $1800 lump sum salaried employees (prorated wage earners) , pay increase of 6.75% spread on 4 years. compensation deal proposed redford government had been 2% on 4 years , $875 lump sum in 2014/15. government dropped appeal against injunction after deal aupe reached.

energy

redford s relationship british columbia premier christy clark described rocky. main area of contention trans-provincial pipeline. controversy , delays in approving keystone xl pipeline focused attention on moving bitumen alberta west coast. clark had demanded share of royalties in exchange granting access build enbridge northern gateway pipelines, prompting frosty response redford in october 2012. in november 2013, framework deal worked out between 2 leaders, redford s position on royalties remaining unchanged. 1 analyst remarked public scuffle british columbia’s premier, christy clark, on northern gateway pipeline, first indication of unproductive handling of energy issues redford s government. there instability of appointments in energy portfolios (including removal of ken hughes energy minister , resignation of kennedy-glans associate minister electricity , renewable resources).

fulfilment of mandate

many of redford government s decisions reversed premier jim prentice once assumed office. when 2014 fall legislative session prorogued, 2 controversial bills died on order paper (the public sector pension plans amendment act (bill 9) , employment pension (private sector) plans amendment act (bill 10)). move satisfied aupe had objected these bills, in concert bills 45 , 46, attack on public sector workers redford government. promise made not re-introduce bills 9 , 10. following day, announced prentice visit michener centre, long term care center controversially marked closure redford government. opposition parties had called on successive governments keep centre open. many of prentice s first actions in office seen direct repudiation of redford s mandate , attempt rehabilitate progressive conservative party in eyes of public. on march 20, 2015 prentice announced bill 45 repealed, stating don t agree content of legislation.

controversy , resignation

in 2013, redford attended funeral of nelson mandela, representing province, , part of personal history nelson mandela, whom worked , in fight against apartheid. attendance created controversy when revealed alberta government covered approximately $45,000 cost trip, including $10,000 privately chartered flight return alberta south africa swearing-in of new alberta cabinet. redford s travel further elicited disapproval albertans when revealed redford s 12-year-old daughter , friend had accompanied several times on official government planes. in mid-march 2014, redford repaid costs of mandela funeral trip , apologized. reported in press money repaid after weeks of refusals so, , redford relented after tensions within caucus spilled public realm.

the fallout on mandela funeral trip led further scrutiny, subsequent revelations of redford s expenses promote province , questionable spending, while government making public service cuts. led charges abusing political power culture of entitlement. critics pointed out redford s staffers had high salaries, including chief of staff earned more counterparts worked canadian prime minister or u.s. president. further public allegations redford s executive assistant charged $9,000 in lodging while working in edmonton, averaging $200 night press referred luxury hotel stays.

despite winning party leadership , general election coalition of unions of progressives, disappointed many of them not fulfilling campaign promises, administration moved right after 2012. @ same time angered fiscal conservatives province accumulated debt of $8.7-billion (the canadian taxpayers federation projected reach $17-billion 2016), aided changes accounting rules made in 2013 budget.

as result of these controversies, redford s personal approval rating dropped 18 per cent (the first sitting alberta premier since don getty have approval rating below 20 per cent) , party support fell 19 per cent, versus 46 per cent opposition wildrose. backbencher len webber quit progressive conservative caucus sit independent, saying redford bully . steve robson, president of pc association in northeast edmonton, described redford arrogant leader not listen caucus , called on resign. during weekend of march 15–16, 2014, redford met pc party executive in closed-door meeting, given unspecified work plan follow. redford faced caucus revolt, 10 mlas met on march 16 debate whether leave pc party , sit independents. on march 17, associate minister electricity donna kennedy-glans left pc caucus. later week, riding association presidents preparing non-confidence motions in redford s leadership.

on march 19, 2014, redford announced resign premier of alberta, effective march 23, 2014. succeeded deputy premier dave hancock interim party leader , premier until jim prentice chosen successor @ leadership election, progressive conservative party s third contest in 8 years. redford announced resignation mla calgary-elbow on august 6, 1 day before auditor general s report travel expenses scheduled release. on august 7, 2014 report auditor general of alberta noted premier , office had used public resources inappropriately, used public assets (aircraft) personal , partisan purposes , redford involved in plan convert public space in public building personal living space. report concluded these abuses arose due aura of power around premier redford , office , perceptions influence of office should not questioned. key findings included:

the (premier s) office did not comply expense policy because responsible approving expenses did not document rationale key decisions impacted travel costs. these key decisions included type , class of transportation used , standard of accommodation provided premier redford , office staff.
the government not require premier certify costs incurred premier or on behalf of premier government business , reasonable use of public resources.
there no formal oversight structure monitor office s travel expenses , use of government aircraft.
government aircraft policy not followed. there personal , partisan use of aircraft premier redford.




