Ralph Klein is gone. Well, sort of anyhow. He filed his letter of resignation, did departure interviews with both major Canadian networks and described his departure as "Business as Usual" to
Rex Murphy. In recent times, many people have suggested that King Ralph really didn't have much of an idea how to run a government awash in cash. Articles were written, the Liberals hounded the government... "How could it be?". Interestingly, in traditional and well documented Ralph fashion he simply admitted "We weren't prepared!". Wow. How on earth do you argue with that?
Prepared. Are Albertans prepared for the leadership contest that is to come? Better question, are Canadians prepared for what some of the hopefuls have to offer vis a vis Provincial-Federal relations? The platforms of the contenders haven't made much news recently. I find that a little odd considering the departure of Alberta's 14 year veteran premier. The absence of reporting is even more remiss given the hard right turn the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party is going to take come December - regardless of who wins.
Three widely acknowledged frontrunners - Lyle Oberg, Jim Dinning and Ted Morton - have all identified (using different terms, of course) "Protecting Alberta's resources from federal intrusion" as key parts of thier platforms. Ted Morton, in fact, wrote a key document that many people may be familiar with - It isn't unimportant to mention here that current PM Stephen Harper co-wrote it (as did Tom Flanagan and three others). The
"Alberta Agenda" or better known by it's reviled MSM title "The Alberta Firewall" proposed the immediate establishment of an Alberta Pension Plan and establishment of an Alberta Provincial Police Force when the current RCMP contract runs out in 2012 (just to name two). Morton, a reknowned constitutional expert and (just incidentally) an ELECTED Alberta senator in waiting, is also, perhaps unsurprisingly still planning to push through some legislation to protect the clergy and teachers by allowing them to refuse to perform same sex marriages or teach "same sex" values to students if it is against thier religious beliefs. This is groundbreaking by the way -
The Bill actually protects the rights of a majority in Alberta all the while not going against the Charter of Rights. In fact, if he is elected and passes the bill it would be the first such "majority" protection ever afforded and entrenched in a Human Rights Code.
Morton, it should be said, was the ONLY member of caucus who opposed the Prosperity Bonus cheques handed out by the Alberta government.
Now, many people might think Alberta pulling out of the CPP isn't a big deal - after all Quebec has had it's own pension plan for years. Think about this -
Alberta has the highest (nearly 25% higher) average household income in Canada (excluding the territories) - it is indeed among the top three jurisdictions in North America - and the youngest population. What do those two factors mean? Think about it this way: The 25 year old making 120,000 dollars a year will pay into the CPP for at least 30 more years. The average age in Alberta is so low, in fact, that this proposed APP would allow for some pretty risky investing by the managers - still allowing generally higher rates of return. There are less people collecting CPP benefits in Alberta than there are in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia - combined. This young pool of workers, coupled with the highest birth rates in Canada and the highest rate of immigration for those under 30, means Alberta would enjoy a Pension Plan with more flexibility and new income than even the venerable Ontario Teachers Pension fund. The best part? The government could legislate that ALL funds in the APP go towards business and investment in Alberta. (Just like Quebec does with the QPP)
As for the establishment of an Alberta Provincial Police Force, what effects would this have? First, you must consider that Alberta established thier own highway patrol officers just this Labour Day weekend. (If there is a message within this, it's probably that Alberta intends non-renewal of the RCMP contract in 2012). There are currently 2,000 or so RCMP officers working in Alberta. Granted, they're not all working the "beat" but even if just 1,000 of them are (which I think is reasonable) where will they go to work in 2012? Will they quit? Or, perhaps more likely, will they be well compensated by a provincial government flush with cash and simply join the newly established force? Consider this - RCMP officers are, as a matter of fact, quite well paid. Though a corporal can make 65K as an RCMP officer after about 5 years of service, consider that a
Calgary Police Service officer with the same 5 years experience is making a shade under 70K (they offer CASH bonuses to qualified officers who join as well). In short, why will the RCMP lose officers to a new Alberta police force? They get paid better, will likely (if the CPS is any example) get a hefty cash incentive, and don't have to be worried about postings to Inuvik, Churchill or, god forbid, Surrey.
The Firewall concept, it must be stated again, is endorsed by all three leading candidates in the Alberta PC leadership race.
When asked, "Does having a federal conservative government make you rethink the firewall idea?", Ted Morton replied,
"There won't be a federal conservative government forever"
Watch out Canada - the most powerful economic machine in North America is having a leadership race - and they're not looking back.
