Western Standard - July 28, 2022


Paul Hinman & Angela Tabak on what's happening with the WIPA

Mentioned
Angela Elections Alberta Jeevan Mangit Corey Paul Rick Norfey Ted Morton NationBuilder Wildrose Redford Rachel Notley Kenny Zoom Tons
Triggered： Danielle Smith is a victim of her own talkativeness Triggered： Danielle Smith owned the first UCP leadership debate

Episode Stats


Length

13 minutes

Words per minute

190.87

Word count

2,519

Sentence count

171

Harmful content

Misogyny

1

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

In this episode, I sit down with the newly elected president of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, Angela Nordeau. We talk about what s going on with the party and what it means for the future of the party.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Hosts, guests, and mentioned names generated with spaCy (en_core_web_sm), reconciled against Wikidata.
00:00:00.000 I'm just going to start with a bit of a ramble to give some people some background if they're not familiar with what's kind of happening in the party, or at least my interpretation of it.
00:00:07.500 You kind of had a split between the party executive members and, well, the leadership yourself, and I guess almost in a tertiary way in the members themselves.
00:00:19.240 The small board of directors essentially considered you removed as the leader from the party, but it wasn't accepted by the members.
00:00:29.540 The AGM was held last weekend, and the members sort of stood up.
00:00:34.440 The executive committee walked out, and you've been reinstated as leader and yourself as president.
00:00:40.180 Is that kind of in a nutshell what's happened here?
00:00:42.440 Yes, that's a good summary of it, and you just need to realize is that what we're talking about is a rogue board that wants to declare themselves leader forever.
00:00:54.080 You know, they manipulated the elections that we were going to have.
00:00:58.080 They eliminated people who sent in their nominations.
00:01:02.960 They didn't disqualify them or let them know to the last minute.
00:01:05.720 It's just really been disheartening to see the way this past board of governors behaved, but it was so exciting to be amongst our members, to have a great discussion, to have, again, a democratic process of electing people.
00:01:21.820 And again, I don't know if it was seven hours into the meeting, we still had 83% of the people that were there and voted in favor for the new board and for myself as leadership.
00:01:32.860 And it was just, it was great to end on such a high note.
00:01:37.620 Okay, so going into party management and operations and things like that, for people not familiar with it, that's typically kind of the domain of the executive committee and the party president.
00:01:47.640 So I'll bring Angela in and kind of ask. Now, you guys are in an odd spot.
00:01:51.820 As I said, I did contact Jeevan Mangit just to ask him, trying to find out what's going on from there.
00:01:56.840 He basically said, go to the Elections Alberta website, and that tells you who runs the party.
00:02:01.480 Well, and that still lists Jeevan and Rick Norfey.
00:02:05.140 Now, as the one who's been selected, Angela, as party president, how can you rectify or change that with Elections Alberta?
00:02:12.000 What's the process and what's happening now?
00:02:13.620 Well, we've been talking to them, and we're looking at our different options, obviously.
00:02:18.380 The fact of the matter is that the membership spoke.
00:02:22.700 The old PBOG didn't like it.
00:02:25.320 There are things that they could have done to rectify the situation way before this that they chose not to.
00:02:32.040 And so, I mean, they're basically running a party without any support of the members.
00:02:37.640 So, yeah, we're just moving forward.
00:02:40.240 The party spoke.
00:02:41.520 They chose their new party board of governors, and we're moving forward with that.
00:02:47.040 And, yeah, like I said, we have spoken to Elections Alberta.
00:02:49.760 We're looking at different options.
00:02:50.940 But we've got a message, and we have a movement to bring forward to the people of Alberta, and we're just getting busy with that.
00:03:02.500 Okay, but in the meantime, like who's controlling the email accounts, the fundraising, the bank?
00:03:08.740 I mean, until that's resolved, it's going to be very difficult for you guys to organize effectively anyways, isn't it?
00:03:14.160 Well, I would actually say no, Corey, in that we have some awesome CAs.
00:03:21.760 Angela's got one that are up and running, 25 to 30, and they can carry on.
00:03:27.260 I mean, one of their complaints for the last year is that they write in or they call in to get the membership from their CA so they can build their CAs,
00:03:35.480 and our past board wouldn't send it to them.
00:03:37.920 Oh, no, what do you want to send?
00:03:39.540 Send it to us, and we'll send it out.
00:03:41.060 They were so, I want to say, just obsessed with control that our party hasn't been able to move forward.
00:03:48.600 And so we're getting each CA independent.
00:03:51.340 They can donate money and raise money in their CAs.
00:03:54.020 They're looking for candidates who want to run.
00:03:57.040 And it's actually quite exciting that since the AGM now, all of a sudden we're coming together.
00:04:02.320 We've had several Zoom meetings and talking to different CA presidents,
00:04:06.440 and people are ready to go forward and go out there and start talking to Albertans.
