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Reports on the efforts of Canadian premier Ralph Klein to sell his Health Care Protection Act to the public. Provisions of the bill which would allow some private clinics in Alberta to perform surgical procedures requiring overnight stays; Reasons why Klein is pushing the bill, including its ability to effectively reduce surgical waiting lists; Protest against the legislation from organizations such as the Canadian and Alberta medical associations and from Liberal leader Nancy Macbeth.

Focuses on Ralph Klein, the premier of Alberta, Canada. His single-minded crusade to eliminate Alberta's $2.5-billion provincial deficit by 1997; Albert's approach to cost-cutting, which stands in stark contrast to the budget unveiled by the federal Liberal government; Volume and ferocity of the opposition to Klein's cost-cutting measures; Summary of Alberta's budget plans. INSET: Cutting class (education cuts), by Donna Korchinski..

This is an article about the debt-free status of Alberta, Canada, and what will be done with the freed-up money. Thanks to soaring oil and natural gas prices, the provincial treasury is bursting with surplus dollars. Alberta recently revised its projected royalty revenues for the current fiscal year to over $8 billion--nearly double the figure forecast in last spring's budget--and announced that the bulk of the resource windfall will go to retire the province's outstanding$ 3.7-billion debt. That will make Alberta the first debt-free province in more than three decades, a goal Klein has doggedly pursued since becoming premier in 1992. For an encore of sorts, Klein is urging Albertans to engage in a public debate over what exactly should be done with the freed-up money. Among the options the premier has already floated: lowering taxes, issuing annual dividends to every Alberta resident, socking more away in the provincial piggy bank (otherwise known as the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, now standing at $12.4 billion), or spending more on a variety of services and infrastructure needs.

This article reports on the popularity of Alberta premier Ralph Klein. How to explain the Klein phenomenon? Part of it -- a big part -- comes down to personality. Klein is someone a lot of Albertans have trouble disliking, even when they disagree with his policies. True to his roots, Klein cares more about how he comes across in the blue-collar Sun newspapers than in the pages of, say, the Globe and Mail -- which may help explain some of the curious crusades he takes on. Where Klein really shines, though, is in the media scrum, which he does more frequently and at greater length than any other major politician in Canada. Klein has other obvious skills as a politician. He is neither an ideologue nor a revolutionary; he governs as a pragmatist from the centre.

Profiles Alberta Treasurer Stockwell Day. Announcement to run against Preston Manning to lead the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance; Support from influential politicians including Alberta Premier Ralph Klein; Biographical information; Controversy over some of his political and social views.

The article discusses health care reform in Alberta. Just six months after the premier, Ralph Klein, delivered a much-hyped speech about finding a "third way" in health care, Klein unveiled his latest round of reforms. Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who rarely passes up an opportunity to demonize the Alberta premier as the champion of privatization, sounded pleasantly surprised. Dosanjh said he found nothing objectionable in Klein's 12-point program. There is much to admire in the list of initiatives unveiled by Klein and his health minister, Iris Evans. Among other things, Canada's richest province is moving to aggressively recruit primary physicians, extend drug coverage to more Albertans and set fixed limits on how long patients must wait before receiving specific surgeries and services. But the only truly controversial proposal is to allow patients to pay out of pocket for what the policy describes as "enhanced medical goods and services beyond what doctors decide is medically necessary." At a jam-packed news conference in Calgary, Klein seemed eager to highlight that initiative, pointing it out even before reporters asked him about it.

This article focuses on Ralph Klein, the premier of Alberta, Canada. Let's start with a not-so-bold prediction. Ralph Klein will handily win the provincial election he was expected to call as early as this week. But as the campaigning begins, many veteran Klein watchers are talking about something Canada's longest-serving premier appears to have already lost: the will to govern. During three terms as the wildly popular mayor of Calgary and three more as Alberta's premier, Klein displayed political acumen combined with a populist touch. These days, he flies what's been dubbed "Air Ralph," a fleet of four small planes at his government's disposal night and day. But it's not as if Klein really needs an issue -- or an enemy -- to emerge victorious.

The article focuses on beef safety, in light of the discovery last May of an Alberta cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease. Premier Ralph Klein proposed a wager that he would pay any resident of Japan (the most BSE-phobic of nations) $10 billion to come to Alberta and eat nothing but beef for a year. If that person got deathly sick, Klein would pay up. There were no takers for what was, after all, a pretty safe bet. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) -- a mysterious brain illness linked to eating BSE-infected cattle parts that has killed 153 people worldwide since 1995 -- has an incubation period of at least a decade. But Klein's bravado goes to the heart of a very emotional debate: just how safe is beef in light of last May's mad cow and the discovery of a second one (also Alberta-born) in Washington state on Dec. 23? The short answer, say the experts, is yes. Tim Sly, an epidemiologist and director of the school of occupational and public health at Toronto's Ryerson University, points to the experience in Britain, where all but 10 of the known vCJD deaths occurred. Mad cow aside, there are plenty of concerns that the widespread practice of giving antibiotics to cattle may actually be promoting new strains of drug-resistant infections in animals and humans alike. But Doug Powell, scientific director of the Food Safety Network at Ontario's Guelph University, says such concerns pale beside the biggest enemy of all: food-borne illnesses that afflict up to one in four Canadians annually and are due to micro-organisms lurking in beef and poultry as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Controlling these outbreaks, he says, largely comes down to improving sanitation practices at every stage along the food chain.

