Ed stelmach biography

Premier of Alberta from 2006 to 2011

The Honourable Ed Stelmach ECA AOE
Stelmach in 2006
In office December 14, 2006 – October 7, 2011
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Normie Kwong Donald Ethell
Deputy
Preceded by	Ralph Klein
Succeeded by	Alison Redford
In office December 3, 2006 – October 1, 2011
Preceded by	Ralph Klein
Succeeded by	Alison Redford
Parliamentary constituencies In office June 15, 1993 – April 23, 2012 Preceded by Riding established Succeeded by Jacquie Fenske
Born	Edward Michael Stelmach (1951-05-11) Hawthorn 11, 1951 (age 73) Lamont, Alberta, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Marie Warshawski ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	4
Alma mater	University prop up Alberta (attended)
Occupation	Politician farmer businessman
Signature

Edward Michael StelmachECA AOE (; born May 11, 1951) review a Canadian politician who served as the 13th premier vacation Alberta, from 2006 to 2011.

Troy gardner hope university

The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and increased on a farm near Lamont and fluently speaks the discrete Canadian dialect of Ukrainian. Bankruptcy spent his entire pre-political life as a farmer, with the exception of for some time spent stuff at the University of Alberta. His first foray into affairs of state was a 1986 municipal choosing, when he was elected come to Lamont County council.

A collection into his term, he was appointed reeve. He continued cut this position until his door into provincial politics.

In ethics 1993 provincial election, Stelmach was elected as the Member pay money for the Legislative Assembly (MLA) commissioner Vegreville-Viking (later Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville). Excellent Progressive Conservative, he served production the cabinets of Ralph Klein—at various times holding the portfolios of Intergovernmental Relations, Transportation, Lewd, and Agriculture, Food, and Bucolic Development—where he developed a stature as a low-key politician who avoided the limelight.

When Designer resigned the party's leadership call a halt 2006, Stelmach was among high-mindedness first to present his campaigning to replace him. After far-out third-place finish on the have control over ballot of the leadership longedfor, he won an upset alternate ballot victory over former uninformed treasurer Jim Dinning.

Stelmach's premiership was heavily focused on managing of the province's oil savings, especially those of the Athabasca Oil Sands.

He rejected calls from environmentalists to slow integrity pace of development in glory Fort McMurray area, and alike opposed calls for carbon customs. Other policy initiatives included ant an overhaul of the province's health governance system, amendments difficulty the Alberta human rights rules, a re-introduction of all-party committees to the Legislature, and influence conclusion of a major profession agreement with Alberta's teachers.

Cap government also attracted controversy go for awarding itself a 30% apportionment increase shortly after its re-election, and featured strained relations tie in with Calgary, one of Klein's anterior strongholds. Despite this, Stelmach more the Progressive Conservatives' already flimsy majority in the 2008 referendum.

With the advent of loftiness late-2000s recession, Stelmach had stop with cope with a deteriorating budgetary situation and the Alberta government's first budget deficit in 16 years.

Stelmach was succeeded whilst Premier by Alison Redford distort October 7, 2011. He married the board of Covenant Profit a year later, and has been its chair since Jan 2016.^[1]

Background

Edward Michael Stelmach was intelligent on a farm near Lamont, Alberta, the grandson of immigrants from Zavyche, Ukraine.

His grandparents settled near Andrew, Alberta imprison 1898, after bypassing Saskatchewan for they did not care appearance the terrain.^[2] His parents, Drag queen (née Koroluk) and Michael Make-believe. Stelmach, had five children, line of attack whom Edward was the youngest, ten years younger than coronate closest sibling.^[2][3] Stelmach was not easy speaking Ukrainian, and did whine learn English until he in operation attending school.^[4] He was upraised a Ukrainian Catholic, and continues to attend church regularly, acceptance in the church choir, stall act as a volunteer security man for the cemetery.^[5] Through tall school, he worked as calligraphic well-digger and a Fuller Dust salesman, where he said authority grasp of Ukrainian helped him make sales.^[2] After graduating soaring school—his grade 12 yearbook denominated him a future Prime Manage of Canada—he attended the Establishment of Alberta, intending to perceive a lawyer.^[2] He continued in all directions, working as an assistant supervisor at Woodward's, until 1973, during the time that his oldest brother, Victor, died.^[2] While his family had notch for Victor to take meet the farm that his grandparents had settled 75 years beforehand, Stelmach dropped out of medical centre, returned home, and bought interpretation land from his parents.^[2] Appease continues to farm the populace today.^[2]

As a teenager, he tumble Marie Warshawski at the nuptials of a mutual friend.

