Ralph Klein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Klein
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Klein in 2007
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| 12th Premier of Alberta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office December 14, 1992 – December 14, 2006 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lieutenant Governor |
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| Preceded by | Don Getty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ed Stelmach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office November 28, 1992 – November 25, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Don Getty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ed Stelmach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32nd Mayor of Calgary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office October 27, 1980 – March 21, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Ross Alger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Donald Adam Hartman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ralph Phillip Klein
November 1, 1942 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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| Died | March 29, 2013 (aged 70) Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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| Political party | Progressive Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Children | 3 (and 2 stepchildren) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Athabasca University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Journalist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Canada |
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| Branch/service |  Royal Canadian Air Force |
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| Unit | Primary Reserve | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ralph Philip Klein (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) was a Canadian politician and journalist. He served as the 12th premier of Alberta and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta. He held these roles from 1992 until he retired in 2006. Before that, Klein was the 32nd mayor of Calgary from 1980 to 1989.
Ralph grew up mostly in Calgary, Alberta. He left high school in grade 11. Later, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force reserves for a year. He then studied at Calgary Business College. Klein worked as a teacher and principal there. He also did public relations for non-profit groups.
After that, Klein became a well-known local journalist in Calgary. He reported on the lives of working-class people, those facing challenges, and First Nations communities. This made him popular with these groups. In 1980, Klein entered politics. He was elected Mayor of Calgary, even though he was not expected to win. As mayor, he saw the ups and downs of the oil industry in the 1980s. He also oversaw the growth of the CTrain and the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Klein left his role as Mayor in 1989. He then focused on provincial politics. He served as Environment Minister for four years under Premier Don Getty. In 1992, Klein was chosen as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta. He led the party to win a majority government in the 1993 Alberta general election. Klein continued the Progressive Conservative party's long history of winning elections. He won three more majority governments after that.
People liked Klein's relaxed style early in his time as Premier. His long time in power and strong leadership earned him the nickname "King Ralph." As Premier, Klein first made big cuts to public services. He also privatized some government services. This financial plan changed in the late 1990s. Rising oil and gas prices brought in more tax money for the province. This led to more spending and the government paying off its debt. Klein was Premier for 14 years. His time ended when Ed Stelmach became the new leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives on December 14, 2006.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ralph Klein was born in Calgary on November 1, 1942. His parents were Philip Andrew Klein and Florence Jeanette Harper. His grandparents came from Germany and England. His father grew up poor and traveled by train during the Great Depression to find work. Ralph's parents separated when he was young. He lived with his grandparents in Calgary and with his mother in Rocky Mountain House.
Ralph grew up in a working-class area of Calgary. He left high school in grade 11. He then joined the Royal Canadian Air Force reserves for about a year. Later, he finished high school. Klein attended Calgary Business College. He studied accounting and business administration. He later taught and became principal at the college. He also studied at Athabasca University. From 1963 to 1969, Klein worked in public relations for the Red Cross and United Way in Calgary.
Klein married Hilda May Hepner in 1961. They met while he was training with the Air Force. They divorced in 1972. Hilda took care of their two children. Three months later, Klein married Colleen Evelyn Hamilton. Colleen had two children from a previous relationship. Ralph and Colleen had one child together.
Journalism Career
Klein became well-known in Calgary as a radio and TV reporter from 1969 to 1980. He was the main reporter for local news about the city at CFCN-TV and CFCN radio. Klein was known for his detailed and honest reporting. He was seen as a "street-wise" reporter who could understand complex situations.
During the 1973 oil crisis, Calgary's economy grew quickly. Klein reported on stories that focused on the challenges faced by working-class people and those who did not benefit from the city's growth. He built strong relationships with the Chinese-Canadians in Calgary's Chinatown. He helped show a more positive view of their community. He also reported on biker gangs, building relationships while still being open about their activities.
In 1977, Klein worked on an investigative report about the Blackfoot people. He wanted to understand their feelings about the 100th anniversary of Treaty Seven. Klein spent time with the Blackfoot, learning about their culture and religion. His report showed the difficulties and poverty faced by Indigenous communities. The Siksika people called him "White Writer" and a friend.
