Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Since the 9/11 attack on the United States and the so called War on Terror, Afghanistan has been in our newspapers almost daily. For over five years, Canada’s largest commitment overseas has been in Afghanistan – not just militarily, but also on the foreign aid front. In fact, Afghanistan is the single largest recipient of Canadian bilateral aid with over $600 million allocated from 2001 to 2009.

Despite our 3-D approach to foreign affairs – Diplomacy, Defence and Development – the public knows little about Canada’s development assistance to Afghanistan and how well it is working. Last month, Ted Menzies, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation accompanied the minister to Kabul and Kandahar to assess progress.

So how well is our development assistance working in Afghanistan? Is it helping to win hearts and minds? Are we achieving our objectives?

Speaker: Ted Menzies, MP

Ted Menzies is the Member of Parliament for Macleod. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and served as the opposition critic for both international cooperation and international trade. Upon reelection in 2006, Mr. Menzies was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation, and in January 2007, was given the additional responsibility of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.

Mr. Menzies came to Parliament with a strong background in agriculture and international trade. He has worked with the Grain Growers of Canada, Western Canadian Wheat Growers, the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and the federal Agriculture, Food and Beverage Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade.

Ted Menzies was born in Claresholm where, before being elected to Parliament, he and his wife operated a 5,000 acre farm.

Moderator: Trevor Page

Mr. Page is a retired United Nations Director

What’s the relation between energy security for Canadians, climate change, and the U.S. / corporate ''Security and Prosperity'' agenda to absorb Canada into the U.S.? Come to hear Gordon Laxer, Political Economy Professor at the University of Alberta, and the Director and co-founder of Parkland Institute, outline a new energy sovereignty and conservation vision for Canada.

Speaker: Gordon Laxer

Director, Parkland Institute and Professor of Political Economy, University of Alberta

Gordon Laxer is cofounder of Parkland Institute, a non-corporate, Alberta research network, working for the common good. He has published over 30 journal articles and book chapters. He is author or editor of five books, including Open for Business. The Roots of Foreign Ownership in Canada, for which he received the 1992 John Porter Award from the Canadian Sociology Association, for the best book written about Canada. His latest book Not for Sale. Decommodifying Public Life (Broadview Press, 2006), is co-edited with Dennis Soron.

Laxer was the first Chairperson of the Toronto chapter of the Waffle movement for an ‘independent Socialist Canada’ (1969). He was the first President of the Edmonton Chapter of the Council of Canadians (1985), and is currently on the Council’s national board. Laxer is a socially-engaged, public intellectual who has written opinion pieces for the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, The Edmonton Journal, Canadian Dimension and has given many radio, and television interviews. Laxer is currently involved in issues of Canadian sovereignty, social and economic transformation, international development, and challenging the U.S. Empire and myths about globalization. He is writing a book on energy security for Canadians and climate change.

Moderator: Gordon Campbell

Professor Emeritus, University of Lethbridge and Founding Member of Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs

What’s the relation between energy security for Canadians, climate change, and the U.S. / corporate ''Security and Prosperity'' agenda to absorb Canada into the U.S.? Come to hear Gordon Laxer, Political Economy Professor at the University of Alberta, and the Director and co-founder of Parkland Institute, outline a new energy sovereignty and conservation vision for Canada.

Speaker: Gordon Laxer

Director, Parkland Institute and Professor of Political Economy, University of Alberta

Gordon Laxer is cofounder of Parkland Institute, a non-corporate, Alberta research network, working for the common good. He has published over 30 journal articles and book chapters. He is author or editor of five books, including Open for Business. The Roots of Foreign Ownership in Canada, for which he received the 1992 John Porter Award from the Canadian Sociology Association, for the best book written about Canada. His latest book Not for Sale. Decommodifying Public Life (Broadview Press, 2006), is co-edited with Dennis Soron.

