It would be fair to say that Raj Sherman needs to back up his startling allegations of serious wrongdoing at the Capital Health Region very quickly if he wishes to retain any credibility.

The Independent MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark, once the only physician in the now-doctorless Alberta Conservative caucus, told the Legislature Monday that 250 Albertans have died while awaiting lung surgery and that the province paid "millions" to silence doctors who complained about it.

Yesterday was Budget Day at the Alberta Legislature: "…it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity … we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way." You get the general idea.

Budget speeches may lack brass bands, artillery salutes and the bemedalled presence of the Lieutenant-Governor, but, no less than the opening of the Legislature two days before, an Alberta Budget Speech is pure Kabuki theatre -- everybody has a role to play, and everybody plays it pretty much the same way.

Let's just spit out the obvious: Raj Sherman doesn’t have what it takes to be a successful party leader.

Dr. Sherman is a nice guy. The former Conservative MLA, kicked out of caucus last November, has done Albertans a great service by highlighting some of the serious problems with our health care system. But, to repeat, he just doesn't have what is required to succeed at party leadership, let alone get elected leader.

His comments on Saturday are powerful evidence of this.

Here's something for Albertans of all political stripes to think about in the uncertain time between now and the moment Doug Horner, Ted Morton, Alison Redford, Gary Mar or some unexpected Conservative becomes premier: