Alberta Needs Jim Prentice!

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 42) August 27, 2014

Reaction to last week’s Whispering in the Wind column was varied and interesting –the article dealt with my musings on the battle between globalization and nation building.  One dear friend offered that the article was “fluffy” and that I should write about “more interesting less far reaching topics in politics”.  In deference to those who want some opinions on political events in Albert, read on.  For those who wish to look at the big, big picture I recommend a review of David C. Korten’s work, including his 1995 book, When Corporations Rule the World.

The Oh-Hum Leadership Campaign in Alberta

A few weeks ago I wrote that watching the three contenders (Jim Prentice, Thomas Lukaszuk, Ric McIver) in the Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership campaign was like watching paint dry on a hot day without a cool drink.  Things haven’t changed in the last couple of weeks and ballot day is less than two weeks away.  All conventional wisdom and for that matter, all unconventional wisdom has Jim Prentice becoming Alberta’s 16^th Premier, Province of Alberta on September 6, 2014.  As to the other two candidates only Thomas Lukaszuk has positively positioned himself to being a part of the new Prentice Team – although Mr. Lukaszuk recently has been painted with the “entitlement” brush and that’s not good for the PC party. A leaked document indicates that Mr. Lukaszuk racked up a $20,000 telephone bill while he was deputy premier, on a single trip to Poland.  Unfortunately Ric McIver will be cast aside because of his association with a far to the right religious group that is openly homophobic with its pastor recently claiming that last year’s flood in southern Alberta was a result of God’s wrath on homosexuality.  Jim Prentice is not without scandal – apparently organizers working for the Jim Prentice camp are offering free memberships to supporters – tsk, tsk.

The Jeff Johnson Factor? 

Another political personality that deserves some mention is Jeff Johnson, currently the Minister of Education and MLA for Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater constituency – that would be the constituency in which I  live.  Minister Johnson got into a lot of hot water recently related to an “independent” task force report which recommended a more effective teacher evaluation process – that got the ire of the teacher’s union.  As well, Mr. Johnson directly communicated with teachers on the report in the middle of contract negotiations – that got the ire of the  privacy commissioner.  The reaction by Jim Prentice was understandably muted but he did suggest that the Minister of Education must work more closely with the union when instituting change – from my perspective, that’s pretty good advice.  As to Jeff Johnson’s future with the new premier one will have to wait and see.  In my opinion Jeff Johnson has a lot to offer the province and a government led by Jim Prentice.  What I have read and observed, Jeff. Johnson has considerable insight into economic development, economic diversification and resource upgrading.  Mr. Johnson’s research paper entitled, Upgrading Alberta’s Future – Securing long-term economic opportunities through adding value to bitumen is a particularly good read and fits in well with a positive, environmentally sustainable vision for Alberta – the Jim Prentice vision.