Reports from the Legislature
August 2010
The spring session of the legislature ended a little earlier this year. That enabled the Premier and Cabinet to get out on the road to all corners of the Province to meet with Albertans. In May, we had 10 Ministers visit the Wetaskiwin Camrose constituency, making stops in Camrose, Wetaskiwin and Hobbema. Since May, we have had further visits to the constituency by the Premier, Thomas Lukaszuk, Minister of Employment and Immigration, and Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Learning and Technology. Mary Anne Jablonski, the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports, is scheduled to visit Wetaskiwin and Millet on September 8.
As an MLA, I do my best to tell Ministers what is going on in my constituency and keep them advised as to issues of concern to my constituents, but there’s nothing like having them come to see for themselves. By all accounts, these Cabinet tours and visits have been very successful, and well received. I will certainly be encouraging further visits.
Speaking of tours around the Province, Fred Horne, the MLA for Edmonton Rutherford, has, at the request of the Premier and Minister Zwozdesky, spent much of June and July discussing the future of health care with Albertans. He had 29 workshops in 23 communities involving over 1300 participants. A further 1500 Albertans completed the public survey and over 75 written submissions were received from stakeholder and community groups across the province. This is all in preparation for some new health care legislation planned for this fall. I attended the workshop in Camrose. My sense was that some people were sceptical to begin with but all present took part and gave Fred good information about what they think is working, what’s not, and what they see as their priorities.
We will be having caucus meetings in September to discuss the legislative program for the coming year. Besides the Health Care legislation, work is being done on a new School Act. You may remember that Minister Hancock appointed a committee on Inspiring Education last year. The report of that committee, after extensive consultations around the province, will be an important part of shaping any new legislation. Inspiring Action on Education was launched in June and is the next phase of the ongoing dialogue about the future of education. Inspiring Action is an opportunity for government, community representatives, partners, stakeholders, parents, teachers and students to help refine and solidify high-level policy directions. You continue to have an important role to play by contributing your thoughts, ideas and insights. Visit www.education.alberta.ca/engage to participate! The website also provides links to Education’s other major public engagement initiatives, including Setting the Direction for Special Education in Alberta and the Speak Out Student Engagement Initiative.
There’s also an opportunity for input into proposed regulation changes being made to strengthen the management of public lands.
The changes under the Public Lands Act will allow the Alberta government to better manage general access to vacant public land, allow for stronger compliance and enforcement, and provide for appeals to ensure fairness and consistency in decision-making.
The changes provide the government with more ability to deal with the offenders who abuse public land. For example, government may be able to temporarily close an area to prevent loss or damage to public land from off-highway vehicle riders who drive through sensitive wet areas.
Public consultation is a key step in the process to develop the new regulations. Albertans are invited to complete an online survey regarding the proposed regulation changes at http://www.srd.alberta.ca/Newsroom/SRDSurveys/Default.aspx or mail in a completed survey to:
Legislative Services Unit, Sustainable Resource Development
2nd Floor South Petroleum Plaza
9915-108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2G8
Feedback must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on September 17, 2010, to allow time to evaluate the submissions. Public comments will be reviewed and considered as the regulations are developed.
As with every summer, there are many events to attend in the constituency. It has been lots of fun, and always educational, to attend a great variety of parades, anniversaries, pow wow’s, festivals and shows. The volunteer effort and community pride exhibited at all of these events is truly inspiring. I have had a number of conversations with various Cabinet Ministers, and the Premier, about what rural Alberta has to offer in terms of tourism. As just one example, in one week in August, this constituency was home to Big Valley Jamboree, the Wetaskiwin Air Show and the Samson Pow Wow (the largest in Western Canada with some 900 dancers).
Back in 2006, the Alberta Government created the Rural Alberta Development Fund to be a catalyst for innovative, collaborative community-led projects which promote prosperity and quality of life in rural Alberta. Of the initial funding of $100 million, some $30 million remains. I encourage any organization with an interest in an innovative project to check out the website (www.ruralalbertasfund.com) to see if you might qualify for assistance from this fund.
I can be reached in my constituency office at Camrose at 672-0000, Wetaskiwin 352-0241, Edmonton at (780)415-0977 (please dial 310-0000 first for a toll-free connection) or e-mail Wetaskiwin.camrose@assembly.ab.ca if you have questions or concerns. Here’s hoping for a great harvest season!