Mayor of Calgary
Klein became unhappy with the direction of Calgary City Council. He disliked the city's growth spreading out too much and Mayor Ross Alger's plan for a new civic center. He wrote columns in Calgary Magazine about these issues. He spoke about the city's aggressive tactics to buy properties. He also wrote about the polluted Bow River and public transportation. Klein always ended his articles with hope and encouraged readers to help improve the city.
In 1980, Klein decided to run for Mayor against Alger. His campaign started with little money and limited experience. He gathered a group of friends, known as the "Klein Gang", who supported him throughout his political career. He also met Rod Love, who became an important part of his campaign team. Klein's campaign grew, even though he only raised $22,000. Many thought he was close to winning the election.
On October 15, 1980, Klein won the election. This surprised many people, including his own father. He became the 32nd Mayor of Calgary. The Calgary Herald called him "The People's Mayor". Klein was re-elected twice, in 1983 and 1986.
Building the Saddledome
Klein started his term as mayor with a major building project. The Calgary Flames hockey team had just moved to the city. Calgary was also preparing to bid for the 1988 Winter Olympics. A new stadium was needed for both. City Council chose to build the 20,000-seat arena in the Victoria Park neighborhood.
The local community fought against the arena, fearing traffic problems. This caused delays. To speed things up, Mayor Klein asked the provincial government to take over the land. This allowed construction to begin quickly. The International Olympic Committee was impressed that the project was already underway. This helped Calgary win the bid to host the Olympics.
Hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics
During his time as mayor, Klein oversaw the 1988 Winter Olympics. This was the first time a Canadian city hosted the Winter Games. Klein and other city leaders traveled the world to convince Olympic officials to choose Calgary. The games were a success for Klein and the city.
There were some issues, like concerns about how tickets were given out. Residents were promised that only a small number of tickets would go to "Olympic insiders." However, many top event tickets went to officials and sponsors. Klein criticized the organizing committee for not being open about this.
During the Olympics, Klein famously mistook King Olav V of Norway for his driver. He asked the King to get his car. The King explained who he was, and Klein then asked him for a cigarette.
Developing Light Rail Transit
Klein also oversaw the development of Calgary's light rail transit system, known as the CTrain. It started running on May 25, 1981, shortly after Klein became mayor. The system expanded as the city grew. The CTrain is operated by Calgary Transit. The system grew to include new lines, helping people travel across the city. The "Northwest Line" opened in 1987, just in time for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Entering Provincial Politics
In 1988, Premier Don Getty asked Klein to join the Progressive Conservative Party. Getty's popularity was falling as Alberta's finances worsened due to dropping oil prices. Getty saw Klein, who was popular as Mayor of Calgary, as a valuable candidate. Klein agreed to run, but he asked for a Cabinet position in Getty's government, which Getty accepted.
Klein moved from city politics to provincial politics. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Elbow in the 1989 Alberta general election. He won with nearly 50 percent of the vote. He was then named the Minister of Environment in Don Getty's government.
As Environment Minister, Klein helped combine environmental laws. He also created the National Resources Conservation Board. He gained a good reputation with both industries and some environmental groups. He also handled big issues like the Oldman River Dam.
Becoming Progressive Conservative Leader
Premier Don Getty knew that the Progressive Conservatives faced a tough election in 1993. Support for the party was dropping. Getty decided to retire from politics in 1992. The Liberal party, led by Laurence Decore, was gaining support. They criticized the Progressive Conservatives for their spending and rising debt.
The rules for choosing the Progressive Conservative leader changed in 1992. It moved to a "one member, one vote" system. Klein faced strong competition from other candidates. Klein campaigned by promising to balance the provincial budget quickly. He also said his government would stop being involved in private businesses. He was criticized for his relaxed approach to leadership.
Klein came in second in the first round of voting on November 28, 1992. In the second round on December 5, Klein won by a large margin. He received 60 percent of the votes. He was elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives. A week later, on December 14, 1992, he became the Premier of Alberta. Klein's win was a surprise to many. It is believed that he gained support from people in rural Alberta who bought party memberships between the two votes.
Premier of Alberta
Ralph Klein became the 12th Premier of Alberta on December 14, 1992. His new government prepared for an election, which was called seven months later on June 15, 1993. Klein distanced himself from the previous government. He highlighted the changes he had made in his short time as Premier.
The 1993 election was a success for Klein. His party lost eight seats but still kept a majority government. They won 51 seats. His party won almost all seats in Calgary. The Liberals formed the opposition with 32 seats. This was Klein's least successful election as Premier.
Klein's 1997 election was more successful. His party won 63 seats and 51 percent of the popular vote. He achieved his strongest government in the 2001 election. He won 74 out of 83 seats and 62 percent of the popular vote. This was the largest majority government since the time of Peter Lougheed. Klein's last election as Premier was in 2004. His party's support dropped, but they still won 62 seats.
The Alberta Advantage: Fiscal Changes
In the mid-1980s, there was a worldwide surplus of oil. The price of oil dropped significantly. By 1993, when Klein became Premier, Alberta's debt was $23 billion.
One of Klein's first challenges was the MLA Pension Plan. People were angry about the generous payments. Klein ended the pension plan completely. This bold action added to his credibility.
Balancing the budget and paying off the provincial debt were major goals for Klein. In 1993, he promised to balance the budget by 1997 without raising taxes. This economic plan was called "austerity," or the "Alberta Advantage" by Klein. The first step was to reduce the number of government jobs. More than 4,000 public service positions were eliminated. Another 1,800 government jobs were cut by privatizing liquor stores and vehicle registration services.
The 1994 budget required all government departments to cut 20 percent from their spending. All public servants, including politicians, teachers, and nurses, had their pay cut by 5 percent. Their salaries were also frozen for two years. The Klein government also sold provincial companies and investments. By 1995, the government had balanced the budget and eliminated the province's deficit. This was two years ahead of schedule. Public spending dropped by $1.9 billion, and over 4,500 public service jobs were cut.
After 1995, oil and natural gas prices continued to rise. This brought in a lot of money for the province. Klein then faced the challenge of putting money back into public services. He wanted to do this while keeping his reputation for being careful with money. Government spending increased by 60 percent between 1997 and 2001. Klein aimed to make government in Alberta more efficient. He relied heavily on privatization and contracting out services.
In 2004, Klein announced that the province had enough money to pay off its public debt in 2005.
From the mid-1980s to 2003, the price of oil was generally under $25 per barrel. A rise in oil prices worldwide led to large provincial surpluses in Alberta starting in the mid-1990s. By 2006, the price of oil reached $75.
Some critics argued that Klein focused too much on paying down debt. They felt he did this at the expense of hospitals, roads, and education. Others said his early financial achievements were important. However, they felt he did not do enough for health reform or economic diversity.
Prosperity Bonus
In 2003, as global oil prices increased, Klein thought about giving some government oil money back to Albertans. In September 2005, he announced the "Prosperity Bonus." This program gave a one-time payment of $400 to every Albertan who filed a tax return. The program cost $1.4 billion.
The Prosperity Bonus was controversial. Critics said the money would be better spent on things like infrastructure, health, or education. Klein responded that if someone did not want the cheque, they could "send it back or donate it to charity." He defended the payment, saying "to some people it means a lot."
Health Care Changes
Health care was another important area for the Klein government. In 1994, the government combined 204 hospital boards into 17 regional health authorities. These new authorities had a lot of freedom to decide which hospitals to close or change into community clinics. This led to the closure of several hospitals in Calgary and Edmonton. The number of hospital beds was cut in half over three years. Coverage for many medical services was also reduced or removed.
In 2000, the Klein government introduced the Health Care Protection Act. This bill allowed private, for-profit clinics to perform minor surgeries and keep patients overnight. Before this, only hospitals could do this. This bill caused large protests. Federal Health Minister Allan Rock expressed concerns but did not say the act violated the Canada Health Act.
The Klein government continued to look for ways to make health care more efficient. In 2002, a report called the Mazankowski Report was released. It suggested 43 changes, including more choice and private involvement in health care. It also suggested increased payments for some services. The government accepted these recommendations. The 2002 budget raised health care premiums and cut corporate tax rates.
In 2005, Klein spoke about a "third way" for health care. This would be a mix between the American and Canadian systems. He suggested reforms that might go against the Canada Health Act. These reforms would have allowed people to pay cash for some surgeries. They would also let doctors work in both public and private health systems. Public outcry made the government listen to Albertans. The "third way" was not made into law.
Ralph Klein and the Oil Sands
Calgary's economy was very connected to the oil industry. The city's growth peaked with high oil prices in 1981. When oil prices dropped, it hurt the oil industry and Calgary's economy. Full recovery did not happen until the 1990s.
