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The Calgary Stampede begins Friday with politics amidst the agenda of the 10-day Alberta tradition.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are both in town with commitments that combine attending the festival and rodeo and taking care of political business.
Mr. Trudeau was scheduled to meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to discuss issues including emission reductions and the federal government’s goal of having a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. There’s a story here ahead of the meeting.
Calgary-based Alberta Columnist Kelly Cryderman offers a Reporter’s Comment on what to expect:
“The Calgary Stampede is about the midway and rodeo, dressing as a cowpoke, and pancakes and coffee. But for politicians, it’s also a time of fundraising, being seen, and the personal interactions that can help compromise take place, even across party lines.
“Where else than at the First Flip breakfast can you see Alberta Premier Danielle Smith smiling beside federal Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek? A party on Thursday night hosted by New West Public Affairs saw a mixing of Alberta NDP and United Conservative Party MLAs, lobbyists, and government staffers, past and present. In the spirit of Alberta’s two big cities being led by progressive mayors who often see eye-to-eye in their battles with the conservative provincial government, Edmonton has started hosting an annual Stampede party. Given the rivalry between the two cities, that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
“Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headlining a Laurier Club Stampede Reception on Friday night, where hundreds of dollars in annual dues are a prerequisite for attendance. Federal Conservatives – united by stronger polling numbers – will gather in Heritage Park for a barbeque fundraiser with Leader Pierre Poilievre Saturday evening.
“The true test of whether this Stampede togetherness leads to anything concrete will come Friday afternoon, when Mr. Trudeau will meet with Ms. Smith to hash out their differences on energy and climate policy.”
This is the daily Politics Briefing newsletter, written by Ian Bailey. It is available exclusively to our digital subscribers. If you’re reading this on the web, subscribers can sign up for the Politics newsletter and more than 20 others on our newsletter signup page. Have any feedback? Let us know what you think.
