Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

The City of Lethbridge believes that Education Property Taxes should be

eliminated. City Council adopted this position at a public meeting on

October 31, 2005 although there had been no prior public consultation.

Mayor Tarleck outlined his views on the subject in his column in the

Lethbridge Herald of November 18, 2005.

City Council has passed a resolution urging the Alberta Urban

Municipalities Association to pressure the Alberta government to

eliminate the tax.

But not everyone believes the education property tax should be

eliminated. School boards believe that education needs a stable source

of funding. They also believe that local taxation supports local

accountability for the quality of our education systems.

Chris Spearman believes that education property taxes should be

maintained. He also believes that the whole issue needs greater public

consultation and discussion.

Speaker: Chris Spearman

Chris Spearman and his family have lived in

Lethbridge for 25 years. He served for 13 years on the Catholic school

board, first with Lethbridge Catholic, and since 1995 with the Holy

Spirit School Division, including two terms as chairman.

He has been involved with the Industrial Association of Southern Alberta

since 1983 and has been the chairman for the last 6 years. Together with

Lethbridge businessman, John Davis, Chris spoke out about the pitfalls

of electrical deregulation prior to its implementation in 2001.

Chris Spearman has also served as the spokesman for the Action Against

High Gas Prices group when local gasoline prices in Lethbridge

consistently exceeded prices in other communities.

Diplomacy, Defence and Development are the 3D’s of Canada’s new foreign policy announced by the Prime Minister last year. These, together with Commerce, are the cornerstones of the strategy designed to enhance our position in the world.

The Responsibility to Protect, which has been a Canadian initiative from the outset, is the most far-reaching agreement on the prevention of mass killing since the UN Genocide Convention was established in 1948. It seeks to ensure that the protection of civilians takes precedence over national sovereignty. It is one of the most important outcomes of the World Summit held at the United Nations last September.

But will these new initiatives help prevent another Rwanda? According to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, large-scale attacks against civilians continue in Dafur in Western Sudan. “Women and girls are being raped by armed groups, yet more villages are being burned, and thousands more are being driven from their homes”, he said in December.

And in Afghanistan, with Canada’s military presence on the increase, are there clear and achievable political and military objectives? Is there an exit strategy?

Speaker: Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire

Gen. Dallaire joined the Canadian Army in 1964. After graduating with a B.Sc. from the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, he held various command, staff and training appointments in Canada and Germany. In 1993, he took command of the United Nations Observer Mission – Uganda and Rwanda and later, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for this mission.

On his return from Rwanda, he served as commander of the 1st Canadian Division and Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army. Promoted to three-star general, he was appointed to various senior positions including Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Military) in the Ministry of Defence.

Gen. Dallaire retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in April 2000. He serves as a special adviser to the Canadian government on war-affected children and the prohibition of small-arms distribution. He is currently a Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Gen. Dallaire was awarded the Order of Canada in 2002. His internationally acclaimed book “Shake Hands With the Devil – The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda” won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2004.

Gen. Dallaire sits in the Senate as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.

THIS SPECIAL SESSION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LETHBRIDGE UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE

Diplomacy, Defence and Development are the 3D’s of Canada’s new foreign policy announced by the Prime Minister last year. These, together with Commerce, are the cornerstones of the strategy designed to enhance our position in the world.

The Responsibility to Protect, which has been a Canadian initiative from the outset, is the most far-reaching agreement on the prevention of mass killing since the UN Genocide Convention was established in 1948. It seeks to ensure that the protection of civilians takes precedence over national sovereignty. It is one of the most important outcomes of the World Summit held at the United Nations last September.

But will these new initiatives help prevent another Rwanda? According to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, large-scale attacks against civilians continue in Dafur in Western Sudan. “Women and girls are being raped by armed groups, yet more villages are being burned, and thousands more are being driven from their homes”, he said in December.

And in Afghanistan, with Canada’s military presence on the increase, are there clear and achievable political and military objectives? Is there an exit strategy?

Speaker: Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire

Gen. Dallaire joined the Canadian Army in 1964. After graduating with a B.Sc. from the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, he held various command, staff and training appointments in Canada and Germany. In 1993, he took command of the United Nations Observer Mission – Uganda and Rwanda and later, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for this mission.

