Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

For months, politicians, media pundits, and ordinary citizens have watched the Occupy Wall Street protesters grow in numbers throughout the United States and elsewhere, including Canada. In this part of the country, Occupy protesters have made camp in several cities, including Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary, eliciting both support and condemnation from public officials and citizens.

But how might we understand the Occupy phenomenon? Is it a genuine movement, in the sense of past movements, or just a passing phase? What are its roots? While the Occupy protesters have targeted Wall Street (and capitalism in general), are there other, broader currents at work? Is there a connection, for example, between the alleged “Arab Spring” protests that began a year ago in the Middle East and the Occupy protesters? Who are the occupiers? Do its members have a coherent message, or is the group made up of largely individualized grievances? What has been the response of authorities? And what is its future? (Does it have a future?)

These are not easy questions to answer – nor will the speaker provide them. Instead, the speaker will provide observations in the context of previous protest movements, while also looking at the factors that will influence the trajectory and impact of the Occupy movement in the days to come.

Speaker: Trevor W. Harrison

Trevor W. Harrison is a Professor of Sociology and Associate Director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economics at the University of Lethbridge. Recently, he also took on the role as co-director of Parkland Institute, a province-wide think tank that he co-founded in 1996 that is dedicated to studies of public policy.

A frequent presenter at SACPA talks, he is best known for his studies in political sociology and political economy. He is the author, co-author, or co-editor of eight books, numerous journal articles and book chapters, and a regular contributor to radio, television, and the print media.

A new report challenges Albertans to consider recommendations that focus on the province’s long-term prosperity by realizing the full potential of Alberta’s energy resources and broadening its economic base.

“Shaping Alberta’s Future”, the report from the 12-member Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy, also calls on all Albertans to consider their role to ensure future success.

“My goal for this council was to ‘think big’ on how we can best position Alberta, looking 30 years into the future. This type of long-term planning has been done on behalf of all Albertans, and their children and grandchildren,” said former Premier Ed Stelmach. “Now it’s time for all Albertans to contemplate this report and provide comment on their role in creating the future they want to see and how to contribute to positive change.”

Our speaker, a member of the Council, will introduce the report and discuss its role in engaging Albertans to contribute to establishing the long term outlook and financing strategy needed to transition to the future.

Speaker: Lorne Taylor, Ph.D.

Dr. Taylor is a consultant and businessman based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. He is currently Special Advisor to Alberta Water Smart, a not for profit organization committed to developing and improving the management of Alberta’s water resources.

As the Member for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Cypress-Medicine Hat from 1993 to 2004, he served as Alberta's Minister of Science, Research and Information Technology, Minister of Innovation and Science and Minister of the Environment. While in government, Dr. Taylor was instrumental in the creation of the Alberta Ingenuity Fund, and Alberta SuperNet, a multi-million dollar high-speed, broadband network to every community in Alberta as well as Alberta’s Electronic Recycling program. He also envisioned and led the creation of Alberta's Water for Life Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan and was the founding Chair of the Alberta Water Research Institute.

Dr. Taylor holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Calgary and has held tenured positions at several universities, among them the University of Saskatchewan from where he eventually returned to his family’s grain and cattle business. He currently lives in Medicine Hat with his wife Lois. They have four married daughters.

A new report challenges Albertans to consider recommendations that focus on the province’s long-term prosperity by realizing the full potential of Alberta’s energy resources and broadening its economic base.

“Shaping Alberta’s Future”, the report from the 12-member Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy, also calls on all Albertans to consider their role to ensure future success.

“My goal for this council was to ‘think big’ on how we can best position Alberta, looking 30 years into the future. This type of long-term planning has been done on behalf of all Albertans, and their children and grandchildren,” said former Premier Ed Stelmach. “Now it’s time for all Albertans to contemplate this report and provide comment on their role in creating the future they want to see and how to contribute to positive change.”

Our speaker, a member of the Council, will introduce the report and discuss its role in engaging Albertans to contribute to establishing the long term outlook and financing strategy needed to transition to the future.

Speaker: Lorne Taylor, Ph.D.

Dr. Taylor is a consultant and businessman based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. He is currently Special Advisor to Alberta Water Smart, a not for profit organization committed to developing and improving the management of Alberta’s water resources.

As the Member for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Cypress-Medicine Hat from 1993 to 2004, he served as Alberta's Minister of Science, Research and Information Technology, Minister of Innovation and Science and Minister of the Environment. While in government, Dr. Taylor was instrumental in the creation of the Alberta Ingenuity Fund, and Alberta SuperNet, a multi-million dollar high-speed, broadband network to every community in Alberta as well as Alberta’s Electronic Recycling program. He also envisioned and led the creation of Alberta's Water for Life Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan and was the founding Chair of the Alberta Water Research Institute.

