Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

7:00 – 9:00 PM

Lethbridge Public Library, Theatre Gallery, 810 – 5 Ave S

Despite its more than 60-year history, fair trade is still a relatively new concept for many North Americans and is unfortunately often confused with free trade. However, this has begun to change according to online surveys. Consumer recognition of Fair Trade-certified labeling has increased greatly in the past few years.

Awareness and understanding, however, are two different things. While more and more customers are loyal to the premise of fair trade, they don't necessarily know exactly what it involves, or that there are different "shades" of fair trading, just as there are with “green” products. Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices, but it does not necessarily mean that the products are organic or environmentally friendly.

The speaker will outline how direct fair trade is desirable, but admits that the process, which includes close work with producers to help them improve efficiency, environmental standards and other conditions, can be painstaking and difficult to articulate. However, he feels it is an important, fundamental pillar of fair trade that cannot be reduced to a formalized logo.

Speaker: Stacey Toews

Stacey Toews is co-founder of Level Ground Trading, a Direct Fair Trade company based out of Victoria, B.C. Since 1999, Stacey has travelled across North America educating and engaging audiences about Fair Trade, sustainability and ethical consumer choices.

Stacey is passionate about social justice. He has quickly become one of Fair Trade’s leading advocates, encouraging critical and independent thought about our everyday purchases and how they affect people and communities that make the products we buy.

For Toews, sustainability is based on how people relate to each other and the environment, both locally and globally. His experience with Direct Fair Trade in producer communities has shown that environmentally sound practices flourish when people can be assured their livelihoods are secure.

In the course of a week, Alberta’s political landscape changed dramatically. First, Premier Ed Stelmach announced he would not run in the next provincial election. Then David Swann, leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and leader of the Official Opposition, also announced his resignation. On the one side: a new party with a dynamic young leader is scoring high in the public opinion polls. On the other side: the two major parties in the legislature both face leadership races. And there may or may not be a new center option in the form of the Alberta Party. More than it has for decades, the political landscape appears open for major change -- but what kind of change will it be?

The speaker will argue that the door is now open for a new kind of politics to emerge, a politics that reflects the demands and the priorities and the style of a new generation. In 1971, Peter Lougheed's surprise win marked the political arrival of the "Baby Boomer" generation -- but the first baby boomers turned 65 in January. The last generational shift obliterated the long-lived Social Credit party; what will the next one look like? After the upcoming leadership races and the provincial election that will probably follow in 2012, there will be new faces wall to wall -- and the odds are they will be younger faces. The critical question, the one that will drive our politics for the next decades, is how the parties -- the old ones, and the new ones just emerged or trying to emerge -- will cope with this new reality.

Speaker: Peter McCormick

Dr. Peter McCormick is Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Lethbridge, where he teaches Canadian Government and Politics and Constitutional Law. He holds degrees from the University of Alberta (BA 68), the University of Toronto (MA 69) and the London School of Economics (PhD 74). Dr. McCormick is heard regularly on CBC radio and is often quoted in the national news media.

In the course of a week, Alberta’s political landscape changed dramatically. First, Premier Ed Stelmach announced he would not run in the next provincial election. Then David Swann, leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and leader of the Official Opposition, also announced his resignation. On the one side: a new party with a dynamic young leader is scoring high in the public opinion polls. On the other side: the two major parties in the legislature both face leadership races. And there may or may not be a new center option in the form of the Alberta Party. More than it has for decades, the political landscape appears open for major change -- but what kind of change will it be?

The speaker will argue that the door is now open for a new kind of politics to emerge, a politics that reflects the demands and the priorities and the style of a new generation. In 1971, Peter Lougheed's surprise win marked the political arrival of the "Baby Boomer" generation -- but the first baby boomers turned 65 in January. The last generational shift obliterated the long-lived Social Credit party; what will the next one look like? After the upcoming leadership races and the provincial election that will probably follow in 2012, there will be new faces wall to wall -- and the odds are they will be younger faces. The critical question, the one that will drive our politics for the next decades, is how the parties -- the old ones, and the new ones just emerged or trying to emerge -- will cope with this new reality.

