Notley’s clothes send subliminal messages: UCP insider
A former staffer for UCP Leader Jason Kenney made waves on Twitter Thursday when he honed in on NDP Leader Rachel Notley’s wardrobe choices.
“Here’s the NDP Leader wearing blue in 2019. In 2015, lots of neutral colours. It’s subtle but telling. NDP brand is absolutely radioactive in Alberta. They’re essentially running against their own party, and trying to earn subliminal associations with conservative blue,” tweeted Blaise Boehmer.
His tweet led to a constructive, kind and nuanced debate, as is characteristic of Twitter in the realm of provincial politics. Reporters and political insiders debated branding, and whether or not dissecting Notley’s clothes is “creepy.”
Kenney’s current campaign spokesperson Christine Myatt chimed in, tweeting “what the Leader wears is a big part of staging a campaign event and you better believe it’s deliberate and well thought out.”
Even a Canadian senator got into it, with a somewhat different take. (Independent Senator Paula Simons previously worked as a columnist at the Edmonton Journal).
“Psst. Sometimes a girl just likes the colour blue. I swear, not dressing to send you subliminal messages!” she tweeted, with photos of her wearing blue.
SMALLER PARTY PROMISES
The Liberals unveiled a couple of tax promises Thursday — introducing a harmonized sale tax and eliminating income tax on the first $57,250 of personal income ($114,500 for couples).
“Almost two-thirds of Albertans will be exempt from personal income tax under our plan,” said Liberal Leader David Khan in a statement.
He also promised to reduce corporate income tax from 12 to 10 per cent if elected.
The Alberta Party also released an interesting plan Thursday when Leader Stephen Mandel promised to create the first corridor for self-driving vehicles in Canada by adding additional lanes to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway.
UCP RELEASES ATTACK AD
UCP Calgary-Hays candidate Ric McIver released a new ad Thursday attacking NDP Leader Rachel Notley.
Notley said in a 2015 TV interview her government was working to improve the province’s environmental reputation so Alberta could be “genuinely proud to be a leader as opposed to the embarrassing cousin no one wants to talk about.”
The ad uses a record scratch to repeat her comments three times, but McIver said it’s fair game because “she never apologized” for the remark.
Notley later said she was referring to a lack of environmental action from the former Progressive Conservative government.
Calgary dad Tyler Ogilvie took on the job of Mr. Clean for Notley Thursday when his kitchen was broadcast live during a news conference.
Notley, parents and media squeezed into the gleaming kitchen of Ogilvie’s northeast Calgary townhouse Thursday morning to hear the NDP’s education platform.
“I’ve never cleaned this place so hard,” Ogilvie said of preparing for his moment in the spotlight.
Minutes later, he was having coffee with Notley and three mothers who weighed in on the NDP’s education platform after the NDP leader fielded questions.
Ogilvie, dad to a 16-month-old and son of a teacher, applauded Notley’s announcement, adding “there just aren’t enough teachers, ever.”
Notley later dropped into NDP Calgary-Falconridge candidate Parmeet Singh’s campaign headquarters to deliver a pep talk.
Singh has delivered more lawn signs than any NDP hopeful in the city — about 1,200.