Thursday, January 27, 2011

Alberta Digest: A Very Albertan coup

The latest installment in the dump the leader phenomenon arrived this week, this time moving across the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia into Alberta, where the surprise announcement of Tuesday that Alberta's Premier  Ed Stelmach had been handed his walking papers by his Progressive Conservative compatriots.

The announcement which seems to have captured not only Alberta but the rest of Canada by surprise, highlights the growing instability in party politics in the country, as just the whiff of fear of moves from the other side can send a party into a whirlwind.

Prior to the drama in usually staid old Alberta, the poster child of political mystery had been British Columbia, where not one but two parties are currently engaged in leadership campaigns, the opposition NDP having removed their leader with just the thought that the Liberals were about to choose a new leader.

Though considering the volatility of BC politics over the years, there wasn't all that much surprise at the dramatic developments engulfing both of the major parties.

But for Alberta, where lately governance seemed to be the divine right of the Conservatives, the removal of their leader in such a rather bloody affair is certainly something to talk about.

And talk they do, below some of the commentary from the Stelmach coup and what may come next in the latest member of the League of surprising developments.

Edmonton Journal-- Alberta's political landscape set for massive change
Edmonton Journal-- Welcome to unpredictable politics
Calgary Herald-- Who will lead?
Calgary Herald-- Negativity did in Ed, but can leaving save the party?
Globe and Mail-- Alberta Conservatives show Stelmach the exit
Globe and Mail-- Stelmach the latest casualty of resignation by coup
Globe and Mail-- A nice guy finishes in Alberta
Globe and Mail-- Conservative showdown prompts Stelmach resignation
National Post--  Life after Ed Stelmach
National Post-- With Stelmach's fall, Ted Morton is the man
The Economist-- Prairie fire
Toronto Star-- Alberta's falling star
Toronto Sun-- Alberta Tories downplay rift rumours

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