City Notebook: What makes a premier?

By COLLIN GALLANT on May 21, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

What makes a premier?

For two of the last four, it hasn’t been winning a general election.

Depending on the results of the current United Conservative confab, the figure might be three of five.

They’ve become premier, the political leader of our province, by virtue of being chosen as either the leader of the party in power, or the stand-in until one is.

Dave Hancock became premier when Alison Redford resigned all her positions, then Jim Prentice became premier when he won the PC’s leadership contest.

In fact, since the Second World War only Jason Kenney, Rachel Notley and Peter Lougheed first became a “premier” in an election, rather than being “appointed” premier after their party decided on a new leader.

That’s the convention, anyway, rather than the law of the land.

But these days, “convention” is trodden under foot when it’s politically convenient. That’s partly why we had so much confusion Thursday when Jason Kenney said he was stepping down, but didn’t say when or from what.

That’s because nothing about the political party system is actually written in law.

You’ll probably be surprised to hear that words “premier” or even prime minister don’t actually appear in the constitution.

But it’s just made sense over the years that the person who is the leader of a party which forms government is the leader of that government.

In my books, a premier should have to win a general election, otherwise they should be called “government head” or something else, until then.

It’s clear there would have been no end to the questions about validity of the UCP vote.

And as for codifying a solution, perhaps the only solution is for Canada to adopt the U.S. system, where government’s election organization handle party primaries.

Of course they benefit from a vast number of positions that need to be elected (sheriffs, judges, utility commissioners, etc.), and stagger major elections every two years on set dates. That gives U.S. elections officials something to do on a regular basis.

Golf course lease

Coun. Shila Sharp has so far used the “new business” section of council agendas to quiz administrators about this issue or that, and with some interesting answers.

This week, the practice revealed the city could soon announce the work its doing to make Medicine Hat a settlement community for skilled immigrants.

As well, the first-term councillor queried about the state of leases with golf clubs in the city, and specifically Connaught Golf Club.

That’s in “active” talks right now on renewing the agreement which is two years expired, said city manager Merete Heggelund.

That’s the end of official discussion. Period.

There’s a sticky wicket, however, in that the city’s latest municipal development plan notes Connaught Golf Course could be a viable site for the city’s effort to promote new development.

Cities everywhere have recognized that the huge greenspaces used by the sport, which is generally struggling, could provide a blank slate for urban intensification efforts.

In Medicine Hat, the greater Trans-Canada Way Corridor is noted as a focus for such efforts, as it also includes a number of car dealerships.

Such properties are under-developed considering their relative size, light-use and usual prime location in business districts that have evolved over the decades. Bought up and transformed to mixed commercial and condo buildings would boost assessment base without the need for new utility systems or roadway.

Seems like a great idea, except folks like a) golf, b) cars and c) things just how they are.

It’s another example of the city’s economic or development plans running hard up against current practice or a cozy existing state of affairs.

In case you’re wondering, the News is told outreach to clubs that lease city land within the bounds of a newly approved Northwest Industrial Park is still ongoing.

Jim Hirsch

City council noted the loss of longtime educator and former alderman Jim Hirsch on Monday with a point of privilege from current Coun. Darren Hirsch, who is Hirsch’s great nephew.

Another degree of separation is Jim Hirsch was the father in law to recent city councillor Jamie McIntosh.

Hirsch, who was 97, served three terms on city council between 1980 and 1992, and served on the police commission before that, and chair the building committee for the “new” city hall.

“He always said his greatest achievement was bringing this city hall to life,” said Darren Hirsch.

A look ahead

It’s May long weekend, so of course Medicine Hat forecast shows improving temperatures later in the week. The city’s public services committee and municipal planning commission are set to meet. Expect more or maybe less to be known about the political situation in the province. It’ll be June before you know it.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com