On his return from Rwanda, he served as commander of the 1st Canadian Division and Deputy Commander of the Canadian Army. Promoted to three-star general, he was appointed to various senior positions including Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Military) in the Ministry of Defence.

Gen. Dallaire retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in April 2000. He serves as a special adviser to the Canadian government on war-affected children and the prohibition of small-arms distribution. He is currently a Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Gen. Dallaire was awarded the Order of Canada in 2002. His internationally acclaimed book “Shake Hands With the Devil – The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda” won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction in 2004.

Gen. Dallaire sits in the Senate as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.

THIS SPECIAL SESSION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LETHBRIDGE UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE

Are cults headed by greedy, demented leaders that lure the gullible and enthrall them using mind-control tactics? Are their followers the emotionally vulnerable who live on the fringes of society? Remember Jonestown?

What draws people to cults or new religious movements?

Is it that a growing number of people are disenchanted by the teachings of the old religions and are more attracted to belief systems offering benefits now, rather than in the promised hereafter?

Tom Cruise and John Travolta are members of the Church of Scientology. Do Scientologists believe in space aliens? Who is Xenu? What does Scientology teach about sex?

Who are the Children of God/The Family? Is there any evidence that their communal lifestyle and preference for educating their offspring at home is inhibiting the full development of their children?

Speaker: Professor Stephen Kent

Professor Kent researches new and alternative religions, often combining perspectives from sociology with religious studies. He is the author of the book “From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the late Vietnam War Era”, which was selected by Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries as an outstanding academic title for 2002. He has published numerous articles over the last decade dealing with Scientology, the Children of God/The Family, and newer faiths operating in Canada and elsewhere.

Professor Kent teaches at the University of Alberta’s Department of Sociology.

Are cults headed by greedy, demented leaders that lure the gullible and enthrall them using mind-control tactics? Are their followers the emotionally vulnerable who live on the fringes of society? Remember Jonestown?

What draws people to cults or new religious movements?

Is it that a growing number of people are disenchanted by the teachings of the old religions and are more attracted to belief systems offering benefits now, rather than in the promised hereafter?

Tom Cruise and John Travolta are members of the Church of Scientology. Do Scientologists believe in space aliens? Who is Xenu? What does Scientology teach about sex?

Who are the Children of God/The Family? Is there any evidence that their communal lifestyle and preference for educating their offspring at home is inhibiting the full development of their children?

Speaker: Professor Stephen Kent

Professor Kent researches new and alternative religions, often combining perspectives from sociology with religious studies. He is the author of the book “From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the late Vietnam War Era”, which was selected by Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries as an outstanding academic title for 2002. He has published numerous articles over the last decade dealing with Scientology, the Children of God/The Family, and newer faiths operating in Canada and elsewhere.

Professor Kent teaches at the University of Alberta’s Department of Sociology.

Mayor Bob Tarleck will help you learn about the Alberta experiment in

electrical energy deregulation and how it’s impacting your monthly bill.

Lethbridge residents struggling to make sense out of the confusing

electrical energy options they face might wish to look back at the

events of January 1, 2001. That date marks the first step in the

deregulation of Alberta’s electrical energy sector, the first such

program in Canada.

While not backing away from its commitment to the goal of electrical

deregulation, the government soon realized people needed time to make

the transition.

Wire service providers such as the City of Lethbridge were therefore

required to provide a backup energy supply during the transition to an

unregulated market. The initial plan called for the Regulated Rate

Option to be available to residential customers for five years until

January 1, 2006.

However, this was extended by six months to June 30, 2006 when the

government realized that competition for the electrical service for

small businesses and residential consumers was not emerging as quickly

as anticipated.

With the pace of energy deregulation picking up speed over the last few

months, consumers are beginning to ask important questions about how

this will affect their pocket book.

- What are the regulations under which electrical energy is purchased?

- Why didn’t the City give consumers more advance notice of the changes

taking effect January

1, 2006?

- How does a resident make an informed decision about selecting an

electrical energy provider?

Mayor Bob Tarleck will help you learn about the Alberta experiment in

electrical energy deregulation and how it’s impacting your monthly bill.

Lethbridge residents struggling to make sense out of the confusing

electrical energy options they face might wish to look back at the

events of January 1, 2001. That date marks the first step in the

deregulation of Alberta’s electrical energy sector, the first such

program in Canada.

