October 10, 2006
News from the Calgary Conference
From: [Name Withheld]
Reply-To: cyf-talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: October 2, 2006 6:07:32 PM
To: cyf-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: (cyf-talk) Re: Calgary Congress Review
I attended the Calgary Congress for the Saturday only. I went in true Alberta style, got up at 4 AM for the 3 hour drive south, made the city before sunrise. There were numerous U of C youth there, but no one I recognized. Danielle Smith looks better in person, her promo images do not do her justice. My partner in crime was Ryan Warawa, President of the BC Conservative Party.
Met Ted Byfield, had him autograph his recent column in the Western Standard, but I didn't see Ezra Levant.
Jason Kenny arrived in the morning and gave greetings on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Prime Minister. Jason is like scotch - he's gotten better with age :)
Heard Jason Clemens of the Fraser Institute talk about the economic opportunities of the west and how BC, AB, and even SK are dancing to the same tune on tax policy.
Peter Holle of the Frontier Institute in talked about how equalization harms Manitoba (shame - MB subsidizes hydro rates!)
Brian Crowley of the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies talked about the retardation of the Maritime and Newfoundland economies and how UIC (EI) was that tool, but also gave a caveat that in 8 years the unemployment rate in NS looks to be like 3% because of the demographic shift. He also set the cat among the pigeons with regards to the equality provision on Senate Reform. The grey hairs in the room were stunned as he had just defied them. It was a cautionary "be careful what you wish for, this new Senate might just go and try to dominate your provinces." Crowley was by far the best!
Vincent Pouliot of the Libertarian Party of Canada talked about Senate Reform, took a lesson out of Baldwin-Lafontain, and advocated for a co-prime minsiter (Chancellor, in my words) in the Senate, as this would be a chamber of local (provincial) issues and as a way to curb the powers of the PM.
Bert Brown talked of Senate Reform as well. Much less time on equality than on election was discussed. Bert thinks provincial political parties should only be in the Senate.
Preston Manning talked at lunch about communications and the language to be used to get these ideas across out East. (TOne the rhetoric down)
Tasha Kheirridin and Dr. Barry Cooper talked about the federal spending power. Tasha was excellent, very humourous, and both talked on the history of the centralization of power in Ottawa.
Dr. Ted Morton was up next to talk about reforming the courts. BTW - our courts lost their political virginity a long time ago :) Some good questions were asked about the Human Rights Commissions.
Dr. Morton and Dr. Oberg then took questions as they were the only two PC Alberta candidates to show up. Both performed well.
Premier Klein gave the dinner speech and he was good. He even gave the Trudeau Salute to make a point about improved relations. It was classic Ralph at his best.
I enjoyed the talks presented, but felt there could have been more time given to the speakers. Could have had more U of C students get up and ask smart questions during the QPs.
All procedings were recorded by CPAC for air. Audio will be available on the Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy website soon.
Reply-To: cyf-talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: October 2, 2006 6:07:32 PM
To: cyf-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: (cyf-talk) Re: Calgary Congress Review
I attended the Calgary Congress for the Saturday only. I went in true Alberta style, got up at 4 AM for the 3 hour drive south, made the city before sunrise. There were numerous U of C youth there, but no one I recognized. Danielle Smith looks better in person, her promo images do not do her justice. My partner in crime was Ryan Warawa, President of the BC Conservative Party.
Met Ted Byfield, had him autograph his recent column in the Western Standard, but I didn't see Ezra Levant.
Jason Kenny arrived in the morning and gave greetings on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Prime Minister. Jason is like scotch - he's gotten better with age :)
Heard Jason Clemens of the Fraser Institute talk about the economic opportunities of the west and how BC, AB, and even SK are dancing to the same tune on tax policy.
Peter Holle of the Frontier Institute in talked about how equalization harms Manitoba (shame - MB subsidizes hydro rates!)
Brian Crowley of the Atlantic Institute of Market Studies talked about the retardation of the Maritime and Newfoundland economies and how UIC (EI) was that tool, but also gave a caveat that in 8 years the unemployment rate in NS looks to be like 3% because of the demographic shift. He also set the cat among the pigeons with regards to the equality provision on Senate Reform. The grey hairs in the room were stunned as he had just defied them. It was a cautionary "be careful what you wish for, this new Senate might just go and try to dominate your provinces." Crowley was by far the best!
Vincent Pouliot of the Libertarian Party of Canada talked about Senate Reform, took a lesson out of Baldwin-Lafontain, and advocated for a co-prime minsiter (Chancellor, in my words) in the Senate, as this would be a chamber of local (provincial) issues and as a way to curb the powers of the PM.
Bert Brown talked of Senate Reform as well. Much less time on equality than on election was discussed. Bert thinks provincial political parties should only be in the Senate.
Preston Manning talked at lunch about communications and the language to be used to get these ideas across out East. (TOne the rhetoric down)
Tasha Kheirridin and Dr. Barry Cooper talked about the federal spending power. Tasha was excellent, very humourous, and both talked on the history of the centralization of power in Ottawa.
Dr. Ted Morton was up next to talk about reforming the courts. BTW - our courts lost their political virginity a long time ago :) Some good questions were asked about the Human Rights Commissions.
Dr. Morton and Dr. Oberg then took questions as they were the only two PC Alberta candidates to show up. Both performed well.
Premier Klein gave the dinner speech and he was good. He even gave the Trudeau Salute to make a point about improved relations. It was classic Ralph at his best.
I enjoyed the talks presented, but felt there could have been more time given to the speakers. Could have had more U of C students get up and ask smart questions during the QPs.
All procedings were recorded by CPAC for air. Audio will be available on the Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy website soon.