Laxer was the first Chairperson of the Toronto chapter of the Waffle movement for an ‘independent Socialist Canada’ (1969). He was the first President of the Edmonton Chapter of the Council of Canadians (1985), and is currently on the Council’s national board. Laxer is a socially-engaged, public intellectual who has written opinion pieces for the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, The Edmonton Journal, Canadian Dimension and has given many radio, and television interviews. Laxer is currently involved in issues of Canadian sovereignty, social and economic transformation, international development, and challenging the U.S. Empire and myths about globalization. He is writing a book on energy security for Canadians and climate change.

Moderator: Gordon Campbell

Professor Emeritus, University of Lethbridge and Founding Member of Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs

With population growth and climate impacts poised to create a water crisis in water-scarce southern Alberta, people are working diligently on the downstream allocation and conservation of water. But, what about the primary source of our water – the headwaters of the Oldman River Basin?

This presentation will touch on the cultural amnesia that has occurred regarding the water source and its management for water supply. It will address the current status and issues, such as the C5 Forest Management Plan and the need for citizen engagement.

The majority of the flowing water for the Prairie Provinces comes from the Rocky Mountains – the Eastern Slopes of Alberta – with the largest proportion of that coming from the Forest Reserves or Green Zone. The headwaters of the Oldman River Basin are the only part of the Green Zone where forest management decisions haven’t been allocated to the logging industry. Instead, all the forest management decisions still rest with our provincial elected officials and civil service, affording citizen engagement an unsurpassed and timely opportunity to determine the protection of our premier water source.

Speaker: Dianne Pachal

An environmental biologist by training, Dianne Pachal has worked the past 28 years for public interest groups in Alberta as a conservation advocate and activist. Conservation in the headwaters of the Oldman River Basin has been an on ongoing passion of hers for those 28 years. She is a recipient of World Wildlife Fund Canada’s Prairie Conservation Award and the Government of Canada’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal “in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada.” She is presently the Sierra Club of Canada’s Alberta Wilderness Director.

With population growth and climate impacts poised to create a water crisis in water-scarce southern Alberta, people are working diligently on the downstream allocation and conservation of water. But, what about the primary source of our water – the headwaters of the Oldman River Basin?

This presentation will touch on the cultural amnesia that has occurred regarding the water source and its management for water supply. It will address the current status and issues, such as the C5 Forest Management Plan and the need for citizen engagement.

The majority of the flowing water for the Prairie Provinces comes from the Rocky Mountains – the Eastern Slopes of Alberta – with the largest proportion of that coming from the Forest Reserves or Green Zone. The headwaters of the Oldman River Basin are the only part of the Green Zone where forest management decisions haven’t been allocated to the logging industry. Instead, all the forest management decisions still rest with our provincial elected officials and civil service, affording citizen engagement an unsurpassed and timely opportunity to determine the protection of our premier water source.

Speaker: Dianne Pachal

An environmental biologist by training, Dianne Pachal has worked the past 28 years for public interest groups in Alberta as a conservation advocate and activist. Conservation in the headwaters of the Oldman River Basin has been an on ongoing passion of hers for those 28 years. She is a recipient of World Wildlife Fund Canada’s Prairie Conservation Award and the Government of Canada’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal “in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada.” She is presently the Sierra Club of Canada’s Alberta Wilderness Director.

Alberta and Norway are considered wealthy because of the abundance of fossil fuels on and under their territories. Who gets the money though? How is the resource wealth managed?

How are the governments’ fiscal responsibilities to present and future citizens exercised?

Amy Taylor will untangle the web of royalties, revenue and taxes for us and compare the benefits which Alberta and Norway get from their resources. How is it that Norway’s Petroleum fund is 20 times larger than Alberta’s Heritage fund? Where did our money go?

