Revenge of the Rudderless Reformers.

When Preston Manning balked at a bid for the PC leadership he left a lot of Reformers rudderless. They were anxious to have Manning help them redefine the direction for Alberta towards a “Republican lite.”

Reformers have already taken over one Progressive Conservative Party – it ought not to happen again. There is a need for a fiscally and environmentally conservative party coupled with an open, inclusive and socially progressive policy. Alberta already has that combination of qualities in the PC Party - as it exists now.

In a post-Preston world these Reformers are getting organized and intend to impact and influence the outcome of the PC leadership. Media reports say they will have “a new name” (what is wrong with Reform or Social Credit for that matter) and a new website and they say they “may endorse a candidate.” Given what they think is ailing Alberta, it is pretty hard to imagine they will pass up this opportunity to endorse one or both of the “Doctors” - Oberg or Morton.

They are demanding candidates “come clean in terms of democratic ideals and values inside the party.” The Alberta PC Party has nothing to come clean about in terms of its democratic ideals and values. It wears them on its sleeve. They are called The Statement of Principles. They are quite encompassing, inclusive and open. Check them out on the party website.

These are the PROGRESSIVE Conservative Party values and ideals that were endorsed by a PC Party Convention in the early 1990’s. There was a review process that involved and engaged the entire party membership - at the grassroots constituency level – not the party elite in some backroom meetings.

The process was very successful and was very revitalizing for the Party and it was started and lead by then Party President, Dave Hancock. Yes the same Dave Hancock who is also a candidate for PC leader.

For the record the Statement of Principles were updated and reconfirmed in January 2002. They hardly need revision but I agree that the party could once again use some rejuvenation. Hancock did it 15 years ago and would do it again but based on the principles and values already endorsed by PC Party members.

The Ideal Candidate for Premier

The May 2003 leadership preference research shows what attributes the ideal leadership candidate needs to align with the values and preferences of Albertans. They have to be enthusiastic, active and be leading agents of change. Albertans are ready for a change. Any candidate who represents the status quo or is tied to yesterday’s agenda or the old way of doing politics is not going to cut it.

Albertans know the world is very complex so we want someone who is level headed and clear thinking. We want someone who is can see nuances, understands systems and how issues and events are all related. They will have to show us they can deal with uncertainty and still get things done. Someone who wants to clarity and a better understanding of issues and events, coupled with a practical approach to solutions is what Albertans want from their next leader. Media savvy spin masters with simplistic sound-bites are no longer acceptable.

Our next leader must be well educated, be unquestionably honest and with demonstrated integrity. Character will count and it will trump candidates with media manufactured “charisma.” We want someone with proven experience and actual knowledge about how government works. We also expect them to have some real life experiences beyond politics. We want proof they know something about business and how it works too.

Albertans are very aware of our role and responsibility as an economic leader in the country. Given our wealth we can expect that Albertan’s will want their next leader to expand our national and international influence to include environmental and social spheres as well. We expect our next leader to be able to think beyond our provincial borders and beyond our national borders. We will want our leader to help Albertans become better understood in Canada. He must help Albertans participate, understand and benefit from world events and issues too.

With these research results I saw one potential PC leadership candidate who stood out - Dave Hancock. I immediately decided try and convince him to enter the leadership race when Ralph retired. Thankfully he did. In future Blogs I will tell you why I support him.

More Preferred Leadership Qualities

The next set of leadership qualities we researched were Personal Qualities, Communications Skills and Change Agent aspects. In terms of personal qualities we found integrity and honesty along with experience and knowledge were positives. People did not value an informed and curious traits as preferrred leadership qualities and they really did not like someone who thay saw as and assertive and confident personality.

The positive communication skills valued in leadership was if they could bring clarity to issues and was a good listener. Being articulate was positive but not all that important. The strong negative was someone who was seen as "Media Savvy." This negative was so strong that even if a candidate had all three positive qualities and was still seen as media savvy that would neutralize all the good communications attributes.

Albertans want to see a change and a leader who has new ideas and will support new ideas. They no longer want a follower of ideas coming from others. The Klein view of political leadership that says he looks to see where the public parade is going and then he gets in front of it and acts as the leader will not cut it now.

Alberta Leadership Value Preferences

This is the graphic that shows some of the 2003 values preferences research results on Alberta leadership qualities from my entry of a couple of days ago. A business backgound is a very dominant positive value preference. Thinking about Alberta in isolation to the rest of the country or our place in the world is very negative. Alberta are not impressed with the Firewall concept.

We expect our next leader to be educated. Having advanced education will not get you elected but not having it will be sure to help you lose. Anyone who frames themselves as an academic will not do themselves any favours. Consequently, "Professor Morton" or "Dr. Oberg" is not something we should look for on their websites anytime soon. Even though in Oberg's case his "Dr." a medical degree, if it were to be perceived to be a PhD it would do is campaign some real harm. Hancock is a lawyer who has been Minister of Justice and Attorney General who will position himself with that experience and knowledge to overcome the negative perceptions of being a lawyer.

Dinning is positioned as the business candidate but spent most of his working life in politics, going back to early Lougheed days. He has been in the business world for under 10 years but he has a strong business image nonetheless.

I will show some more results and their implications for this leadership campaign soon.

Oberg the Iceberg - You Only See 10%

Grande Prairie Herald Tribune today quotes Lyle "the Prodigal Son" Oberg as advocating a "merging of the energy and agriculture industries to create a biodiesel fuel industry as a means of diversifying the provinces economy." How long do you think the agriculture industry would last in such a "merger?" About as long as the federal Progressive Conservatives did when MacKay signed his NO merger deal with Orchard and immediately proceeded to shamelessly sell out to the Reform/Alliance party.

We need to expand clean alternative energy sources and should support the Alberta forestry and agriculture entrepreneurs and innovators who are taking the risks and leading the way. Lyle says lets turn them over to BIG OIL and see how well they can continue to survive and innovate for energy alternatives. There are plenty of good independent and clever minds in agriculture and forestry who are pioneers of our times. They can help diversify our economy and also aid our environment without the aid of the conventional energy sector. This merger idea is the dumbest policy suggestion since cutting taxes in half for under 30 year olds.

Oberg further plead his case for $1billion of surplus fund to be spent for fixing schools. Great idea. We're talking straight up infrastructure stuff like leaky roofs, or if they don't leak, perhaps Lyle will put some bucks into fixing those schools whose roofs have already caved in. Why would Oberg propose this bold initiative at this time? Because, and I repeat his quote, "I don't think anyone wants their kids to go to school with a leaky roof or the school in a state of disrepair." Spare us Mr. former Infrastructure Minister. This is the very stuff Oberg failed, refused and neglected to do for schools as the Minister. He was told of the scale and urgency of the school maintenance problems by the governments very own MLA review committee. He repeatedly turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to them, the school boards, the parents and the teachers who were crying out to him as the Minister responsible.

The news story closes with another gem from Oberg where he is said he "...hope(s) the upcoming leadership race will be shaped ideas and not as much as with personality." DUH! I guess. Who would want personality - and character - raised as leadership issues after being kicked out of caucus because of reckless and wanton statements about his colleagues and his leader? It's been months and no skeletons have been exhumed. A man of character would be duty bound to expose any wrong doing he alleges. Anything less could only be judged as a character flaw.

Albertans will engage in this selection process for party leader and Premier. They will reflect on character and integrity as key criteria when they make their choice about who is best fit to govern. Character, integrity and capability will count - as will a candidates record. That is as it ought to be.