Confidential tips by email

I have opened an email account for confidential tips. If you look at the sidebar on the right-hand side of this page, you will find the confidential tips email link under the "About Me" heading.

Information and confidential tips are the lifeblood of any media, and I hope some of you will provide me with information that you think is important for the public to know about. The following represents the policies I will administer with respect to any information you provide to me:

• The information will only be published if it pertains to the Wildrose Party of Alberta.
• Your confidentiality will be respected. No information that may serve to identify you will be published by me.
• Your email address will be kept completely confidential. It will not be shared with anybody.
• I will not publish anything that is defamatory.

I think that covers it, but if you have any recommendations on how this feature can be improved, I would be glad to hear from you.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

A new political party is organizing in the province of Alberta. The Wildrose Party of Alberta was announced by a founding group of members after a meeting that took place on June 23, 2007, in Red Deer. The roster of attendees clearly shows that the Wildrose Party is largely made up of a breakaway faction of former Alberta Alliance politicians, executives, and members. These former Alliance politicos have been joined by some other right wing public figures, including Link Byfield. Throw in a couple of cranks and screwballs, and the founding members picture is complete.

According to their website, the Wildrosers have adopted three inaugural objectives:

1. We'll reduce the massive outflow of Alberta dollars to the federal system by standing up to Ottawa and Quebec

Albertans lose billions every year to other provinces through federal taxation. Ottawa uses our money to buy votes in eastern Canada. This is bad for Alberta and bad for for national unity.

The biggest government cost in Alberta is the amount Ottawa takes out of our province in taxes and doesn't return in spending. It works out to over $10,000 per Alberta household per year.

There are a number of legal ways to cut this back to a more sensible level, but the other parties don't have the political backbone to stand up to Ottawa.

2. We'll make sure that provincial policy reflects the values and priorities of ordinary Albertans

Politicians everywhere like to buy votes by funding special interest groups.

We'll focus on the things that benefit everyone, like roads, schools, law and order, and saving for the future.

Without better spending priorities, Alberta will soon be back in a deficit position.

3. We've written it into our party constitution that our MLAs will do what they promised

If they don't, they can be kicked out of the party. People are sick of politicians promising things and then not doing them.

This blog also has three objectives: (i) to critique the policies and public positions of the Wildrose Party, (ii) to uncover and publish the truth behind the Wildrose Party's public facade, and (iii) to investigate and inform Albertans about the true nature and background of the people involved in Wildrose.

In other words, this blog will be the Wildrose version of (i) the Good, (ii) the Bad, and (iii) the Ugly.

The Wildrose Report is hereby at your service. Enjoy.