Ralph Klein to speak at TWU
Former Premier host of 10th annual Mel Smith Lecture
February 6, 2008
Peter Licata
The Mel Smith Lecture Series has always been a forum for political discussion at TWU. In honour of its 10th anniversary, the series will feature another big political name, as former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein crosses provincial lines to speak at the lecture.
TWU hosts the lecture in honour of Mel Smith’s service to Canadian government and his contribution to TWU. “The lecture series keeps Smith’s legacy alive; he was passionate about integrity in government, and these lectures are a tribute to him,” said coordinator Wendy Lees.
Mel Smith was an expert on Canadian constitutional law and served in the government for 31 years. After his retirement from politics, Smith was a frequent lecturer at TWU. Dr. Bob Burkinshaw, a professor of history at TWU, recalls how honoured TWU was to have Smith teach here. Smith turned down an offer to speak at the University of Victoria and instead made the commute from his residence in Victoria to TWU.
When Smith’s battle with cancer prevented him continuing his work, the Mel Smith Steering Committee was formed to maintain his legacy at TWU. The committee oversees the Mel Smith scholarship fund, maintains the Mel Smith Special Collection – a compilation of Mel Smith’s work on Canadian constitutional government – and organizing the annual Mel Smith Lectures.
For the lectures, the Mel Smith committee seeks “a prominent Canadian to give a lecture on a significant national issue viewed from a British Columbian or Western Canadian perspective” said Burkinshaw, who sits on the committee. He notes that many speakers accept the invitation simply to honour the memory of Mel Smith and his legacy. Past speakers have included former leader of the Reform Party of Canada (now the Conservative Party) Preston Manning and Charles Strahl, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Klein, this year’s speaker, was the premier of Alberta from 1992 through 2006. The Mel Smith Committee felt the 10th anniversary of the lectures should feature an especially influential speaker.
According to committee member Paul Rowe, Ralph Klein was chosen “to provide a viewpoint from an experienced practitioner who has had a profound impact on governance both in the province of Alberta and in the Canadian federation.” However, Burkinshaw noted that TWU is not necessarily endorsing the Mel Smith Lecture speakers. They are meant to be a discussion, with time for open questions from the audience, he said.
“It is an opportunity to meet and question a well-known, popular and controversial politician like Klein,” Burkinshaw said.
He believes that students who come to TWU for education and not just a degree should attend these lectures. Rowe agreed, saying, “They challenge students and the general public alike to be involved and active in the political issues of our time, and they often provide a window into the lives of prominent figures in Canadian political life.”
The recipient of the Mel Smith Scholarship will be announced during the lecture. A student is selected by the faculty of the Department of History, Geography, and Political and International Studies, and will be awarded $2,000.
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Partial Transcript of the Ralph Klein lecture (unedited).
Mel Smith Lecture - Ralph Klein
February 7, 2008
Call to Order
Beverly Smith
Welcome
Ron Kuehl
Presentation of the Mel Smith Scholarship Award
Bob Durkinshaw
Intro of Lecturer
Nick Loenen
Celebrity politicians: US has Hillary, California has Arnold. Ralph. 1992-2006 P of Alberta. Continues to serve. Tonight he will speak to us on government and politics, Ralph’s way.
[applause]
Government & Politics
Ralph Klein
Comes up to podium. Wearing a navy suit, non-notched collar. Blue tie. Heavy set, gravelly voice. Medium stature. Leans forward slightly on podium. Half smile.
[audience laughs at joke] “I can’t tell you how proud I am to be here at TWU in the–I learned this the first time today–city of Langley.” [laughter] “It was supposed to be the capital of BC and Ft Langley played a significant role in the founding of this province.” [praises university]
“There’s a vast opportunity to teach Americans about Canadian politics.” After spending a month in Washington DC and going to different cultural events, “then you start watching a lot of television. Or watch movies.” American politics is driven by the media. They talk about three things: 1) war in Iraq 2) mortgage situation relative to middle America 3) illegal aliens, mostly from Mexico. Did a paper, notwithstanding the great issues, Canadian politics isn’t boring. We have a huge debate going on about same sex marriage; Kyoto protocol; gun registration.
Conservatives could be losing majority due to two issues: Oil royalties (especially in the city of Calgary) and Calgary was ignored (a large Conservative base).