Both the federal government and Klein's provincial government offered major incentives for oil sands companies. Klein changed Alberta's royalty system. Oil companies paid only one percent of their profits to Alberta until they earned back the cost of their project. After that, the royalty rose to 25 percent. This helped the oil sands develop quickly.
By 2004, Alberta's budget surplus was $4 billion due to rising oil prices. The province used this money to eliminate its $3 billion debt. By 2006, the price of oil reached $75. At the end of Klein's time as Premier, a common concern was that Albertans were not getting enough money from their resources.
Agriculture and Forestry Policy
Alberta's agriculture industry faced big challenges in May 2003. This was when Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, was found in a cow. Exports of Canadian beef were immediately stopped by many countries, especially the United States and Japan.
Klein's response to the BSE issue was criticized. He made a public statement suggesting a rancher should have "shot, shovelled and shut up" about the diseased animal. This comment caused controversy. The United States slowly lifted its restrictions on Canadian beef imports. Japan was much slower to reopen trade with Canada.
As Environment Minister, Klein approved the building of North America's largest pulp mill in 1990. The Alberta government gave the pulp mill a large loan. In 1997, Klein wrote off all the interest on this loan, which was $140 million. This decision was controversial. Klein made national news during the announcement when he made an offensive gesture towards an environmental activist. He said the activist made the gesture first.
Same-Sex Marriage
In 2003, a court decision in Ontario said that defining marriage only as between a man and a woman was against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Klein had promised to use a special clause in the Charter to stop the province from registering same-sex marriages. However, the government later changed its mind. Legal experts questioned if this action would be constitutional. In 2000, the Alberta Legislature had already passed a law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.
In December 2004, Klein asked for a national vote on same-sex marriage. This idea was quickly rejected by the federal government. After the Parliament of Canada approved same-sex marriage in 2005, Klein first said his government would fight it. But he later said there was no legal way to oppose the federal law. The government reluctantly recognized same-sex marriages on June 20, 2005.
Law Enforcement
Under Klein's government, the Alberta Sheriffs Branch was reorganized. The government started using this group more for special provincial law enforcement duties instead of the RCMP. In 2006, the Sheriffs Branch was expanded. It took on tasks that the RCMP used to handle.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams were also created during this time.
Leadership Review and Retirement
Before the 2004 election, Klein said he would only serve one more term. Pressure grew for him to set a firm retirement date. On March 14, 2006, Klein announced he would resign on October 31, 2007. He later suggested his resignation would happen in early 2008 after a new leader was chosen.
This announcement came days before a vote on his leadership by party delegates. The long timeline for his retirement caused some controversy. When the leadership review vote happened on March 31, 2006, only 55 percent of delegates supported Klein. This was much lower than the 90 percent he had received before. Klein had said he would resign immediately if he did not win by a "substantial" margin.
On April 4, 2006, Klein announced that he would resign as party leader and Premier after a successor was named. He officially resigned as party leader on September 20, 2006. Klein remained Premier until Ed Stelmach took office on December 14, 2006. Klein resigned his seat in the legislature on January 15, 2007.
Later Life
After leaving politics, Klein joined a law firm as a senior business adviser in 2007. He also appeared on his own TV game show called On the Clock in 2010.
Illness and Death
In December 2010, it was reported that Klein was suffering from a lung disease. In April 2011, it was reported he had a form of progressive dementia. Klein was hospitalized in September 2011 due to health issues. He passed away in Calgary on March 29, 2013.
Honours and Legacy
In September 2005, Ralph Klein received the Order of La Pléiade. This award is for people who help promote the French language and culture. He was also made an Officer of the Legion of Honour by France in 2008.
He received several medals, including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. He was appointed to the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2010. He also received an honorary law degree from the University of Calgary in 2011. In late 2012, he became a member of the Order of Canada.
In 1980, Klein was made an honorary Blackfoot Chief. His Blackfoot name was "Oots-squi-peeks", meaning "Blue Bird." He found this spiritual experience inspiring.
Ralph Klein Park in Calgary is named after him. It is the first park named for a former mayor during his lifetime. The park has an Environmental Education Centre and a man-made wetland.
In a 2014 poll, 59% of Albertans chose Ralph Klein as the best Premier since 1985.
Images for kids
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Ralph Klein's signature
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See also
- List of Alberta premiers
