Richard Plain
Encyclopedia
Richard Plain is a Canadian
politician. Plain is the former mayor
of St. Albert, Alberta
, having served from 1974 to 1977 and again from 2001 to 2004. In February 2007, he announced that he would seek a third term as mayor in the 2007 election.
By profession, Plain is a health economist
; he retired from the University of Alberta
in 2001. In this capacity, he has been critical of several health care initiatives of the Alberta
government headed by Ralph Klein. These have included Bill 11 (the 1997 government bill to expand the private sector's role in delivering publicly-insured health services), the 2002 report by former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister
Don Mazankowski
, and the abortive "third way" plan to change the mix of public and private health care delivery.
Plain was elected mayor in 1974, defeating incumbent Ray Gibbon
in an election that was fought primarily on issues of development, with Plain favouring stricter limits than Gibbons. He was defeated three years later by Ronald Harvey
. Plain blamed his defeat on Harvey's friendship with then-MLA
Ernie Jamison
, who also owned the St. Albert Gazette, and called his defeat "a plague on our house".
Between 1979 and 1981, as chair of the St. Albert Citizens Committee, Plain led the fight against a proposal from Edmonton
to annex St. Albert, which he called "one of the greatest things this community will ever see".
In 2001, Plain, newly-retired from academia, announced his intention to challenge incumbent mayor Paul Chalifoux
. The ensuing election was fought largely on the issue of the West Regional Road
, with Chalifoux favouring the recently-proposed Ray Gibbon Drive
alignment. Plain preferred the previously-proposed alignment, which bypassed the developed portion of the city but crossed the Sturgeon River
close to the mouth of Big Lake, and proposed a plebiscite on the subject. An aggressive public relations campaign by the Riel Park Business Association, which did not like the way the proposed road would pass through Riel Business Park, and a group calling itself S.E.N.S.I.B.L.E. Choice
, attacked the alignment. Plain received the endorsement from S.E.N.S.I.B.L.E. Choice and he, along with the five aldermanic candidates the group endorsed, was elected.
Plain's second term as mayor was dominated by four issues. Plain's favoured plebiscite on the road was rejected by a majority of Council in favour of proceeding immediately with the original alignment. Plain quickly fell into step with this majority view, and was criticized for it by many citizens who continued to favour the rejected Ray Gibbon Drive alignment. In addition, Plain opposed the agreement made by the Chalifoux Council to split tax revenues from land recently annexed from Sturgeon County
with the County, claiming that St. Albert would require all of the tax revenues in order to service the land. This position put him at odds with Sturgeon County mayor Lawrence Kluthe, and a feud developed between the two. Third, Plain oversaw preliminary plans for the development of the multi-purpose leisure centre that would eventually become Servus Credit Union Place
. Fourth and finally, Plain's Council brought in a bylaw prohibiting smoking in all places of business, including those open only to adults.
Chalifoux ran again in 2004 and, in an election dominated by a bitter dispute over how to deal with Sturgeon County, narrowly defeated Plain. Since his defeat, Plain has continued to comment publicly on issues including St. Albert's annexation of land from Sturgeon County and municipal budgeting, and has announced that he intends to run for mayor again in 2007.
Plain was named St. Albert's 1981 Citizen of the Year.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician. Plain is the former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...
, having served from 1974 to 1977 and again from 2001 to 2004. In February 2007, he announced that he would seek a third term as mayor in the 2007 election.
By profession, Plain is a health economist
Health economics
Health economics is a branch of economics concerned with issues related to efficiency, effectiveness, value and behavior in the production and consumption of health and health care...
; he retired from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 2001. In this capacity, he has been critical of several health care initiatives of the Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
government headed by Ralph Klein. These have included Bill 11 (the 1997 government bill to expand the private sector's role in delivering publicly-insured health services), the 2002 report by former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
Don Mazankowski
Don Mazankowski
Donald Frank "Don" Mazankowski, PC, OC, AOE is a Canadian politician who served as a cabinet minister under Prime Ministers Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney. He was also Deputy Prime Minister under Mulroney....
, and the abortive "third way" plan to change the mix of public and private health care delivery.
