Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

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.

• Who do you want to govern Canada?

• Who will you send to the House of Commons to represent your concerns?

• What do the candidates for the Lethbridge seat have to say about the main issues?

• What do the candidates think about the issues that are important to you?

Inform yourself on the policies of the political parties. Check out those running for public office. Join in the debate. Participate in the democratic process. Help choose our next federal government and Member of Parliament for Lethbridge.

Candidates will speak about the main issues and be on hand to answer your questions.

Candidates:

Rick Casson – Conservative Party of Canada – The incumbent. Elected as Member of Parliament for Lethbridge in 1997, 2000 and 2004. Mayor of Picture Butte 1986-1995.

Michael Cormican – Liberal Party of Canada – First-time candidate in the federal election.

Howard Forsyth – Independent – The oldest candidate running in the 2006 federal election.

Andrea Sheridan – The Green Party of Canada – First-time candidate in the federal election. Ran for Lethbridge West in the 2004 provincial election.

Marc Slingerland – Christian Heritage Party – Running in the federal election for the first time.

Melanee Thomas – New Democratic Party – Ran for the Lethbridge seat in the 2004 federal election.

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Theatre Gallery at Lethbridge Public Library.

SESSION ORGANIZED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LETHBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Questions by e-mail:

If you can''t attend the debate, e-mail your question to [email protected] by January 16th. Indicate to which candidate your question is directed and your full name and the town in which you live.

• Who do you want to govern Canada?

• Who will you send to the House of Commons to represent your concerns?

• What do the candidates for the Lethbridge seat have to say about the main issues?

• What do the candidates think about the issues that are important to you?

Inform yourself on the policies of the political parties. Check out those running for public office. Join in the debate. Participate in the democratic process. Help choose our next federal government and Member of Parliament for Lethbridge.

Candidates will speak about the main issues and be on hand to answer your questions.

Candidates:

Rick Casson – Conservative Party of Canada – The incumbent. Elected as Member of Parliament for Lethbridge in 1997, 2000 and 2004. Mayor of Picture Butte 1986-1995.

Michael Cormican – Liberal Party of Canada – First-time candidate in the federal election.

Howard Forsyth – Independent – The oldest candidate running in the 2006 federal election.

Andrea Sheridan – The Green Party of Canada – First-time candidate in the federal election. Ran for Lethbridge West in the 2004 provincial election.

Marc Slingerland – Christian Heritage Party – Running in the federal election for the first time.

Melanee Thomas – New Democratic Party – Ran for the Lethbridge seat in the 2004 federal election.

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Theatre Gallery at Lethbridge Public Library.

SESSION ORGANIZED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LETHBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Questions by e-mail:

If you can''t attend the debate, e-mail your question to [email protected] by January 16th. Indicate to which candidate your question is directed and your full name and the town in which you live.

Political change in Alberta?

Some political observers say, when the Alberta Provincial Conservative

Government is eventually defeated, it will be by another conservative

party and philosophy – as the Social Credit were defeated by the

Progressive Conservative Party.

Is the emergence of the Alberta Alliance Party a sign of things to come?

Is this a party on the rise? This is a chance to find out what the

Alberta Alliance party stands for, and where it would take Alberta.

Speaker: Paul Hinman

Paul Hinman is Leader of the Alberta Alliance Party. He was first elected as MLA for the Cardston-Taber-Warner constituency in the 2004 Provincial election – to many a surprise. In November, 2005, he was elected on the third ballot as leader of the party.He has 4 children, grew up on a farm near Fort McLeod and has been a farmer,rancher and small businessman.

Political change in Alberta?

Some political observers say, when the Alberta Provincial Conservative

Government is eventually defeated, it will be by another conservative

party and philosophy – as the Social Credit were defeated by the

Progressive Conservative Party.

Is the emergence of the Alberta Alliance Party a sign of things to come?

Is this a party on the rise? This is a chance to find out what the

Alberta Alliance party stands for, and where it would take Alberta.

