Letter to Premier Stelmach: Step up to help Alberta’s flood victims

I spent yesterday touring areas of Southern Alberta and meeting with people severely affected by this year’s floods. Hopefully we can get some help to these people who have gone through so much.

Please read the letter I sent today to Premier Stelmach, urging the government to step up and help these damaged communities.

July 29, 2010

Premier Ed Stelmach
307 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Premier Stelmach,

I’m currently examining the flood damage here in Medicine Hat and Irvine. I have spent the last couple of days speaking to citizens here about their government’s response to the flood disaster that has ruined their personal property, disrupted their routines, and in the worst cases, put them out of their homes and drained their savings.

Premier, the people of Medicine Hat and Irvine have explained to me at length the depths of their frustration, disappointment and even anger at your administration’s inadequate response to this disaster. They need your help, and so far they’re getting the runaround from your bureaucracy, forced to deal with a distant call centre in Lethbridge when help is urgently needed on the scene in the flood-damaged communities.

It’s been a month since the initial flood, and Albertans are still waiting for assistance. One senior citizen I spoke with has lost everything; she has no home, there’s no money left, and she doesn’t know how she’ll care for her aging husband. She showed me a photograph of the water still surrounding her home – a home she’s worried she’ll never return to. The pain and frustration in her eyes is hard to watch, especially when she says she’s received the standard bureaucratic response from your government – no compassion, no kindness, but most importantly, no help.

Premier, these people feel that you’ve forgotten the role of government: to take care of people in distress. A representative of the Red Cross said it looked like a tsunami had hit Medicine Hat, and from everything I’ve heard, only the city government’s response prevented more extensive damage. In contrast, the provincial government’s response – or lack of response – has been shockingly callous and inept. If I were in your position, I would have ensured that on-site assistance was immediately on the scene in Medicine Hat and Irvine, to provide financial, material and emotional support for flood victims. That’s what a responsible government would do.

Winter is coming. These people want to be back in their homes, back on their feet, before it comes. It’s time to act. I urge you to really listen to the concerns and address the urgent needs of the flood victims. Listen to people like Patty and Jerry Swanson. Or Murray Heisler. Or Cheryl Finnie, James Chatfield, Geoff Watson, Joanne Spinks, and so many others. And once you’ve listened, send real help. It’s not too late to make a difference.

Sincerely,

David Swann
Leader of the Official Opposition

David Swann’s 6th Annual Stampede Breakfast!

What: Join your MLA Dr. David Swann at his 6th Annual Stampede Breakfast!
LIVE MUSIC- COMMUNITY FAIR- PANCAKES- WESTERN FUN

Bring your families and friends for the best Calgary Mountain View party of the year!

We look forward to seeing you all there!

When: Saturday, July 17 – 8:30-11:30 am

Where: Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
1320 5 Ave NW
Calgary, AB

- Please bring your own plates and cutlery to cut down on waste.
- The Calgary Food Bank will be taking your donations through out the morning as well!

Rethink Alberta should rethink its own strategy

I’m very disappointed that some passionate but misinformed Americans are urging their fellow citizens to cancel any plans to visit Alberta.

While I can understand someone’s passion to stand up for what they believe in, this is a misguided public relations war without a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

It also unfairly punishes all Albertans – including the people who work in our tourism sector and their families – for the perceived sins of one industry, an industry that not only fuels Canadian prosperity, but the US and world economies. Rethink’s strategy is also counterproductive; how can Alberta diversify its economy and move to something more sustainable if people sabotage our tourism sector, as this campaign does? Where’s the logic?

It’s true that the oil sands must be more carefully developed and monitored. Government has failed to set and enforce the highest standards and industry must do a far better job of reclaiming the water and land damaged by oil sands mining. But it is not true, as our detractors claim, that the oil sands are the number one menace to the environment. In fact, managed properly, the oil sands will be transformed with new, cutting-edge technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate tailings ponds and reclaim the environment. An Alberta Liberal administration would revive the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority and add a two to three cent/bbl levy on bitumen production; both of these initiatives would jump-start the development of the new green technologies we need.

I have little respect or sympathy for those who would boycott Alberta and deliberately harm families based on misinformation. To those with more open minds, I urge you to visit Alberta, talk to people in the industry – many of whom are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of the oil sands – and form an opinion based on a rational analysis of all the facts.

We all have a part to play in protecting the environment. But spreading misinformation and attacking all Albertans isn’t the way to do it.

The Kitimat Connection

Canada and Alberta need more markets for our oil and gas, and Enbridge’s plan to construct a pipeline to Kitimat would open up those markets for us. Combined with the Alberta Liberal plan to increase bitumen upgrading here in Alberta and western Canada, the pipeline would guarantee greater prosperity and economic security for all Canadians.

The federal Liberal plan to ban oil supertankers off Canada’s northwestern coast, diverting them to the port at Vancouver, is well-intentioned, but it would make the Kitimat project impossible. And even worse, the ban doesn’t serve the supposed goal of protecting the environment. Vancouver’s harbour is incredibly busy– a far riskier environment for spills than the less-used port at Kitimat.

If I were Premier, I would work with British Columbia to ensure this pipeline is built to the highest environmental and safety standards. And I would work with all Western Premiers to keep the economic benefits of upgrading here in Canada.

Progressive Cooperation

There’s an opportunity in Alberta for real political change. Albertans have lost trust in the Stelmach Conservatives and see a lurch to the Wildrose Alliance as a move from frying pan to fire. As the Conservatives fight I’m suggesting that we talk actively in the sensible center about the best way to achieve a centrist/progressive government in the next election. As the number one choice of progressive voters who want an alternative to the Tories it makes sense for the Alberta Liberals to take the lead with any cooperative venture among progressive and moderate parties.

Vote-splitting among progressive parties results in right-wing governments that don’t represent the majority of Albertans. It’s time for a new approach.

Our members voted in favour of closer “cooperation with other progressive political parties.” We respect our members and the principles of democracy and are doing what they asked us to do.

Any agreement on specific methods of cooperation will have to be approved by a vote of the party’s membership. This won’t be a back-room deal.

I am not so concened about right and left politics. I care more about right and wrong politics. How can we better reflect Albertans’ values and hopes for Alberta? That is what we should be giving our energy to.

I’m prepared to set aside our differences with other parties in search of a better way of governing this province. There’s a better way for us and for our children! Let’s work at it together.

Let’s Talk!

Happy Canada Day!

On behalf of my colleagues in the Official Opposition, I wish all Albertans a very safe and happy Canada Day.

Today, Canada turns 143 years old. I hope Albertans can take a moment to celebrate our heritage, remember our successes and look to our future.

For some Albertans, this will be their first Canada Day as Canadian citizens. Others will be continuing a longstanding family tradition. Whether new Canadian, First Nations or descendant of one of the many waves of immigrants from Confederation onward, I know that all Albertans will come together to celebrate Canada Day and Alberta’s contributions to our country.

On behalf of my caucus colleagues, again, I wish everyone a fun, invigorating and inspiring Canada Day.

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.