End of Alberta health premiums heralds Stelmach's election call

KATHERINE O'NEILL
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
February 5, 2008 at 3:50 AM EST

EDMONTON — Less than one hour before calling a provincial election yesterday, the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party surprised many by announcing plans to scrap health-care premiums.

It was a major reversal for the 37-year-old government, which for years has resisted calls to stop collecting the much-loathed fees, which cost an average family about $1,056 a year and rake in $1-billion annually for the treasury.
The Alberta Liberal Party called the move, which was outlined in yesterday's Speech from the Throne, desperate and yet another sign that the political dynasty is out of ideas.
All of the Tories' political rivals are planning to campaign heavily on the idea that political change is needed in the oil-rich province.

But Tory Leader Ed Stelmach is already insisting the campaign will be about trust.
"It's time for Albertans to decide who they trust to manage Alberta's growth and make the most of this unique moment in our history," the 56-year-old former farmer told reporters in Edmonton shortly after calling an election for March 3.
This will be the first election test for Mr. Stelmach since he became party leader in December, 2006. He replaced Ralph Klein, who retired from politics after being premier for almost 14 years.
The Tories have governed Alberta since 1971, but in recent years have been called out-of-touch, tired and bereft of ideas on how to handle the debt-free province's explosive growth and oil and gas wealth.
Mr. Stelmach said the political dynasty has a plan and is full of "fresh ideas."
Its platform will include a range of promises, including plans to save more oil and gas revenues, introduce new environmental protection laws and phase out health-care premiums over the next four years.
For years, the right-wing Tories strenuously resisted the idea, even as the debt-free province's coffers overflowed with oil and gas revenues. The fees, which are collected from individuals and employers, was instituted in 1969 by the provincial Social Credit government. British Columbia and Ontario also charge health-care premiums.
Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said his party had already been calling for the premiums to be scrapped and the Tories' move yesterday "just shows how out of ideas they are.
"People are looking for a fresh start. We are that fresh start," he told reporters.
Polls have suggested that this election will give the Conservatives their 11th majority government. The party came to office 37 years ago on a platform of much-needed change, defeating another political dynasty, the Social Credit Party.
However, despite a booming economy, the polls also show that a large block of voters are unsure about who should lead Canada's economic powerhouse next. It's also unclear whether thousands of newcomers who have flooded into Alberta since the boom began will influence the outcome.
The party leaders are expected to begin crisscrossing the province today in an attempt to woo voters. The Tories are planning to campaign under the slogan: "Change that works for Albertans."
Mr. Taft has conceded it's a David versus Goliath battle, because the Tories' election war chest is rumoured to be in the millions of dollars.
He expects the Tories will wage an intense "air war" with pricey radio and television commercials. The Liberals, whose slogan is "It's time," aren't disclosing their election budget, but the party still owes $473,000 from previous campaigns.
The timing of the vote is already creating a minor controversy for the Tories.
March 3 marks the third anniversary of the Mayerthorpe massacre. In 2005, four Alberta RCMP officers were shot to death while they investigated a grow-op and stolen auto-parts operation at a farm northwest of Edmonton.
Mr. Stelmach faced difficult questions from reporters about that yesterday, and also whether he was abusing government resources by holding a news conference for partisan purposes at the legislature after calling the election.
Mr. Stelmach also dodged questions about Mr. Klein's recent prediction that the Tories will win another majority but lose seats.
"There are many, many political comments that have been made. The most important poll is March 3," he said.

Source: globeandmail.com