Speaker: Peter McCormick

Dr. Peter McCormick is Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Lethbridge, where he teaches Canadian Government and Politics and Constitutional Law. He holds degrees from the University of Alberta (BA 68), the University of Toronto (MA 69) and the London School of Economics (PhD 74). Dr. McCormick is heard regularly on CBC radio and is often quoted in the national news media.

In recent months two commercial drilling firms have received permission to begin drilling for gas and oil on leases within the Blood Reserve in Southern Alberta. Conventional drilling and exploration have taken place there in the past. However, a different technique using hydraulic fracking is planned for drilling the proposed wells, which may have potential to yield large amounts of gas and oil previously not reachable by conventional means.

While several locations in the surrounding area of Lethbridge may have seen hydraulic fracking being used to drill for gas and oil, many people in Alberta and North America have already raised concerns about the technology of hydraulic fracking and its potential threat to the water and environment. Known dangerous chemicals and large amount of water applied under extreme pressure appears to be necessary in the process of fracturing shale or coal seams deep underground.

What is hydraulic fracking and do we really need to be concerned about our only water supplies, the Oldman River and the St. Mary River Irrigation District, both of which are in the vicinity of the planned drilling project?

Speaker: Mike Bruised Head

Mike Bruised Head is a member of the Blood Reserve and also a member of "Friends of the Blood Lands". He is a Kainai Educator raised to have cultural respect for the earth and firmly believe he has a duty to protect the lands as a future elder. This organization is "a coalition of concerned people for the environment where we hold the earth, water and air precious so that it will sustain our people and future generations forever." Mike believes fracking presents a real threat to the environment of Southern Alberta.

In recent months two commercial drilling firms have received permission to begin drilling for gas and oil on leases within the Blood Reserve in Southern Alberta. Conventional drilling and exploration have taken place there in the past. However, a different technique using hydraulic fracking is planned for drilling the proposed wells, which may have potential to yield large amounts of gas and oil previously not reachable by conventional means.

While several locations in the surrounding area of Lethbridge may have seen hydraulic fracking being used to drill for gas and oil, many people in Alberta and North America have already raised concerns about the technology of hydraulic fracking and its potential threat to the water and environment. Known dangerous chemicals and large amount of water applied under extreme pressure appears to be necessary in the process of fracturing shale or coal seams deep underground.

What is hydraulic fracking and do we really need to be concerned about our only water supplies, the Oldman River and the St. Mary River Irrigation District, both of which are in the vicinity of the planned drilling project?

Speaker: Mike Bruised Head

Mike Bruised Head is a member of the Blood Reserve and also a member of "Friends of the Blood Lands". He is a Kainai Educator raised to have cultural respect for the earth and firmly believe he has a duty to protect the lands as a future elder. This organization is "a coalition of concerned people for the environment where we hold the earth, water and air precious so that it will sustain our people and future generations forever." Mike believes fracking presents a real threat to the environment of Southern Alberta.

12- 1:30pm

In some countries, voting is an obligation or legal responsibility. Mandatory voting is promoted as a

means of addressing low voter turnout and ensuring election results reflect the will of the majority. In Australia, which has an established tradition of compulsory voting, recent polls show ¾ of the population supports the practice. In Canada, voting is a right which a citizen can choose to exercise or not.

What happens when citizens stop exercising this right? The 2008 Alberta election recorded the lowest voter turnout ever for a provincial election (40.6%), and voter turnout in federal, provincial, and municipal elections has been in steady decline across the country for decades.

This debate sponsored by SACPA, the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership and the Famous 5 Foundation will explore compulsory voting as a possible solution to record low voter turnout in Canada. Arguments for and against compulsory voting using experiences of other countries will be debated. The audience is encouraged to question the speakers and to join in the discussion on how to address voter apathy and disengagement at all levels of Canadian politics.

