There was no one thing. Alison Redford, so frequently a premier on borrowed time, succumbed Wednesday when she resigned her leadership of Alberta’s dynasty PC party. But there were signposts along the road as she gradually lost the support of the public and her party.

1. The outsider

Ms. Redford was an outsider from the start, with only one MLA supporting her leadership bid. She made the second ballot largely by signing up outsiders with a string of campaign promises – chiefly to reverse a $107-million education cut, which wooed teachers but angered many in the party. She beat the caucus’s preferred candidate, Gary Mar, with the same outsider support and, six months later, won an election in which the Wildrose Party made serious errors in the final week. She struggled to satisfy both the centrist, non-partisan coalition that handed her power, and the party she led.

2. Trouble on the left, unrest on the right

A pair of anti-union bills passed in December sparked protests and led union leaders, who earlier were favourable, to dismiss her as a fraud. Earlier in the year, her government also changed the way it budgeted, separating out capital spending. The move was explained as being more in line with common accounting principles, but fiscal hawks said it amounted to cooking the books.

3. The Mandela funeral

The catalyst for much of the furor is a $45,000 trip to South Africa for Ms. Redford and an aide to attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral. The costs were high because she took a government plane to meet up with Stephen Harper’s own plane, flew her aide separately and then flew back early, rather than travelling with Mr. Harper. A week ago, she apologized and said she paid back the $45,000.

4. Expenses and ethics under scrutiny

Ms. Redford had introduced what she billed as the country’s most robust expense disclosure rules. But her own expenses came under greater scrutiny after the South Africa trip. She was slammed for booking first-class flights and luxurious hotels. She flew her daughter and her daughter’s friend on the government plane, which was also used for trips timed closely to party events – and to pick Ms. Redford up in California before Ralph Klein’s funeral. Ms. Redford was also critized when a lucrative tobacco lawsuit contract went to the law-firm of her ex-husband.

5. An uprising in caucus

Last Thursday, MLA Len Webber broke publicly with his leader, resigning from caucus and telling a news conference she was a bully and that anybody would be better as leader. Ms. Redford’s allies attacked, saying he was “a very sad man” who should “go back to being an electrician.” That further divided caucus. One well-regarded MLA, former energy executive Donna Kennedy-Glans, followed suit Monday, resigning from caucus and cabinet. Other MLAs were openly discussing doing the same.

6. The isolated leader

Ms. Redford struggled to establish a personal connection with voters and even most members of her own caucus. When Ms. Kennedy-Glans left, she said she had spoken one-on-one with the premier just once since being elected, even though the two are from the same party, their ridings are both in Calgary and Ms. Kennedy-Glans held a junior cabinet post. There were other signs: Ms. Redford replaced government sedans with black SUVs and brought in top staff from Ontario or from outside politics. Seen to be freezing out caucus, she had few friends when things went sour.

7. No rescue party

In the last election, Ms. Redford fought off a challenge from the nascent Wildrose Party but the polls showed support flowing back to the opposition. In the election, business interests – or money, at least – rallied to the PCs. But as Redford’s troubles accumulated there was little support from leaders in the oil patch, out of the oil patch. As Jeff Jones reports, industry leaders shrugged at her crisis because they see little difference in how either the PCs or Wildrose would affect them

8. Polling problems and the knife at the throat

After months of decline, public opinion poll numbers placed Ms. Redford and her Tories at terrifying depths, with a personal approval rating of 18 per cent and party support of just 19 per cent, versus 46 per cent for Wildrose. With the party’s 43-year dynasty at risk, riding association presidents were preparing non-confidence motions in meetings set for Wednesday night, which were pre-empted by Ms. Redford’s departure.

By Letter to the Editor on March 18, 2014.

Alison Redford needs to resign immediately to be a stay-at-home mom. Albertans don’t need or want any politician who plays the “mommy” card (or “daddy” card, for that matter) as an excuse for giving themselves yet more perks on the backs of the taxpayer.