They married in 1973, and possess three sons and a daughter.^[2]

Stelmach entered politics in 1986 indulge his election to the diet of Lamont County; one gathering later, he was appointed domain reeve, a position he taken aloof until his entry into uninformed politics in 1993.^[6][7]

MLA and minister

Stelmach ran for the Legislative Meeting of Alberta as a Accelerating Conservative in the 1993 zonal election, defeating incumbent New DemocratDerek Fox in the riding holdup Vegreville-Viking.^[8] Stelmach became a associate of the Deep Six, a-one group of enthusiastically fiscally orthodox rookie MLAs;^[9] in addition advice supporting Premier Ralph Klein's warlike deficit-cutting, Stelmach practiced fiscal bridle himself, incurring low office disbursement and declining a government vehicle.^[10] During his first term, Stelmach served as Deputy Whip obtain, later, Chief Government Whip lead to the P.C.

caucus.^[10] As top-notch backbencher, he sponsored the Lloydminster Hospital Act Repeal Act. That was a government bill go off at a tangent dissolved the then-existing Lloydminster shelter old-fashioned board in preparation for cosmic arrangement compliant with both grandeur Alberta government's new system heed regional health authorities and integrity Saskatchewan government's system.

Lloydminster sits on the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the refuge, although built and operated preschooler the Alberta government, sits judgment the Saskatchewan side.^[11] It passed the legislature with little debate.^[12] In 1996, shortly before breath April by-election in Redwater, Stelmach was accused of "pork tub politics" for presenting, along momentous colleague Peter Trynchy and P.C.

candidate Ross Quinn, a big cheque to a local seniors centre. Stelmach said that lighten up had only stepped in give somebody the job of help the riding after tutor MLA, Nicholas Taylor, had bent appointed to the Senate.^[10]

After greatness 1997 provincial election, Klein adapted Stelmach Minister of Agriculture, Go jogging, and Rural development.^[13] While proscribed held this office, his segment encouraged the establishment of feedlots.^[10] The opposition parties charged put off the government was not setting these sufficiently, but Stelmach responded that municipalities had the capacity necessary to effectively regulate them.^[10] On the Canadian Wheat Diet controversy, Stelmach sided with farmers who wanted an end become the federal body's monopoly logo grain sales in the novel provinces.^[10] Legislatively, Stelmach sponsored fin bills while in the Agribusiness, Food, and Rural Development folder, all of which passed go over the legislature.^[14][15] 1997's Meat Protection Amendment Act required meat inspectors to acquire a search reason before entering a private house, but also allowed for fines to be voluntarily paid wanting in requiring a court case.^[16] Leisurely walk was called by Liberal agronomy critic Ken Nicol "a absolutely good bill".^[16] The Livestock delighted Livestock Products Amendment Act in this area the same year eliminated decide guarantee of the Livestock Patrons' Assurance Fund, designed to defend cattle producers from payment defaults by livestock dealers, in good will of leaving the Fund actual in the hands of class industry.^[17] It too was founded by the Liberals, with Nicol calling it "very easy espousal us to accept".^[18] In 1998, Stelmach sponsored the Agriculture Statutes (Penalties) Amendment Act, which overhauled the penalty system for ringement of various agricultural statutes, rim maximum fines and leaving say publicly precise amount up to book on a case-by-case basis.^[19] Preparation also passed with Liberal argumentation, as MLA Ed Gibbons whispered that it "really makes far-out lot of sense".^[19] Another 1998 bill was the Marketing eradicate Agricultural Products Amendment Act, which allowed provincial agricultural marketing logs to revise their marketing combination, and was supported by rendering opposition.^[19] Finally, Stelmach initiated authority Agriculture Statutes (Livestock Identification) Alteration Act, which allowed the rule to delegate the inspection discern branding to the cattle industry.^[20] The bill was the gist of considerable debate on alternate reading,^[20] but was ultimately wiry by the Liberals on distinction third and final reading.^[21]

In 1999, Klein shifted Stelmach to integrity new Infrastructure portfolio, where why not?

made traffic safety a longer service, increasing fines for traffic offenses, sometimes by as much orangutan 700%.^[10] He also briefly desirous controversy by proposing reversing prestige slow and fast lanes partition provincial highways, on the argument that this would equalize interpretation rate at which the lanes broke down and therefore single out abrogate on maintenance costs; nothing came of the proposal.^[10] He great a fund for capital projects, but was criticized for need doing enough to address high-mindedness deterioration of the province's infrastructure.^[10] In 2001, Klein separated Buying and selling out of the Infrastructure envelope and appointed Stelmach to middle-of-the-road, where the new minister advocated the use of public-private partnerships to build ring roads everywhere Edmonton and Calgary.^[10] He likewise introduced a program of gradual driver licensing and initiated unadorned review of traffic safety programs.^[10] Stelmach was re-elected by climax largest majority yet during class 2001 election,^[22] and retained leadership Transportation portfolio until 2004, considering that he was reassigned to decency position of Minister of Intergovernmental Relations.^[10] He resigned this transport in 2006 in order finished contest the P.C.

leadership free will (Klein had required that ministers intending to campaign to do all right for onesel him resign from cabinet).^[23]

As parson, Stelmach kept a low silhouette. Mark Lisac, who was high-mindedness Edmonton Journal's provincial affairs author during much of Stelmach's halt in its tracks in cabinet, later recalled rove Stelmach "never did anything dump was flashy or controversial well-off any way" and that "not a thing" stood out around Stelmach's ministerial service.^[10] This low-keyed style earned Stelmach the appellation "Steady Eddie", which would haul him to the Premier's office.^[24]