[talking about own political experience]
In 1993 before some of you were even born [audience laughs] there was a liberal Mayor. Liberals swept Edmonton, “Redmonton” they called it [audience laughs]. For the first time, they took a seat outside of Edmonton: Lethbridge and Fort McMurray. Election was about getting the provinces’ financial house in order and getting out of the business of being in business. Ordinary people, the Marthas and Henrys, were tired of hearing of business losses and the provinces having the highest per capita spending of any province in Canada. We owned everything: Oil companies, airline companies, telephone companies, cookie companies, magnesium plants…you name it, we owned it. Unfortunately, the newspapers only report the failures. “200,000 airplanes take off and land every day; have one crash and it will make the headlines. That’s the nature of the beast.” The financial review commission, that Klein appointed “good private sector people,” which had access to all the books of the government (wide open to this group of private citizens), came back with three recommendations:
1) You don’t have a revenue problem. You have a spending problem.
2) Get out of the business of being in business. You know nothing about being in business. You’re politicians.
3) And your pension plans are gold plated. So do something about your pension plans.
His election victory was a “miracle on the prairies.” It wasn’t a miracle at all, it was finding out where the parade was headed and then getting in front of the parade. Without a doubt, ordinary Albertans were mad but they were willing to give the progressive Conservatives a chance. Won by the skin of their teeth, 53 seats, but it was enough to form a government. We only did what we said we would do. Lawrence lost the election not on the issue of finances, but he got sidetracked on–we had this discussion over dinner tonight–he got sidetracked on the issue of abortion.
I was asked that question tonight and I said that those issues kill politicians. He lost on the abortion issue. We did what we said we were going to do. Welfare was cut in half. Able bodied individuals who were able to work….were cut off or given one way tickets to other jurisdictions. (someone jokes “to BC” and everyone laughs) Those who wanted to stay and were willing to work, the philosophy was a “hand up,” not a “hand out.” Those who were sick and disabled in society were looked after, but those who were able bodied and…get off the welfare rolls…were given job opportunities or given the chance for…job upgrading or [training].
All businesses, save for the Alberta Treasury Branches, farmers love it and there’s no political way to do that, were sold. No loans, no tax incentives…as a matter of fact, we legislated that. The public service was reduced from 30,000 to 20,000 employees. The government did the un-Canadian thing by privatizing liquor stores. They said “oh my god, that’s so un-Canadian you’ll have drunks on every corner.” Then we went one step further by franchising all government services, like motor vehicle licensing and marriage licenses. Other people said “oh my god, that’s so un-Canadian. It’s a god-given right to take up an afternoon to stand in line at the DMV only to be told to come back the next day.” The paving of all highways was privatized. School boards were reduced from 160 to less than 80…and some of those school boards didn’t even have schools! [audience laughs] Hospitals were reduced from 200 to less than 9.
It was a revolution, some people called it that. Some teachers…nurses…public employees didn’t like it one bit. They resigned, but through it all there were some lessons learned.
The lessons learned were simple:
1) Be honest, even if it hurts. The media–and those in media studies will tell you that–have ways to trace statements and bring back lies or half truths. No problem admitting mistakes. Never a problem. I’ve admitted many mistakes.
2) Always anticipate reaction. It’s the reaction to [a politician’s] statement is what makes the story. A reaction from a political scientist–we call it a talking egg head [audience laughs]. Or the opposition. Then, if the reporter gets a reaction, or even still, a reaction to a reaction to a reaction, then the story has legs. It carries itself. The reporter will have achieved the five Cs of journalism: Confusion, Chaos, Conflict, Controversy and Confrontation. Those are the things that make a story. [I’m guessing he doesn’t like the media much]
It’s good you’re involved in political studies rather than political science.
While many politicians run to make a difference or introduce legislation…practical politics is not about creating policy. It’s about reaction. 99% of issues dealt with by government are reactive, or responses. Most, I would say 99% of all meetings with individuals or groups, are about a request for money and the ability to say no and mean it. Or to change ways things are done by government. Very seldom, if at all, do people offer to do something for the province or the country.
Don’t be afraid to take chances: Advice to politicians. I believe the face of Canadian politics was changed as I mentioned earlier, steps were…taken that were deemed to be un-Canadian like eliminating the debt. That was deemed to be un-Canadian because all governments operated with deficits and debt. That was deemed to be un-Canadian because all governments, world-wide, operated such. The privatization of public services was deemed to be un-Canadian because government was expected to be involved in the government of being in business. They were expected to spur on business by offering loans and loan guarantees and grants and other financial incentives.
