Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

And having all the wheat and cattle didnt help in that?

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

A lot of eastern Canadians don't like the idea of having anyone from the west (especially if they are not bilingual) running the Federal Government.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Hell no, farming costs the province a lot in subsidies. Farmers are always crying.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

There is a long list of politicians out of eastern Canada who I can name that are a lot worse.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Oh g'wan then.

(Nb. I might have issue with your definition of 'Eastern' Canada).

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

OK
I'm unilingual, I live in the west and I'm not yet a citizen, and I dont like the idea of having someone in (Canadian) Federal Govt who is not bilingual.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Im sure it had nothing at all to do with sitting on all that oil;)

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Cretien was fluent in neither official language, and as far as i can tell "Steve" isnt that great in French.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

My point exactly.
Well actually no that wasnt my whole point. I mean even sitting as an MP.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Whenever a major industry tanks due to low prices, it is the bane of the economy, not the savour of it. During the 1980s tens of thousands working in Alberta's oil industry were laid off, and thousands lost their homes because the mortgages were worth more than the homes. Prices for oil/gas have been low more often that not over the last 25 years. It's only for the last few years that prices have consistently been high.

Alberta's low tax regime, prudent Government budgeting and business-friendly environment allowed it to survive over the lean times when events beyond its control - such as bad Federal Government policy (NEP) and low world oil/gas prices - harmed its economy.

Sure, now that world prices are high, Alberta has no trouble achieving a huge surplus, but Alberta managed to turn things around even when prices (for oil) were low.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

How about the entire list of politicians who are members of the Bloc and Parti Quebecois. How about Mike Harris' "****in' Indians" comment.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

. NO they lost there homes because for whatever reason they couldnt pay the mortgage.

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Extrapolating that logic what you seem to be saying is that the reason the Scottish economy has historically been relatively poor is because of all the North Sea oil flowing through it in the 70s and 80s!

Perhaps the UK government should have cut it adrift as the scottish nationalists wanted!

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

you named one. :confused:

Re: Ralph Klein - classy guy ?
 

Not necessarily because they "couldn't" but because they "wouldn't". Not everyone is willing to pay off a mortgage when their house is worth far less than the mortgage.