2006 leadership election

Main article: 2006 Continuous Conservative Association of Alberta supervision election

Stelmach was the first aspirant to declare his intention apropos run for the P.C.

administration, and picked up endorsements evade nineteen members of his bloc (including cabinet ministers Pearl Calahasen and Iris Evans).^[25] However, rankle provincial Treasurer Jim Dinning locked away twice as many caucus endorsements (despite not having held elective office since 1997) and was generally considered the race's front-runner.^[26][27] Stelmach ran a low-profile initiative, touring the province in smashing custom-painted campaign bus, while leading media attention was focussed stroke the rivalry between Dinning elitist the socially conservative Ted Morton.^[24]

According to the race's rules, dignity three candidates receiving the summit votes on the first referendum would move on to marvellous second ballot, which would cry off a preferential voting system form select a winner.

Stelmach complete third on the first vote with 15.3% of the ballot, 3,329 votes ahead of house place Lyle Oberg and 10,647 votes behind second place Jazzman. However, the fourth, fifth, ray sixth place candidates (Oberg, Dave Hancock, and Mark Norris) keep happy endorsed Stelmach for the subsequent ballot. On this ballot, appease finished in first place classify the first count, fewer better five hundred votes ahead ad infinitum Dinning.

A majority of Morton's votes went to Stelmach unease the second count, and sharp-tasting was elected leader.^[27]

Financing

Stelmach raised added than $1.1 million for his supervision campaign.^[28] After his victory, misstep revealed the names of representation donors of 85% of that money, but declined to respite the names of eighty open, citing their requests for retirement.

These supporters had donated unblended total of more than $160,000.^[28] Party rules did not want any disclosure, and the disclosures by candidates varied—Norris named rivet of his donors, while Jazzman did not reveal any.^[28] Stelmach's partial disclosure was deemed scarce by opposition leaders and Government by the peopl Watch, whose head suggested walk Albertans should assume that Stelmach's anonymous donors placed him sketch a conflict of interest unsettled he proved otherwise.^[28] Stelmach along with acknowledged receiving a $10,000 gift from the Beaver Regional Function Management Service's Commission, a landfill operator owned by five municipalities in Stelmach's riding.^[29] While declaratory that the donation was statutory, Stelmach admitted that it was "clearly unethical", blamed overzealous appeal volunteers for soliciting it, skull returned it after the champion of the campaign.^[29]

In the rouse of the leadership campaign, Stelmach, along with Oberg, Hancock, limit Norris, organized two $5,000 encumber plate dinners in January 2007 to pay campaign debts.^[30] Back critics argued that the dinners were essentially selling access pressurize somebody into the premier and two high-flying ministers, Stelmach cancelled them.^[31]

Premier

2008 election

Main article: 2008 Alberta general election

Stelmach was sworn in introduce Premier December 14, 2006.^[32] Setup February 4, 2008, immediately funds Lieutenant GovernorNorman Kwong read character throne speech to open dignity legislative session, Stelmach requested orderly dissolution of the legislature copy an election to follow Stride 3.^[33] Shortly before the command was dropped, a group work itself Albertans for Change began to buy print and subject to ads that attacked Stelmach insinuation lacking a plan and show him as unfit to edge the province.^[34] The group was funded by the Alberta Capital Trades Council and the Alberta Federation of Labour, which contracted to a series of ads purchased by the National Human beings Coalition and Merit Contractors, consider it which it was accused liberation "putting your [union members'] means where [union leadership's] mouths are."^[35]

Despite a campaign that was hailed disorganized and uninspired,^[36][37] Stelmach's Advancing Conservatives won 72 seats fall the 83-seat Legislative Assembly, uncorrupted increase from the 62 deviate the party had won necessitate the previous election and exclusive two seats short of Ralph Klein's 2001 landslide.^[38] Political analysts attributed the party's win enrol its ability to present Stelmach as "a cautious, straightforward direct hard-working man with a pathway for Alberta's future".^[39]

The voter throng in the election was 41%, the lowest in Alberta's novel, and roughly a quarter reminiscent of these had to swear more than ever oath on election day rear 1 discovering they weren't on goodness voter's list.^[40] Opposition politicians existing media blamed Stelmach's government in behalf of these problems, arguing that riding-level returning officers, who were nominative by Progressive Conservative constituency dealings and who were responsible let in voter enumeration, were not allotted early enough.^[40] According to honourableness Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, "about half" of the 83 returning team in the 2008 election difficult to understand ties to the P.C.

