Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

For the first time in the history of SACPA, we are pleased to inform you that our speakers for Thursday,, October 12, 2006 will be three members of the Canadian Senate: SENATOR TOMMY BANKS (Edmonton), SENATOR JOYCE FAIRBAIRN(Lethbridge) AND SENATOR DAN HAYS (Calgary). SENATOR BANKS will address current issues regarding the environment with a special focus on water issues. SENATOR FAIRBAIRN will focus her message on agriculture but will also address literacy. SENATOR HAYS will speak on Senate reform. His title will be: "Reforming the Canadian Senate; A Continuing challenge."

Immigration is one of the ways Alberta is dealing with the challenges of an increasingly tight labour market. In 2005, close to 20,000 immigrants came to this province and numbers are expected to increase in the coming years. Yet, Lethbridge companies face an acute shortage of skilled and unskilled workers in a number of industries. What are we doing to assist new immigrants so that they are able to fulfill their potential in the labour market and to participate more fully in the community?

Who are the newcomers to Lethbridge? What challenges do they face in finding employment? What can we do to maximize their skills and talents?

Speaker: Elma Guinto

Elma earned her Batchelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge. Most of her teaching career has been in southern Alberta, including 20 years as an accredited ESL teacher in Lethbridge. She also spent two years with Canadian Universities Service Overseas (CUSO) training teachers in Nigeria. In 1990, Ms. Guinto established Flexibility Learning Systems in downtown Lethbridge. This offers English classes to adult immigrants and refugees and an employment program to assist newcomers in finding work in Canada.

Immigration is one of the ways Alberta is dealing with the challenges of an increasingly tight labour market. In 2005, close to 20,000 immigrants came to this province and numbers are expected to increase in the coming years. Yet, Lethbridge companies face an acute shortage of skilled and unskilled workers in a number of industries. What are we doing to assist new immigrants so that they are able to fulfill their potential in the labour market and to participate more fully in the community?

Who are the newcomers to Lethbridge? What challenges do they face in finding employment? What can we do to maximize their skills and talents?

Speaker: Elma Guinto

Elma earned her Batchelor of Education degree from the University of Lethbridge. Most of her teaching career has been in southern Alberta, including 20 years as an accredited ESL teacher in Lethbridge. She also spent two years with Canadian Universities Service Overseas (CUSO) training teachers in Nigeria. In 1990, Ms. Guinto established Flexibility Learning Systems in downtown Lethbridge. This offers English classes to adult immigrants and refugees and an employment program to assist newcomers in finding work in Canada.

Mark Norris is a leadership contender for the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta. He says that over the past two years he has met with thousands of Albertans and listened very closely to their concerns. “I have learned what really matters. Albertans are thirsty for a political process that helps get the future right”.

Mr. Norris will speak about:

• Adding democratic accountability to the spending process.

• Strengthening oversight of government spending and operations.

• Increasing the transparency of lobbying and government relations efforts.

• Democratizing and de-politicizing election dates.

• Increasing transparency in the funding of political parties and leadership races.

• Opening the debate about term limits for senior elected officials.

Speaker: Mark Norris

Mark Norris was born in Edmonton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia before beginning his business and professional career in Edmonton. In 1990, Mark purchased the family business, an advertising and sign manufacturing company, which he ran from 1991 to 1999.

Entering provincial politics in 2001, Mr. Norris ran against and defeated Liberal Leader Nancy MacBeth in the riding of Edmonton-McClung. He served as Minister of Economic Development, responsible for Tourism and Industry, from 2001 to 2004.

Mark Norris is a leadership contender for the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta. He says that over the past two years he has met with thousands of Albertans and listened very closely to their concerns. “I have learned what really matters. Albertans are thirsty for a political process that helps get the future right”.

Mr. Norris will speak about:

• Adding democratic accountability to the spending process.

• Strengthening oversight of government spending and operations.

• Increasing the transparency of lobbying and government relations efforts.

• Democratizing and de-politicizing election dates.

• Increasing transparency in the funding of political parties and leadership races.

• Opening the debate about term limits for senior elected officials.

Speaker: Mark Norris

Mark Norris was born in Edmonton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia before beginning his business and professional career in Edmonton. In 1990, Mark purchased the family business, an advertising and sign manufacturing company, which he ran from 1991 to 1999.

Entering provincial politics in 2001, Mr. Norris ran against and defeated Liberal Leader Nancy MacBeth in the riding of Edmonton-McClung. He served as Minister of Economic Development, responsible for Tourism and Industry, from 2001 to 2004.

Lyle Oberg will offer vision and ideas about where the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta needs to go in the future, and the leadership it needs to give in the province.