00:04:10.420 But, yes, they currently have the website, and they have NationBuilder,
00:04:14.000 but we're going to work from one CA to the next, and it's going to be great.
00:04:19.640 Well, I mean, that's an interesting way to work around because, I mean, the election is approaching.
00:04:24.060 We're less than a year from it.
00:04:25.320 You're going to need candidates in place.
00:04:26.780 You're going to need funds.
00:04:27.440 You're going to need campaign planning.
00:04:30.480 I mean, still, in the end, the party will have to resolve that.
00:04:33.460 I guess that's going to take a little time.
00:04:34.760 I mean, things can't happen overnight.
00:04:37.060 Do you think this might go to the courts?
00:04:39.740 Well, I sure hope not.
00:04:41.500 I mean, let's sit back and have some reason here.
00:04:45.620 Just watch the, you know, it's all up on YouTube, Wildrose AGM 2022.
00:04:50.800 It's very plain what happened.
00:04:52.400 The people spoke.
00:04:53.260 And, you know, one of the hallmarks of a good democracy is that the peaceful turnover to a new, you know, to the new group.
00:05:01.620 And these people are, again, just showing their colors, full colors in that they're authoritarians.
00:05:09.520 They want control, and they refuse to let go.
00:05:12.560 And they very much, for the three months leading up to the AGM, went through all of this.
00:05:17.000 You know, they didn't allow us to have a policy and governance policy where the members had submitted.
00:05:22.040 It's just really been disappointing their behavior.
00:05:25.760 But, like I say, time is on our side.
00:05:28.200 Truth's on our side.
00:05:29.500 And I do believe that they'll come to reason and realize, you know, I guess we need to go join with the other groups that they say that this is where we need to be.
00:05:38.740 They're free to go and join.
00:05:40.040 There's two or three other groups that are claiming to be independent groups.
00:05:44.160 And they want to be with them.
00:05:46.480 Then please, pull up your stakes and go over and join them.
00:05:50.220 Well, it's a tough field out there.
00:05:54.000 I mean, what was interesting, I believe it was about 400 members showed up.
00:05:58.140 That's a sizable number for a smaller party to get rolling.
00:06:02.840 I mean, I know, I think Paul and I have attended AGMs in past parties where we'd have like 80 or 90 people.
00:06:08.400 And we still, I mean, over time, turned that into the official opposition in Alberta.
00:06:11.680 So 400 people is not something to sneeze at, especially in summer when people have things they feel might be better to do.
00:06:18.000 Of those, as you said, the majority, and we can see that in the video online, did say that they wanted to elect a new board.
00:06:24.900 So, Angela, you're the one that the group there chose as president.
00:06:29.620 There's others on this new executive committee, I imagine, as well.
00:06:32.960 Yeah, absolutely.
00:06:34.180 We've got a great team, tons of different experience and backgrounds that we're bringing different skills to the group.
00:06:44.620 And, yeah, very cohesive.
00:06:46.580 Like, it's a very different field than what we've been dealing with for the last year.
00:06:50.540 As a CA president for the last 14 months, I've had zero support from the old Party Board of Governors.
00:06:57.260 And, basically, we've been running CAs on our own without that support.
00:07:01.640 So, yeah, we've got a long list of things that we know that we need to put in place to help the CAs be effective and successful in their bid to find candidates and to get things moving.
00:07:14.960 And we're super excited.
00:07:16.460 Tons of energy, tons of energy and just a real commitment to the principles of Wildrose.
00:07:22.860 It's grassroots.
00:07:23.980 We want to hear from the CA presidents.
00:07:25.820 We want to hear from the membership.
00:07:28.000 We've set up online things where just any member can go online and they can give us all kinds of ideas and what their thoughts are.
00:07:35.420 And it's bottom up, not top down, which is what we have been experiencing.
00:07:41.320 Yeah, so you've got lots to do in limited time.
00:07:44.220 Do you think, is there going to be another event or anything going on, like a larger part of gathering between now and election time?
00:07:50.460 Maybe a chance to resolve some more things or something like that?
00:07:54.200 Yeah, absolutely.
00:07:55.820 Yeah, we're going to get pushing forward.
00:07:57.480 And again, we'll hold probably a special general meeting so that we can bring forward the policies and bylaws that the members already submitted and wanted to vote on.
00:08:06.460 But bottom line, we want to start doing town halls, going around the province and working in the different CAs to let people know that we actually do have a solution that's much better than the Sovereignty Act, which is, again, going into their courts and asking for permission.
00:08:21.520 Hey, will you make us supreme over you?
00:08:23.520 We have a better result or better plan than that, than what they're doing.
00:08:28.520 They're doing, but it's good to see people coming on board and following Danielle the way they are, because that that's certainly a step in the great direct in the right direction.
00:08:37.420 We're thrilled that they're imitating so many of our policies.
00:08:40.180 They just got two or three more to go and we're doing great.
00:08:44.560 Yeah, well, you always have been something of a pragmatist.
00:08:48.400 You got in trouble for that with your endorsement of Ted Morton, I believe, many years ago.
