David Swann: Blog

Dr. David Swann is the elected member of the Alberta Legislature for Calgary Mountain View and the Liberal critic for the Health and Wellness, Human Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Aboriginal Relations.

David Swann: Blog - Dr. David Swann is the elected member of the Alberta Legislature for Calgary Mountain View and the Liberal critic for the Health and Wellness, Human Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Aboriginal Relations.

Monthly Archives: March 2009

Losing Public Trust: What were they thinking?

Our work as elected politicians is about increasing the public good. We must never do things that undermine public trust. We get to decide who does and who does not get benefits (or penalties) from public dollars and we must go the extra mile to ensure that there is NO self-interest and NO political advantage in any decisions we make.

Our member from Edmonton Goldbar – Hugh MacDonald – looked into pay bonuses this week and was shocked to learn that last year about $40 million was given out in bonuses! These bonuses were given primarily to senior government employees like Deputy Ministers and Directors of Boards and Commissions. These are people who are required to work on behalf of all Albertans, not just their Minister. How free can a senior official be if he is getting thousands of dollars in bonuses based on pleasing the Minister? Tens of thousands of dollars on top of salaries of $300,000 to $400,000 per year- and all this at a time when our economy was tanking!

MLA’s and the Premier need to hear from Albertans about this mis-use of public funds and how this violates public trust in government!

World Water Day – Calgary (March 22)

World Water Day Forecasts Calgary’s Parched Future

“The flows of all major rivers, including the Bow River, will fall substantially, perhaps by 50 percent or more.” On October 22, 2007, Thomas Homer-Dixon, author of The Upside of Down told Calgarians this bad news about Calgary’s future water supply.

Calgarians are invited to the Alberta premiere of the documentary film “Blue Gold: World Water Wars” will take place in Calgary on World Water Day, March 22. The film describes severe future water shortages and is narrated by actor Malcom McDowell, famous for his role in the 1971 distopia film Clockwork Orange.

World Water Day coincides with the fifth annual World Water Forum taking place in Istanbul, Turkey March 16-22, 2009. Participants at the Forum are predicting future water shortages in Alberta with severe affects on Calgarians. Forum participant, Albertan Anil Naidoo of the Blue Planet Project, will be linked via satellite for a discussion with the Calgary film audience.

The City of Calgary is beginning to address the issue, in part through the installation of water meters on all Calgary homes. Alderman Druh Farrell commented that “Calgary uses more water than other Canadian cities”. Alderman Ric McIvor has advocated to move up the water meter installation deadline. “I want to put in water meters as fast as possible because it’s environmentally the right thing to do. Everyone knows the glaciers are melting. I’m also concerned about the price of water for low income Calgarians.”

The Calgary event is part of the Arusha Centre’s Action Series and is sponsored by Clean Calgary, Water Matters, The Parkland Institute, Calgary Dollars, and The Council of Canadians. The City of Calgary will be offering free water reducing aerators and toilet leak detector tablets to attendees. The City of Calgary will also be financing a dual flush toilet give-away.

What:
-Screening of documentary “Blue Gold: World Water Wars”
-Satellite link with Albertan Anil Naidoo, Blue Planet Project staff attending the World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey

Where: Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Road NW Calgary

When: Noon, Sunday March 22

Cost: $10 at the door

More info: action.arusha.org

Media copies of Blue Gold are available by request, gerald@arusha.org.

Contacts:
Calgary Organizer – Gerald Wheatley, Arusha Centre, 403-270-3200
Blue Planet Project – Anil Naidoo, 613-233-7177
Council Of Canadians – Sheila Muxlow, 780-233-2528
Clean Calgary – Natalie Odd, 403-230-1443 x229
Calgary Dollars – Kirti Bhadresa, 403-270-8002
Water Matters – Danielle Droitsch, 403-538-7785
Parkland – Julie Hrdlicka, 403-270-9669
Public Interest Alberta – Bill Moore-Kilgannon, 780-420-0471

Downstream Documentary Premieres in Calgary (and all over Alberta)

Friends,

This is an important film to watch and find out more about the downstream effects of the tar sands.

~ Dr. David Swann

Media Advisory

Swann to Attend Calgary Premiere of ‘Downstream’ and Participate in Post-Film Panel Discussion

Calgary — Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann will attend this evening’s Calgary premiere of Downstream, an Oscar shortlisted film that examines the potential impact of oilsands extraction on the residents of Fort Chipewyan.

Following the screening, Swann will participate in a panel discussion featuring former Fort Chipewyan community physician Dr. John O’Connor, investigative journalist Andrew Nikiforuk, Downstream Director Leslie Iwerks and Producer Philip Alberstat.

Details are as follows.
Date: Monday, March 9, 2009

Location: Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Road N.W.
Film Screening: 7:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: 7:30 p.m.