Speakers:Heather MacIntosh, Dan Shapiro and Dr. Gordon Campbell

Heather MacIntosh, Sheldon Chumir Foundation Program Director - Democratic Development and Human Rights, joined the Foundation in April, 2005. Over the past 20 years, Heather has worked with the Canadian International Development Agency, University of Calgary, and with several international NGOs. She holds an MA (Public Administration) from Carleton University in Ottawa and a B.A. from University of Alberta.

Dan Shapiro is a Research Associate at the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership. He completed his M.A. at Queen's University and his B.A. (Hons) at the University of Winnipeg, both in philosophy. Dan works on ethics, human rights and civil liberties – especially freedom of expression. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2006, he taught moral philosophy and critical thinking at the University of Winnipeg.

Gordon Campbell, Professor Emeritus of the University of Lethbridge and instrumental in the formation of both SACPA and the Lethbridge chapter of Friends of Medicare. He also served as the founding National Secretary of the World University Service of Canada, whose mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. Dr. Campbell is the recipient of many awards including the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Centenary Medal and the Annual Award of Great Distinction from the World University Service of Canada.

12- 1:30pm

In some countries, voting is an obligation or legal responsibility. Mandatory voting is promoted as a

means of addressing low voter turnout and ensuring election results reflect the will of the majority. In Australia, which has an established tradition of compulsory voting, recent polls show ¾ of the population supports the practice. In Canada, voting is a right which a citizen can choose to exercise or not.

What happens when citizens stop exercising this right? The 2008 Alberta election recorded the lowest voter turnout ever for a provincial election (40.6%), and voter turnout in federal, provincial, and municipal elections has been in steady decline across the country for decades.

This debate sponsored by SACPA, the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership and the Famous 5 Foundation will explore compulsory voting as a possible solution to record low voter turnout in Canada. Arguments for and against compulsory voting using experiences of other countries will be debated. The audience is encouraged to question the speakers and to join in the discussion on how to address voter apathy and disengagement at all levels of Canadian politics.

Speakers:Heather MacIntosh, Dan Shapiro and Dr. Gordon Campbell

Heather MacIntosh, Sheldon Chumir Foundation Program Director - Democratic Development and Human Rights, joined the Foundation in April, 2005. Over the past 20 years, Heather has worked with the Canadian International Development Agency, University of Calgary, and with several international NGOs. She holds an MA (Public Administration) from Carleton University in Ottawa and a B.A. from University of Alberta.

Dan Shapiro is a Research Associate at the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership. He completed his M.A. at Queen's University and his B.A. (Hons) at the University of Winnipeg, both in philosophy. Dan works on ethics, human rights and civil liberties – especially freedom of expression. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2006, he taught moral philosophy and critical thinking at the University of Winnipeg.

Gordon Campbell, Professor Emeritus of the University of Lethbridge and instrumental in the formation of both SACPA and the Lethbridge chapter of Friends of Medicare. He also served as the founding National Secretary of the World University Service of Canada, whose mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training. Dr. Campbell is the recipient of many awards including the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Centenary Medal and the Annual Award of Great Distinction from the World University Service of Canada.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

7 – 9 pm

At Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S

The Conservative Party in Alberta, which for the last 40 years has formed our provincial government, appears to be in disarray. Premier Ed Stelmach’s recent resignation and rumblings regarding property owners rights, the environment, deficits and the upcoming budged seems to have shaken their long standing, right of center, foundation.

The Alberta Party, which has existed in one form or another since 1985, aims to represent the center of the political spectrum. They have recently consulted with a wide range of Albertans before the development of their policy platform. The party advocates that Alberta, a potential world economic leader, should take advantage of a diversified long term economic plan favoring more stability and less, as is now the case, “boom and bust” cycles.

The speaker will explain how the Alberta Party plans to renew Albertans faith in the political process, while strengthening the educational and health care systems and proving that a healthy environment not only can coexist with, but is necessary for, a healthy economy.