Speaker: Lyle Oberg

Lyle Oberg is the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks and a leadership candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta and the Premier of Alberta. He was born and raised in the small Alberta village of Forestburg, northeast of Stettler. He graduated from the University of Alberta as a medical doctor in 1983 and practiced medicine for 10 years before entering politics. Lyle was first elected to the Alberta Provincial Legislature in 1993. He has held cabinet portfolios in Family and Social Services, Learning, and finally Infrastructure and Transportation.

Lyle Oberg will offer vision and ideas about where the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta needs to go in the future, and the leadership it needs to give in the province.

Speaker: Lyle Oberg

Lyle Oberg is the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks and a leadership candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta and the Premier of Alberta. He was born and raised in the small Alberta village of Forestburg, northeast of Stettler. He graduated from the University of Alberta as a medical doctor in 1983 and practiced medicine for 10 years before entering politics. Lyle was first elected to the Alberta Provincial Legislature in 1993. He has held cabinet portfolios in Family and Social Services, Learning, and finally Infrastructure and Transportation.

The scale of biological invasions unsettling our hospitals, water and livestock now dwarfs the whole SARS debacle but gets little respect. Hospital invaders are particularly insidious. One in ten patients will acquire unwanted bacterial, viral or fungal infections when they visit a hospital in Canada and an estimated 8,000 will die from these infections every year.

Drawing on examples from his new book, Pandemonium: Bird Flu, Mad Cow Disease, and Other Biological Plagues of the 21st Century, Andrew Nikiforuk will explain how hospitals have become industrial factories for drug-resistant super bugs and what the average citizen can do about this threat to public health.

Speaker: Andrew Nikiforuk

Andrew Nikiforuk is the author of three previous books, including Saboteurs, which won a Governor General’s Award for non-fiction. His first book, The Fourth Horseman: A Short History of Plagues, Scourges and Emerging Viruses, won critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Britain. An award-winning journalist, Andrew Nikiforuk has written for Alberta Venture, Walrus, Saturday Night, Avenue, Canadian Business and the Globe & Mail Report on Business Magazine. He and his family have owned land in the Porcupine Hills for nearly 20 years where he is a member of the Livingstone Landowner’s Group.

The scale of biological invasions unsettling our hospitals, water and livestock now dwarfs the whole SARS debacle but gets little respect. Hospital invaders are particularly insidious. One in ten patients will acquire unwanted bacterial, viral or fungal infections when they visit a hospital in Canada and an estimated 8,000 will die from these infections every year.

Drawing on examples from his new book, Pandemonium: Bird Flu, Mad Cow Disease, and Other Biological Plagues of the 21st Century, Andrew Nikiforuk will explain how hospitals have become industrial factories for drug-resistant super bugs and what the average citizen can do about this threat to public health.

Speaker: Andrew Nikiforuk

Andrew Nikiforuk is the author of three previous books, including Saboteurs, which won a Governor General’s Award for non-fiction. His first book, The Fourth Horseman: A Short History of Plagues, Scourges and Emerging Viruses, won critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Britain. An award-winning journalist, Andrew Nikiforuk has written for Alberta Venture, Walrus, Saturday Night, Avenue, Canadian Business and the Globe & Mail Report on Business Magazine. He and his family have owned land in the Porcupine Hills for nearly 20 years where he is a member of the Livingstone Landowner’s Group.

The Alberta economy is booming. People from across the country and

abroad are pouring into the province. Yet, we still face labour

shortages. House prices are going through the roof. Despite our huge

resources of oil and natural gas, the cost to Alberta consumers is

skyrocketing.

How long can the can the boom last?

And what about the quality of life for Albertans?

There are still no clear plans for health care. The affordability of

post-secondary education is still a serious concern. Are we really

committed to preserving our environment for generations to come, or are

we hell-bent on reaping short-term economic gains, such as the

exploitation of the oil sands? Are we investing enough in non-polluting,

sustainable forms of energy? Will we ever be anything other than an oil

province?

With the Ralph Klein era over, we have a rare opportunity to address the

issues that Albertans care about. Will our new political leaders seize it?

Speaker: Dave Hancock

Dave Hancock is in his third term as the MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud. He

has served as Minister of Advanced Education and as Government House

Leader, Vice Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Education and

Employment, and as a member of the Agenda and Priorities Committee and

the Treasury Board.

Mr. Hancock has also served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General,

and as Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

Born in Fort Resolution, N.W.T., Dave Hancock is a lawyer by profession.

He was a partner with Matheson and Company, Barristers and Solicitors

before entering public service. He received his law degree from the

University of Alberta in 1979.