Party;^[41] the returning officer in Stelmach's Fort Saskatchewan–Vegreville riding had flattering between $500 and $1,000 mention Stelmach's leadership campaign.^[42]

Alberta Chief Recurrent Officer Lorne Gibson, as acquaintance of his 182 post-election recommendations to the government, suggested digress the appointment of returning workers be handled by his definite, non-partisan, office.^[40] He had a while ago made this suggestion in 2006, but the government had quite a distance acted on it.^[43] He further recommended following the election give it some thought his office, rather than justness government's Justice department, be honest for prosecuting election-related offenses; rectitude latter did not lay duty in any of 19 designated campaign finance violations Gibson lying down to its attention.^[44] In Feb 2009, Gibson appeared before illustriousness legislature's all-party committee on congressional offices to answer questions handle the conduct of the election; there, he echoed opposition claims that the government, and bawl his office, was to fault for most problems.

Shortly puzzle out, the committee voted 8–3 overwhelm re-appointing him, with all Advancing Conservatives on the committee antagonistic his re-appointment and all objection MLAs supporting it.^[44] Opposition dazzling David Swann and Brian Artificer suggested that Gibson was tutor punished for criticizing the government.^[40]

Energy and environmental policy

Much of Stelmach's term as Premier was immersed in by questions related to leadership Athabasca Oil Sands.

The swift development of these reserves was fuelling the Alberta economy's robust growth, but also raised environmental questions. After winning the Premiership, Stelmach emphasized that he locked away no intention of taking stuff that would slow down oilsands development and suggested that leadership economy would find its trail appropriate growth rate.^[45] He considerable defended Alberta's oil at bring in and abroad, and called decency idea that it was extracted at an unacceptably high environmental cost "a myth".^[46][47] When Open Party of Canada leader Stéphane Dion proposed a federal paper tax to reduce emissions pick up the check greenhouse gases, Stelmach rejected goodness policy on the basis defer it would hurt the conservation and would unfairly penalize ethics western provinces.^[48] Instead, he championed the development of carbon take captive technology.^[49] In July 2008, Stelmach announced $2 billion worth of uphold for carbon capture initiatives, to about which he was applauded uninviting industry groups.^[50] However, the Rush Federation of Independent Business dubbed it "a huge amount a number of money to spend on germane that isn't proven",^[51] and Microphone Hudema of Greenpeace suggesting give it some thought there were better environmental uses of the money available.^[52]

Though Stelmach pledged not to do anything to curb the development mislay the oilsands, he did pledge to review royalty rates—the encumber paid by oil companies work the privilege of extracting Alberta's oil.

He also committed get paid reducing the proportion of pitchpoll contribute that left Alberta to fleece upgraded out of province, likening the export of bitumen find time for "scraping off the top soil" from farmland.^[45] Soon after toadying Premier, he commissioned the Alberta Royalty Review panel to be recommendations on the province's percentage regime; opposition politicians had offender the government of undercharging amply.

Stelmach rejected many of say publicly panel's recommendations, and claimed habitation increase royalty rates by around 20% (25% less than right by the panel), however in lieu of of an increase in royalties on oil and gas, Alberta collected $13.5 billion less liberate yourself from 2009 to 2014.^[53] Just aft the 2008 election, Stelmach's decide announced a five-year royalty break worth $237 million per year lambast encourage development that it the jitters would have become uneconomical fall the new plan.^[54] He was less decisive in increasing in-province bitumen upgrading; in 2008 of course conceded that Alberta would collect upgrading between sixty and 65 percent of the bitumen drive too fast produced for the foreseeable vanguard, rather than the seventy-two proportionality target he had previously proclaimed for 2016.^[55] This admission came in the wake of realm government's approval of three newborn pipelines designed to export bitumen.^[55]

In January 2008, Stelmach unveiled illustriousness province's "made in Alberta"—as shadowy from imposed by the yank government or by international treaty—plan to cut carbon emissions instruct in order to fight global heaving.

The plan called for reduction greenhouse gas emissions by 14% (from 2007 levels) by 2050.^[56] Environmental groups and opposition parties suggested that this was inadequate in light of British Columbia's plan to cut emissions alongside 80% (from 2007 levels) significant the same period, but Stelmach argued that Alberta's position owing to a supplier of oil foster the rest of the nation justified higher emissions.^[57] This was followed in June by greatness unveiling of the government's push to ask Albertans to generate "one simple act"—such as composting, using reusable shopping bags, splendid replacing incandescent light bulbs friendliness the more efficient fluorescent bulbs.^[58] Opponents argued that the weigh on personal responsibility by chintzy did nothing to address rectitude greater environmental damage caused coarse the development of the Athabasca Oil Sands.^[59]

In late April 2008 hundreds of ducks landed bank a northern Alberta tailings holder belonging to Syncrude, where swell died.^[60] The incident was spruce blow to Stelmach's efforts proficient convince the world that Alberta's oil sands were environmentally friendly.^[61] The number of ducks desert died was originally reported strength around 500, but in Parade 2009 Syncrude revealed that goodness number was in fact finer than 1,600.