Speaker: Paul Hinman

Paul Hinman is Leader of the Alberta Alliance Party. He was first elected as MLA for the Cardston-Taber-Warner constituency in the 2004 Provincial election – to many a surprise. In November, 2005, he was elected on the third ballot as leader of the party.He has 4 children, grew up on a farm near Fort McLeod and has been a farmer,rancher and small businessman.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Speaker: Dr. Peter McCormick, a SACPA favourite. He is a professor and the chair of the Political Science Department at the U of L where he teaches Canadian Government Politics and Constitutional Law. Dr. McCormick holds degrees from the University of Alberta (BA 68), the University of Toronto (MA 69), and the London School of Economics (PhD 74). He is fascinated by the issues that have emerged during the election campaign, as is everyone else.

12 Noon to 1:30 p.m.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Speaker: Dr. Peter McCormick, a SACPA favourite. He is a professor and the chair of the Political Science Department at the U of L where he teaches Canadian Government Politics and Constitutional Law. Dr. McCormick holds degrees from the University of Alberta (BA 68), the University of Toronto (MA 69), and the London School of Economics (PhD 74). He is fascinated by the issues that have emerged during the election campaign, as is everyone else.

12 Noon to 1:30 p.m.

How does poverty impact our community?

What steps can be taken to alleviate the problem?

What should our political leaders be doing?

The South West Alberta Coalition on Poverty is a regional group of individuals, groups, and agencies working together to reduce poverty and effects on children, families and communities in southwest Alberta by:

- Advocating for healthy public policy

- Increasing awareness

- Strengthening community capacities

- Mobilizing community action, and

- Supporting creative solutions

In fall 2005, the coalition released its second regional report on child poverty in south-west Alberta. The report was undertaken in an effort to understand the prevalence and severity of child poverty and related impacts in southern Alberta.

Speaker: Stasha Donahue. Stasha Donahue is the Co-Chair of the South West Alberta Coalition on Poverty, is a Health Promotion Specialist with the Chinook Health Region.

How does poverty impact our community?

What steps can be taken to alleviate the problem?

What should our political leaders be doing?

The South West Alberta Coalition on Poverty is a regional group of individuals, groups, and agencies working together to reduce poverty and effects on children, families and communities in southwest Alberta by:

- Advocating for healthy public policy

- Increasing awareness

- Strengthening community capacities

- Mobilizing community action, and

- Supporting creative solutions

In fall 2005, the coalition released its second regional report on child poverty in south-west Alberta. The report was undertaken in an effort to understand the prevalence and severity of child poverty and related impacts in southern Alberta.

Speaker: Stasha Donahue. Stasha Donahue is the Co-Chair of the South West Alberta Coalition on Poverty, is a Health Promotion Specialist with the Chinook Health Region.

SACPA Thursday, December 22, 2005

Have Churches Retreated From Seeking Peace on Earth?

While there are some important examples of the churches, or individuals in churches, vigorously engaged in social issues, most churches, parishes, or their members would seem to be indifferent to contemporary social, moral and systemic issues.

Is this true or false?

Some famous person whose birth is soon to be celebrated said, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." (St. Matthews 26.52)

The churches in the 1960s were visibly engaged in the "peace marches" opposing nuclear armament proliferation. When the peace marches in Lethbridge took place two years ago, opposing the military solution in Iraq, there were few clergy or lay people from the churches present in the demonstrations.

Are the churches still willing to engage in serious social/moral issues of our time, or has this ground been taken over by others?

Speakers:

Marie Moyer, a Mennonite and peace activist who holds a B.A. in Anthropology (University of Lethbridge) and a Bachelor of Theology from the Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg.

Rev. Kevin Powell, Pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and a resource person to the Eastern Synod (Lutheran) working group; member of the Halifax Prayer Group before the Iraq invasion; member of the Ontario Interfaith Coalition against Poverty.

Dr. Michael Kubara, Philosophy Dept. of the University of Lethbridge and a lecturer in Critique of Biblical Ethics with a special interest in Religion and Ethics.

Moderators: Austin Fennell and Terry Shillington

Location: Sven Ericksen''s Family Restaurant, 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S.

Time: 12:00 Noon to 1:30 p.m. / Cost: $8.00 includes lunch

Visit the new SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca

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