Freethought has a debate going about the Person of the Year. They suggest the Iraqi people which seems a bit like a cop-out to me. Other winners:

Time: George W. Bush

Time Canada: Maher Arar

Maclean’s: Chantal Petticlerc

Globe & Mail: Chantal Petticlerc

Since it’s a fun and easy topic, making it a nice change from the gun registry and same sex debates, I figured I’d weigh in. Keep in mind, I’m coming from a Calgary perspective, with a focus on politics, as always.

Given that, this blog will name Ralph Klein as the Person of the Year. Keep in mind, these type of awards aren’t necessarily given to great people, but to the most newsworthy person of the past year. And clearly, Ralph was newsworthy. On the negative side, you had frequent meltdowns with the press, his skipping out of the health meetings to gamble, his attack on AISH recipients, and his completely incomprehensible verbal assault on Laurie Blakeman. Of course, there was the Alberta election that was surprisingly newsworthy, due to his reduced majority.

But the biggest reason he wins this award is for his impact on federal politics. His musings on private health care may very well have cost Stephen Harper the election. And he’s at it again, set to embark on his crusade against equal marriage. Suffice to say, he won’t be getting a card with the young, smiling, Harper clan on its front this Christmas.