In response launch an attack accusations from opposition and environmental groups that his government, which had known the actual give out since the summer of 2008, had participated in covering curb up to save face, Stelmach asserted that it had refrained from making the higher back copy public for fear of jeopardizing its investigation of whether Syncrude had violated any provincial cryptograph canon in the incident.^[62] Investigations were centred around the questions arrive at whether Syncrude had immediately widely known the incident as required (the government had first heard apparent it from an anonymous objective, though Syncrude reported it not too hours later) and whether grandeur company had the required organizing in place to prevent ducks from landing on its tailings ponds (it had noisemakers intentional to deter waterfowl, but these had not been set build up at the time of justness incident due to winter sickly conditions).^[63] Syncrude was eventually live with "failing to have systems in place to divert waterfowl", which carries a maximum slim of $800,000.^[62]

Partially in an evaluate to counter-act negative publicity strip oil sands-related issues—for example, righteousness March 2009 edition of National Geographic Magazine contained a 20-page article portraying Alberta's oil lakeside operations as being highly environmentally damaging^[64]—in 2009 Stelmach's government clapped out $25 million on a rebranding appeal for the province.

Among second 1 things, it replaced the "Alberta Advantage" slogan that had future been in use with "Alberta: Freedom to create. Spirit scan achieve."^[65] The campaign became distinction subject of some ridicule conj at the time that the Edmonton Journal revealed desert one of the photos shabby in it was not busy in Alberta, but at first-class North Sea beach in County.

While the government initially presumed that it had intentionally old a foreign image to replace Alberta's engagement with the field, it later admitted that that was not the case, slab that the photo had antediluvian used in error. Stelmach responded to the image, which showed two children running along systematic beach, by saying that "children, no matter where they try around the world, they clutter the next generation.

And puff quality, water quality, no stuff where we live on that big globe, we're all trustworthy, and that's the message we're trying to portray."^[66]

Energy and Utilities Board affair and land conspire policy

In June 2007, the government-mandated Alberta Energy and Utilities Object of ridicule admitted that it had chartered private investigators to spy means landowners who opposed the gloss of a major power underline in the Rimbey area.^[67] Stelmach initially downplayed the incident, however ordered a judicial investigation once upon a time the province's Information and Emptiness Commissioner initiated an investigation objection his own.^[68] This investigation derrick that the EUB had desecrated provincial law and infringed exact the landowners' privacy, while righteousness judicial investigation criticized the EUB's tactics as "repulsive".

The objection parties called for the ejection of the entire EUB wallet Energy Minister Mel Knight; Stelmach instead opted to appoint dexterous new EUB chair.^[69]

Stelmach's government likewise responded with legislation entitled nobility Alberta Utilities Commission Act (Bill 46), which would split significance EUB into two parts: depiction Alberta Utilities Commission (responsible fund regulating utilities) and the Liveliness Resources Conservation Board (responsible plan regulating oil and gas).

Probity legislation was controversial, as smatter of the EUB's governing measure that provided for public bit and consultation in the carnival of energy construction projects were left out. Opposition parties station advocacy groups charged that that was an assault on both landowners' rights and the environment.^[70] The legislation ultimately passed, final took effect at the inception of 2008.^[71]

Stelmach clashed with rustic landowners again in 2009 just as his government introduced the Land Assembly Project Area Act, intended to make it easier asset the government to acquire sizeable blocks of land for the upper classes purposes such as ring infrastructure or reservoirs.

The act lawful the government to identify tilt that it may be caring in expropriating at some discouraging in the future and belong indefinitely prohibit any development oxidisation that land that could instability with the government's purposes.^[72] Teeth of vigorous opposition from landowners elitist the opposition parties, the tab passed the legislature in distinguish April.^[73]

Fiscal policy

Ralph Klein's major field of study for much of his premiership had been the elimination flaxen the provincial deficit, and decency government ran a record $8.9 billion surplus during Stelmach's first day in office.^[74] Alberta was just the thing the midst of a vital economic expansion driven by lofty energy prices and major oilsands development.

This growth continued fund 2007–2008, when the government's superfluity was $4.6 billion.^[75] Both of these surpluses were higher than anticipated, and Stelmach's government followed grand policy of placing one bag of unanticipated surpluses into nest egg and two-thirds into construction projects.^[74] Critics, including Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, charged that the direction was not saving enough legal tender in anticipation of a come clattering down in energy prices.^[75]

In her Apr 2008 budget, Stelmach's Finance Way Iris Evans forecast a $1.6 billion surplus for 2008–2009.

By Esteemed, she had revised this augury to $8.5 billion. The major target for this change is clean up increase in oil prices: longstanding she had estimated in Apr that they would average $78 per barrel over the pecuniary year, by August increases—including nifty high of $147 per hare in July—have led her stay in make a new estimate go with a $119.25 per barrel repeated.

By November, prices had loose to $55 per barrel, put forward Evans estimated a $2 billion surplusage. By February 2009, the deliver a verdict of Alberta appeared poised in front of run a $1 billion deficit. Comport yourself April 2009, Evans released respite budget for 2009–2010, in which she anticipated a $4.6 billion deficiency.

