Project Alberta

Dear Alberta Alliance Supporter,

Disclosure Notice
I must begin by advising you that the comments listed below are mine and mine alone and that I did not receive any assistance in any manner. I am telling you this because in the spirit of full disclosure and total openness I am in the process of being sued by Craig Chandler, Campaign Manager of the David Crutcher campaign. He has accused me of lying about the facts contained in my e-mail and letter to all members dated October 23, 2005. I have in fact encouraged this action because he has publicly called me a liar and questioned my character and integrity. I look forward to defending myself and am fully confident of being victorious since I can prove every comment I made. (Sorry, this was for the lawyers)

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You have no doubt received an e-mail from the David Crutcher campaign dated yesterday November 5, 2005. It is entitled "ISSUE #3 - November 5th, 2005 - DAVID CRUTCHER CAMPAIGN UPDATE" and is a very good looking and well constructed e-mail.

However, I would like to point out a few of the details that are missing in the e-mail.


Issue #1

Stephen Chapman, National President of the Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB) writes:

"our organization supports David Crutcher and will put all our weight, as an organization, behind the Alberta Alliance Party if David Crutcher becomes leader."


Unfortunately that just doesn’t fit with the facts of the organization. From the PGIB website we find the following:

"The bottom line is PGIB supports PGIB supporters and thus, we are supporting Alberta Progressive Conservative Candidates Jon Lord, Art Johnston and David Rodney, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leadership candidate Frank Klees, Robert Metz of the Freedom Party of Ontario and Alberta Alliance candidate David Crutcher.

"If you were unaware that PGIB was non-partisan we are sincerely sorry and hope you will still support us in our efforts for less government, lower taxes and political accountability. "

Source: PGIB
Political Action Committee Update
PGIB Website - September 14, 2004
http://www.pgib.ca/allAspects/pacsept.htm



Their Founder and Executive Director wrote six weeks ago:

"In fact 80% of our membership (PGIB) is APC (Alberta Progressive Conservative) members or voters."

Source: Craig B. Chandler
Founder & Executive Director - PGIB
www.projectalberta.com
September 14, 2005


The fact is PGIB supported three candidates running against Alberta Alliance candidates in 2004. They supported Jon Lord who ran against our candidate Ken Mazeroll. They supported Art Johnston who ran against our candidate Robert Wawrzynowski. They supported David Rodney who ran against our candidate Tariq Khan. Frankly, I am offended that PGIB supported these Tories and now claims to potentially embrace us. I am not comfortable with people who play both sides, I don’t know how or when to trust them.

They did support David Crutcher in the last election that is true. However, what they are not telling you is that Craig Chandler was David Crutcher’s paid Campaign Manager during the election as he is during this leadership election. I totally support Free Enterprise and if Mr. Crutcher wants to hire Mr. Chandler to run his campaigns he has every right to do that. I do think though that they should be open about their relationship. Total openness ensures there aren’t any misunderstandings.

Disclosure: In accordance with this concept I need to advise you that I have assisted Ed Klop in his leadership election bid. I have assisted him in development of his theme "Building Together", his brochure and all e-mails sent from EdKlopForAlberta@shaw.ca. My family assisted in mailing his brochure to all members (our kids helped stuff his envelopes). I wrote an endorsement letter for Ed, again without any assistance from anyone, the words are mine alone (again for the lawyers). I have not received any payment for assisting Ed, I did it because I feel he is the best person to replace me as Leader of the party. My wife and I have donated to Ed’s campaign as we have to the party. I also plan to assist Ed at his discretion if he is selected as Leader of the party.


Issue #2

Stephen Chapman, National President of the Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB) called the Alberta Alliance:

"a debating society"

Source: Stephan Chapman
National President - PGIB
Issue #3 – November 5th, 2005 – David Crutcher Campaign Update


I must say that I was deeply hurt for all of the people who have worked so hard to build the Alberta Alliance to what it is today. In the first four months of the party’s existence the members of the Alberta Alliance talked to over 40,000 people to secure 8,000 signatures to register the party. From the Founding Assembly in February 2003 to the Provincial Election in November 2004 – a period of just 21 months the growth was phenomenal. There are 83 constituencies in Alberta and the Alberta Alliance ran a candidate in every constituency; even the Liberals – the Official Opposition – didn’t have candidates in all constituencies. The members across the Province worked diligently for their candidates. The candidates themselves were some of the finest people I have ever met. Our candidates stood up for what was right and what they believed. The fine people of Cardston – Taber – Warner elected the first Alberta Alliance MLA in Paul Hinman. Paul and his team, with help from across the province, worked incredibly hard for a well earned victory and they should be proud of themselves. The efforts of our members and candidates paid off impressively as 77,466 people, a full 9% of voters, supported our party, the best showing by a new party in over 20 years.

A debating society, I hardly think so. From the information that I have Mr. Chapman wasn’t a member of the party until the spring of this year and perhaps he wasn’t aware of the effort put in by our members. However, I believe that Mr. Chapman has crossed the line and owes all Alberta Alliance members an apology. Our members have worked very hard and do not deserve a condemnation like that.

I must tell you that I am deeply concerned by an organization that:

* Works for the Tories and says they will work for us.
* Calls our party a "debating society"
* Whose Executive Director & Founder Craig Chandler says of the Alberta Alliance policies:

"Alberta Alliance had left wing policies, extreme left wing."
"David would never defend the AA's previous policies"
"The current AA policies (although tabled for defeat) are left wing rubbish."
(source: www.ProjectAlberta.com - September 14, 2005)

I thought you should be aware of the facts about PGIB. You have an important decision to make and I feel that you need to know as much as possible so you can make an informed decision.