Plain was elected mayor in 1974, defeating incumbent Ray Gibbon
Ray Gibbon
Ray M. Gibbon is a former mayor of St. Albert, Alberta, having served in this capacity from 1968 to 1974, and briefly again in 1989....
in an election that was fought primarily on issues of development, with Plain favouring stricter limits than Gibbons. He was defeated three years later by Ronald Harvey
Ronald Harvey
Ronald Harvey was the third Director of the Australian Institute of Sport, serving in the role from 1987 until 1990. In 1990, the well-known Australian marathon runner Robert de Castella succeeded Harvey as the new Director of the AIS....
. Plain blamed his defeat on Harvey's friendship with then-MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
Ernie Jamison
Ernie Jamison
William Ernest "Ernie" Jamison was a publisher and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, who also owned the St. Albert Gazette, and called his defeat "a plague on our house".
Between 1979 and 1981, as chair of the St. Albert Citizens Committee, Plain led the fight against a proposal from Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
to annex St. Albert, which he called "one of the greatest things this community will ever see".
In 2001, Plain, newly-retired from academia, announced his intention to challenge incumbent mayor Paul Chalifoux
Paul Chalifoux
Paul Chalifoux is a politician and the former mayor of St. Albert, Alberta, He has served two terms as mayor, first one having taken place from 1998 to 2001 and the second from 2004 to 2007....
. The ensuing election was fought largely on the issue of the West Regional Road
Ray Gibbon Drive
Ray Gibbon Drive, referred to as the West Regional Road during proposal and planning stages, is a developing freeway in west St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. Except for the Edmonton portion, it is only partially constructed as a two-lane road, it will form part of a future realigned Highway 2. Once...
, with Chalifoux favouring the recently-proposed Ray Gibbon Drive
Ray Gibbon Drive
Ray Gibbon Drive, referred to as the West Regional Road during proposal and planning stages, is a developing freeway in west St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. Except for the Edmonton portion, it is only partially constructed as a two-lane road, it will form part of a future realigned Highway 2. Once...
alignment. Plain preferred the previously-proposed alignment, which bypassed the developed portion of the city but crossed the Sturgeon River
Sturgeon River (Alberta)
Sturgeon River is a 260 km long river located in central Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River. The stream crosses Sturgeon County, which was named for this river....
close to the mouth of Big Lake, and proposed a plebiscite on the subject. An aggressive public relations campaign by the Riel Park Business Association, which did not like the way the proposed road would pass through Riel Business Park, and a group calling itself S.E.N.S.I.B.L.E. Choice
S.E.N.S.I.B.L.E. Choice
S.E.N.S.I.B.L.E. Choice was a lobby group in St. Albert, Alberta that ran newspaper advertisements supporting a specific alignment for the West Regional Road and endorsed candidates for election to St. Albert City Council during the 2001 municipal election...
, attacked the alignment. Plain received the endorsement from S.E.N.S.I.B.L.E. Choice and he, along with the five aldermanic candidates the group endorsed, was elected.
Plain's second term as mayor was dominated by four issues. Plain's favoured plebiscite on the road was rejected by a majority of Council in favour of proceeding immediately with the original alignment. Plain quickly fell into step with this majority view, and was criticized for it by many citizens who continued to favour the rejected Ray Gibbon Drive alignment. In addition, Plain opposed the agreement made by the Chalifoux Council to split tax revenues from land recently annexed from Sturgeon County
Sturgeon County, Alberta
Sturgeon County is a municipal district in Alberta's Edmonton Capital Region, Canada.It begins at the north end of Edmonton, with 97th street turning into Highway 28. It extends east to Fort Saskatchewan and west to Calahoo. It is located in Division No. 11....
with the County, claiming that St. Albert would require all of the tax revenues in order to service the land. This position put him at odds with Sturgeon County mayor Lawrence Kluthe, and a feud developed between the two. Third, Plain oversaw preliminary plans for the development of the multi-purpose leisure centre that would eventually become Servus Credit Union Place
Servus Credit Union Place
Servus Credit Union Place is a $43-million multipurpose leisure centre that opened on September 30, 2006 in St. Albert, Alberta...
. Fourth and finally, Plain's Council brought in a bylaw prohibiting smoking in all places of business, including those open only to adults.
Chalifoux ran again in 2004 and, in an election dominated by a bitter dispute over how to deal with Sturgeon County, narrowly defeated Plain. Since his defeat, Plain has continued to comment publicly on issues including St. Albert's annexation of land from Sturgeon County and municipal budgeting, and has announced that he intends to run for mayor again in 2007.
Plain was named St. Albert's 1981 Citizen of the Year.