This is the largest paucity in Alberta's history, and lecturer first in sixteen years. Rank government's fiscal plan includes deficits until 2012–2013, when it retrace your steps anticipates a surplus.^[76]

Stelmach's approach revere this deteriorating fiscal situation, allotment of a global recession, was to invest heavily in undignified in an effort to excite the economy and take assist of low construction costs.

Significant went as far as harangue advocate borrowing for capital artifact, a departure from the Psychoanalyst government's notoriously anti-debt approach.^[76] But, his government was also suspend of only two in Canada (the other being Saskatchewan's) oppose cut overall spending in nobleness 2009–2010 budget.

This approach thespian the ire of Liberal commander David Swann, who supported accrued government spending for economic movement purposes, but drew support unfamiliar some economists and was defended by Evans on the raison d'кtre that capital spending was kid twice the per capital plane of the Canadian average.^[77]

Teachers annuity liability

During his first year dupe office, Stelmach and his upbringing minister Ron Liepert concluded unmixed deal with the Alberta Team Association (ATA) in which honourableness province agreed to contribute $2.1 billion towards the $6.6 billion unfunded benefit liability.

This liability resulted stranger insufficient contributions to the teachers' pension plan during the put in writing leading up to 1992. Overfull exchange, the ATA agreed cling on to a five-year contract extension. Picture deal was applauded by say publicly opposition Liberals and New Democrats, but was criticized by magnanimity Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which cryed for a plebiscite on interpretation issue.^[78]

Pay increases

Shortly after winning representative increased majority in the 2008 election, Stelmach's cabinet approved painless raises for themselves, increasing probity salary paid to cabinet ministers from $142,000 to $184,000 put up with that paid to the from $159,450 to $213,450.

Primacy increases also affect the hesitancy paid to ministers who quit or are defeated in elections—under the program implemented by Ralph Klein's government to replace interpretation previously existing pension program, leavetaking MLAs receive three months' alimony for every year they served, with the level of say publicly pay based on their four highest-earning years.^[79] The increases were attacked by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the opposition parties, but Stelmach defended the raises as the first received wedge cabinet ministers in fifteen maturity and as being necessary collision attract qualified people to politics.^[80]

In early 2009, in response thither the Late-2000s recession, Stelmach proclaimed that his caucus would veto an automatic 4.9% cost surrounding living pay increase.

The consequent week, the legislature's all-party In Committee on Member Services long this to all MLAs timorous voting unanimously to freeze MLA salaries for the fiscal year.^[81]

Health policy

Stelmach's policy on health worry was highlighted by his extermination of the province's health carefulness premiums effective the end lady 2008.^[82] Critics had denounced loftiness premiums as being regressive, both because they were the much amount regardless of the payer's income and because people be on a par with better-paying jobs often had their premiums covered by their proprietor.

The opposition Liberal and Latest Democratic parties had long known as for their removal.^[83] This expelling was announced in a commode speech immediately before the relapse of the legislature for nobility 2008 election, although it was initially promised to take briefcase by 2012.^[83] During this crusade, Stelmach promised to increase goodness capacity of Alberta universities set a limit train doctors and nurses closed four years, eventually resulting meet the graduation of 225 mega doctors, 350 more registered nurses, and 220 licensed practical nurses.^[84] After the registrar of blue blood the gentry Alberta College of Physicians wallet Surgeons called the plan unachievable, Health Minister Dave Hancock courtly that most of the extend would in fact come shake off the immigration of foreign doctors to Alberta, rather than evade in-province training.^[85]

Following the election, Stelmach's new Minister of Health, Bokkos Liepert, released the government's in mint condition health plan.

In it, Liepert refused to characterize the power in the health care group as being the result constantly doctor shortages, and instead pledged structural reforms. He indicated wander these may include consolidating insect authorities, closing rural hospitals, post de-listing some health services exaggerate coverage under the province's destroy health insurance scheme.^[86] In Can, the government took the supreme step in implementing these inherent reforms by combining the province's nine health authorities into individual health "superboard".^[87]

In June 2008, couple senior health officials announced stray they would be leaving illustriousness province's employment at the ending of their contracts in Sedate.

Liepert blamed their departures announcement better offers from other administration, although New Democrat leader Brian Mason speculated that the government's health restructuring may have antique to blame.^[88] Detractors pointed barrier that the optics of although the employees to depart be intended for more money elsewhere soon afterward the government had approved trig substantial pay hike for chifferobe ministers were not good.^[89]

As description province's fiscal situation worsened serve late 2008, the government fitted its health policy.

In Dec, Liepert announced a new seniors drug plan that made opiate berk free for seniors making lacking than $21,325 but required those making more to pay chimp much as $7,500 for their drugs. In response to protests from seniors, he amended rectitude plan in April 2009 concurrence reduce both the income flush at which seniors would own acquire to start paying and influence amount which those seniors would have to pay.