Speaker: Amy Taylor - Director, Ecological Fiscal Reform, Pembina Institute

Amy Taylor is the Pembina Institute''s Director of Ecological Fiscal Reform. Since joining the Pembina Institute in May 2000, Amy has worked on ecological fiscal reform projects dealing with subjects such as tax and subsidy reform, economic rent from natural resources and environmental taxes. Amy has completed international surveys of ecological fiscal reform policies and programs. She has authored and co-authored numerous reports, such as Government Spending on Canada''s Oil and Gas Industry: Undermining Canada''s Kyoto Commitment and When the Government is the Landlord: Economic Rent, Non-renewable Permanent Funds and Environmental Impacts Related to Oil and Gas Developments in Canada. Amy holds an honours undergraduate degree in environmental science and economics and a Masters in Resource Environmental Management.

Alberta and Norway are considered wealthy because of the abundance of fossil fuels on and under their territories. Who gets the money though? How is the resource wealth managed?

How are the governments’ fiscal responsibilities to present and future citizens exercised?

Amy Taylor will untangle the web of royalties, revenue and taxes for us and compare the benefits which Alberta and Norway get from their resources. How is it that Norway’s Petroleum fund is 20 times larger than Alberta’s Heritage fund? Where did our money go?

Speaker: Amy Taylor - Director, Ecological Fiscal Reform, Pembina Institute

Amy Taylor is the Pembina Institute''s Director of Ecological Fiscal Reform. Since joining the Pembina Institute in May 2000, Amy has worked on ecological fiscal reform projects dealing with subjects such as tax and subsidy reform, economic rent from natural resources and environmental taxes. Amy has completed international surveys of ecological fiscal reform policies and programs. She has authored and co-authored numerous reports, such as Government Spending on Canada''s Oil and Gas Industry: Undermining Canada''s Kyoto Commitment and When the Government is the Landlord: Economic Rent, Non-renewable Permanent Funds and Environmental Impacts Related to Oil and Gas Developments in Canada. Amy holds an honours undergraduate degree in environmental science and economics and a Masters in Resource Environmental Management.

There has been much discussion about the quality and availability of continuing care facilities throughout the province. New standards, which focus on client-centered quality care based on current best practices, have been developed. But do these standards fully address the concerns that have been widely expressed, and what do they mean to us individually as community members and health care consumers?

Our speaker will explain the new standards and how they are being implemented in the Chinook Health Region.

Speaker: Trudy Harbidge

Ms Harbidge is the Director of the Seniors Health Program at the Chinook Health Region. She has been working in community and continuing care with CHR since 1991.

There has been much discussion about the quality and availability of continuing care facilities throughout the province. New standards, which focus on client-centered quality care based on current best practices, have been developed. But do these standards fully address the concerns that have been widely expressed, and what do they mean to us individually as community members and health care consumers?

Our speaker will explain the new standards and how they are being implemented in the Chinook Health Region.

Speaker: Trudy Harbidge

Ms Harbidge is the Director of the Seniors Health Program at the Chinook Health Region. She has been working in community and continuing care with CHR since 1991.

Despite our city¹s apparent affluence, many youth in Lethbridge do not have

access to sport and recreation opportunities. Limited incomes,

transportation issues and other numerous and complex challenges prevent

participation in even the most basic recreational programs and services that

most families take for granted. Those children denied access may be the ones

who would benefit most from recreating and playing sports with their peers.

Leveling the playing field would benefit the entire community.

Tom Hopkins, Manager of Recreation Parks and Culture for the City of

Lethbridge will define the challenges faced by children in our community who

wish to play but can¹t. Information garnered from various planning

processes and community surveys provides the background in understanding the

issues. Why are we failing to provide the broad needs of our community in

sport and recreation? What opportunities may there be for assistance and

support?

Speaker: Tom Hopkins

Tom Hopkins started work with the City of Lethbridge as a Lifeguard. He held

management positions with Transit and Leisure Facilities prior to becoming

Manager of Recreation Parks and Culture. He is currently overseeing

development of a Recreation and Culture Master Plan, a Parks and Bicycle and

Pathways Master Plan and a Sport and Recreation Policy.

Tom also has worked with several not-for-profit organizations locally and

provincially. He is past president of the Recreation Facility Personnel

Association of Alberta.