Dr. Taylor holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Calgary and has held tenured positions at several universities, among them the University of Saskatchewan from where he eventually returned to his family’s grain and cattle business. He currently lives in Medicine Hat with his wife Lois. They have four married daughters.

Alberta's political leaders have long cast themselves as the tough-talking lone wolf, eager to take on foes in Ottawa and around the world. Is it an unabashed and partisan political entitlement or will Alison Redford attempt to change that culture?

Days after Ms. Redford became Premier of Alberta by winning the leadership race of Alberta's venerable Progressive Conservative Party, her vision appeared to emerge as a constructive compromise to a strong arm.

While early indications suggest Ms. Redford seems to view Ottawa and its regulators as friends, not foes, the speaker will speculate on how much input from opposition parties Ms. Redford is willing to accept, how often can she reasonable be expected to change her mind and will the shouts of “flip-flop” be too much to bear?

Speaker: Bridget Pastoor MLA

Bridget Pastoor was elected to her second term as the MLA of Alberta for Lethbridge-East on March 3, 2008. In addition to her duties as an MLA, Ms. Pastoor currently serves as the Official Opposition Whip. She is also shadow minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Municipal Affairs and Seniors and Community Supports. As well, she is currently serving as a member of three Standing Committees.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Bridget served as an alderwoman on Lethbridge City Council from 1998 to 2004. Ms Pastoor began her career with Air Canada. After raising three children, she returned to school and graduated from Lethbridge College as a registered nurse, later qualifying as a geriatric specialist from Grant MacEwan. Bridget worked as an RN at the Edith Cavell care centre from 1990 to 2004.

Alberta's political leaders have long cast themselves as the tough-talking lone wolf, eager to take on foes in Ottawa and around the world. Is it an unabashed and partisan political entitlement or will Alison Redford attempt to change that culture?

Days after Ms. Redford became Premier of Alberta by winning the leadership race of Alberta's venerable Progressive Conservative Party, her vision appeared to emerge as a constructive compromise to a strong arm.

While early indications suggest Ms. Redford seems to view Ottawa and its regulators as friends, not foes, the speaker will speculate on how much input from opposition parties Ms. Redford is willing to accept, how often can she reasonable be expected to change her mind and will the shouts of “flip-flop” be too much to bear?

Speaker: Bridget Pastoor MLA

Bridget Pastoor was elected to her second term as the MLA of Alberta for Lethbridge-East on March 3, 2008. In addition to her duties as an MLA, Ms. Pastoor currently serves as the Official Opposition Whip. She is also shadow minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Municipal Affairs and Seniors and Community Supports. As well, she is currently serving as a member of three Standing Committees.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Bridget served as an alderwoman on Lethbridge City Council from 1998 to 2004. Ms Pastoor began her career with Air Canada. After raising three children, she returned to school and graduated from Lethbridge College as a registered nurse, later qualifying as a geriatric specialist from Grant MacEwan. Bridget worked as an RN at the Edith Cavell care centre from 1990 to 2004.

Like most good things in life, a good death is worth planning for. But many people don’t even talk about dying, never mind plan for it. Medical science is able to keep us alive longer and longer, but length of life does not necessarily relate to its quality. The end of life can be painful, degrading, lonely and not much fun. As in many other things that touch our lives in the 21st century, technology is ahead of ethics and compassion.

Shouldn’t we have control over our own bodies? Why does “the government” decide when, where and how we die? A survey conducted by the Lethbridge College in 2010 found that two out of three people in southern Alberta were in favour of medically assisted suicide for terminally ill people with the proportion increasing to three out of four for the whole of Canada. Indeed, with statistics like that, why is the tail wagging the dog?

The speaker will argue that Canadians should have the same rights as people living in Oregon, Washington, Montana or several European countries who now have the right to choose to die at their own time and in their own place.

Speaker: John Warren

John has been in favour of medically assisted dying since watching a movie called “Whose Life is It Anyway” about 30 years ago and he was supportive of Sue Rodriguez’s appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1993 to allow her to have someone help her die instead of suffering a painful and protracted death from ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The court denied her appeal.

Last year John got a nasty case of Hepatitis B that resulted in a few trips to the Lethbridge Hospital and to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Having looked death in the face John has now developed an interest in the end of life that seemed, at that time, to be imminent. He is particularly interested in the right to die movement across Canada and around the world. John is a member of Dying With Dignity and the Farewell Foundation.

Like most good things in life, a good death is worth planning for. But many people don’t even talk about dying, never mind plan for it. Medical science is able to keep us alive longer and longer, but length of life does not necessarily relate to its quality. The end of life can be painful, degrading, lonely and not much fun. As in many other things that touch our lives in the 21st century, technology is ahead of ethics and compassion.

