Alberta - Premier Ralph Klein’s retirement still on hold

Premier keynote speaker at AWNA’s convention

By John Barlow
Editor

The saga of Premier Ralph Klein’s leadership will continue.
Last Friday, Klein was the keynote speaker at the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association’s (AWNA) fall convention in Calgary and it was widely rumoured he would officially announce his retirement during his speech.
It would have been a fitting conclusion for Klein as he announced he would be running for the Progressive Conservative leadership at that same convention 14 years ago.
Although Klein opened his speech talking about closing the circle he started at the AWNA convention in 1992, he did not make any commitments regarding his retirement, leaving the nine candidates vying to replace him as Tory leader — all of whom were in attendance — in limbo.
When asked about his retirement plans Klein responded, “I will announce it on my own time.”
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At the conclusion of Klein’s speech the candidates seeking the leadership participated in a forum at the convention which was held at Calgary’s Airport Radisson Hotel.
The candidates include former cabinet ministers Ed Stelmach, Lyle Oberg, Jim Dinning, Mark Norris, Dave Hancock and Victor Doerksen. Also in the running are Calgary-Bow MLA Alana DeLong, Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton and Gary McPherson who works at the University of Alberta.
Norris said he was not surprised Klein balked at announcing his retirement, but added it would have been a fitting way for Klein to step down at the convention where it all began.
“It would have been a nice way to finish,” said Norris. “But I expect (Klein to resign) within the next week.”
Klein was also asked if he will throw his support behind any one of the nine candidates, but the premier stated he will not carry the flag of anyone in particular.
“I will keep out of the leadership race,” he said.
There have been concerns among party members that the leadership race will divide the party.
However, Klein said there are always egos bruised in a leadership race, but he said he does not expect the campaign — which has yet to officially begin — to cause an irreparable schism in the Conservative party.
“No, I don’t see the party fracturing,” said Klein. “When you run a leadership race there is conflict. There are always noses out of joint when there is a leadership campaign.”
During his speech to the AWNA delegates, Klein touched on his comments from 14 years ago when he stated Albertans were ready for change in how Alberta is governed. Klein’s promises 14 years ago included running Alberta like a business, privatization, belt tightening and leaving a legacy of a strong Alberta.
Klein said he believes he accomplished the goals he set out to do in 1992.
“What I want my legacy to be is what this government accomplished,” he said. “We wanted to leave a legacy of a strong Alberta. Now, as bold as that vision was, it doesn’t fully describe Alberta. Alberta is more prosperous and stronger than I could have dreamed.
“We did what we said we were going to do.”
Klein also credited Alberta’s community newspapers for keeping rural Albertans informed.
The premier, a former journalist, admitted not every encounter he has had media has been a “love-in,” but he commended the work of the weekly newspapers who have stayed true to classic journalism.
“If I have one word of advice for the (leadership) candidates it is don’t underestimate the importance of the Alberta weekly newspapers,” he commented. “They are a perfect anecdote for what afflicts politicians — Dome disease — which makes it hard for politicians to see outside the Legislature, to see the real world. What the real world is about is in community weeklies . . . working, raising a family, running a business.”
Finally, Klein said weekly newspaper journalists have something most “big city” journalists do not and that is respect.
“You have all given me some good ink and some not so good ink, but continue to be part of the strength of Alberta,” Klein offered the AWNA delegates.

Premier Ralph Klein speaks at the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association’s convention in Calgary on Friday night. Klein was expected to officially announce his retirement, but instead didn’t make any commitments about when he will leave office.
photo by Dave Dormer

Fatality expedites traffic lights at deadly intersection

By Pamela Roth
Staff Reporter

The death of a 48-year-old Okotoks mother last Tuesday at the intersection of Highway 2A and 338th Ave. has prompted the town to fast-track its plans for upgrading the heavily-traveled intersection.
The woman, whose name is not being released at the request of her family, was traveling north on the highway in her Ford F-150 truck when she attempted to make a left-hand turn onto 338th Ave.
Unfortunately, the woman pulled right into the path of an oncoming gravel truck, which struck the Ford on the passenger side.
The force of the collision ejected the woman from the driver’s side of her vehicle, killing her instantly.
“The impact was so great, everything inside of the truck shifted,” said Okotoks RCMP Const. Krista Woods. “It appears the seatbelt was even severed from the blow.”
Although Woods does not consider the intersection to be any more dangerous than other intersections surrounding Okotoks, the town has heard from several different residents voicing their concerns about safety.
The intersection is part of a two-year development agreement between the town and Keith GMC — an Okotoks business that has plans to develop a dealership on the corner. However, due to the recent fatality, Okotoks municipal engineer Marley Oness said the owner has already agreed to expedite erecting traffic lights as early as late fall.
“There are issues with that intersection right now due to driver confusion and the higher volumes of traffic to the schools out there,” said Oness.
“We are trying to assist him in whatever way we can to get them in sooner rather than later.”
Police are still investigating the fatal accident and are hoping to interview more witnesses. It’s likely charges will not be laid.