What nerve for politicians to think they are entitled to give themselves whatever they want because of the job requirements. If they find those requirements that much of a burden, they should quit and find other employment, like anyone else in the workforce who is dissatisfied with their job does.

The sad reality is that no one goes into politics with a view of “public service;” rather, they go into it with a view of “self service.” And, it’s prevalent in all levels of government, be it local, provincial or federal. What other group gives themselves raises, huge pensions and a myriad of other perks as selfish and self-serving as these individuals? At a time when most Albertans are struggling to pay exorbitant taxes and excessive utility bills, it is unconscionable for these so-called public servants to be “feathering their nests” at taxpayers’ expense. They should be ashamed of themselves.

And, thanks to Ms. Redford, I will no longer consider supporting, for any level of government, any woman who has children under 18. Apparently, it is too great an encumbrance for them. Amazing though, isn’t it, how thousands of other working women manage to juggle motherhood and jobs, with a lot less money and no perks?

Diane Hall

Lethbridge

March 18, 2014.

Dave Mabell

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

[email protected]

With ice thawing along the Oldman River, city residents will have to put up with poor-tasting water.

But Lethbridge water remains clean and safe to drink, city council was assured Monday.

Doug Hawkins, the city’s manager of infrastructure services, reported officials are receiving complaints about the odour and less-than-ideal taste of the city’s water currently, in the wake of a boil-water order last week.

“Turbidity levels and the amount of suspended solids remains high,” he told council.

“And the ice is breaking up now,” adding to the situation.

“It’s a continuing challenge,” he said. “The plant is operating normally,” Hawkins added.

Though last week’s challenges forced the plant’s temporary shutdown, he said conditions now are what’s usually expected in March. As in previous years, part of the city’s response is to increase the level of chlorination in the system as a safeguard.

“That’s normal,” and could continue for several more days.

Mayor Chris Spearman joined council members in thanking Hawkins, water and wastewater manager Doug Kaupp and their staff for their work in overcoming the city’s brief water crisis.

“They were the heroes during the water shortage.”

The mayor also praised the efforts of Fire Chief Brian Cornforth, who doubles as the city’s emergency response director.

City residents should also be thanked for conserving the water supply as requested, Councillor Ryan Parker said.

Spearman told council city officials consider the consequences when they ask businesses and citizens o reduce their water consumption significantly.

“We don’t issue a state of emergency order lightly,” he said.

Nor does Alberta Health Services when it issues a boil-water warning, the mayor added.

As of Monday, however, residents of the Vista Meadows residential development west of the city – along with customers of the Lethbridge North County Potable Water Co-op and the County of Lethbridge Rural Water Association Co-op – remained under a boil-water order from AHS.

Officials said there was a possibility of contamination from the depressurization of co-op lines during the regional water emergency. It could take several days for the systems to be flushed and deemed potable, they said earlier.

By Simmons, Garrett on March 10, 2014.

Stan Ashbee

southern alberta newspapers

There’s oil in them there hills – foothills that is. Considered black gold by some. Oil and gas exploration has been at the forefront in Lethbridge and surrounding area over the past few years. Whether it’s good or bad for municipalities will continue to be debated.

At a Lethbridge County council meeting Thursday, a motion was passed that Lethbridge County council send a letter to Robin Campbell, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development minister, that recognizes the value the oil and gas industry adds to Alberta and also encourages legislative changes that will give local governments in Alberta a stronger voice on resource extraction matters in areas that impact municipalities. Deputy Reeve Henry Doeve opposed the motion.

“I don’t want to be drawn into the City of Lethbridge’s issues. They’re making an issue out of something that is not an issue,” said Doeve. “There’s pretty good stop gaps in place now. They can’t drill in the middle of my house now,” he added.

A recommendation was made after a letter from City of Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman was submitted to county council asking whether county council would consider passing a resolution expressing concern about the absence of municipal authority respecting resource drilling within municipal boundaries.

