Let us begin by acknowledging that Premier
Alison Redford is a very intelligent woman. She is able to understand complex
issues and simplify them; she is able to analyze a lot of information and ask
appropriate and insightful questions; she can develop and sustain a complex
argument as befits a lawyer; she can examine and challenge evidence; she can
lay out a “model, frame or theory” and defend it. These are fine qualities very
much needed in a leader.
She has also managed a very successful
career – a solid legal reputation in the field of human rights, policy advisor
and think-tank contributor in Canada and abroad and a true professional. She
also respects professionals as her peers – something at least two previous
Premiers of Alberta did not.
But these qualities are not enough to lead
a Province through a time of rapid growth and the rethinking of its social
institutions. What is missing is an ability to relate and connect to people as
well as to ideas; an ability to build trust and an acceptance of the foibles of
others; an ability to accept that others will not share her view or idea sand
that this is not only acceptable, but also to be welcomed. She needs to
connect, engage, develop trust and inspire confidence. She does none of these
things.
She also needs to communicate with the
people in Alberta in a way that does not leave them seeing her as arrogant,
imperious and “entitled”. This is how many see her now. She is so distanced from the Albertans she is
so fond of referring to that they no longer regard her as one of their own.
She needs to inspire confidence and show
passion for a vision of Alberta and be able to lead a team of competent people
who can demonstrate their effective ability to deliver and execute change
related to this vision. She does not inspire confidence, has not communicated a
vision, is too abstract to show passion and conviction and has not surrounded
herself with people who appear skilled and confident. Witness the hapless
Minister of Education reeling at criticisms of needed changes to the Alberta
school curriculum or the dazed Minister of Health or…we could go on.
She has been accused of being a bully and
of being subject to temper tantrums. More than one person has shared this view
of her and it is such a common a story across Ministers and senior public
servants, as well as amongst her security detail, that the evidence appears
strong (but circumstantial) to be true. One former colleague of the laywer
Redford told me “she has always been a screamer!”. Not good.
It has been suggested by eminent
Progressive Conservative veterans that the party cannot possibly win the next
election with Premier Redford as its leader. This seems to me, on the basis of
polling data and known disaffection amongst rank and file party organizers (as
well as being reflected in falling donations to the party), to be a correct
analysis at this time. As Harold Wilson, onetime Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom and Northern Ireland, “a week is a long time in politics” and there is
some time to go before the next Alberta election. But the signs are not good.
Given all this, it is therefore very
surprising that the PC executive put the Premier on probation at a meeting over
this last weekend rather than asking her to resign. She is to be given “a work
plan” and she has agreed in principle to follow it.
Imagine the Primer Minister of the United
Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the German Chancellor, the President of the
United States or the Governor of Massachusetts being “on probation”? Difficult isn’t it. In fact it makes no
sense. Alsion Redford is now and will in the future be the Alison Redford we
can see and have experience of. She will not change. As a psychologist, such
change requires significant intervention by effective psychologists and experts
in organizational change. No one in the inner circle has these skills. What we
see is what we will get.
The Progressive Conservative Party of
Alberta is in denial. It will lose the next election unless significant change
occurs. This change requires: (a) a clear and compelling vision for what
Alberta needs to become; (b) a clear plan of action for the next Alberta; (c) a
genuine attempt to engage and involve Albertans in the work of building the
next Alberta; and (d) new leadership and several new faces in that leadership,
including a new Premier. It’s a big task. But if it doesn’t start now, the
Wildrose Party – Alberta’s official opposition – will deliver on all of these
things.
Part of the problem within the progressive
conservative party is the absence of a clear new leader and appropriate team to
support that person within it. The view is that there is no “obvious”
candidate. While there are various umours of interest from Jim Dinning (not
yesterdays man, but last decades man) and Gary Mar (clearly disengaged),
neither of these “fit the bill” for a new face for the Party. Indeed, it would
be Mr. Dressup for the Party – more of the same, just dressed differently.
Two other people could do exactly what is
required – Stephen Mandel (former Mayor
of Edmonton) or Rona Ambrose (an
Edmonton MP and very successful federal cabinet MP) – but the party would have
to be ready for change and energetic in recruiting one of these individuals.
The sad fact, as demonstrated by the actions taking by the executive of the
party this last week-end, is that they are not. In these circumstances, no one
in their right mind would step forward and offer an agenda for change and the
future at the present time.
Over the week-end I suggested that what
happened to the PC’s could be compared to someone diagnosed with cancer who
seeks a back rub or homeopathic remedy when we know that the treatment needs to
an aggressive strategy to replace the cancer cells with new cells which are
healthy. Homeopathy doesn’t work. Neither will putting the Premier on
Probation.
The consequences for Alberta are serious.
Senior government officials know that they are working in an atmosphere of high
uncertainty which could change at any moment and that their political masters
are often distracted and disengaged from the real work of Government -
governing. They also know that some of the decisions that are being made are
about positioning for the future ambitions of their Minister. Decisions have
been slow in any case under this administration – they are slower now.
They also know that we are effectively in a
permanent “red zone”, where controversial decisions which need to be made will
not be. The general advice is to “keep your head down”, otherwise you will see
the consequences. This is all made worse by an unwarranted attack on public
sector employees in various Bills introduced in 2013 and on public sector
pensions. Some of our most talented public servants are looking to leave or
have left. Alberta needs high quality, independent thinking public servants who
are respected across government and by the public who give independent advice
to Ministers. We are gradually losing our independent public service.
Alberta cannot tolerate the ambiguity and
uncertainty within its Government. It leads to poor decisions, delay and
compromise. If ever there was a time for bold, inspiring action it is now. A
Premier on Probation will not deliver this.
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