Friday, September 17, 2004

King Ralph

Ralph Klein did Alberta huge disservice by storming off from the Health Summit in a huff. On Monday he cut out of a meeting to go gambling in Ottawa, proving that he’s just trying to make his way through all the major addictions before he retires. Then, he stormed back to Alberta, saying that he really didn’t give a damn about the Health Summit.

I can see why he’d want to make a statement after being scapegoated during the federal election but he owed it to Albertans to stay at the summit. Even if I don’t agree with the direction he wants to take Medicare, he should have stayed and used the TV cameras to talk about his reforms – be it P3s or privatization or two tier or the execution of sick, poor people. At least then, we could have had a meaningful discussion on health care and he could have defended his views. Instead he comes across looking like a lazy, tired, worn-out Premier.


Which he is.