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^ 7 stumbles , funeral: why alberta s premier alison redford had quit . globe , mail. toronto. march 20, 2014. 
^ archived copy . archived original on march 24, 2014. retrieved 2014-03-22. 
^ mar leads alberta pcs head 2nd ballot . canadian broadcasting corporation. september 18, 2011. retrieved april 24, 2012. 
^ mclean, tanara (october 1, 2011). redford wins leadership race . edmonton sun. retrieved april 24, 2012. 
^ fong, petti (october 2, 2011). alison redford new leader of alberta s pc party . toronto star. retrieved october 7, 2011. 
^ alison redford sworn in alberta premier . cbc news. october 7, 2011. retrieved october 7, 2011. 
^ updated: alberta election called april 23 . global edmonton. march 26, 2012. retrieved april 25, 2012. 
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^ grenier, Éric (april 16, 2012). wildrose on track majority week go in alberta . globe , mail. toronto. retrieved april 25, 2012. 
^ albertans elect tory majority government . canadian broadcasting corporation. april 23, 2012. retrieved april 25, 2012. 
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^ albertans elect tory majority government . canadian broadcasting corporation. april 23, 2012. retrieved april 29, 2012. 
^ graveland, bill. alberta election 2012: danielle smith defends controversial candidates ron leech , allan hunsperger . 
^ social issues sank wildrose during campaign, experts . 2012-04-24. 
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^ pc leader redford promises 50 new schools . cbc news. retrieved september 26, 2012. 
^ alberta premier alison redford leaves mixed legacy behind
^ 1 year later, alison redford looks back: m polarizing figure
^ universities, students , staff push against post-secondary budget cuts . daveberta.ca. 2013-03-25. retrieved 2016-09-10. 
^ u of c engineering school gets $142.5m expansion . cbc news. october 9, 2013. 
^ financial review cancelled due u of compliance, lukaszuk says . thegatewayonline.ca. 2013-10-09. retrieved 2016-09-10. 
^ premier redford address aupe convention today | alberta union of provincial employees . aupe.org. 2016-09-02. retrieved 2016-09-10. 
^ edmonton journal article
^ odious remnant of redford era gone . calgary sun. march 20, 2015. 
^ archived copy . archived original on march 21, 2014. retrieved 2014-03-21. 
^ southam, greg (december 12, 2013). aupe launches legal fight against bill 46 . edmonton journal. retrieved march 22, 2014. 
^ calgary herald article
^ redford sullies human rights record
^ aupe news release
^ government of alberta press releases 27 nov 2013 averaged out, redford government offered 0.5% , $218.75 per year while negotiations under hancock arrived @ tentative figure of 1.69% , $450 per year.
^ details emerge on 4-year aupe deal
^ national post article alison redford , christy clark s rocky relationship archived march 29, 2014, @ archive.is
^ financial post article fresh start after redford , clark dig in heels on pipeline
^ globe , mail article clark , redford reach deal on pipelines
^ financial post article alberta s energy leadership takes hit alison redford s political foibles continue
^ alberta premier prentice prorogues fall legislative session , edmonton sun, 18 september 2014
^ huffington post site
^ wildrose party website
^ jim prentice has huge hill climb give albertans want cbc news 18 september 2014
^ cbc news
^ ctv news network, memorial of nelson mandela , airdate 10 december 2013 circa 4:30am est
^ redford calls $45k mandela memorial travel costs disappointing alberta premier says wouldn t have gone south africa had known how expensive http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/redford-calls-45k-mandela-memorial-travel-costs-disappointing-1.2524467 february 5, 2014
^ premier repay expenses, defiant on $45k airfare . cbc news. 
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^ national post story 20 march 2014
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^ archived copy . archived original on march 24, 2014. retrieved 2014-03-20. 
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^ edmonton journal story
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^ cryderman, kelly (march 19, 2014). alberta premier redford resign, effective sunday . toronto: globe , mail. retrieved march 19, 2014. 
^ cite error: named reference thestar.com invoked never defined (see page).
^ gerson, jen (march 19, 2014). alison redford resigns premier of alberta . national post. retrieved march 21, 2014. 
^ alberta pc leadership vote: jim prentice wins on 1st ballot . cbc news. september 6, 2014. retrieved september 6, 2014. 
^ alison redford, former alberta premier, resigns mla . canadian broadcasting corporation. august 6, 2014. retrieved august 6, 2014. 
^ direct quotes
^ report of auditor general of alberta (august 2014): special duty report on expenses of office of premier redford , alberta s air transportation services program (office of auditor general of alberta) issn 1919-4242 accessed online august 7, 2014
^ see recommendations document @ http://www.oag.ab.ca/webfiles/reports/august%202014%20recommendations_0.pdf