Healthcare dominated the fall session of the legislature, led by our call for a much needed emergency debate on healthcare. The government, continuing to be out of touch with issues of importance to Albertans, limited debate to 75 minutes. It was only after Dr. Sherman was kicked out of the PC caucus for speaking his mind and his proposal of an amendment to Bill 17 that enabled the Liberal Caucus to push for adequate debate. Debate lasted 25 hours, none of which the Premier chose to attend. With Albertans waiting 18 hours in emergency rooms for care, the Premier showed disinterest and contempt towards Albertans accessing the healthcare system and to medical staff who are working diligently to make a broken system function.

The Alberta government backed off from park legislation. The proposed bill put too much power into the hands of the minister. Without rules backed by legislation, the door was left open for more development in Alberta’s parks. Local and national conservation groups have campaigned against Bill 29 since it was tabled on November 4th. They called it one of the worst pieces of conservation legislation to come forward anywhere in Canada.

Our efforts helped kill the bill. The entire Liberal caucus opposed the bill and Tourism, Parks and Recreation Critic Harry Chase presented letter after letter from concerned Albertans who opposed the bill. This public backlash along with continued efforts forced the government’s hand. The bill was withdrawn.

The Alberta Liberal Caucus released two major policies during the fall session. One policy focused on the environment and the other focused on the crisis we are facing in healthcare. The environmental policy provides a strong balance between maintaining Alberta’s natural beauty while not compromising economic development. The health policy provides real world solutions and a concrete plan towards solving the ER crisis and ensuring that Albertans are never put into this situation again.

This contrasts with the government, which has announced and re-announced the same plans, with no real action ever taken. This government has a fixation on central control of all decisions across the province in healthcare delivery. This is a major part of the bottleneck that needs to be opened up to more regional control and decision-making. I am continuing to push for changes that will improve the regional delivery system. I have no confidence that this government understands how to improve the effectiveness of our services, and more and more Albertans and health professionals are saying the same thing. A poll done before Duckett’s dismissal and the ER crisis revealed less than 25% confidence in the government’s ability to manage the healthcare system. It is time for Albertans to become more involved in political change for Alberta. There’s a better way.

I am very interested in hearing your feedback on both the environment and healthcare policies. Please read them here:

Health Policy
Environment Policy

Get in touch with us via e-mail at: calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca
Via phone at 403-216-5445
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Imagine waiting an average of 18 hours with an injury in emergency to be seen along with a senior experiencing chest pains, a young woman with bleeding, an intoxicated man, and a family grieving the death of a loved one. This is a daily experience for many of our ER’s in the larger centers and cannot be allowed to go on.

We keep hearing that the Health minister has a plan to tackle ER wait times and other crises being faced in the health sector. We never hear any specifics beyond the shell game being played with hospital beds and staff. We hear about 5 year funding commitments but no targets are set to show that this money is delivering results and is being well spent. How can we believe in our health system if the government does not reveal timely, accurate numbers?

We are now in one of the highest usage seasons for our Emergency Rooms. We must provide front-line staff with adequate support to get them through the times of increased stress. This government has failed to properly support frontline medical staff. The Alberta Liberal Caucus has a plan to tackle this issue and solve these problems. Please visit here to view our plan.

You can view the video here: http://bit.ly/9exJ5I

I was frankly shocked to see this kind of behaviour coming from a high-ranking official. I absolutely condemn his disrespectful treatment of the media and by extension the people of Alberta. This crisis is far too important to deflect with, of all things, a cookie.

This video is already a media sensation, spreading like wildfire across social networks, and it’s going to completely destroy whatever tiny sliver of confidence Albertans had left in the people managing our public health care system. Dr. Duckett’s behaviour tonight is an appalling insult to patients and their families and to health care professionals.

The Stelmach administration has already done incalculable damage to Alberta’s reputation. This incident further tarnishes our good name.

People are dying under the watch of the Stelmach administration and the people they’ve chosen to manage our health care system. It’s time for heads to roll. Dr. Duckett should be the first to go.

We all acknowledge that economic development is tremendously important, there is no question. It cannot occur unfettered and we must work with our industries to develop plans that benefit all Albertans. Our new environment policy respects economic growth while ensuring that Alberta remains a great place to live and raise a family.

This policy released by my Caucus and Laurie Blakeman, our Environment Critic sets real goals to achieve and not just empty platitudes. It promises to involve industry in the decision making process. It ensures that water remains of the highest importance and the property of all Albertans. It implements a hard cap on carbon emissions by 2017. Finally, it commits to growing the renewable energy sector and finding cleaner ways to provide power to all Albertans.

I am very interested to hear your feedback on this policy. You can find the whole document as well as a brief video at: http://tiny.cc/rwv59. Please contact my office with your feedback at 403-216-5445 or Calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca.

