There is mounting evidence that Albertans are getting tired of suffering the insufferable Guy Boutilier? He is clearly becoming one of the least effectual politicians in the minds of Albertans today.
His recent misadventure is to engage in the mock battle over the meaning and implication of the Harper “mis-muse” about the Quebec “nation” and to assure Albertans that we can and should be the "bad boys of Confederation" to be sure we get our fair share. Nobody better try to mess with Guy Boutilier's Alberta. We can be tough and no body better try and us push around or short change us, least of all the government of Canada.
Boutilier in his new role as our “chief diplomat,” has stepped right into this "Quebec nation" business. It is a political cow pie if there ever was one. He does it with the classic and tired grumpy old Reform/Alliance framing mantra of panting over an implied or perceived pandering to Quebec that must be costing Alberta something somehow. He reverts to putting the proverbial political chip on the proverbial Alberta shoulder and dares anyone in Ottawa to knock it off.
Today Albertans are looking for politicians that will move forward to find ways to design and define a new positive leadership role for Alberta within Canada. We are not interested in trying to perfect the past based on perpetuating the angst of "the west wants in." Lets face it, Alberta is in.
Not since the Mulroney days have Albertans had so much power and influence in the federal government. The Prime Minister and his man for all reasons, Jim Prentice a de facto Deputy PM both come from Calgary. The key nation building national agenda setting Intergovernmental Affairs portfolio is also an Albertan. The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development is Albertan and Stockwell Day the Minister of Public Safety was recently Albertan and is still very Alberta sensitive. Calgary’s Jason Kenney, the former Parliamentary Secretary to the PM and now Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity around out the "Alberta In Team."
Newspaper reports, editorials, along with letters to the editor of newspapers and the blogosphere are all now commenting at length on the Boutilier shortcoming and limited capabilities including his most recent posturing making Alberta appear as a reactionary about the Quebec nation issue.
I particularly liked the comments of the more reflective thinker like Paul Boothe of the U of A put it best about Alberta’s role in Confederation when he said, "Confederation is working well for Alberta," and went on to say "I'm not interested in Alberta being a bad boy. I'm interested in Alberta being a leader."
Boothe gets the mood of Alberta today. Boutilier is trying to hold on to a past Alberta that has long since been the past. Albertans have moved on and we want politicians ready to move on with us not just try to hang on to the past.
Yes a strong Alberta does make for a strong Canada. But to most of us Alberta more of a notion than a nation. The notion of Alberta is that we are adaptive and innovative. We are energetic and engaging. We are inclusive and curious. I think being a notion, an idea, a work in progress is a better description of the dynamics of Alberta today than any artifical mimicry of a Quebec nation concept.
Someone should start a Stelmach meter. On the plus side: not letting his son be unduly promoted, on the negative: letting Guy Boutilier do this.
ReplyDeleteCan't we please grow up and move forward?
On another note, nobody who calls themselves a "bad boy" could ever be bad. Just an idiot. Look at Boutilier's photo? He doesn't look anything like a Hell's Angel or even Fonzie. Aeeeh!
Not to be his advocate, but in fairness to "the Bout", he is claiming that he was somewhat misquoted/misrepresented (http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Local%20News/279734.html).
ReplyDeleteI think this is just posturing for the next round of equalization formula talks. It is unfortunate that he feels the need to do this.
I don't profess to have a deep knowledge of the equalization formula(e) and the so-called fiscal imbalance. But I am curious to know if Quebec or Manitoba's hydoelectric power is taken into account in the same way some provinces want resource revenues included. Quebec Hydro - owned by the province - is a major force in power generation in Canada, as one of their geographic advantages are the numerous watersheds they can draw from for hydroelectric power. Plus, they totally hosed Newfoundland years ago, locking them into an agreement to buy Nfld power on the cheap, which they then resell at a significant profit.
Good blog, Ken. I agree with you that the "west wants in" and "Ottawa hates us" mantra is past its due date.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem is that the Conservatives take Alberta for granted. They know they will get virtually all of the Alberta seats without doing anything to get those votes (except bash Ottawa and the Liberals). That formula has been very effective.
More competition between political parties would make all of the parties try to compete with Alberta friendly policies. The way it is now the Liberals don't try (because they can't win) and the Conservatives don't try (because they get them all). The province loses without real party competition.
anonymous 2:03PM,
ReplyDeleteI think what you said might have been true pre-2004 election, but no so now. There is a real threat to the PCs, but unfortunately for them, it is not just from one source. Liberals could take some more urban seats (although I think they turned off any remaining sympathetic rurals with their condescending comments re: Stelmach cabinet). But the Alberta Alliance could be a threat from the right. Add the emergence of the Greens in some areas, and the NDP (aka the "party that would not just die") and the PCs have a potential problem with vote splitting, even in some supposedly "safe" rural seats. Recall Stelmach won his seat from a two-term NDP incumbent.
The composition of the electorate is changing, like it or not (I don't particularly like it for other reasons, but those are my own). A lot of "newbie" Albertans have no long-standing empathy for the Alberta PC Party. Winning MLAs are ones who are active in their constituencies througout their term of office, not just ahead of the next election. There is a reason Dave Hancock keeps getting elected in Edmonton, and it is the same reason that over 4,000 Ft. Sask.-Vegreville constituents showed up and voted for Stelmach in the second round of the leadership contest. They are visible, and in a positive way.
Good post Ken. What is your viewpoint on these $5,000 a ticket events that Stelmach is proceeding with? See: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=9b650e28-dcaf-43b9-9aab-90b8ea9664f7&k=62833.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't Stelmach (it was his campaign team - a party event) and the Premier has cancelled them - he returned home from his vacation, found out and had them cancelled.
ReplyDeleteGuy has been trained in molded into the simple "I hate Ottawa and deeply mistrust Quebec" formula that the PC party has capatalized on for a generation. So no surprises here.
ReplyDeleteEric - re the $5K I am surprised such an event as the "private reception" idea was even planned - even by "well intentioned" volunteers.
ReplyDeleteThere are some very naive fundraiser out there that need a real life lesson about how politics has to be done today if citizens are ever going to trust the system again.
I was not surprised Ed cancelled it and pleased he also agreed to release the records on the EA's Las Vegas fiaso. I did a posting on this earlier saying he needed to release the records and that I felt confident that he would.
There is no doubt Ed will still "wear" all this stuff personally even though he has had nothing to do with any of it. That is the unfairness of politics today - but it is what it is and to complain is about as pointless as a ship's captain complaining about the sea.
We know Klein did not understand the equalization concepts. Any chance Boutilier will get it or will he embarass Stelmach at the Council of the Federation meetings in February?
ReplyDeleteOnce again Guy has let the people of Fort M down. Highway 63 twinning has once again been pushed back to 2014 or so??
ReplyDeleteI think we should rename it boutilier boulavard of death instead of Highway 63.
Take it from someone on the inside. Guy Boutilier is an arse. When he worked as Minister of Alberta Environment he told staff to hire one of youth who used to work on a young people's advisory committee when he was mayor. His old executive assistant also told the department to his partner's niece.
ReplyDeleteHe has a reputation of treating public servants like crap and only pursuing opportunities that work to fill his need for publicity. He loves to flaunt his Harvard Masters, yet he cannot run an organization. Just ask the leaders or staff of any department he's ever worked in.
He cannot understand complicated issues...and he's been largely ineffective in every ministry he's had the opportunity to lead.
How can we enlighten the Fort McMurray area? They are not being best represented by this character. His showing in front of the EUB is but one of many examples of his ineffectiveness.