Ralph Klein Seriously Ill, Friends Say

The former Alberta premier is suffering from an incurable lung disease.

Klein, the notoriously tough leader who ran Alberta for 14 years, has issued a statement saying he’s “alright,” but president of the Wildrose Alliance Hal Walker says his friend is very sick and even referred to him as a “fallen warrior.” It’s known that Klein suffers from emphysema, a condition worsened by his refusal to quit smoking, and has reportedly suffered memory loss and delayed reactions. Klein is a towering figure in Alberta politics and served as Progressive Conservative premier of the province from 1992 to 2006. He is 68 years old.