Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Ever since the hapless Polish immigrant, Robert Dziekanski, died at Vancouver International Airport last year after being zapped with Tasers by RCMP officers, a flood of outrage has swept across the country and around the world. Serious questions are now being asked about the use of this controversial weapon by those paid to keep us safe on our streets.

Our newspapers are full of reports about the use of Tasers in what would appear to be inappropriate circumstances: by transit cops in BC against passengers suspected of skipping their fare; by Toronto city police who zapped a suspected drug peddler after he had already been handcuffed and was lying face down on the floor. Alarmingly, the use of Tasers has been growing dramatically, according to a recent Canadian Press/CBC investigation.

Who says Tasers are safe? It would seem that most of the research behind this claim has been funded by the Taser manufacturers themselves. Under what circumstances should Tasers be used? Apparently, there is no uniformity in the rules and therefore the application varies. And just how effective is civilian oversight to ensure accountability that these potentially lethal weapons are not misused?

What are the rules of engagement in Lethbridge?

Speakers: Chief Tom McKenzie, Sgt. Jason Walper and Alex Hann

Tom McKenzie joined the Lethbridge Regional Police Service in 1976. Working his way through the ranks and experiencing nearly all aspects of law enforcement in Lethbridge, Tom was sworn in as Chief on January 1, 2007.

Jason Walper has been a member of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service for 11 years.

He was promoted to Sergeant in 2006 and is presently in charge of the police training unit. Sgt. Walper has been a Taser instructor for several years.

Alex Hann is a member of the Lethbridge Regional Police Commission, presently serving as its Public Complaints Director. He served as Mayor of Coaldale for three terms in the 1990’s. Now a resident of Lethbridge, he has just been appointed to the U of L Senate.

Moderator: Patti Johnsen

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg)

1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

At the recent Alberta general election, a historically low 41% of registered voters exercised their right to vote. Although those that did gave the Stelmach government a massive majority of 86 percent of the seats at the Legislature, the mandate, in fact, came from less than one-quarter of the electorate.

This questions the health of democracy in Alberta. Low turnout at the polls is symptomatic of a serious lack of commitment by the electorate. Voter apathy may have been helped by years of domination of Conservative governments and a perceived lack of viable alternatives.

If informed public debate is the lifeblood of democracy, the time may have come to consider reforming our political process. How can we ensure that issues of concern to Albertans are subjected to rigorous debate at the Legislature before they become the law of the land? Now on the outside, Paul Hinman will provide an insider’s view of the options.

Speaker: Paul Hinman

Paul Hinman was born in Edmonton and is currently the leader of the Wildrose Alliance.

He first became interested in politics through his mentor and grandfather, Edgar Hinman, who served as Provincial Treasurer in the Manning government of Alberta from 1955-64.

Paul has worked in the agricultural sector as a farmer, cattle breeder and feedlot operator. He was elected to the Alberta legislature in 2004 for the riding of Cardston-Taber-Warner. He was the first and only member of the Alberta Alliance Party elected to the Legislature and became the party leader in 2005. In early 2008, the Alberta Alliance merged with the Wildrose Party to form the Wildrose Alliance. Mr. Hinman became its first leader. Shortly thereafter, Paul narrowly lost his seat at the Legislature in the provincial election. He and his family live on a farm near Welling.

Moderator: Ian McKenna

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg)

1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

At the recent Alberta general election, a historically low 41% of registered voters exercised their right to vote. Although those that did gave the Stelmach government a massive majority of 86 percent of the seats at the Legislature, the mandate, in fact, came from less than one-quarter of the electorate.

This questions the health of democracy in Alberta. Low turnout at the polls is symptomatic of a serious lack of commitment by the electorate. Voter apathy may have been helped by years of domination of Conservative governments and a perceived lack of viable alternatives.