Shouldn’t we have control over our own bodies? Why does “the government” decide when, where and how we die? A survey conducted by the Lethbridge College in 2010 found that two out of three people in southern Alberta were in favour of medically assisted suicide for terminally ill people with the proportion increasing to three out of four for the whole of Canada. Indeed, with statistics like that, why is the tail wagging the dog?

The speaker will argue that Canadians should have the same rights as people living in Oregon, Washington, Montana or several European countries who now have the right to choose to die at their own time and in their own place.

Speaker: John Warren

John has been in favour of medically assisted dying since watching a movie called “Whose Life is It Anyway” about 30 years ago and he was supportive of Sue Rodriguez’s appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1993 to allow her to have someone help her die instead of suffering a painful and protracted death from ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The court denied her appeal.

Last year John got a nasty case of Hepatitis B that resulted in a few trips to the Lethbridge Hospital and to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Having looked death in the face John has now developed an interest in the end of life that seemed, at that time, to be imminent. He is particularly interested in the right to die movement across Canada and around the world. John is a member of Dying With Dignity and the Farewell Foundation.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers. The CWB is single desk in its marketing structure and its whole premise is built upon the concept that farmers benefit from marketing their grain together, as one, big or small.

The Wheat Board belongs to farmers. They pay for its operations from the sale of grain and run it through elected representatives on the CWB board of directors. However, the federal Government has announced its intention to remove the CWB's single desk for wheat and barley as of August 1, 2012, with legislation to be introduced this fall. Minister Gerry Ritz have said that farmers will not be allowed a vote, despite the majority of farmers voting for maintaining CWB single desk marketing in a recent plebiscite.

The CWB is not a grain company; it has no grain-handling infrastructure and no capital base for borrowing money or financing its operations. It exists by virtue of legislation and the existence of Government financial guarantees. The speaker will argue that if the CWB were to function as a grain company in an open market, it would be at a disadvantage compared to established grain companies in carrying out its business.

Speaker: Stewart Wells

Stewart Wells was elected director for district 3 of the CWB last year. He was born and raised on a family farm near Swift Current, SK. where he and his partner Terry Toews co-own and operate the third generation farm, with the majority of acres seeded to organic red spring wheat, winter wheat, peas and lentils. He earned a Degree in Agricultural Engineering from University of Saskatchewan and later served as a farmer-delegate to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

Stewart was elected to the board of the National Farmers Union for 12 years, including eight years served as President. He has also been an advisor to the board of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute and has sat on numerous provincial and national committees related to marketing, trade and safety nets.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to farmers. The CWB is single desk in its marketing structure and its whole premise is built upon the concept that farmers benefit from marketing their grain together, as one, big or small.

The Wheat Board belongs to farmers. They pay for its operations from the sale of grain and run it through elected representatives on the CWB board of directors. However, the federal Government has announced its intention to remove the CWB's single desk for wheat and barley as of August 1, 2012, with legislation to be introduced this fall. Minister Gerry Ritz have said that farmers will not be allowed a vote, despite the majority of farmers voting for maintaining CWB single desk marketing in a recent plebiscite.

The CWB is not a grain company; it has no grain-handling infrastructure and no capital base for borrowing money or financing its operations. It exists by virtue of legislation and the existence of Government financial guarantees. The speaker will argue that if the CWB were to function as a grain company in an open market, it would be at a disadvantage compared to established grain companies in carrying out its business.

Speaker: Stewart Wells

Stewart Wells was elected director for district 3 of the CWB last year. He was born and raised on a family farm near Swift Current, SK. where he and his partner Terry Toews co-own and operate the third generation farm, with the majority of acres seeded to organic red spring wheat, winter wheat, peas and lentils. He earned a Degree in Agricultural Engineering from University of Saskatchewan and later served as a farmer-delegate to the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

Stewart was elected to the board of the National Farmers Union for 12 years, including eight years served as President. He has also been an advisor to the board of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute and has sat on numerous provincial and national committees related to marketing, trade and safety nets.

In August 2011, Michael Byers sailed the Northwest Passage on two vessels: the Canadian Coast Guard research icebreaker Amundsen and the Russian expedition ship Akademik Ioffe. His photographs from those two voyages provide a vivid backdrop to a riveting tale of exploration, economic ambition, geopolitics and a looming environmental crisis – and yes – cooperation.

Speaker: Michael Byers

Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Professor Byers has led two projects for ArcticNet, a Canadian government–funded consortium of scientists from 29 Canadian universities and eight federal departments.

Michael is a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen and has written for the international newspapers The Guardian, New York Times, Financial Times and London Review of Books. Books to Michael Byers credit are: War Law and the glowingly reviewed Canadian bestseller, Intent for a Nation (2007). His most recent book is from 2009, titled Who Owns the Arctic? Michael is a graduate of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.