00:08:52.220 So the bottom line is, I mean, it doesn't matter who gets the job done.
00:08:55.820 It's just got to get done.
00:08:56.800 So but you're basically I mean, you're there saying if the UCP doesn't do it, you're going to.
00:09:02.600 Well, I think they're actually following us and even Danielle, you know, like she's by far, in my opinion, the best of the pack, the only one in the pack that's going to stand up or make an attempt to Ottawa.
00:09:12.280 But this idea to say that we're going to pass legislation, then we're going to go out to Ottawa and say, hey, we want you to make our legislation supreme over your legislation.
00:09:23.140 That's like asking for permission for something, you know, they're going to say no.
00:09:26.760 And then you're in a lost position, whereas with the Wild Rose and what we're proposing is that we actually talk to the people.
00:09:32.860 Next election, they're going to be able to answer.
00:09:35.560 Do you want to have our own police force?
00:09:37.320 Do you want to have our own tax system where we collect all the taxes by Albertans for Albertans?
00:09:42.720 Are we going to have our own environmental regulations?
00:09:45.320 We're not going to listen to Ottawa.
00:09:46.520 And you actually need to present that to the people when they elect us.
00:09:49.940 We actually have our mandate from the people on the things we campaigned about.
00:09:54.220 And perhaps the two most important things where they're not there yet is if we want better government than the legacy parties, we have to have accountability.
00:10:01.900 You have to be able to fire your elected representatives any day, 24-7, 365 days of the year.
00:10:08.380 And this idea that once every four years is good enough, look what Rachel did to us. 0.99
00:10:12.920 Look what Notley did to us.
00:10:14.440 I mean, what Kenny did to us.
00:10:16.860 And you can go back to Redford and all of these other ones.
00:10:19.680 It doesn't work.
00:10:20.800 But most important for Alberta, the Paris Accord and carbon net zero does not work for us, doesn't work for the world.
00:10:29.540 And for Danielle to say that, oh, we're going to meet carbon net zero and we can do all these innovative things if we're taxed so heavily, that's a no-go.
00:10:37.780 We need zero carbon tax.
00:10:39.840 We need to have the ability to develop and sell our resources to the world.
00:10:44.220 They need more Alberta oil.
00:10:45.500 It's ethical, it's clean, and it's just the way to go.
00:10:48.980 And we need to stand up and say no to Ottawa.
00:10:51.300 And we need a mandate from the people to say no and we'll exercise our full autonomy.
00:10:56.100 Well, great.
00:10:56.980 Well, I mean, it's certainly a distinct stance and you're there and putting that out.
00:11:00.640 So maybe just in closing, I guess, with Angela, because there is just a, where can people find information on the party, keep up with it?
00:11:07.640 I mean, there's kind of multiple sources going on right now.
00:11:11.760 Where could you direct people if they're looking to find more information to contact you guys?
00:11:15.800 So we are getting that up and running.
00:11:18.700 Yeah, I mean, we're five days out from the AGM.
00:11:21.700 So we are scrambling and we will have that out quickly and shortly here.
00:11:27.580 The CA presidents and the CA boards are reaching out to their current members right now to establish contact and to let them know.
00:11:34.720 Well, they've had contact already before, but to just let them know, hey, we're still here and we're still moving forward with this movement.
00:11:40.780 And frankly, the sovereignty movement in Alberta is in a much better position today than it was last week at this time because of what happened at the AGM.
00:11:48.640 All right.
00:11:50.280 Well, thanks for coming on to speak to us today about some of that and try and un-muddy the waters a little bit.
00:11:57.180 Anyways, I know there's a lot of you.
00:11:58.580 I mean, you can just see it on the YouTube video.
00:12:00.520 And I do suggest other people go and have a look for yourselves.
00:12:03.300 I mean, there's interpretations, there's views.
00:12:05.080 But I mean, it was all covered.
00:12:06.900 You can see what happened and make up your own determination on what's going on.
00:12:10.760 I think it's important to have alternative parties out there giving a good message out there, you know, when we come election time.
00:12:17.620 And it's unfortunate to see parties dedicating so much time to fight within themselves rather than, you know, getting established for an election.
00:12:24.280 So I hope it's all resolved fairly soon and look forward to talking to you guys then.
00:12:28.700 One last thing, Corey, being the person who I am and sticking my neck out when I'm not supposed to, but we're going to be going back to our old website, wildrose.party, www.wildrose.party.
00:12:41.440 If this road board doesn't turn over and do the honorable thing, we'll start up that and people can start looking there, www.wildrose.party.
00:12:52.340 And that'll probably be where we end up because it looks like they're going to dig in and not want to do the right thing.
00:13:00.680 Okay.
00:13:01.300 Well, thanks.
00:13:02.320 Wildrose.party and we'll keep an eye on it, Paul and Angela.
00:13:05.720 So, well, good luck with your endeavors and we'll talk to you again, I'm sure.
00:13:09.260 Thanks for having us on.
00:13:10.480 Really appreciate the work you're doing.
00:13:11.800 Thank you.