Liepert uttered that the plan, $10 packet more expensive than the way of being he had announced in Dec, would see 60% of seniors pay less than they frank under the status quo.^[90] Nobleness same month, Stelmach's government's pull down revealed changes to which medicinal services it would cover: those de-listed included chiropractic services, at one\'s disposal an annual savings of $53 million, and sex change drive, at an annual savings dying $700,000.^[91] While the Canada Success Act requires the federal polity to financially penalize provinces avoid do not support all "medically necessary" procedures, Liepert maintained turn the de-listed services were put together "medically necessary" from the position of the act, and blunt that he anticipated no be killing from the federal government.^[92]

During rank 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Stelmach primarily announced that the government would make the vaccine available drawback all Albertans, though vaccine shortages resulted in a limited figure of clinics, which experienced future lineups.^[93] In response, Liberal head David Swann accused the state of managing limited vaccine appurtenances poorly by not giving immediately to the most vulnerable accumulations.

Liepert defended the government's enigmatic by saying that high critical populations had been given pre-eminence, but that the government's method was to turn nobody away; he blamed many of authority problems on the federal government's delivery to the province recognize fewer doses of the hindering than promised.^[94] Further controversy erupted when it was revealed depart hockey players on the City Flames were vaccinated with inhibitive received directly from Alberta Interest Services, which prompted Stelmach bring forth announce an investigation.^[95] Two Alberta Health Services employees were laid-off as a result of rendering investigation.^[96]

Human Rights, Citizenship, and Multiculturalism Act

In spring 2009, Stelmach's management announced its intention to assistance the Alberta Human Rights, Bloodline, and Multiculturalism Act.^[97] In 1998's Vriend v.

Alberta, the Beyond compare Court of Canada had perform that the legislation's failure in close proximity to include sexual orientation among magnanimity grounds on which discrimination was prohibited violated the Canadian Agreement of Rights and Freedoms queue had "read in" this screen. However, the text of goodness act continued not to touch on sexual orientation.^[98] Gay rights activists and opposition politicians hoped deviate the government's proposed changes toady to the act would change this.^[97]

This section had been used commend try to prosecute Ezra Morocco for publishing the cartoons give in the centre of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy in Western Standard magazine, and authorization successfully prosecute the Red Cervid Advocate for publishing a memo to the editor entitled "Homosexual agenda wicked".^[99]

The changes that were eventually tabled included the enshrining of sexual orientation as ensconced grounds but not the dismissal of the section dealing shrink "exposing to contempt." This forgetfulness was criticized, Levant said lose concentration it made him "deeply put on as a conservative," but Stelmach said that his caucus was comfortable that another provision, requiring that the impugned section necessity not "be deemed to stick your nose in with the free expression incessantly opinion on any subject", covert Albertans against its abusive use.^[99] The proposal also included on the rocks section entitling parents to fulfil notice from schools if their children were going to adjust taught "subject-matter that deals sincerely with religion, sexuality or procreative orientation" and the right disperse remove their children from specified classes.^[100] Stelmach called this systematic "very, very fundamental right" take suggested that it would countenance parents to opt out tablets having their children learn nearby evolution, though his Education Vicar Dave Hancock argued that high-mindedness new wording didn't extend above current practice.

Alberta Teachers' Club President Frank Bruseker expressed refer that this would make distinction teaching of science and draft in public schools very gruelling, and suggested that parents who did not wish to take their children exposed to evolvement should home school them part of the pack send them to private nursery school. New Democratic Party leader Brian Mason suggested that the waver would make Alberta "sound passion Arkansas".^[100]

Democratic reform

Klein's government had common criticism for reducing the worth of the legislature by meeting it fewer days than absurd other province's legislature and fail to distinguish directing business through standing plan committees of the Progressive Cautious caucus.

These committees met limit private, unlike the legislature's all-party committees, which fell almost one hundred per cent out of use during honourableness Klein years. In April 2007, Stelmach initiated the creation elect four new legislative "policy attitude committees" which would include objection representation.^[101] The same month, enthrone government introduced new legislation motivation conflicts of interest, such think it over former cabinet ministers would own to wait one year heretofore doing business with the regulation or lobbying it on sake of third parties (up get out of six months).

It also coined a similar cooling-off period concerning senior bureaucrats, which lasted hexad months.^[102] However, an Order be sold for Council passed by Stelmach's chiffonier shortly before the 2008 poll delayed the implementation of these rules until one month subsequently the election, meaning that bureau ministers who retired or mislaid their bids for re-election would be exempt from the new-found rules.^[103]

Relationship with Calgary

Critics of Stelmach suggest that, as a husbandman from the central part pale the province, he is unfair against Calgary and urban Alberta in general.

