Politics - Morton wants Klein’s job

By John Barlow
Editor

Ted Morton’s message is clear, it is time for a change in the Alberta Legislature.
The Foothills-Rocky View MLA has entered the unofficial leadership race to replace Premier Ralph Klein as the leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party.
Although Klein has yet to announce when he will step down, several potential candidates have already voiced their intentions to seek the leadership including former Finance Minister Jim Dinning, current Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Lyle Oberg, Minister of International and Intergovernmental Affairs Ed Stelmach and now Morton.
Morton held a rally with local Tory party members at Lynnwood Ranch on Sunday evening outlining his vision for Alberta's future. The one main underlying focus is that Alberta cannot be complacent.
“We have to have a plan for going ahead or we are falling behind,” said Morton. “We are in transition. We will have a new generation of political leadership.”
Morton is hoping to lead that new generation.
On Sunday the rookie MLA tabled his policy ideas, many of which are the backbone of the Alberta Agenda which he co-authored.
Morton promoted a stronger Alberta in terms of its relationship with the federal government including reclaiming provincial jurisdictions that have been eroded by Ottawa. Some of those proposals include a provincial police force, more control over health care, a triple E senate, Alberta’s own pension plan, collecting our own income tax and a tighter grip on revenues from non-renewable natural resources such as oil and gas.
“We have to reclaim our right to self government,” commented Morton, a former university political science professor. “Our tax dollars belong to us and we need to tell Ottawa to back off.”
According to Morton, Alberta sent $12 billion more to Ottawa in transfer payments last year than the province received in federal funding which is three times more, per capita, than any other province.
“We need that money to build schools, roads, hospitals, water treatment plants. We need that money to build Alberta’s future,” he said.
Morton’s call for change was well received by the room full of supporters.
Morton championed his philosophy and the Alberta Agenda with the Reform Party on a federal level, but when he failed to make significant progress he elected to run for a seat in the Legislature to make changes at a provincial level.
However, Morton admits running for the leadership of the Conservative party was not his ultimate goal.
“I have been committed to bringing these changes around whether it was me or someone more effective,” said Morton after Sunday’s rally. “I didn't see anyone else stepping up.”
Morton said he had hoped Medicine Hat MLA Lorne Taylor would carry the Alberta Agenda flag in the leadership race, but Morton is willing and apparently capable of taking that step.
“The public is disillusioned with the federal system and more people are looking for an alternative system and new ideas,” said Morton, considered the dark horse in this political race. “That favours the Alberta Agenda and that favours me.”
While the Alberta Agenda has a definite slant towards national issues, Morton said he has not neglected issues important to all Albertans such as the traditional definition of marriage, education, BSE, infrastructure, health care and the economy.
The Calgarian stated Alberta cannot rely on oil and gas revenues indefinitely and the provincial economy must diversify and embrace non-traditional resources to ensure long-term stability.
It was expected Klein would step down as Premier after Alberta’s Centennial celebrations in September, but Klein has now stated he has no immediate plans to retire.