Canadian Issues “Welcome to Ralph’s World” Neo-Conservatism Takes Hold in Canada Kelly O’Donnell* s s r r e e t t u u e e R R / / t R s T S e B n u a h S Ralph Klein Mike Harris n Canada, the influence of neo- erally relatively accepting of the Klein government cuts and restructuring is conservatism, a dominant trend in government’s right-wing policies, Onta - due to a failure in Mike Harris’ lead - Itoday’s world, needs to be studied rians are not as welcoming of Harris’. ership, and to a political culture that carefully. Alberta and Ontario are two Although they are the first two pro vin - sup ports organized interests, which can provinces where the neo-conservative ces to suffer major provincial cutbacks mobilize protests against the provin - agenda dominates, promoted by their and both have been swept by ideolog - cial government. Alberta’s comparative respective premiers, Ralph Klein and ical changes based on right-wing men - lack of opposition to the Klein govern - Mike Harris. While Albertans are gen - talities, different political cultures in ment’s policies is attributable to his the two provinces and the leadership phenomenal popular support and to styles of their premiers account for dif - the province’s right-wing political cul - * Department of Po li tical Science, University of Alberta, Ed mon ton, ferentiated public res ponses to policy. ture that abhors dissent and public cri - Canada. Ontario’s massive public opposition to ticism of authority. 75 Voices of Mexico • 56 In this article, I will examine neo- footsteps. Canada is experiencing a According to the United Nations, conservatism in the Canadian context. I dra matic shift in ideology at both the Ca nada has one of highest standards shall discuss in the recent re-election provincial and federal levels, edging of living in the world, which many Ca - of Ralph Klein in Alberta and his further and further toward the right of nadians equate with our social wel fare leadership, comparing it to Mike Harris’ the political spectrum. Alberta’s pre - system. However, Canada is now mov - and then look at the implications for mier, known to most Al bertans as ing away from its traditional welfare Canada as a whole. 1 Ralph, is a highly adept po l itician. His state policies. Last year the Klein gov - re-election demonstrates the growing ernment introduced Alberta’s Health strength of neo-conservatism in Care Protection Act, which allows for THE RECENT ALBERTA ELECTION Canada. Alberta, under his govern - private medical clinics in the pro vince. ment, was the revolutionary pro vince The act is a perfect example of the move “We believe those that would vote Li - that began this well-publicized fiscal ly toward privatization. Neo-conservatives beral or NDP don’t deserve to live in Al - conservative crusade to eliminate gov - seek to minimize the role of the wel - berta” read a sign in Winfield, Alber - ernment de ficits and debt without fare state in society. This is reflected ta. Such a sign might be consid ered rais ing taxes. Ontario, under the Harris by policy that reduces welfare benefits, edu cation and health care bud gets and the number of public sector employ - Last year the Klein government introduced ees. When examining how the two pro - Alberta’s Health Care Protection Act, which allows vinces reacted to their neo- conserva - for private medical clinics in the pro vince. tive governments, it is im por tant to The act is a perfect example of the con sider how these re gimes came about. Leadership is a key factor in provincial move toward privatization. politics —particu larly in this equation. While Klein and Harris differ in some somewhat undemocratic in other Ca na - gov ernment, soon followed in the foot - ways, their sim ilarities are quite remar - dian provinces. However, you must keep steps of Klein’s “revolution” with its own kable. Both have often been greatly in mind that this is Alberta, known as Common Sense Revolution. underestimated. While they lack much the Texas of Canada. Democracy and For the purposes of this article, the formal education, Klein and Harris have liberty are not primary concerns in a terms right-wing and neo-conservative not only risen to high political office, province where the premier was quot - are understood as the same. They but have managed to instigate neo- ed saying, “I believe in free speech, as include, but are not limited to, a fiscally conservative “revolutions” in their res - long as you say the right thing.” conservative attitude that adopts the cor - pective pro vin ces. Their leadership The Klein Conservatives just won porate agenda and social conservatism. styles and po pu larity, or lack thereof, a landslide majority in Alberta, garner - Neo-conservatives seek less government and the concept of populism will also ing 74 of 83 seats in the provincial le - intervention in society and less govern - be ad dressed in this article. In both gislature “Welcome to Ralph’s World” ment in general and thus include trends cases, the relation ship between leader is how Klein began his recent victory like privatization of gov ernment services and electorate has had important ram - speech. The fact that they won their on their agenda. Other authors call ifications for the suc cess of the neo- third term is not surprising consider - this ap proach to government and eco - conservative agenda. ing that Alberta has been a virtual one - nomic policy neo-liberal, but I am using party state for the last 30 years. (Dic - the term neo-conservative to describe the tatorships often conduct elections in new way of doing politics more compre - KLEIN order to legitimize their regimes, do hensively. I refer to it as neo-conservative they not?) What is surprising, howev - because it is a clear de parture from a “Lauded by the Wall Street Journal , Ba r - er, is that the rest of Canada seems to more traditional Con ser vative (Tory) ron’s , The New York Times , and the Globe be following in the Klein government’s approach to po l itics in Canada. and Mail , awarded by both the Fraser 76 Canadian Issues Institute and the National Ci tizens’ porters and columnists, [which] stem med tion would also have offered time to his Coa lition, poster-boy for Satur day Night from his own experiences in TV jour - opponents. After watching an address, and Maclean’s magazines, Ralph Klein nalism.” 5 the elec torate would find it difficult —Canada’s ‘original’ Newt Gingrich— Television is a useful tool in poli - not to believe that Klein is their friend is big news. ”2 The Premier of Alber - tics; Klein’s use of this medium is part who is doing what is right for the peo - ta is well known in Canada and around of what makes him such a successful ple of Alberta. In his latest provincial the world. His government’s reforms leader. “He practise[s] political lead - address, Klein was “interviewed” by a are seen as innovative and he is viewed ership based largely on communica - reporter. In fact, the reporter —if you as a revolutionary. His political success tion.” 6 His record demonstrates that can call him that— asked Klein pre de - is quite remarkable considering his mo - he doesn’t have a clear ideology. He termined questions and the premier read dest beginnings. determines what ideology is important, the answers off a teleprompter. The re - Klein has not lived what one would what ideology will keep him in power. por ter had obviously been given the consider a normal politician’s life. First Today Klein is known as the premier ques tions ahead of time. The address of all, he is not formally educated. who fights debt and deficits. He is is not usually in the form of an inter - He drop ped out of high school and credited as being the “poster boy” for view; this alternate format was perhaps held a number of different jobs be - fore enter ing politics, including work - Klein has a unique style ing at a col lege, public relations and journal ism. As a journalist he worked of leadership, which includes his public persona, on ra dio and then on television as a his use of television to convey his reporter. Many people knew of Klein message, his populist airs, his corporatism, the journalist, and that position is often credit ed with allowing him to become and his scape-goating. mayor of Cal gary, Alberta, Canada’s fastest grow ing city, for three consec - fiscal conservatism. This is despite the meant to lend it some credibility. How - utive terms from 1980 to 1989. He fact that as mayor, Klein left Calgary ever, for anyone who paid close atten - then moved to provincial politics and with a $1.6 billion debt. It was only tion to the broadcast, it was a farce. has since won three elections. after his move to provincial politics Klein uses his televised addresses Klein’s unusual career path is just that he “became a born-again fiscal con - to simplify issues. He once used a one of the elements that makes him servative.” 7 Television allows Klein to “family” metaphor to discuss the pro v - a unique leader. He has achieved an project the image that he wants to, for ince’s economy. The province was to amaz ing feat for a politician: “the pub - he is a convincing actor. Hence, his re - be viewed as a family household.