If informed public debate is the lifeblood of democracy, the time may have come to consider reforming our political process. How can we ensure that issues of concern to Albertans are subjected to rigorous debate at the Legislature before they become the law of the land? Now on the outside, Paul Hinman will provide an insider’s view of the options.

Speaker: Paul Hinman

Paul Hinman was born in Edmonton and is currently the leader of the Wildrose Alliance.

He first became interested in politics through his mentor and grandfather, Edgar Hinman, who served as Provincial Treasurer in the Manning government of Alberta from 1955-64.

Paul has worked in the agricultural sector as a farmer, cattle breeder and feedlot operator. He was elected to the Alberta legislature in 2004 for the riding of Cardston-Taber-Warner. He was the first and only member of the Alberta Alliance Party elected to the Legislature and became the party leader in 2005. In early 2008, the Alberta Alliance merged with the Wildrose Party to form the Wildrose Alliance. Mr. Hinman became its first leader. Shortly thereafter, Paul narrowly lost his seat at the Legislature in the provincial election. He and his family live on a farm near Welling.

Moderator: Ian McKenna

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg)

1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

Shinzo Abe became Japan’s prime minister in September 2006, capping a political rise termed by one scholar as “extraordinary.” Public opinion polls at that time showed widespread support for Abe who proposed, among other things, to revise the country’s constitution and education system and to make it once more a “beautiful nation.” One year later, however, he resigned in defeat and disgrace, a leader described, in another scholar’s words, as “an unmitigated disaster.”

Abe’s rise and fall must be understood within the context of a series of economic, social, and political crises that have beset Japan since the late 1980s and the continued strength of right-wing nationalists within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The presentation focuses on the issues that brought Abe to power, the policies he implemented during his short term in office, and the ongoing crises that underpin the desire in some quarters for a return to militant nationalism.

Speaker: Dr. Trevor Harrison

Dr Harrison was born and raised in Edmonton, and holds a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg, an M.A. from the University of Calgary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Lethbridge and Interim Director of the university’s Prentice Institute of Global Demography and Economics.

Dr. Harrison is the author or co-author of six books examining Alberta and Canadian politics. In the fall of 2006, he and his family traveled to Japan where they spent the next four months. That period in Japan witnessed the election of a new Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, whose right-wing nationalist platform called for changes to Japan’s constitution and a greater role for its military. Dr. Harrison had a first hand view of these events, resulting in the recent publication of his book Twenty-First Century Japan: A New Sun Rising.

Moderator: Trevor Page

Mr. Page is a retired United Nations Director

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008

Time: 12 Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Ericksen’s (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr.

Cost: $10 (includes lunch)

Shinzo Abe became Japan’s prime minister in September 2006, capping a political rise termed by one scholar as “extraordinary.” Public opinion polls at that time showed widespread support for Abe who proposed, among other things, to revise the country’s constitution and education system and to make it once more a “beautiful nation.” One year later, however, he resigned in defeat and disgrace, a leader described, in another scholar’s words, as “an unmitigated disaster.”

Abe’s rise and fall must be understood within the context of a series of economic, social, and political crises that have beset Japan since the late 1980s and the continued strength of right-wing nationalists within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The presentation focuses on the issues that brought Abe to power, the policies he implemented during his short term in office, and the ongoing crises that underpin the desire in some quarters for a return to militant nationalism.

Speaker: Dr. Trevor Harrison

Dr Harrison was born and raised in Edmonton, and holds a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg, an M.A. from the University of Calgary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Lethbridge and Interim Director of the university’s Prentice Institute of Global Demography and Economics.

Dr. Harrison is the author or co-author of six books examining Alberta and Canadian politics. In the fall of 2006, he and his family traveled to Japan where they spent the next four months. That period in Japan witnessed the election of a new Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, whose right-wing nationalist platform called for changes to Japan’s constitution and a greater role for its military. Dr. Harrison had a first hand view of these events, resulting in the recent publication of his book Twenty-First Century Japan: A New Sun Rising.

Moderator: Trevor Page

Mr. Page is a retired United Nations Director

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008

Time: 12 Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Ericksen’s (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr.

Cost: $10 (includes lunch)

Exhibition Park has been part of Lethbridge for over a century. In 2007, it estimates that it contributed more than $80 million dollars to our local economy and provided entertainment and knowledge to over 850,000 visitors. Since 1998, the organized activities it hosts have grown by nearly 50% to 570 events including Whoop-Up Days, which is the most prominent. Quality space is now at a premium for the ever-expanding needs of exhibitors. It is only a matter of time before some business is turned away.

With facilities aging, infrastructure in need of repair and empty space for expansion nonexistent, Exhibition Park is at a crossroad. Should it make do, repair and maximize existing space, or does moving away to a larger parcel of land with room for growth make more sense? But how much will it cost and who will pay for it?

Speakers: Georgina Knitel and Rudy Friesen

Georgina Knitel is the President of Exhibition Park. She was born and raised on a farm in Northern Alberta and holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from U of A and an MBA in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Georgina is a partner at Cox Wealth Management, specializing in succession planning for agri and small business. She also mediates for the Provincial Civil Court in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, primarily for cases regarding agricultural will and estate issues.

Georgina is in her second year as President of the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, after being elected to the Board in 2001.

Rudy Friesen is the General Manager of Exhibition Park. He was born and raised on a farm south of Saskatoon. After attending the University of Saskatchewan, he worked six years in radio and then for two different non-profit organizations dealing with agricultural education and advocacy. His career in the exhibition industry began in 1993 in Saskatoon, first with Prairieland and then as General Manager of the Swift Current Exhibition. In 2002, he accepted the position of General Manager at Lethbridge’s Exhibition Park. Rudy is the current President of the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions.

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

Exhibition Park has been part of Lethbridge for over a century. In 2007, it estimates that it contributed more than $80 million dollars to our local economy and provided entertainment and knowledge to over 850,000 visitors. Since 1998, the organized activities it hosts have grown by nearly 50% to 570 events including Whoop-Up Days, which is the most prominent. Quality space is now at a premium for the ever-expanding needs of exhibitors. It is only a matter of time before some business is turned away.

With facilities aging, infrastructure in need of repair and empty space for expansion nonexistent, Exhibition Park is at a crossroad. Should it make do, repair and maximize existing space, or does moving away to a larger parcel of land with room for growth make more sense? But how much will it cost and who will pay for it?

Speakers: Georgina Knitel and Rudy Friesen

Georgina Knitel is the President of Exhibition Park. She was born and raised on a farm in Northern Alberta and holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from U of A and an MBA in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. Georgina is a partner at Cox Wealth Management, specializing in succession planning for agri and small business. She also mediates for the Provincial Civil Court in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, primarily for cases regarding agricultural will and estate issues.

Georgina is in her second year as President of the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, after being elected to the Board in 2001.

Rudy Friesen is the General Manager of Exhibition Park. He was born and raised on a farm south of Saskatoon. After attending the University of Saskatchewan, he worked six years in radio and then for two different non-profit organizations dealing with agricultural education and advocacy. His career in the exhibition industry began in 1993 in Saskatoon, first with Prairieland and then as General Manager of the Swift Current Exhibition. In 2002, he accepted the position of General Manager at Lethbridge’s Exhibition Park. Rudy is the current President of the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions.

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

Today’s public universities in Canada and across the globe are intended to serve the public interest. While public universities in Canada are funded by provincial and federal governments, freedom in determining teaching curriculum and research shielded the institutions from the dictates of governments and private interests.

The substantial reduction in federal funding of Canada’s universities over the past two decades has triggered a new threat to their independence in teaching and research. The shortfall of public money has opened the door to corporate funding of university teaching and research and to other forms of commercialization.

The speakers will discuss the challenges of commercialization of Canada’s universities and some of the methods employed to prevent excessive influence of private corporate interests.

