As an Albertan, there is some truth to the aforementioned statement but there were some astute points by others such as tcook052. tcook052 is correct; our illustrious emperor has no clothes. After all, how long would you or I stay in our jobs if we admitted that we indeed had a drinking problem and that it interfered with our respective jobs and decision-making skills (as Ralph did) ? I could count my career longevity in seconds... not minutes. In good ol' Alberta, however, Ralph's popularity rating actually went up after this debacle (can you hear the banjos) ? Oh yeah, he also went to a homeless shelter around midnight - while intoxicated - and told those less fortunate to get off their %$#$% and get a job - classy, no ? As for there being less poverty in Alberta, that's partially due to the fact that in 1993, Ralph, after cutting welfare from approximately $1100 to $800 per month, offered those complaining a one way bus ticket to YVR to get them off Alberta's welfare rolls - and several hundred people were forced to take him up on this "generous" offer. In recent years, the Klein administration has also floated such trial balloons in the papers as cutting literally all funding for mental health programs. After being chastised by letters to the editors in YYC and YEG, Ralph reneged and backed down saying that he "listened to the people." It actually is intelligent governing as his party will never be ousted from power using this informal survey approach. Whether it is leadership - now that is another question...

As for less bureaucracy, that is probably accurate but with 74 seats out of 83 in the Legislature, only 10 members of the party faithful even need to show up on vote day. Can you say "tyranny of the majority, boys and girls."
There is no question that Alberta is terrific - if you are wealthy - but not everyone is enjoying the much-touted Alberta Advantage...

Sorry about the diatribe but, like most things, there are two (or more) sides to every story.

As an aside, Ralph was also the gentlemen, who, while mayor of YYC in the 1980s, called "easterners" "bums and scums" and informed them that they were not welcome here in God's country as they were taking our jobs. Currently, Mr. Klein couldn't make the premier's meeting on healthcare (he referred to it as a "boondoggle") in Toronto (I believe) as he was giving a keynote address to the oil barons of the province - I guess we know where his priorities lie.

Having said all that, Alberta is a wonderful place to live - for many reasons. By the way, I personally welcome all "easterners" to Alberta - not all of us eat our young.

Cheers,

Singlepoint