Shredding the Public Interest: Ralph Klein and 25 Years of One-Party Government

by Kevin Taft

Alberta had the tightest controls on spending in Canada during the very period when the Klein government has claimed costs were soaring out of control. Now, public programs in Alberta-including health care-have become the most poorly supported in Canada. (6 weeks on the Financial Post national best-seller list!)

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 1993

Reviews

[Judy Monchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was working out of Alberta when this was written in 1997, but when I came across this recently I wondered if there were any insights that could be gleaned from reading this more than 20 years later. Alberta has a unique place in modern democracy, having elected Progressive Conservative governments from 1971 to today, allowing for only a one-term NDP shot that ended earlier this year. What I found was a fascinating argument on how propaganda has been used create belief systems that are hard to change in this province. And that a lot of the same messaging from 1997 are being used again in 2019.

[Cris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straightforward, informative read, that is engaging and not too dense or dry. I was able to get through a couple chapters at a time on my lunch breaks at work. A worthwhile pick-up for those interested in the wellbeing of Alberta and it's politics, the history of our relationship with public services, or our history of government misinformation.

[Joelaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey look, the Alberta deficit crisis of the 90s was a complete fabrication. Who woulda thunk it.

[AlbertaJenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, easy to understand book on why the governing party of Canada's richest province always seems to run out of money.

As timely now as it was 20 years ago.