Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Alberta is booming – yet "guest workers" are being sought instead of training young Albertans. Now Alberta energy companies are proposing to ship raw bitumen out of the province for refining. Should Albertans be concerned about the future. McGowan thinks so.

Gil McGowan is President of the Alberta Federation of Labour, after 10 years as its Communications Director. Before joining the AFL, he was a journalist for Canadian Press and the Edmonton Journal. He has a B.A. in History from the University of Alberta, and a Masters in Journalism from Carleton University. McGowan is married with three children. He is a member of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 1118 in Edmonton.

Thursday February 8, 2007.

Moderator Ian B. McKenna.

Alberta has a brand new Provincial government under Ed Stelmach and Canada is now in the 2nd year of a minority PC government.

What are the issues facing these governments?

What are the prospects for an election or two?

In this time of political change, what do we really need to be watching?

SPEAKER – Dr. Peter McCormick, Professor and Dept. Chair of the Political Science Dept., University of Lethbridge,

&

long time friend of the S. A. Council on Public Affairs

Moderator – Cam MacLennan, lawyer in the law firm of

Huckvale, Wild, Harvie & MacLennan

Cost - $8.00 at Ericksen’s Family restaurant, 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Lethbridge, Alberta

Alberta has a brand new Provincial government under Ed Stelmach and Canada is now in the 2nd year of a minority PC government.

What are the issues facing these governments?

What are the prospects for an election or two?

In this time of political change, what do we really need to be watching?

SPEAKER – Dr. Peter McCormick, Professor and Dept. Chair of the Political Science Dept., University of Lethbridge,

&

long time friend of the S. A. Council on Public Affairs

Moderator – Cam MacLennan, lawyer in the law firm of

Huckvale, Wild, Harvie & MacLennan

Cost - $8.00 at Ericksen’s Family restaurant, 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S.

Lethbridge, Alberta

How much credit would you place in a proposal to reform education by giving cash exclusively to students (instead of to schools and teachers)? or a new national defense plan that rested on writing cheques so citizens can buy their own weapons? The federal Conservative government is persuaded that this logic -- providing cash instead of services -- can solve Canada''s childcare crisis. Susan will review the new "Choice in Childcare Allowance" (the taxable $100/month per child cheque) to consider what ''daycare by mail'' means both to the future of childcare as well as to the Harper government''s approach to public policy.

Dr. Susan Prentice, Ph D.

Susan Prentice is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Manitoba, where she specializes in gender, family and public policy (particularly childcare). She held the Margaret Laurence Chair in Women''s Studies (prairie region) from 1993 - 1996, and continues to be actively involved in feminist and social justice community alliances. Among other projects, she participates in provincial and national childcare advocacy, and was one of the eight faculty women who recently successfully challenged the federal government over lack of equity in the Canada Research Chairs program. Her current research includes a Status of Women Canada-funded project on the economic and social impact of childcare in three Manitoba regions, which she is undertaking with the Child Care Coalition of Manitoba.

Moderator: Trevor Page

Location: Sven Ericksen¹s Family Restaurant (lower level) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

How much credit would you place in a proposal to reform education by giving cash exclusively to students (instead of to schools and teachers)? or a new national defense plan that rested on writing cheques so citizens can buy their own weapons? The federal Conservative government is persuaded that this logic -- providing cash instead of services -- can solve Canada''s childcare crisis. Susan will review the new "Choice in Childcare Allowance" (the taxable $100/month per child cheque) to consider what ''daycare by mail'' means both to the future of childcare as well as to the Harper government''s approach to public policy.

Dr. Susan Prentice, Ph D.

Susan Prentice is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Manitoba, where she specializes in gender, family and public policy (particularly childcare). She held the Margaret Laurence Chair in Women''s Studies (prairie region) from 1993 - 1996, and continues to be actively involved in feminist and social justice community alliances. Among other projects, she participates in provincial and national childcare advocacy, and was one of the eight faculty women who recently successfully challenged the federal government over lack of equity in the Canada Research Chairs program. Her current research includes a Status of Women Canada-funded project on the economic and social impact of childcare in three Manitoba regions, which she is undertaking with the Child Care Coalition of Manitoba.