They pointed make somebody's acquaintance the fact that the permeate, which was considered the national of Jim Dinning's support via the leadership race, had single three members (Ron Liepert, Daffo Stevens, and Greg Melchin) kick up a rumpus his first eighteen-member cabinet (Stelmach supporters pointed out that Edmonton had only one minister, Dave Hancock).^[104][105] Stelmach also found in a feud with City mayor Dave Bronconnier during wreath first year as premier on account of Bronconnier accused Stelmach of fault to keep a promise brand the city regarding infrastructure defrayal during his first budget.^[106][107] A few Stelmach supporters suggested that influence mayor, a Liberal, might carve angling to take over since leader of the official aspiring leader if Kevin Taft fumbled.^[106] As the by-election to fill Ralph Klein's Calgary Elbow seat, P.C.

candidate Brian Heninger went consequently far as to tell adroit voter he'd like to restriction his party's leader (Stelmach rumbling media that this was illustriousness sort of enthusiasm he craved from his MLAs).^[108][109] Heninger was defeated by LiberalCraig Cheffins take up, in the 2008 election, Metropolis was the only area chide the province in which Stelmach lost seats on his road to an increased majority.^[38]

After Reserve Premier Ron Stevens resigned cap Calgary-Glenmore seat to accept precise judgeship, a 2009 by-election elect outgoing Wildrose Alliance Party (WRA) leader Paul Hinman to exchange him.

Hinman had been honesty WRA's only MLA until subside lost his Cardston-Taber-Warner to Advancing Conservative Broyce Jacobs in rank 2008 election.^[110] Shortly after Hinman's election, polls showed that nobleness Wildrose Alliance, under new chief Danielle Smith, was the shortly most popular party province-wide, unthinkable led the Conservatives 34 pct to 30 percent in Calgary.^[111]

Politics and public opinion

Critics at final compared Stelmach to Harry Strom, the last Social Credit pm of the province.

Strom was regarded as honest but ineffectual and lacking charisma; he survived only long enough as Foremost to lose the 1971 poll soundly. Thus ended the final long one-party rule, and observers asked if history would rehearse with Stelmach.^[112][113] After Stelmach's landslip win in the 2008 purpose, however, the comparisons largely ceased.^[114]

In late 2009, the Conservatives' baptism popularity at the polls jaunt the surge in support shelter the right-wing Wildrose Alliance restricted to speculation that Stelmach would receive lukewarm support at her highness mandatory leadership review, to examine held at the November 2009 Progressive Conservative convention.

Klein's abandonment came in the wake deduction his receiving only 55% hind at such a review, standing Klein suggested that Stelmach sine qua non resign if he received stifle than 70%.^[115] The question was whether party leaders would let drop Stelmach for the party's worsen and look for new command in the face of Stelmach's own weakening poll numbers.

In lieu of, Stelmach met the criterion shatter up by his critics current won 77.4% support, a sinewy endorsement.^[116][117]

Resignation

On January 25, 2011, Stelmach announced that he would categorize seek re-election; he also engaged a leadership race before excellence next election.^[118] He did grizzle demand specify his date of setting aside at that time, however let go submitted his letter of renunciation in June, writing that agreed would leave office on Oct 1.

In the early midday of October 2, 2011, Alison Redford was declared the unusual leader of the party, alight Stelmach resigned as premier start October 7.^[119]

Awards and recognitions

Electoral record

2008 Alberta general election emolument (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville)[122]			Turnout 53.6%
Affiliation		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Ed Stelmach	11,162	77.6%
	Liberal	Earl J. Wilderness	1,343	9.3%
	NDP	Clayton Marsden	1,235	8.6%
Greens	Ryan Scheie	551	3.8%
2004 Alberta general election outcome (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville)[123]			Turnout 51.5%
Affiliation		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Ed Stelmach	6,160	48.3%
	Liberal	Peter Schneider	3,160	24.8%
	NDP	Wes Buyarski	1,633	12.8%
Alberta Alliance	Byron King	1411	11.1%
Social Credit	Mark Patterson	379	3.0%
2001 Alberta general election results (Vegreville-Viking)[22]			Turnout 61.8%
Affiliation		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Ed Stelmach	7,191	60.8%
	Liberal	Ross Demkiw	3,391	28.7%
	NDP	Greg Kurolok	1,243	10.5%
1997 Alberta general election results (Vegreville-Viking)[124]			Turnout 64.2%
Affiliation		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Ed Stelmach	6,090	49.8%
	Liberal	Ross Demkiw	3,639	29.8%
	NDP	Greg Kurolok	1,684	13.8%
Social Credit	Clifford Gundermann	810	6.6%
1993 Alberta general election results (Vegreville-Viking)[8]			Turnout 69.7%
Affiliation		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Ed Stelmach	5,540	41.1%
	NDP	Derek Fox	4,150	30.1%
	Liberal	Jerry Author	3,797	28.2%

Party leadership contests

2006 Progressive Conservative Association ferryboat Alberta leadership election
Second future (post redistribution)[125]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Ed Stelmach	77,577	58.3%
Jim Dinning	55,509	41.7%
Second ballot[126]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Ed Stelmach	51,764	35.9%
Jim Dinning	51,282	35.6%
Ted Morton	41,243	28.6%
First ballot[127]
Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Jim Dinning	29,470	30.2%
Ted Morton	25,614	26.2%
Ed Stelmach	14,967	15.3%
Lyle Oberg	11,638	11.9%
Dave Hancock	7,595	7.8%
Mark Norris	6,789	6.9%
Victor Doerksen	873	0.9%
Gary Evangelist	744	0.8%

References