by John Syratt

In an outdoor ceremony on the steps of the provincial legislature on Thursday, December 15 the grandson of Ukrainian settlers was officially sworn in as Alberta’s 13th premier.

Crowds of spectators swarmed the legislative grounds to hear Lt.-Gov. Norman Kwong administer the oath of office to Ed Stelmach, a farmer from the Lamont area northeast of Edmonton.

"I think it’s fitting that we’re holding this ceremony under an open Alberta sky," the Lieutenant-Governor said in reference to Stelmach’s earthy roots.

Stelmach, a quiet and deeply religious man who sings in his church’s choir and is known affectionately to most Albertans as Steady Eddie or Honest Ed, emerged as the surprise winner defeating Jim Dinning and Ted Morton in the second voting of the recent Progressive Conservative leadership race to replace Ralph Klein as the province’s premier.

—photo courtesy Stelmach’s campaign website.

Morton, a social conservative and Tory backbencher who garnered many votes from the Christian community in Southern Alberta, placed third in the contest behind Stelmach and was forced off the preferential ballot. The majority of his support was thrown to Stelmach, which clinched his surprise victory, winning the final ballot with 77,377 votes to Dinning’s 55,509.

Morton, gracious in defeat, pledged to support the new premier. "I will look forward to working with Eddie Stelmach," he acknowledged. "I’ll be happy to take whatever Eddie wants me to do," he told CTV News.

Morton said he’s sticking around to finish what he started. "Absolutely," Morton said when asked if he’s staying in politics. "We’ve set an agenda. Once you take the reform genie out of the bottle, you can’t put it back."

"Alberta is in an enviable position," Stelmach said after being sworn in, "We have the means to build a stronger province and future – the future we want for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My goal is to make that future a bright one for all Albertans."

He went on to fulfill one of his election promises announcing his plans to reduce the size of the cabinet to 18 ministries from 24 and intends to implement other changes to make it more open, accountable and focused.

Katherine Harding of the Globe and Mail wrote about Ed Stelmach’s leadership campaign, saying it had been quiet, low key and mostly unmemorable. Stelmach’s wife, Marie, even joked that the only dirt anyone can dig up on the 55-year-old farmer and former Klein cabinet minister is under his fingernails after he has been working the land.

Stelmach, born the youngest of five children and raised on the homestead established by his grandparents on their arrival in Canada in 1898, had to give up on his dream of becoming a lawyer to take over the family farm when his brother died. In time he and his wife Marie, built a successful business and a life for their growing family of four children.

First elected to the Legislature in 1993, Stelmach’s 13 years in office have seen him serve as a cabinet minister and a member of several influential government committees. He continues to serve as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the riding of Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville.

"This is truly one of the most humbling days of my life," Premier Stelmach said. "What Albertans can expect from me as their premier is to keep my word and to keep an open mind. And I promise an open inclusive accountable government that puts Albertans first."