Moderator: Trevor Page

Location: Sven Ericksen¹s Family Restaurant (lower level) 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

"For over 100 years, Canada pursued a policy of requiring the attendance of Aboriginal children at residential schools, which were largely operated by religious organizations under the supervision of the federal government. The children were required to reside at these institutions, in isolation from their families and communities, for varying periods of time. This policy was finally terminated in 1996 with the closing of the last of the residential schools and has now been widely acknowledged as a seriously flawed failure. In its attempts to address the damage inflicted by, or as a result of, this longstanding policy, the settlement is intended to offer a measure of closure for the former residents of the schools and their families.

The flaws and failures of the policy and its implementation are at the root of the allegations of harm suffered by the class members. Upon review by the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples, it was found that the children were removed from their families and communities to serve the purpose of carrying out a "concerted campaign to obliterate" the "habits and associations" of "Aboriginal languages, traditions and beliefs", in order to accomplish "a radical re-socialization" aimed at instilling the children instead with the values of Euro-centric civilization. The proposed settlement represents an effort to provide a measure of closure and, accordingly, has incorporated elements which provide both compensation to individuals and broader relief intended to address the harm suffered by the Aboriginal community at large."

-The Honourable Mr. Justice R.S.J. Winkler, Ontario Supreme Court of Justice, Dec 15, 2006

For over a decade, this country''s government and various religious organizations have been in litigation over the damage caused to the aboriginal people in these residential schools. A settlement has been reached and its approval is presently being sought in the courts of this land. If approved by the courts, this settlement will end virtually all of the lawsuits.

What exactly is this country’s response to the national "seriously flawed failure" known as the Indian Residential Schools? What does this settlement propose to address? Where are we in this process?

SPEAKER: Rhonda Ruston, Q.C.

Rhonda Ruston, Q.C. has been a lawyer in Lethbridge for nearly 25 years. For the past decade she has represented 576 aboriginal people from the Blood and Peigan Reserves in their lawsuits respecting the damage caused to them as a result of their attendance in the four Indian Residential Schools which operated in Southern Alberta.

MODERATOR: Dianne King

January 18, 2007 Noon at Ericksen''s

"For over 100 years, Canada pursued a policy of requiring the attendance of Aboriginal children at residential schools, which were largely operated by religious organizations under the supervision of the federal government. The children were required to reside at these institutions, in isolation from their families and communities, for varying periods of time. This policy was finally terminated in 1996 with the closing of the last of the residential schools and has now been widely acknowledged as a seriously flawed failure. In its attempts to address the damage inflicted by, or as a result of, this longstanding policy, the settlement is intended to offer a measure of closure for the former residents of the schools and their families.

The flaws and failures of the policy and its implementation are at the root of the allegations of harm suffered by the class members. Upon review by the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples, it was found that the children were removed from their families and communities to serve the purpose of carrying out a "concerted campaign to obliterate" the "habits and associations" of "Aboriginal languages, traditions and beliefs", in order to accomplish "a radical re-socialization" aimed at instilling the children instead with the values of Euro-centric civilization. The proposed settlement represents an effort to provide a measure of closure and, accordingly, has incorporated elements which provide both compensation to individuals and broader relief intended to address the harm suffered by the Aboriginal community at large."

-The Honourable Mr. Justice R.S.J. Winkler, Ontario Supreme Court of Justice, Dec 15, 2006

For over a decade, this country''s government and various religious organizations have been in litigation over the damage caused to the aboriginal people in these residential schools. A settlement has been reached and its approval is presently being sought in the courts of this land. If approved by the courts, this settlement will end virtually all of the lawsuits.

What exactly is this country’s response to the national "seriously flawed failure" known as the Indian Residential Schools? What does this settlement propose to address? Where are we in this process?

SPEAKER: Rhonda Ruston, Q.C.

Rhonda Ruston, Q.C. has been a lawyer in Lethbridge for nearly 25 years. For the past decade she has represented 576 aboriginal people from the Blood and Peigan Reserves in their lawsuits respecting the damage caused to them as a result of their attendance in the four Indian Residential Schools which operated in Southern Alberta.