All of these policies resulted in protests. Between 1993 and 1996, I can say that my day was not complete without a protest…or two or three [audience laughs]. The only thing that kept me going were ordinary Albertans in church basements and community halls throughout the province. They would say to me, never mind the protesters outside…you’re on the right track. So this was, indeed, the case of a fifteen second sound bite creating reaction and reaction to the reaction, not only in Alberta but across the country for years.
So the lesson I learned is that not what you say is what makes the story, but the reaction to the story.
Another event for…the third mandate…you must remember, I was the premier for 14 years…was in July of 2002…the [billion dollar debt was eliminated] and the province would be generating surpluses of billions of dollars in the subsequent years. A 15 second sound bite, I am going to eliminate the deficit–pay down the debt–get out of the business of being in business–that is a good 15 second soundbite. The difference is we actually did what we said we were going to do. That 15 second soud bite got a LOT of reaction. In fact, I remember–this is anecdotal–a woman writing a letter to the newspaper. I don’t remember if it was the Calgary Herald…she wrote “for God’s sake, quit with the cuts, quit with everything, and we’ll forgive you. We’re so used to politicians not keeping their word that we’ll forgive you.”
The difference between conventional candidates and the Albertan way is that we actually do what we say we’re going to do.
I’ll leave you with one final thought: Most, if not all legislators–well, except for the national level, they have a tower–most…have domes. That refers to the national capital in Washington DC. It has a huge dome. I refer to “dome disease” as a disease of the legislature whereby you start to think that the most important thing in the world happens under the dome. It happens either under the dome in the nation’s capital or in the legislatures. And when you start to believe what the opposition, the media, the bureaucracy, and members of your own caucus are saying is the ultimate truth–then you have dome disease. It’s only when you get out and about do you find that ordinary people–the Marthas and the Henrys of the world–have different priorities all together.
They’re talking about building a new hockey rank…the secondary highway…the basic things that affect them on a day to day basis. My advice to my caucus was to get out from under the dome, avoid catching that terrible disease called dome disease, and find out what the real people are thinking.
Questions & Answers
Bob Burkinshaw, Facilitator
Thank you Mr Klein. Mr Klein has agreed to take some questions. Two things: Keep it up and keep it brief.
Q: [comes down aisle] In the beginning of your lecture…you said that seperating abortion out of politics is the idea…any practical suggestions?
A: Stay away from that [audience laughs]. Lawrence said on the advice of–understand he was a strong catholic–he has an advisor who was also a strong catholic. He said “what I am going to do is close down, if elected, I am going to shut down all the abortion clinics in the province.” Well, abortion is a matter that is between a woman, her doctor, and God. No politician can beat that trio. That is precisely what I said. I didn’t react to his statement at all. But that did kill him, it came back to haunt him from time to time and that’s what I said. The practicalities–now I understand that this is a religious situation–the practicalities of politics is that you can’t mix the two. You can try Tedd Morton–I know he was a speaker here, got involved in the gays and lesbian issue–the way to resolve that is through a free vote in the Commons. But…to get involved kills you politically.
Q: [same questioner as earlier question] But what if you’re a pro life politician and you want to do something about that?
A: [laughs] This is my advice and I’m out of politics. Stay out of it! [laughs, audience laughs] You can’t win on those issues!
Q: You mentioned that…Alberta is the only province that is debt free. Other provinces might be deficit free. Do other provinces have the resources to be debt free?
A: The potential is here. I’ve talked to Gordon about that. I don’t know what his feelings are about global warming…[audience laughs]…but he does have the potential of developing significant amounts of oil and gas off shore. He certainly has the potential.
Q: My question is as follows: In your term as premier, and even more now, the governments of Alberta have worked on developing tar sands…the resulting pollution is causing great problems for Canada and abroad. The prosperity that Alberta will enjoy will have to be paid for negatively by the rest of the country.
A: Perhaps. [audience laughs a lot] It depends on what extent you believe the science behind global warming. I belong to an institute here in Vancouver that does not believe in global warming, nor the economic feasibility of building pipelines to sequester CO2. My view is that global warming is a fact and that human activity and tar sands and so on leads to the increase of carbon and contributes to global warming. The trick is to strike the right balance between protecting the environment and sustaining the economy. I’ve called it “sustainable development.” I know that there are some of the environmental community who don’t like that approach, they’re saying Kyoto or nothing, I’m saying we’ve got to do what is right in a sustainable way to maintain the economy because that economy, by the way, you might say that it’s to the ruination of the rest of the country. On the flip side, that development in the oil sands creates jobs in Ontario building equipment, jobs in the US providing equipment, jobs worldwide providing equipment for the oil sands.
