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Ralph Klein's parochial mind at work - Friday, July 11, 2003 at 14:36

Ralph Klein's parochial mind at work
The Globe and Mail

By JOHN IBBITSON
Friday, July 11, 2003 - Page A17

CHARLOTTETOWN -- The provincial and territorial premiers have endorsed Jean Charest's proposal to create a new Council of the Federation, which is a fine idea that would strengthen the country.

So it's a shame Ralph Klein is doing his best to discredit it.

As originally envisioned by the Quebec Liberals in the provincial election, the council would act as a forum for discussing matters of joint federal-provincial concern.

The other premiers were initially skeptical about the council, but the power of Mr. Charest's arguments in yesterday's closed-door meetings, and their desire to make the new Quebec Premier feel welcome, prompted a surge of agreement.

Currently, the prime minister decides when to convene a first-ministers meeting, and what will be discussed. While some ministerial meetings (such as health) are co-chaired by federal and provincial ministers, others (such as agriculture) are chaired and dominated by the federal minister. It leaves the provinces unable to deal directly with Ottawa when it decides to muck around in their jurisdictional backyards.

The proposed new council will be a provinces-only affair, with the federal government brought in through a separate proposal for regular first-ministers meetings with joint control of the agenda.

These two proposals, if they work well together in harness, would encourage all governments to act co-operatively in areas of shared concern. It would encourage a regular and widespread exchange of views, improving the prospects of consensual governance. Ultimately, the council itself could become a joint federal-provincial body. It's a good idea.

But Ralph Klein gave all Canadians reason to wonder why any provincial government should be given responsibility for its citizens' health and welfare, by announcing at the conference that Alberta was withdrawing its support for a National Health Council.

The council is the brainchild of Roy Romanow's royal commission on health care, and is fervently endorsed by every major health organization in the country. It would monitor the delivery of health services by all governments, advising and recommending but never dictating. It would help all of us know how well governments everywhere are doing in providing health care -- who is using best practices, how those practices could be improved, where money is being wasted or could be saved. Only the most parochial mind could oppose it. Mr. Klein's mind is that parochial.

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien made provincial agreement to create the council a sine qua non of increased federal funding for health care. (That bit of blackmail is itself an argument in favour of the Council of the Federation.) The provinces agreed. They signed. Some of them didn't like it, but they signed.

Alberta then set out to do everything it could to emasculate the mandate and budget of the council. When it became clear Ottawa would stick to its guns, Alberta changed its mind.

"Our accountability is not to Ottawa and not to a national council," Mr. Klein repeated yesterday, in a statement. "It is to Albertans."

This is deeply offensive. Does Mr. Klein really believe Albertans have no interest at all in what goes on in the rest of Canada? Has he no obligation as a premier of a major province to the national as well as the province good? Don't Albertans sometimes move elsewhere?

The whole premise of supporting a federation of strong provinces is based on the notion that provincial governments, acting in concert, are better able to establish national standards in the delivery of services than a remote federal power.

But by breaking his word on the health council, Mr. Klein has repudiated that very principle. He is saying that Alberta's Premier cares only about Alberta. The rest of the country can go hang.

Ontario Premier Ernie Eves must also share blame. He has refused to sign on to the health council because he's having a fight with Ottawa about SARS compensation. That kind of linkage diplomacy is always dangerous and disagreeable. But yesterday, a conciliatory Mr. Eves was promising to affix his signature, as long as he was satisfied there would be sufficient provincial representation on the council.

Only Alberta's Premier, as a matter of perverted principle, is wrecking a good idea that could improve the quality of health care for all Canadians.

Last night, Mr. Klein responded to an appeal by Paul Martin not to abandon the health council. Mr. Martin promised that he, if prime minister, would find a way to assuage provincial concerns. If that's the case, said Mr. Klein, he could find a way to work with Mr. Martin.

Let's hope these two can work something out. Otherwise, we have every reason to ask whether Ralph Klein gives a damn about the rest of the country.