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| Affiliation | Progressive Conservative |
|
| Name | Ralph Klein |
| Address |
Calgary, Alberta , Canada |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
November 01, 1942 |
| Died |
March 29, 2013
(70 years) |
| Contributor | Mr. Techno |
| Last Modifed | Juan Croniqueur
Apr 03, 2023 12:44am |
| Tags |
Alcoholic - Military Reserve -
|
| Info | Ralph Phillip Klein is the former premier of the Canadian province of Alberta and leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives. He held both posts from 1992 until his retirement in 2006. His tenure as premier ended when the Alberta Progressive Conservatives' new leader Ed Stelmach assumed office December 14, 2006.
Klein rose to public prominence in Calgary as a radio and television personality. He was the Senior Civic Affairs reporter with CFCN Television and Radio. Klein gained his first political experience when he was elected mayor of Calgary, Alberta, on October 15, 1980. While he was mayor, the city was enjoying an economic boom, attracting many unskilled labourers from all over the country. Klein gained unfavourable national attention by blaming "eastern bums and creeps" for straining the city's social services and police. Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics during his tenure as mayor. Prior to entering provincial politics, Klein considered himself a Liberal, although he did support the federal Progressive Conservative Party in the 1988 federal election.
Klein made the transition from civic to provincial politics, becoming a member of the legislative assembly for the riding of Calgary Elbow in the 1989 general election. He was named minister of environment in Don Getty's government. Klein made headlines again when he made an offensive gesture to an environmental activist who was protesting the government's decision to allow a dam to be constructed on the Oldman River.
He was elected leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party on December 5, 1992, and became Premier of Alberta on December 14, 1992. He led the party to victory in the 1993 election, winning 51 of the 83 seats in the legislature, and 45% of the popular vote. He was re-elected in 1997, 2001 and 2004.
As Premier, Klein's social and environmental views were seen by opponents as uncaring. Supporters argued in response that Klein was merely choosing appropriate priorities for limited government funding. Klein is opposed to the Kyoto Accord. Alberta is a major producer of oil and natural gas, despite many attempts to diversify into forestry, software, and beef ranching.
At the 2004 Calgary Stampede, Klein announced that Alberta had set aside the necessary funds to repay its public debt in 2005. The debt stood at about C$23 billion when Klein took office, and its repayment was one of the most significant long-term goals of Klein's premiership. In September 2005, Klein announced that each Albertan resident would qualify for a Prosperity Bonus as a result of an oil-driven budget surplus.
In June 2003, an Ontario Superior Court Charter ruling removed federal restrictions on same-sex unions being recognized legally as marriage. Klein repeated a promise to to veto any requirement that the province register same-sex marriages. In December 2004, Klein called for a national referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage. This plan was quickly rejected by the government of Paul Martin and by federal Conservative leader Stephen Harper. Following the federal Parliament's approval of same-sex marriage in 2005 via Bill C-38, Klein announced that his government would initially fight the distribution of same-sex marriage licences. However, he later recanted and the government reluctantly acknowledged the marriages.
A problem drinker, Klein, under the influence, once verbally abused homeless people at an Edmonton-area shelter. After the incident, Klein reportedly sought to end his alcoholism, which had once been regarded as a sort of amusing, harmless quirk by many Albertans.
Prior to the 2004 election, Klein had stated his intention to serve only one more term in office. Klein announced on March 14, 2006, that he will be tendering his resignation on October 31, 2007. He subsequently stated that his resignation would take effect in early 2008 after a successor is chosen at the party's leadership election.
Klein announced his timetable days before party delegates were to vote in a review of his leadership on March 31, 2006. When the leadership review ballot was held, Klein won the support of only 55% of delegates, down from the 90% level of support he had won at previous reviews and far lower than the 75% Klein felt he needed in order to continue. At a press conference on April 4, 2006, Klein announced that as a result of the lukewarm vote for his continued leadership he would submit a letter in September to Alberta's Progressive Conservative Party urging them to convene a leadership contest.
Klein officially handed in his resignation as party leader on September 20, 2006, officially kicking off the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party leadership race. However, Klein remained premier until the new PC Leader, Ed Stelmach, assumed office on December 14, 2006.
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