Speakers:

Dr. Andrew Hakin is a graduate and member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was awarded a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom 1987. Dr. Hakin joined the University of Lethbridge in 1989, and later served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Presently, he is the Vice President of Academics at the University of Lethbridge.

Dr. James M. Byrne is a multidisciplinary scientist and associate professor at the University of Lethbridge, with training in earth and atmospheric sciences and engineering hydrology. He is a founding member of the Canadian Water Network (CWN) and served as National Theme Leader in Water Resources Management and a member of the CWN Research Management Committee 2000-04. Dr. Byrne is the lead scientist and producer of the 2002 award winning Global Change three-part Television series; and served the same role for the seven part TV series Water Under Fire broadcast on five Canadian networks.

Dr. Ian McKenna is an Associate Professor in the University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management. He teaches courses on law and management, law and corporations and industrial relations. He was a professional officer of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) in the 1970s and an elected member of the CAUT Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, including two years as Chair in the late 1990s. He is a former Treasurer of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association.

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

Today’s public universities in Canada and across the globe are intended to serve the public interest. While public universities in Canada are funded by provincial and federal governments, freedom in determining teaching curriculum and research shielded the institutions from the dictates of governments and private interests.

The substantial reduction in federal funding of Canada’s universities over the past two decades has triggered a new threat to their independence in teaching and research. The shortfall of public money has opened the door to corporate funding of university teaching and research and to other forms of commercialization.

The speakers will discuss the challenges of commercialization of Canada’s universities and some of the methods employed to prevent excessive influence of private corporate interests.

Speakers:

Dr. Andrew Hakin is a graduate and member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was awarded a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom 1987. Dr. Hakin joined the University of Lethbridge in 1989, and later served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Presently, he is the Vice President of Academics at the University of Lethbridge.

Dr. James M. Byrne is a multidisciplinary scientist and associate professor at the University of Lethbridge, with training in earth and atmospheric sciences and engineering hydrology. He is a founding member of the Canadian Water Network (CWN) and served as National Theme Leader in Water Resources Management and a member of the CWN Research Management Committee 2000-04. Dr. Byrne is the lead scientist and producer of the 2002 award winning Global Change three-part Television series; and served the same role for the seven part TV series Water Under Fire broadcast on five Canadian networks.

Dr. Ian McKenna is an Associate Professor in the University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management. He teaches courses on law and management, law and corporations and industrial relations. He was a professional officer of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) in the 1970s and an elected member of the CAUT Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, including two years as Chair in the late 1990s. He is a former Treasurer of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association.

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:30 PM

Location: Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

Saskatchewan’s uranium mining is at the front end of the global nuclear system. Dr. Jim Harding, author of Canada’s Deadly Secret, Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System, will reveal the negative impacts of nuclear mining on Aboriginal rights, human health and environment.

He will profile the effect of free trade and the willingness of corporations and governments to side-step social and environmental issues to ensure Saskatchewan and Canada play a pivotal role in nuclear proliferation.

Dr. Harding presents an alternative vision for a sustainable future that links energy, environment, health, peace and sovereignty.

Speaker: Jim Harding

Dr. Jim Harding is a retired professor of environmental and justice studies. He is a founding member of the Regina Group for a Non-Nuclear Society and International Uranium Congress and was director of research for Prairie Justice Research at the University of Regina, where he headed up the Uranium Inquiries Project. Jim also acted as Prairie Correspondent for Nuclear Free Press and consultant to the NFB award-winning film Uranium.

His book, Canada’s Deadly Secret, Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System, was published in October 2007.

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2008

Time: Noon - 1:20 PM

Location: Ericksen’s Family Restaurant (lower level of The Keg)

1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch)

Dr. Jim Harding, also will be presenting in Lethbridge on Wednesday, April 16th at 7pm in the Community Room of the Public Library. That session is sponsored by Council of Canadians, Lethbridge and District Chapter, Kairos Lethbridge and Lethbridge Network for Peace.