Speaker: Sue Huff

Sue Huff is a 30-year resident of Alberta and interim leader of the Alberta Party. Her great-grandparents settled in Alberta in 1906. Sue was born in Bermuda and spent her first 14 years traveling around Canada because her father was in the Canadian military. Her professional training is in theatre and she has worked for twenty years in the arts, as an actor and a writer for radio, theatre, television and film. Sue also wrote and directed a short film for the National Film Board called “Kids Talkin’ About Death”.

Sue Huff is married to Kevin, her husband of 18 years and they have two children aged 15 and 12. They love to travel and have lived for extended periods of time in London (UK), Swaziland and Korea. In 2007, a whole new phase of Sue’s life began when she was elected trustee for the Edmonton Public School Board. That was her first taste of politics.

As a result of changing demographics, enrolment rates are expected to drop off in Canada soon and un¬less universities find a way to fill the gap, the future may see a lot more empty seats in class. Right now many universities are at max¬imum capacity in post-secondary en¬rolments, but over the next three, four, five years the number of enrolments may start to decline throughout the sys¬tem.

Many universities are looking to ex¬pand their campuses and programs, because of maxed-out capacity coming from the large num¬ber of children that were born out of the baby boom generation. However those numbers peaked in 1991, which means that the rate of enrolment is likely to drop, coinciding with the gradu¬al decline in birthrates that occurred during the 1990s.

While demographics may impact university enrolment, increasing gender inequality is certain to have a lasting effect on universities. Men now represent just 42 percent of total enrolments. Moreover, their higher dropout rate means that they will represent an even lower proportion of graduates. It appears that in terms of higher education it is women who are flourishing; by comparison, young men seem to be on autopilot. The speaker will explain how these statistics are likely to affect the University of Lethbridge and as well, possible remedies.

Speaker: Mike Mahon PhD

Mike Mahon was installed as the sixth President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge in 2010. An accomplished physical education researcher, Dr. Mahon holds a PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MSc in Physical Education from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Manitoba. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Man., Dr. Mahon began his academic career at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies in 1987. He joined the University of Alberta in 2000 and served two terms as the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation.

A vigorous proponent of physical activity for people of every age and ability, Dr Mahon has worked with the Canadian Special Olympics organization and Right to Play, a group that supplies sports equipment and support to children in developing countries. He was instrumental in the creation of The Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre, inaugurated in 2003, and received the Award of Distinction from the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies in 2000.

As a result of changing demographics, enrolment rates are expected to drop off in Canada soon and un¬less universities find a way to fill the gap, the future may see a lot more empty seats in class. Right now many universities are at max¬imum capacity in post-secondary en¬rolments, but over the next three, four, five years the number of enrolments may start to decline throughout the sys¬tem.

Many universities are looking to ex¬pand their campuses and programs, because of maxed-out capacity coming from the large num¬ber of children that were born out of the baby boom generation. However those numbers peaked in 1991, which means that the rate of enrolment is likely to drop, coinciding with the gradu¬al decline in birthrates that occurred during the 1990s.

While demographics may impact university enrolment, increasing gender inequality is certain to have a lasting effect on universities. Men now represent just 42 percent of total enrolments. Moreover, their higher dropout rate means that they will represent an even lower proportion of graduates. It appears that in terms of higher education it is women who are flourishing; by comparison, young men seem to be on autopilot. The speaker will explain how these statistics are likely to affect the University of Lethbridge and as well, possible remedies.

Speaker: Mike Mahon PhD

Mike Mahon was installed as the sixth President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge in 2010. An accomplished physical education researcher, Dr. Mahon holds a PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MSc in Physical Education from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Manitoba. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Man., Dr. Mahon began his academic career at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Studies in 1987. He joined the University of Alberta in 2000 and served two terms as the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation.

A vigorous proponent of physical activity for people of every age and ability, Dr Mahon has worked with the Canadian Special Olympics organization and Right to Play, a group that supplies sports equipment and support to children in developing countries. He was instrumental in the creation of The Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre, inaugurated in 2003, and received the Award of Distinction from the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies in 2000.