Embattled Premier Alison Redford is expected to face a showdown with some senior Tories on Saturday following a whirlwind 24 hours that saw the PC executive director suddenly leave the job, one riding association president call for her to resign and another say the party must get to the bottom of accusations she’s a bully.
The political temperature has increased this week for the Progressive Conservative leader, with controversies brewing over her $45,000 South Africa travel expenses and the sudden move Wednesday of a backbench MLA to sit as an independent.
The Tory party parted ways with executive director Kelley Charlebois, three sources confirmed to the Herald on Friday evening.
He was not available for comment and party president Jim McCormick did not return phone calls, but the move could open internal divisions within the party.
The intrigue comes as the premier is slated to meet with the PC party board of directors in Calgary today, a meeting one senior member calls “pivotal.”
More cracks in the party emerged Friday as Steve Robson, president of the Tories’ Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview constituency association, called on the premier to go, saying he’s “disheartened” with Redford’s leadership.
“I didn’t sign on to be part of something where one person calls the shots and it’s my way or the highway,” Robson said.
“I don’t like that at all. And I would hope to God that there’s going to be a decision that we look at her leadership in some fashion.”
Asked if she should resign, Robson said: “She better.”
“If we go to the next election with her as premier, I don’t think we’ve got a hope in hell. I don’t think there’d be a chance,” he said.
In response, Redford said Friday she has listened to Albertans and made the best decisions she could.
“I am very confident with respect to party volunteers and party supporters,” she told Global TV. “We don’t always agree in our party. I respect that. He’s certainly entitled to express his opinion. And we’ll move on from here.”
The premier has been beset by a series of hot-button issues over travel and expenses, with the biggest flashpoint the $45,000 cost for the premier to travel to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral. After weeks of rejecting calls to repay the expense, she reimbursed the money on Wednesday.
The move didn’t satisfy Calgary-Foothills MLA Len Webber, however, who announced he would leave the Tory caucus to sit as an independent with the hope others would follow to force Redford out. Up to 25 PC MLAs have been rumoured to be contemplating action against Redford, he said.
In a news conference, Webber blasted Redford for a sense of entitlement and described her as a bully who abused and intimidated government MLAs and staffers. Deputy premier Dave Hancock responded by calling Webber a “very sad man” who never got over being dropped from cabinet.
Calgary-McCall riding association president Jamie Lall, a vocal Redford supporter who ran for the Tories in the 2012 election, said the situation has been escalating all week and the mood of the party is “very tense.”
“I think (Saturday) is very, very important, obviously. That’s no secret,” Lall said. “I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous as well because we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
via:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/ontario-tries-to-ban-blood-buying-before-clinics-open/article17506642/
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