I have already voted for Ed Klop and these facts just confirmed my decision. If you need more information I encourage you to speak to each candidate personally before you make your decision. The next Leader of the party will guide us into the upcoming election and the decision of the members is critical to the success of the party. Regardless of who you support thank you for supporting the Alberta Alliance Party. Alberta needs a real alternative and your support makes it possible.

Sincerely,


Randy Thorsteinson
Former Leader
Alberta Alliance Party


p.s.

As a final note I am sure that I have offended PGIB and David Crutcher supporters with my remarks. That is not my intent. My reason for writing this letter is simply to bring all of the facts to light in the PGIB endorsement of David Crutcher.

Once again all of the thoughts expressed are mine alone. In fact I have only shown them to my wife prior to the sending of this letter.

Should you wish to formally complain about my comments (I am used to it by now from the Crutcher Campaign) contact the party at the address below.


Party Address:
Alberta Alliance Party
Suite #32, 4917-48 Street
Red Deer, AB
T4N 1S8

Phone: 403-358-3130
Fax: 403-340-3417
E-mail: kathy.rayner@albertaalliance.com


If you would like to sue me for my comments contact Craig Chandler at:

David Crutcher Campaign
Phone: (403) 720-1911 Ext. 2
Email: campaignmanager@davidcrutcher.com

I am sure his lawyer will represent you as well and you can share the legal fees.




Randy Thorsteinson
Red Deer, AB

E-mail: RandyThorsteinson@shaw.ca

Wow Randy and Craig are going at it again. Seems like that is a theme of the leadership so far. I am happy that I am not supporting either of those neighbobs of negativeness.

I find this very saddening for our new party. Why can't we all work together?

I really hope EVERYONE is on the same page after the leadership race. We need to look to the future and rally around our leader to build the party and make it a viable alternative for Albertans. We need everyones strengths and talents to achieve our goals!

good clean campaign???

http://www.projectalberta.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=717

And that was before the Crutcher / Klop war...

False propoganda???

Everything in GoTedGo's post was directly taken from Project Alberta posts. There is NOTHING false about that. Nice try...

And that was before the Crutcher team slam at Klop.

False propoganda???

Everything in GoTedGo's post was directly taken from Project Alberta posts. There is NOTHING false about that. Nice try...

And that was before the Crutcher team slam at Klop.

David Crutcher's campaign accused Paul Hinman of making a threatening phone call in which he stated that he would cross the floor to the PC's if he lost the leadership campaign. <snip>

Tanpro.

No party escapes strife like this, whether legal threats are bandied about or not. Leaderships are all about partisan politics and I think it is not particularly Bush league to have these problems.

Whether it is bush league to throw around threats of legal actions I cannot remark on.

Threatening phone call? I would have thought Chandler would have avoided claims about phone calls given recent events, wouldn't you?

You mean the Bronconnier thing where the police pointed the finger at Arline Bronconnier? Chandler never even told the press the Police did.

Calgary cops are investigating the call placed to Chandler's home Sept. 26 after Chandler, the president of the Progressive Group for Independent Business, posted lawn signs that stated "(David) Bronconnier and (Bev) Longstaff ran for Jean Chretien in 1997! Who will you support in 2001?"

The very next day, <i>Chandler claimed</i> to have received an anonymous phone call.

"Too bad you didn't die in the World Trade Center," the female voice said, <i>according to Chandler</i>. "You'd better be careful next time you start your car because it might blow up."

Cops were later able to trace the number to the person to whom it was assigned, <i>Chandler said</i>.

"The police told me the phone belonged to Arline Bronconnier," <i>Chandler said.</i>

The officer involved in the investigation said he would neither confirm or deny the elder Bronconnier's involvement.

"We haven't interviewed the owner of the phone and at this point we don't know if the owner was even the one who placed the call," said Calgary Police Service Const. Larry Miazga. "Because of the names involved and the political things involved -- this definitely has political overtones -- I cannot at this point in the investigation say anything more about it," he said.

"We want to be sensitive to everyone involved."

Police were debating last night whether or not to let the street-level cops handle it or turn the investigation over to detectives. "Normally, this probably would be handled on the street-level," Miazga admitted.

Police are continuing their investigation, but <i>Chandler said</i> it doesn't matter who made the call, the person should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"If she has to go to prison, then she has to go to prison," he said.

The news broke the day a poll showed Bronconnier has taken the lead in the race to replace the retiring Al Duerr.

The Calgary Sun (Oct. 5, 2001) seems to have lots of quotes coming from Mr. Chandler himself:

Interesting choice of articles?

Here are some quotes from articles that clear my name:

Cellphone Threat
Police hang up case on mayor's mom
Kerry Williamson, Calgary Herald - November 3, 2001

"Police confiremed the cell-phone of Mayor Dave Bronconnier's mother was used to make aleged death threats against Progressive Group for Independent Business president Craig Chandler".

Cellphone Contoversy
Suit threat on the line
Political foes in bitter battle
The Calgary Sun, October 7, 2005

"Her denial comes despite the fact no one, including Chandler, has ever suggested Arline made the threatening call. Only her cell phone has been linked to the call".

I also NEVER stated that Paul would cross the floor. I only stated I received a call.

Please get your facts stright and quote things appropriately.

Craig B. Chandler

Thanks for the clarification, Craig. But you don't deny making the quotes in the Calgary Sun article of the 5th, do you?

As to the call from Paul. New Nation wrote "David Crutcher's campaign accused Paul Hinman of making a threatening phone call in which he stated that he would cross the floor to the PC's if he lost the leadership campaign." Did you or did you not hear Hinman say this?