Few Albertans know who Take Back Alberta (TBA) is. But the political organization, created in December 2021 by David Parker, is an increasingly influential presence in conservative politics playing a disproportionate role within Daniele Smith’s United Conservative Party government.
And, having shown an ability to organize and fundraise, it will be a clear factor in the 2023 provincial election.
However, it is not a normal third-party group: it was a fierce opponent of public health measures related to COVID-19, participated in the Coutts border blockade, funded the Ottawa Convoy and supports like-minded organizations. Simply put, TBA is a force in Alberta politics that is growing more powerful.
A UCP victory in the 2023 election would solidify and legitimize the group as the non-elected power behind the government.
It already has a string of successes. Its organizational skill was a significant contributor to the defeat of former premier Jason Kenney in the May 2022 UCP leadership review. Its support of Danielle Smith helped her win the UCP leadership and become premier in October 2022. At the October 2022 UCP AGM, its members won all the elections to the UCP board, so it now has half of the UCP board positions.
Last week, in an amazing show of strength, it assembled more than 500 people to attend the AGM for the Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre constituency association and took over the board, winning 28 of 30 seats that were up for re-election. This could lead to the UCP nomination being reopened and Tim Hoven replacing former cabinet minister Jason Nixon as the candidate.
It has also had policy success. Already, the Smith government has fired former chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, publicly apologized for COVID-19 restrictions, directed Justice Minister Tyler Shandro to “take any necessary legislative or regulatory steps to prohibit discrimination on the basis of COVID-19 vaccination and/or booster status,” and appointed Preston Manning to lead an inquiry into the harm caused by federal and provincial government public health measures during COVID-19.
There was also a serious allegation that the Smith government contacted Crown prosecutors to drop charges related to the Coutts blockade and other violations of public health orders. Smith herself said she did so, but then backtracked and said she only contacted the Justice minister.
It was previously reported that TBA had approximately 30,000 members. Its fundraising capacities are impressive. Its goal, as stated on Dec. 14, 2022, by Parker, was to have 10,000 members paying a $4 monthly fee, while hoping to get 99 businesses to donate $500 monthly to the organization. If targets are being met, this would mean at least $89,500 per month for the organization.
TBA is registered with Elections Alberta as a political third-party advertiser, which means it cannot advertise during elections. However, it can use its growing war chest in other ways during the 2023 provincial election, including get-out-the-vote efforts and campaign research, as well as donating money to like-minded third-party advertisers. TBA will act as a powerful third-party organization to undermine the NDP and boost Smith’s agenda (which it helped to craft).
So what would a Take Back Alberta government look like?
Here is a possible list. Shift its organizational skills to municipalities and school boards. Increase individual freedom in education (school vouchers, which are being pushed by the Alberta Parents’ Union) and health care (more private delivery options). Legislative steps to weaken Alberta’s public health authorities to prevent future COVID-19 restrictions. Compensation to those who suffered harm for violating COVID-19 public health guidelines. Implementation of an Alberta autonomy agenda (creating Alberta provincial police to replace RCMP, Alberta tax collection agency to replace Revenue Canada, and an Alberta pension plan by pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan). Using the Sovereignty Act and, if struck down by the courts, a referendum on Alberta’s separation from Canada.
This is not hyperbole or fearmongering. These are all statements coming from Take Back Alberta.
If Take Back Alberta succeeds, it shows how a relatively small but well-financed, organized and highly motivated group can transform a province, and not for the better.
Sarah Biggs is with Olsen-Biggs Public Affairs. Duane Bratt is a political science professor at Mount Royal University.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.
Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.
On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.
Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.
Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Quebec wants to curb excessive tipping.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.
That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.
The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.
And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.
Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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