Eddie the Unready

Ed Stelmach, the temporary premier of Alberta, was asked on the campaign trail about the Alberta Human Rights Commission's two-year persecution of me for publishing the Danish cartoons. Here's what he said:

"We have in the Province of Alberta a system where the Alberta Human Rights Commission, um, hears, ah, different cases that come forward, uh, under the Charter, and protection of human rights. I know that, ah, this is an issue that came as a result of some comments made, uh, and cartoons I believe with respect to the Muslim faith.  Uh, and, uh, it's--it's most unfortunate because Alberta is a mosaic of many cultures, and, uh, our goal is here to, of course,  the additional resources we put in to arts and culture that we bring -- uh, just better understanding the various cultures in the Province of Alberta that we can live together in peace."

Does anyone know what that means -- other than the man politically responsible for the Alberta Human Rights Commission hasn't got a clue?

His statement was one part free association, one part drivel, two parts political correctness and five or six empty cliches, all delivered with the hestitation of a deer caught in the headlights.

The only thing I've heard that comes close to it was about ten years ago when Liberal cabinet minister Andy Scott met reporters in what became known as the "stunned scrum", spinning into incoherence so spectacularly that a reporter, I think it was Julie Van Dusen, asked him "did you get hit in the head with a brick?" (If I recall, Scott actually answered).

I hope to get a copy of the audio or video clip of Stelmach's comment, and I'll post it, so you can hear it in what can only be called broken English. I'm not just embarrassed as a lifelong conservative, I'm embarrassed as an Albertan.