“I think we could have some say in it. I mean it has nothing to do with the Lethbridge issue but potentially they could want to drill next to a hamlet or on a road where it absolutely won’t handle truck traffic. Next thing you know they’ve got 50 trucks a day on some of these roads,” noted Coun. Steve Campbell.

In a recommendation to council from Larry Randle, director of community services, Lethbridge County recognizes the benefits of natural resource extraction and values the oil and gas industry and all the benefits it brings to Alberta. The information submitted also stated having a stronger voice in local area resource extraction would provide the county and other local governments with an enhanced ability to plan for the future.

“We have lots of rules and regulations in place already,” said Coun. Morris Zeinstra.

Lethbridge County Reeve Lorne Hickey added if oil exploration ends up next to hamlets or residential areas it would be beneficial to have a clearer understanding of the development and also a small say in how it occurs.

“Could it be up wind or down wind or how could we do this differently to accommodate the people that live there?” said Hickey, adding while not sacrificing any of the economy.

Doeve asked council if there is indeed a problem. “There’s lots of oil and gas exploration going on all over the place,” he said, adding because of procedures already in place it’s not a problem.

Doeve added he hasn’t heard of any problems in the hamlets within the area and there are currently many safety measures in place.

By Mabell, Dave on January 14, 2014.

Dave Mabell

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

[email protected]

Think you’re paying too much for electricity now? Things are only going to get worse, warns Mayor Chris Spearman.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg ” he told city council members Monday, after a detailed briefing from the city’s electrical utility manager.

Alberta’s electrical transmission costs have doubled over the last five years, manager Otto Lenz pointed out.

“And transmission charges could double again in the next five years,” he predicted.

With Lethbridge power bills expected to increase as much as 6.3 per cent per year, Lenz told council three of the city’s largest power users are already hoping to build their own power stations and go “off grid.” The impact, at least in the short term, would be to download more costs on Lethbridge homeowners and small businesses.

The soaring costs of power transmission, he said, are a result of the Conservative government’s decision to build two high-voltage transmission lines in central Alberta. They’ll cost $2 billion, he said, and the government has ruled ordinary Albertans should pay for their construction instead of the companies’ investors.

The two north-south lines’ capacity will be far in excess of need, Lenz said. They’ll be of little benefit to Lethbridge-area customers.

“It’s like running a Via Rail train between Coaldale and Lethbridge, for one passenger.”

Lethbridge officials have often made that point during presentations to the government-appointed energy regulators, he said.

“It’s fallen on deaf ears.”

Responding to council members’ questions, Lenz said while large, power-hungry companies are allowed to generate their own power, the city’s electrical utility is not. Yet Calgary and Edmonton are permitted to own large electric utilities which are allowed to generate.

Medicine Hat has to abide by almost none of the regulations that hamstring Lethbridge, he added. But Lethbridge, as a “wire services provider,” is required to provide service to local customers who do not want to sign a contract with Enmax or one of its retail competitors.

While it’s intended to operate on a break-even basis, he said the utility has lost as much as $2.8 million on those customers one year – when power prices spiked after a train derailed into Lake Wabamun, site of a major power plant west of Edmonton.

Year-end results for 2013 were a loss of about $1.5 million, he said, due to unexpected hikes in transmission charges set by the Alberta Electrical System Operator. The utility transferred $9.7 million to the city’s coffers, however, as a return on the city’s investment in electrical facilities.

In the power distribution tariff proposed for 2014, Lenz said the utility could resume a break-even course despite slight reductions to access fees for distribution.

A typical homeowner using 650 kilowatt-hours could see the bill rise from $112.66 to $117.64 per month, he estimated. A large retailer using about 35,000 kilovolts would see last year’s $5,472 bill increase to $5,841 per month.

The city recently created a higher-impact residential rate, Lenz said, in response to some owners’ decisions to use heat pumps for geothermal heating, or plug-in electric cars. Their monthly bills could advance to $466 for 3,500 kilowatt hours, up from $446 last year.