Founder, Lone Pine Capital
Hon. Stephen Mandel
Mr. Mandel's accepting speech for accepting for leadership of Alberta Party in Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday February 27th, 2018,
About Stephen Mandel
Stephen Mandel, founder of Lone Pine Capital, discussed investing and philanthropy during a December 2020 virtual event. He described the low interest rate environment as creating "a lot of economic distortion" that benefits those with capital to deployhol. Mandel also said that "the level of innovation and progress coming from new technology" is unprecedented, while noting that some asset valuations have reached levels he "would have never expected." He remarked that "the bubble usually ends when the Federal Reserve takes the punch bowl away" and that "many businesses that are unloved are unloved for a reason." In 2019, Mandel ran as leader of the Alberta Party in the provincial election, finishing third in his riding of Edmonton-McClung. After the election, he congratulated premier-elect Jason Kenney and said the party should be "very proud" of increasing its vote share from just over 2% to over 10%. During the campaign, Mandel stated that the Alberta Party's vision involved investing in education "from pre-kindergarten throughout our lives" and expanding post-secondary opportunities. Earlier, as Edmonton's mayor, Mandel announced in 2013 he would not seek a fourth term, citing three remaining priorities: a women's council program, housing for younger generations, and support for youth aging out of provincial care. He said he would "work hard until the last day" and described his council as "visionaries" who cared "deeply about changing the face of the city."
Transcript (19 segments)
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Stephen Mandel0:16
By leaps and bounds, and make no mistake, this is just the beginning. I believe this leadership race has been a watershed moment for our party. Together we were able to show Albertans there is a better, more positive, and constructive way to do politics in our province. With that being said, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge two incredible candidates, Karen and Rick.
I think civility was the main ingredient of what our party showed in this election process. It showed the great class of the two people that are sitting there. It also showed the great luck that we have in a party having such individuals as part of it, who I know will take incredible leadership positions as we move forward, just like Greg will as he sits there with a smiling face. As I said, I'm looking forward to working with both of them and making sure that their ideas are part of whatever the party has, because they are incredibly bright, dynamic, and they will make such a difference in our province.
I also want to thank their campaign workers. We all know that this is a passionate sport and it is about people who come together and work incredibly hard for particular candidates. We owe them because they are the ones that really make a difference. All of us as candidates, we know that the difference is our people, and I know Rick and Karen had amazing people.
And I want to talk about my different people who ran my campaign. They worked day in, day out, they were tireless. An incredible group of people who I did not deserve. They were a remarkable group that gave it 110 percent. And so to thank them very much, I would be remiss if I didn't comment on one person who came into this. We were sitting down sometime just after Christmas, I think, and we talked about this. And he's a remarkable young man, someone of much greater age than he is, and I won't give his age as you wouldn't believe it. Ever since, our campaign manager, Emerson, is truly remarkable and really will make this province a better place as he takes his position here through hard work and perseverance.
And your tireless efforts, more than 4,700 people made their voices heard in this election. Those who voted, I want to thank them very, very much in this very short campaign. But those who voted for the other candidates, I want to make sure you rest assured that I will make sure we listen to you and your voices are just as important as everybody's. What you've said, I'm honored and humbled to be your next Alberta Party leader.
After eight, I'm facing to trust in my abilities, experience, and passion to throw me over to a party and the next generation, the next generation party for our province. A party that values facts and ideas, not dogma and ideology. A party that has a bold and forward-looking vision for a future. A party that's open to all, no matter your age, background, sexual orientation, political striking capabilities, or where you live.
We're here tonight because we are deeply concerned about the problems we all love. When I came here 45 years ago, lured by the special promise and offered that you can come from anywhere and become anything in this wonderful province. We're at a crossroads in our province today. In its 113-year history, no things are more difficult. We need to come together to ensure our best days are ahead of us, not behind us. So tonight, I have a message for Albertans: Alberta Party is not going away. This is clear. The Alberta Party is not just here to be an alternative. We're not here to be an also-ran. We're not here to talk about 2023. We're here to earn your vote in every single Alberta community and to be the first choice for a government the next election. Winning in 2019 means winning the hearts and minds of Albertans in every corner of our province.
You know something, to be honest, and I've heard this from Katharine many times, less than 3% of the population join any political party. So the battle's ahead, and I think that our membership will grow and continue to grow because of what we stand for and the greatness of our party. Most folks are too busy getting from one day to the next, going to school, earning a living, taking the kids to activities, or taking care of an aging parent. My recent travels across the province, I've been struck by how anxious people feel. People's lives are more hectic than ever. The current political landscape offers very little comfort. Name-calling, divisiveness, playing politics with our energy industry and our economy and with people's lives. There seems to be lots of effort being spent on telling what a burden the other side is, and little time spent actually addressing the serious challenges we face as a province. And I think that was a cornerstone of all we worked together, the three of us, during this campaign. It really set a standard which is quite wonderful, and Albertans deserve better.
Creating shared prosperity, an economy that leaves no one behind. They deserve a government that cares about the health and wellness of their citizens and the vitality of their communities. They deserve a government that cares about being open and adaptive in meeting the challenges of both today and tomorrow. And that is a government that can be fiscally responsible. Your support, your wisdom, and the passion that we all share, I intend to lead such a government. So let's get to work. We must significantly ramp up our efforts in fundraising, candidate recruitment, and most importantly, building constituency associations. Before this important work begins, please savor this moment. I know I will. Work hard, great things can be accomplished together. Thank you all very, very much.
Elated, looking forward to what lays before the Alberta Party. Very exciting.
He'll be hard all over a ruler to make it where the party is. Chatter, that's an in-joke. We've got some great people.
Oh, I manage lines, there's lots, so we won't get video. There's lots of challenge. That means we need to get the Alberta Party message out. You're going to put together some candidate processes. We need to get raised money. There's lots, there's not one specific thing.
You know, when you say that, I was told PCBs. Progressive Conservative, they left me.
They're about 20 years older than me. That's pretty good, isn't it? Yeah, that's pretty good. So I have a lot more experience. No, I don't think so. I worked in different, a young population and older population. It's Albertans care about ideas.
Campaigns about ideas of efficiency, mobility, better Alberta.
Well, I think it's a place, the places, you know, we're not, we're a party of ideas. A party that attracts people looking for a different view, and Alberta Party will bring them. So we're excited to continue to build on that with our team members aboard.
People interested in running, the party message, make sure that the message is clear and succinct. We work with our board to make sure that that message is part and parcel. And we want to win the election, no question about that. You'll be married, that's my goal. I wouldn't do this to be second place. This is about winning.
To ask the question, three, two great candidates, and Greg Clark. Valerie's incredibly progressive, dynamic.
As well, the Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, Cranberry.