Please join me, and other members of the Alberta Liberal Caucus, for an informative evening of open dialogue.

When:   September 8 –  Registration at 6:30 p.m.

Where:  Salvation Army Castle Downs Church – 12404 140 Avenue, Edmonton

We want to hear your concerns about changes to the health care system in Alberta and the impact on seniors.

On behalf of my colleagues in the Alberta Liberal Caucus, I would like to wish all students from kindergarten to grade 12 an exciting start to a fresh school year.

The beginning of a new school year also serves as a reminder of how fortunate we are to have such dedicated teachers, volunteers, support staff, and administrators in our public education system. Exceptional people are the key to excellent schools.

After all, our schools serve all Albertans. They lay the foundation for the future prosperity of our province by equipping students with the skills they will need for a 21^st century economy. By shaping students into active and engaged citizens, our schools are also vital for our democracy. They help sustain the shared values that matter to Albertans. And finally, schools help children grow into well-rounded people, with a wide range of interests, including literature, sports, the arts, science, history and so much more.

The Alberta Liberal Caucus remains committed to safeguarding the quality and health of our public education system. Over the course of the coming school year, we will continue our call for government to start providing the leadership the public expects and our children deserve.

The Stelmach administration’s overspending and failure to plan has created a $6.9 billion deficit, and soon the Sustainability fund will be drained dry, putting Alberta in a precarious position.

So far, the government’s only plan to deal with this crisis is to somehow find $430 million in savings from the various Ministries this year and another $2 billion in the future from so-called “corrective actions.” Neither the Premier nor the Finance Minister have given anything more than vague assurances that the money would somehow be found – no details have been provided.

Even if the Stelmach administration comes through with those savings, that still leaves Alberta several billion dollars in the hole. How exactly does the Premier plan to pay for everything once the Sustainability Fund is drained?

The Stelmach administration started with a clean slate: no deficits, no debt, and record resource revenues pouring into government coffers. Having had it so easy in the past, now in-the-red Ed doesn’t know what to do, other than cross his fingers and hope resource revenues will miraculously skyrocket.

To read what Laurie Blakeman, MLA for Edmonton-Centre, has to say about the this issue, please click here

It’s my pleasure to congratulate Alberta Views for being named Magazine of the Year by the National Magazine Awards. Founding Editor Jackie Flanagan and the Alberta Views staff are all courageous voices of democratic renewal in Alberta. With each article they challenge and illuminate the political landscape in Alberta.

The insightful commentary in Alberta Views helps move our province forward, one well-chosen word at a time.  I’d like to thank the Alberta Views team on behalf of the Official Opposition for a job well done.

David Swann

Leader of the Official Opposition