FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1998 All Rights Reserved.
| VIEWPOINT Patiently watching events in Ottawa and Quebec City, waiting for Jean Charest to decide Canada's political future, Ralph Klein plays the politician's game of declaring his commitment to his current job without ever closing the door on other opportunities. Unfortunately for Klein as he ignores the work on his desk to consider his political ambitions, his province and his government are encountering problems that need his full attention. Klein has been in this situation before, and proven himself capable of waiting out the public pressure to make his decision. His jump from city to provincial politics was not a surprise, neither was his decision to pursue the premiership, commonly referred to as the head of the provincial Conservative party, but he waited until the path was completely clear. Any expectation he would do otherwise would underestimate Klein's political instincts. It is Klein's governing instincts that are failing him at this point. As he waits for Charest to make his decision, his government is facing some of its most difficult days. Without the protection of the deficit bogeyman, the Conservatives are being forced to do something other than cut spending, and download costs and blame onto municipalities, school boards and health authorities. So far they have proven to be less-than-able policy makers, and their mistakes are starting to affect Albertans. The list of headaches for the Conservatives is building on the solid foundation of mistakes in the cutbacks to health care that caused the hospital bed shortage, their arrogance and procrastination over VLTs, the decision to ignore a Conservative party resolution and increase funding to private schools, and the growing anger in hometown Calgary over rural and urban funding inequities. In the meantime, the grand domino effect of political ambition has taken hold of Klein's cabinet. His ministers are more focused on positioning themselves for a run at the premiership than running a government. Political ambition is not the only reason for Ralph's lack of control over his government. The recent changes in his own office - his new top advisor and deputy minister are still learning the ropes of running a government - are not helping. It is Klein's own lack of interest in the day-to-day operation of the province that is hurting the most. First the Calgary Declaration, now Klein wants to be a leader in the provinces' defence of their jurisdiction from federal government intrusions. The provinces consider the new federal scholarship program, the Millennium scholarship, to be a new federal assault on provincial jurisdiction. By directing the scholarship money directly to students, the feds have bypassed the provinces and the premiers are not happy about it. After all, they need that money to pay their way back into power as much as the feds do. Klein will take on the fight with the federal government because it is more media-friendly than the quagmire of lottery revenues; his ministers can take it on the chin in that bloody little war. It also has the beneficial side effect of increasing Klein's profile across the country - a little exposure that might come in handy if Charest decides to save Canada and Klein decides to save Canada's right-wing. In the odd paths that political careers sometimes take, Klein has gone from being considered a Liberal during his tenure as mayor in Calgary to the lofty status of the man who will unite the right in Canada. This only makes sense when you view Klein as a leader with political savvy but little ideology. Are you paying attention Preston Manning? Right now, however, Albertans could use a few more answers and a little less savvy. |