Q: On a more personal note, what was your greatest regret as premier.
A: My biggest regret: First of all, lots of regrets. [audience laughs] Uh…[stammers a bit] My philosophy relative to regrets is that you wake up, you apologize, and you get on with life. My biggest regret? Every day was my biggest regret. My biggest regret was not resigning earlier.
Q: [same questioner] And your proudest moment?
A: Hosting the 1988 Olympic Games, and when I stood on the steps with Pat Nelson the day we retired the debt of the province [audience murmurs].
Q: A comment…I appreciate that $400 check, that was great.
A: I’m glad you liked it, I don’t think there will be anymore. [audience laughs]
Q: [same girl] What about gun control?
A: Those are issues. There are some things that I regret it.
Q: [same girl] I just wanted to say that even though not everyone agreed with you, I appreciate that you were able to hold your status.
A: Thank you. [audience applauds]
Q: What about three tier health care and you not getting support from your cabinet?
A: This goes back to my regrets. I didn’t bring about, and I failed to bring about meaningful reform to the healthcare system. I’d like to say a few words and I’m glad you brought this issue up. This is an issue, it’s not global warming that’s the issue. It’s health care. Health care in some provinces are consuming half of the total provincial budget. Health care. It’s like Pac Man…it just gobbles up [audience laughs]. In Alberta, it’s about 38%. In BC it’s about 48%. In some provinces it’s 50%. That leaves 50% for roads, education, enforcement of law…it’s going to come back and bite politicians of all political [parties] in the rear end and it’s going to bite them hard. I talked to [a gentleman] on his approach to this, and unless meaningful reform is brought to the health care system, the kind that Doctor Day (sp?) is experimenting with, it is going to bankrupt us or come back and bite us. All politicians will have to come back and deal with it. I couldn’t but I’ll tell you why. Health care is a sensitive issue [audience laughs]. When I talk about…the ordinary person…the opposition parties scare the bejeezus out of them. They do! [audience laughs] They say Oh my god, the wicked government is going to take away your right to free health care. Well, it’s not free. It costs a fortune and it’s not going to be there for the young person that will graduate from this university unless something is done to bring about meaningful reform.
Q: In regards to western provinces, how would you suggest premiers go about approaching the federal government especially as the economy shifts to the west.
A: The thing that needs to be explained to the federal government–thank god for a prime minister from the west, hopefully he understands–[certain western provinces] are huge economic forces and without [them] the industries of Ontario and Quebec would not survive. It’s a matter of driving home this message. [audience claps]
Q: Reflecting back…would you have done anything differently?
A: My communications weren’t that great, not withstanding the fact that I’m deemed to be a good communicator. The health care situation shows i was not communicating to the ordinary Albertans as much as I would have liked to. I blame that on “dome disease” because I was afflicted. I didn’t explain to Martha and Henry the consequences of not dealing with this problem.
Q: [last question] I’m curious, is it something about Alberta…if you were the premier of Sask would you have been able to achieve the same results as 14 years in Alberta?
A: No. There’s a different attitude. We’re not sidelined by different political views…that shows you that things can change here. Now I know what the general thinking is of this audience and Trinity Western, but not all people think like you and me. Alberta was easy to deal with in that you didn’t have to go in and clean out all the underbrush. [audience claps and laughs] The political philosophy, although you tried to bring a new tone and a new style, remains very much the same.
[calls Mrs. Smith to close the evening]
[analysis of audience: Older, all seem very pro-Klein. Audience repeatedly laughed at his jokes, clapped spontaneously, etc. Comments and questions generally positive]
Closing Remarks
Beverly Smith
Premier, communication has not bee the problem for you tonight. [audience laughs] You’ve been very open and free and expressed yourself articulately. [audience claps] The premier will be around…to chat and I know he has so much sage advice. Thank you for attending the 10th Anniversary of the Mel Smith Lectures.
Yes, Klein is certainly controversial. I’m not so sure his “shut up” on ethical issues plan is that freat, but he was entertaining. One thing, the speaker last year was CHUCK Strahl (not Charles) and he was awesome!
um… not that great (rather than freat…)