Latest news with #DavidParker
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
'It's not great': Alberta independence movement takes hit in Olds byelection
OTTAWA — David Parker, the founder of conservative activist group Take Back Alberta, said on Monday morning that, by the end of the day, Albertans would know the strength of the province's budding independence movement. Article content 'It's not great,' he tweeted shortly before midnight, as the last of the results trickled in from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Article content Article content The rural Alberta riding, one of three up for grabs in Monday's provincial byelection, was closely watched for a potential separatist breakthrough. Article content Article content In the end, the two pro-independence candidates on the ballot took home a respectable 19 per cent of the vote, but fell short of both major parties. Article content Article content 'I see a lot of talking heads and pundits and pollsters that are all quite vigorously calling for us to pack it in. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news for them, but we're just getting started,' said Davies. Article content He said going into the byelection that he was aiming for about 20 per cent of the vote. Article content Article content Davies, who favours Alberta becoming an independent constitutional republic, concedes that the Alberta Republicans' name and red colours may have tethered it too closely to U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content Article content '(The branding) certainly did cause questions about what we were,' said Davies. Article content 'Did it leave an opening for others to spread misinformation? Absolutely it did.' Article content Davies pushed back against assertions throughout the campaign that he wants Alberta to enter the U.S. as the 51st state, a claim he flatly denies. Article content Davies, who lives in south Red Deer, said he'll be running in the next provincial election but hasn't decided which riding he'll contest.
National Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
'It's not great': Alberta independence movement takes hit in Olds byelection
OTTAWA — David Parker, the founder of conservative activist group Take Back Alberta, said on Monday morning that, by the end of the day, Albertans would know the strength of the province's budding independence movement. Article content 'It's not great,' he tweeted shortly before midnight, as the the last of the results trickled in from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Article content Article content The rural Alberta riding, one of three up for grabs in Monday's provincial byelection, was closely watched for a potential separatist breakthrough. Article content Article content In the end, the two pro-independence candidates on the ballot took home a respectable 19 per cent of the vote, but fell short of both major parties. Article content According to preliminary results, the UCP's Tara Sawyer won easily with 61 per cent of the vote with NDP candidate Bev Toews taking home 20 per cent, edging out Republican Party of Alberta leader Cam Davies by 365 votes. Davies told the National Post that the third-place finish won't break his spirits. Article content 'I see a lot of talking heads and pundits and pollsters that are all quite vigorously calling for us to pack it in. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news for them, but we're just getting started,' said Davies. Article content Davies, who favours Alberta becoming an independent constitutional republic, concedes that the Alberta Republicans' name and red colours may have tethered it too closely to U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content '(The branding) certainly did cause questions about what we were,' said Davies Article content 'Did it leave an opening for others to spread misinformation? Absolutely it did.' Article content Davies pushed back against assertions throughout the campaign that he wants Alberta to enter the U.S. as the 51st state, a claim he flatly denies. Article content Davies, who lives in south Red Deer, said he'll be running in the next provincial election but hasn't decided which riding he'll run in. Article content Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Bill Tufts finished well behind the top three with just over one per cent of the vote. Article content Most of the riding overlaps with Olds-Didsbury, where pro-independence candidate Gordon Kesler won a surprise byelection victory in 1982, becoming the only separatist to ever sit in Alberta's legislature. Article content Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the pro-independence Alberta Prosperity Project, said that the easy UCP win was a testament to party leader and Premier Danielle Smith's continued popularity with the party's grassroots.
Calgary Herald
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Take Back Alberta facing collection notice as it appeals $112K in Elections Alberta fines
Article content Court scheduling is underway to hear an appeal from activist group Take Back Alberta (TBA) as it seeks to overturn $112,500 in fines for election advertising violations that have since been referred to Crown debt collection. Article content The fines were imposed last February on TBA and its founder David Parker by Elections Alberta for what it describes as 'numerous substantive breaches' of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, including TBA's absence of financial reporting, circumventing advertising spending limits, and accepting money from outside the province. Article content Article content Article content Those violations were linked to TBA's online and in-person events ahead of the May 2023 provincial election. Article content Article content On March 6, TBA filed documents in Court of King's Bench in Calgary seeking to appeal the fines, arguing that its events did not constitute political advertising — contrary to the findings of election commissioner Paula Hale — and that its Charter right to political expression had been infringed. Article content According to the appeal notice, TBA's lawyers are seeking 'a declaration that the decision, or part thereof, was incorrect, unreasonable, a palpable and overriding error, and/or constitutionally invalid,' as well as a declaration that the fines were 'excessively punitive, disproportionate, incorrect, (and) unreasonable.' Article content Article content In a statement, Elections Alberta noted legislation prevents it from commenting on specific investigations, but confirmed both the fines and its direction to TBA to refile certain financial reports remain in force. Article content It added those unpaid fines have been referred to Crown debt collection, and the group's failure to refile the reports has been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service. Article content Parker formed TBA in 2022 and later claimed credit for helping oust former premier Jason Kenney as United Conservative Party (UCP) leader in May of that year. He and the group have had varying degrees of influence on the party's policies in the years since.
Edmonton Journal
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Take Back Alberta facing collection notice as it appeals $112K in Elections Alberta fines
Article content Court scheduling is underway to hear an appeal from activist group Take Back Alberta (TBA) as it seeks to overturn $112,500 in fines for election advertising violations that have since been referred to Crown debt collection. The fines were imposed last February on TBA and its founder David Parker by Elections Alberta for what it describes as 'numerous substantive breaches' of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, including TBA's absence of financial reporting, circumventing advertising spending limits, and accepting money from outside the province.
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Madalas crowned champions in Super Ten Tournament
The Super Ten Tournament came to life once again at Discovery Bowling Club, bringing together senior men from different districts all over Gauteng for a great day of bowls and camaraderie. Hosted by senior Sables men, the three-day tournament saw great players from the Madalas, also known as the Johannesburg Bowling Association, Sedibeng, Bowls Gauteng North (BGN), Lowveld (Mpumalanga), and Ekhurhuleni battle it out on the greens for the trophy and overall cash prize. Also read: Top bowlers battle for glory at Sables Singles Tournament By the second day of the tournament, June 4, the Madalas were topping the scoreboard, followed closely by the Sables, and Sedibeng, alongside BGN, were in a heated, nail-biting battle for third place. However, after the tournament drew to a close on June 5, the final standings saw Madalas emerge victorious, claiming the top spot and the coveted cash prize and trophy with 35 points. BGN made a strong move with 30 points to secure second place, while Sables took third with an impressive 22 points. According to David Parker, a member of the Sables seniors committee, this year marks 22 years since the birth of this tournament. David says it is called the super ten because all ten players from each district are on the greens at the same time, either playing singles, pairs, tips or fours. 'This is a competitive tournament played in a friendly manner, and the aim is to build camaraderie and good team spirit. 'The number of bowlers here also indicates that senior bowls is advancing. Congratulations to all winners,' said David. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
