Notley and Dirks: Blue Apples and Orange Oranges.

As if Premier Notley wasn't already in enough hot water. Rachel Notley has been under fire for calling a byelection in Calgary-Greenway too soon. So soon, in fact, that her party - the New Democratic Party - was the only party to have a nominee selected to run in that constituency, forcing other parties to push their nomination meetings up in the schedule, and to give her the only party equipped to campaign the full race.

The byelection comes on March 22nd, just 92 days after the death of popular Progressive Conservative MLA Manmeet Bhullar, who was killed a roadside accident while helping someone stuck on the roadside.

To contrast that, Notley's father Grant Notley also died in a tragedy while serving in Alberta's legislature in 1984. Peter Lougheed, arguably the greatest Premier in Alberta history, called the byelection to replace Notley Sr. in just 96 days. Of course, there were fewer major player parties at that time, but in addition to seeking candidates, the NDP also had the unfortunate role of being left without a permanent leader at the time.

The Progressive Conservatives are also without a permanent leader this time around, however, Ric McIver has been leading the party as an interim leader for almost a year, and has taken the role of leader quite well, though how capable he has actually been as leader is up for debate, I would argue he has done an effective job leading the party - even if I don't personally agree with his policies or viewpoints or temper.

Now the timing is just the first thing she's under fire for, though she is fully legally within her right to call the byelection at any time of her choosing before May.

The other was the announcement of public transit funding in Calgary coming from an old fund former Premier Ed Stelmach implemented, just two days into the byelection. Now, for those not familiar with why this is controversial (I assume you don't use social media or read newspapers if this is the case) is it's seen as trying to buy a seat. And it possibly partially is, after all, the by-election is in Calgary, and the bulk of the funding is going to Calgary, with little bits for surrounding suburban cities like Airdrie or Okotoks.

People have even compared it to Gordon Dirk's modular schools announcement in the 2014 by-election.

When then Premier Jim Prentice announced his Provincial cabinet, he appointed two cabinet ministers who had not yet been elected. One of them was Gordon Dirks as Minister of Education. During the October byelection, Minister Dirks announced modular classrooms to be added to a school in the riding where he was seeking election.

These comparisons are not actually fair.

First, these announcements from the NDP are coming from ministers who have already been elected. They themselves aren't fighting for the seat in question. There's also no guarantee that the money will be spent in Greenway, as the City will have a role in deciding how some of the money gets spent. On the other hand, Minister Dirks used his position as unelected Cabinet Minister to approve something in the riding where he was seeking election. He quite directly attempted to bribe his electorate.

The PC party won all four of the byelections that year. Calgary Elbow however, would not be fooled twice as Dirk's lost his seat and the PCs lost the general election seven months later.

Apples and NDP Oranges.

That said, at the time Dirks had made his announcement, Notley did state that no announcements should be held during a byelection unless there is an emergency. She did as much during the Calgary Foothills byelection last fall. What she said was very specific: It wasn't "no conflict of interest announcements." It was no announcements. Period. Full Stop.

So is it unfair to compare Notley's announcement to that of Dirks'? Yes, absolutely. Personally, I don't think the government should cease to function during a byelection, so long as they don't treat constituencies up for election with favoritism, and so long as ministers involved in the byelection aren't involved in announcements.

Is it unfair to criticize Notley's announcement, period? No. Premier Notley said she wouldn't make major funding announcement's during a byelection, and she reneged on that.

Criticize her for breaking her word, but don't say it's what Gordon Dirks' did all over again, because it isn't the same thing at all. Otherwise, we aren't much better than the Official Opposition, criticizing without substance. But that's a story for another blog.