While not backing away from its commitment to the goal of electrical

deregulation, the government soon realized people needed time to make

the transition.

Wire service providers such as the City of Lethbridge were therefore

required to provide a backup energy supply during the transition to an

unregulated market. The initial plan called for the Regulated Rate

Option to be available to residential customers for five years until

January 1, 2006.

However, this was extended by six months to June 30, 2006 when the

government realized that competition for the electrical service for

small businesses and residential consumers was not emerging as quickly

as anticipated.

With the pace of energy deregulation picking up speed over the last few

months, consumers are beginning to ask important questions about how

this will affect their pocket book.

- What are the regulations under which electrical energy is purchased?

- Why didn’t the City give consumers more advance notice of the changes

taking effect January

1, 2006?

- How does a resident make an informed decision about selecting an

electrical energy provider?

Can''t find your keys or glasses?

Can''t remember names, phone numbers or dates?

Is your house a wall-to-wall bulletin board covered in lists and reminders?

We used to call it senility -- the apparent loss of one''s faculties was accepted as a normal part of aging.

We are now learning this not necessarily true.

The language has changed and we now use words like delirium, dementia and Alzheimer''s Disease. What does all of this mean and what can be done, if anything, to enable us to retain use of our mental facilities until death? What are the risk factors and who is more likely to from suffer some form of dementia?

Science has come a long way in the treatment of these diseases, and professional caregivers are learning of more effective ways to ensure individuals stricken with this disease can be cared for at home or in a care centre with dignity.

The other part of the equation is the family, particularly the elderly spouse. These people require as much assistance as the individual with the disease. What is being done for them?

Speaker:

Conny Schipper, President of the Alzheimer Society, Lethbridge. Conny is a former Registered Nurse who worked for six years in a Long Term Care environment. It was here that she specialised in providing care in a dementia unit. Conny has been with the Alzheimer Society for the past nine and one half years.

Can''t find your keys or glasses?

Can''t remember names, phone numbers or dates?

Is your house a wall-to-wall bulletin board covered in lists and reminders?

We used to call it senility -- the apparent loss of one''s faculties was accepted as a normal part of aging.

We are now learning this not necessarily true.

The language has changed and we now use words like delirium, dementia and Alzheimer''s Disease. What does all of this mean and what can be done, if anything, to enable us to retain use of our mental facilities until death? What are the risk factors and who is more likely to from suffer some form of dementia?

Science has come a long way in the treatment of these diseases, and professional caregivers are learning of more effective ways to ensure individuals stricken with this disease can be cared for at home or in a care centre with dignity.

The other part of the equation is the family, particularly the elderly spouse. These people require as much assistance as the individual with the disease. What is being done for them?

Speaker:

Conny Schipper, President of the Alzheimer Society, Lethbridge. Conny is a former Registered Nurse who worked for six years in a Long Term Care environment. It was here that she specialised in providing care in a dementia unit. Conny has been with the Alzheimer Society for the past nine and one half years.

In Alberta, our quality of life -- and life itself -- depends on having

a safe and sustainable water supply for the environment, our

communities, and economic well-being.

Population growth, agricultural and industrial developments are

increasing the demand and pressure on Alberta''s water supplies, our

economy, and our aquatic ecosystems.

In order to balance these demands, watershed management planning is needed.

A Watershed Management Plan is a detailed strategy for maintaining,

protecting and restoring the natural resources within a watershed, by

establishing partnerships with the common goal of watershed protection.

The Oldman Watershed Council is a not-for-profit organization that is

working in partnership with communities and residents to improve the

Oldman River Watershed. Their goal is to maintain and improve the Oldman

River Watershed through partnerships, knowledge, and the implementation

and integration of sustainable water management and land use practices.

Speaker: Wendy Devent.

Wendy Devent is the Executive Director for the Oldman Watershed Council,

based in Lethbridge, AB. She received her Bachelor of Science degree

from the University of British Columbia in 1996 and has been working in

the environmental field ever since. Her role with the Council is to

integrate the activities of the various teams’ work on water management,

water quality, and land-use practices. Much of her work is focused on

educating and encouraging Oldman River Watershed residents and

stakeholders to recognize that water is a limited resource and that this

limited resource needs to be protected, improved and shared in a

sustainable manner.