'Klein Admits Tories Didn't Plan For Boom'

The huge, front page headline in the paper edition of Friday's Calgary Herald is this: Klein Admits Tories Didn't Plan For Boom. The online version is much kinder to Ralph and the Conservative government: 'Klein admits Tories goofed on growth'. 'Goofed'? How can such a serious admission about such a blatant mishandling of Alberta's future growth be seen as anything resembling a mere goof up? How insulting to Albertans.

EDMONTON - Premier Ralph Klein bid adieu to the legislature Thursday, but not before conceding his government has no plan for Alberta's scorching economy and that he only foresaw the unsustainable growth emerging as little as six months ago.

In doing so, Klein admitted his political opponents' charges that he didn't have a growth strategy were right all along.

He said only now, with the economy unsustainable, is his government developing a plan with surplus cash to meet the mounting pressures of the energy-fuelled economy.

"They were right about not having a plan," Klein told a packed news conference. "There wasn't a plan. . . . The plan is being developed, but no one could anticipate the phenomenal growth that was taking place."

Right and no one could have anticipated the breach of the levees in NOLA either.

Klein said Alberta's economic boom -- which is spurring a labour crisis, soaring housing prices and worrisome inflation levels -- came on "quite suddenly" and was driven by soaring oil prices over the past several months.

So dramatic was the energy bonanza, Klein said, that it could be compared with the bust of the oil markets in the 1980s.

Exactly. And who was in power during the 80s? The Conservatives? And who was the mayor of Calgary at the time when the same growth scenario was happening? Ralph Klein. And who completely mismanaged this oil boom? Ralph Klein and the Conservatives.

This growth didn't come about just within the past few months. It's been happening for a long time. The oilsands project and the energy crisis that has been brewing for years are not new phenomenons.

The lack of planning and foresight by the Klein government is extreme negligence of the worst kind and the admission at this late date of that fact is absolutely stunning considering the boom/bust history of this province.

It completely caught him off guard, Klein added, acknowledging he only realized six or eight months ago the "phenomenal growth" taking place in the province, particularly in the oilsands.

"No one knew that there was going to be this worldwide demand for oil and gas, this insatiable demand," Klein said.

He also admitted Alberta's growth isn't proceeding at the government's desired pace, saying a "proper" economy should be sustainable.

"We were prepared for sustainable growth, but not the kind of growth that occurred," he said. "It's not the kind of economy that I would like."

It's exactly the kind of economy that he likes. Oil royalties collected by the government make it so simple to keep this province debt free that a monkey with a calculator could run Alberta's economy. And, most likely, that monkey would have the sense to pay for the desperate infrastructure and housing needs that have come along with all of this growth.

While the Klein government consistently lowballed surpluses during the 90s, the population suffered through severely damaging health care cuts, crumbling roads, a shortage of schools, pay cuts for health care workers and teachers and a disdain for the environment. In fact, it seemed the only thing the Klein government would invest in was business interests that would increase budget surpluses and when that is the focus, social programs and the peoples' needs come last. It was corporate cronyism at its worst. And now that the government has more money than it knows what to do with, since all of its business buddies are swimming in it, it finally admits that the needs of the commoners weren't even on its mind after all - so much so that we have now arrived at a point where the Klein government has so much catching up to do that it never even considered planning for such a day - despite all of the economic indicators that this day would come.

Being debt free and having major surpluses isn't enough, especially when the province has been falling apart for so long. There is no acceptable excuse for this lack of vision. Albertans have been left behind far too long while Ralph Klein was busy working on his personal legacy, to the detriment of the majority of the people. It may be udnerstandable that a leader would focus on what the history books might say about him, but what about the rest of his caucus? Was there not even one person in that entire apparatus who spoke out to indicate there might be a problem with the government's handling of Alberta affairs? Not one who could have predicted this boom? Not one who even cared enough to push for a plan for growth? Not one who wasn't opposed to Klein's lack of ability to foresee the future?

Apparently not. And for that reason, it's time for a government that can actually deal with the realities on the ground. The Conservatives have failed to such an extent that they deserve to be punted for a very long time. While they're gone, maybe they can do some research about what planning for the future is really all about, because it's obvious they have absolutely no clue what's involved in governing beyond slashing and burning while cozying up to their corporate masters.

Also posted at The Next Agenda