Stelmach may yet get his domain name back

Stelmach may yet get his domain name back

Category

Domain Names

Premier Ed Stelmach could soon be the master of his own domain name.

A year ago, Dave Cournoyer, a University of Alberta student who is a blogger and former Liberal party staffer, paid $14 to an Internet host to own the website name www.edstelmach.ca.

He steered visitors to the site to his davealberta.ca blog, which had an anti-Stelmach bent.

The Conservative party was not amused. As the provincial election loomed closer, Stelmach talked about taking legal action and a party lawyer issued an ultimatum to Cournoyer, accusing him of identity theft.

Cournoyer reacted by linking edstelmach.ca to a Wikipedia entry about Harry Strom, the last Social Credit premier who was at the helm when that dynasty ended. The registration of the domain name came up for renewal April 1. Cournoyer said he was wrapped up with term papers and let the renewal slide. The name has gone into suspension until early May.

Jim Campbell, executive director of the Progressive Conservative party of Alberta, said the party has put in a back order for the name, which they can get for a $60 fee in May, unless there are others interested in it. In the latter case, it would go to auction and the name would go to the highest bidder.

"He (Stelmach) has always had his name, but now he'll have his domain name," Campbell said.

Cournoyer said the threats that came from Stelmach's lawyer were unnecessary and counterproductive.

"If Ed Stelmach had picked up the phone and asked for the domain name, I probably would have handed it over," he said. "But nobody bothered to ask me."

Cournoyer said he never wanted to profit off the domain name, but at one point proposed the premier get his name back by making a donation to the Herb Jamieson Centre, which provides temporary accommodation for homeless men. However, that offer was turned down.

msadava@thejournal.canwest.com

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