Discusses the political success of Alberta's Conservative Premier Ralph Klein, who won his third straight majority government in March 2001. The Western Canadian province's lack of a strong opposition; View of some analysts that Canada's ruling Liberals serve as Albertans' opposition; Support for Klein's government due to Alberta's prosperity; The political difficulties he faced in 2000 and 2001; Opposition he faced from Alberta Liberal leader Nancy MacBeth; Klein's background.

Focuses on Albertan politics as of February 26, 2001. Decision of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein to call for an election; Discussion of his popularity in comparison with his opponent Liberal Party leader Nancy MacBeth; Possible impact of the deregulation of electricity on the election.

Reports on the economic growth of Alberta, Canada because of increasing royalties from world energy prices. Effect of the growth on Albertans, including tax rebates; Criticism of Albertan Premier Ralph Klein, with claims that he is buying votes; View that other Canadian provinces may become resentful of Alberta; Responses of Klein and Provincial Treasurer Steve West to the criticism.

Reports on the weaknesses of Alberta's Premier Ralph Klein as he enters his seventh year as provincial leader in 1998. Klein's alleged involvement in the cover-up of the financial aid given to the Ghermezian brothers, owners of the West Edmonton Mall, by the provincially owned Alberta Treasury Branches (ATB); Details of the deal made between the Ghermezian brothers and the ATB; Klein's views on Bill 37 which would give the provincial government the authority to approve or reject private, for-profit hospitals. INSET: Old Rivals Meet Again.

Profiles Ralph Klein, the premier of Alberta, Canada. How he has always seemed to live a charmed existence; Childhood; Education; Work in public relations and broadcasting; Affinity with native people; Career highlights.

This article discusses Alberta premier Ralph Klein's political condition following Alberta's 2004 elections. For some reason, this phrase came to mind as I contemplated the results of last week's Alberta election. Ralph Klein--long ago dubbed King Ralph because he's always triumphed during 25 years in politics--is, of course, far from dead. In Klein's home riding of Calgary-Elbow, Liberal candidate Stephen Brown, a political nobody, grabbed over a third of the popular vote. And in the key battleground of Edmonton, Tory candidates were heard assuring voters that Klein, 62, would be gone in less than a year--an unthinkable treason even a few months ago. He's a straight-shooter who relishes a good fight and might be just the man to push through oft-promised health-care reforms, including greater privatization and possible challenges to the Canada Health Act.

This article focuses on the efforts of political parties to gain popularity in Canadian provinces where their opposition party has maintained control. Ever wonder what it must be like to be an opposition politician in the one-party state that is Alberta? Consider the case of Kevin Taft, rookie leader of the Alberta Liberals, who decided to raise his profile, and that of his party, by driving around the province this summer in a rented red pickup truck. Currently, Taft is one of five Liberal MLAs who, along with two New Democrats and one Independent, are pitted against 73 Conservatives led by Ralph Klein, one of the most successful politicians in Canadian history. Since assuming the leadership of the Alberta New Democratic Party in mid-July, Brian Mason has undertaken what he calls his "Martha and Henry tour," named for the mythical average Albertans whom Klein is fond of saying are the people he listens to when formulating government policy. The party promises smaller government, more competition between public and private health care providers, and a firm resolve to hold the feds to account on everything from the Kyoto accord to its handling of the mad cow crisis.

Focuses on the impact of high energy prices on Alberta, Canada. Effects of deregulation and lack of supply on electric prices; Program proposed by Alberta Premier Ralph Klein in an effort to shield Albertans from high energy costs; Questions regarding the efficiency of deregulation.

Reports on protests against Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's Bill 11, which proposes to expand the ability of private health care clinics to perform surgical services. Rallies organized in Calgary and Edmonton by the Friends of Medicare; Role of the Liberal party in mobilizing opposition to the legislation; Klein's rationalization of the proposal.

Examines reactions of Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and British Columbia Premier Mike Harcourt to Prime Minister Jean Chretien's national unity plans for Canada. Chretien's use of the Victoria Formula regarding future constitutional changes; His proposed amending formula; Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon and Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow.

Reports on a labor walkout in Calgary (Canada) in November 1995 that forced Alberta Premier Ralph Klein to back off projected health-care cuts. Public fears about the deteriorating state of health care; Prediction about future cuts.

Focuses on Premier Ralph Klein, who scored a stunning personal and political victory in last week's Alberta election. How Klein has set his own stamp on the Alberta government; Campaign strategy; Opponents; Challenges to fulfill his campaign promises--including the elimination of Alberta's current $3.2-billion deficit within four years.