MODERATOR: Dianne King

January 18, 2007 Noon at Ericksen''s

Alberta has become Canada''s wind energy leader, in great part due to

electricity deregulation. More than half of Canada¹s total wind generation

capacity, about 110 megawatts, is situated in southern Alberta, where there are currently twelve wind projects producing EcoLogo certified Green Energy® Electricity, Green Energy® Tags and Verified Emissions Reductions (CO2 offsets).

Growth of wind, however, has been impeded by lack of transmission line

investments, the threat of new and challenging market rules and discussions of limits to the amount of wind allowed on the grid.

This presentation will review the history of wind energy in Alberta and the challenges facing both the industry and the electric system as a whole. Possible solutions and the future of wind energy in the province will be discussed.

Speaker: Jason Edworthy, Managing Director ­ Market Development TransAlta

Wind, a Division of TransAlta Energy Corporation

Jason Edworthy is responsible for government relations, marketing and public relations activities as well as communications and contract development

within TransAlta Wind (formerly Vision Quest Windelectric). He has been

involved in the wind energy industry since the late 1970¹s, is a charter

member and past president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA),a former director of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) in Alberta and a member of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), serving on the Subcommittee on Environment and Green Power.

Moderator: Louella Cronkhite

Location:

Sven Ericksen¹s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Alberta has become Canada''s wind energy leader, in great part due to

electricity deregulation. More than half of Canada¹s total wind generation

capacity, about 110 megawatts, is situated in southern Alberta, where there are currently twelve wind projects producing EcoLogo certified Green Energy® Electricity, Green Energy® Tags and Verified Emissions Reductions (CO2 offsets).

Growth of wind, however, has been impeded by lack of transmission line

investments, the threat of new and challenging market rules and discussions of limits to the amount of wind allowed on the grid.

This presentation will review the history of wind energy in Alberta and the challenges facing both the industry and the electric system as a whole. Possible solutions and the future of wind energy in the province will be discussed.

Speaker: Jason Edworthy, Managing Director ­ Market Development TransAlta

Wind, a Division of TransAlta Energy Corporation

Jason Edworthy is responsible for government relations, marketing and public relations activities as well as communications and contract development

within TransAlta Wind (formerly Vision Quest Windelectric). He has been

involved in the wind energy industry since the late 1970¹s, is a charter

member and past president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA),a former director of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) in Alberta and a member of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), serving on the Subcommittee on Environment and Green Power.

Moderator: Louella Cronkhite

Location:

Sven Ericksen¹s Family Restaurant (lower level)

1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge, Alberta

Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Seniors Housing facilities in Alberta have undergone landmark changes over the past decade. The needs of seniors have expanded and become more complex, often leaving loved ones confused and overwhelmed as they seek to find accommodation appropriate to these incremental needs. Health and housing standards and levels of supportive living are being developed with the intention of simplifying this process for Albertans. Dennis, who has worked on provincial committees assisting in developing these standards, will present:

… an historical overview of seniors housing in Alberta

… the changing realities and perceptions

… the challenges and benefits of implementing the new standards

… costs of Seniors Housing, and

… a belief that, together, we can make the Seniors Housing system in Alberta better for today and tomorrow.

SPEAKER: Dennis King, Past President Alberta Senior Citizens¹ Housing Association

After retirement in 2000 as a Principal with the Palliser School Division, Dennis became actively involved in issues affecting Seniors:

… Green Acres Foundation 1999 ­ 2006 (Board member and Chair)

… Seniors Advisory Council of Alberta 2000 - 2005

… Lethbridge Seniors Community Forum 2004 to present

… Alberta Seniors Citizens¹ Housing Association 2003 ­ 2006 (Board member and President)

… Providence Home Homeowners¹ Association, Coaldale 2003 ­ 2006 (Board member and President)

… ASCHA Health and Housing Standing Committee, 2005 to present (Chair)

MODERATOR: Diane Poynter

DATE: January 4, 2007