The area for sale has not been subject to a land use plan which means the government is selling this land without an understanding of what it might be best used for. Alberta Liberals have, for a very long time, called for a moratorium on the sale of public lands. At the very least, this administration should have an open process that engages all stakeholders and addresses their concerns through an honest and transparent approach.

Over the past weekend, I participated in the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ (AUPE) 34th Annual Convention up in Edmonton, and had the opportunity to connect with members one-on-one and hear their concerns about the future of the province.

It is so important for groups like the AUPE to be engaged in the political process, and this weekend was a real example in the power of organized groups to enact change and hold unresponsive government accountable. Unions, by organizing their membership and encouraging participation, set a good example for political participation that all sectors of society can follow.

It was an honour to speak to this hard-working group, and the warm and enthusiastic response I received from the crowd was both humbling and motivating.

The future of the province is at stake, and there are two visions of how to proceed. The government can continue to refuse to exercise leadership by stifling engaged organized groups such as unions, or we can choose to accept that our best days are yet to come, and strive to make them reality by working closely and intimately with such groups. The Tories and the Wildrose are just variations on the same theme, but the Liberals have a better way forward.

Overall, congratulations to the AUPE for the great organization and dedication that made this convention- which was their largest convention on record with 1,006 participants at the closing ceremonies- possible.

To read my full speech, click here

AUPE’s summary of the convention is here

In Calgary, 53% of eligible voters cast a ballot. This is a great increase from the 2007 election. It is also refreshing and encouraging that so many young people reportedly made it to the polls. It just shows that when the effort is made to involve youth in the electoral process it can and will pay off. All parties should take a lesson from this.

I would like to extend my congratulations to Naheed Nenshi who will be taking over the Mayor’s chair. It was a hard fought and engaging race, Mr. Nenshi, Mr. McIver, and Ms. Higgins represented three different ideals and paths into the future for Calgary. Mr. Nenshi and many of the other candidates elected represent progressive, change-focused, sustainable visions. Albertans have endorsed progressive values and that is a great step forward for both Calgary and Alberta. I look forward to getting to know the great representatives Albertans have chosen.

Thankfully, industry leaders, on their own, have made great technological improvements in limiting their impacts on the environment. I hope that this meeting will encourage Stelmach to improve environmental monitoring and protection as well as showcase the advancements made by our industry.

I doubt also that he discussed the wasteful and damaging PR war between Alberta and other countries, which can only be avoided by strong leadership – setting high standards, monitoring those standards independent of industry (not depending on industry reports) and enforcing standards with a consistent and significant consequence for failing to meet the standard. More media spin will not improve our international reputation – or the local reputation…

Mr Stelmach’s response is embarrassing… embarrassing not only to our major industry and our international consumers but more profoundly to Albertans who care about our future.

Negligence and denial are a serious threat to our future.

Alberta has an unmatched energy industry known around the world for its commitment to efficiency, innovation, and entrepreneurship. They should also be recognized for the very real commitment they have to the environment. I would work with the industry to ensure the highest standards in oilsands and tailings waste management, cap emissions in the next 5 years, invest substantially more in clean energy and energy efficient technology. Given the abilities of Alberta and Albertans we could be producing the cleanest oil in the world within 10 years.

I want Albertans to be proud again of our province in both oil and gas development and new technology that honors our commitment to our children.

We need to strive for that balance of supporting the pillars of our current resource-based economy while at the same time transitioning to a more sustainable way of living. It is no easy task to reevaluate those aspects of our society which have become routine and comfortable but which are diminishing innovation and economic potential of current and future generations. Indeed, this transition will be difficult, especially in fragile economic times. For this reason, however, real action is more necessary than ever.

The actions and expressions of activists from around the province- even those actions which are unconventional and out of our comfort zone- might be the kick we need to change. These actions force us to ask: are we walking the talk? What active measures are we taking, as a concerned society, towards becoming more economically and environmentally sustainable?

Despite what other Alberta political parties might believe, we cannot wait passively in the hinterland and let the market achieve these sustainability objectives itself. We need a clear vision for a new economy based in energy efficiency, conservation, alternatives and renewable with incentives to level the playing field with carbon-based fuels. People who are taking action to become more sustainable, such as retrofitting their homes and exploring new transportation methods, should be encouraged. If the market doesn’t support these crucial social actions, governments must. Other provinces and countries are doing much more that Alberta. It’s time to show the leadership and gain a business advantage before it’s too late.

Protecting human health and our lakes, rivers and wildlife requires independent, more accurate monitoring and enforcement. That means equipment and qualified specialists on the ground, with the tools, funding and enforcement powers necessary to do the job. Disincentives for polluters must have real teeth to encourage responsible development and restore our international reputation. This government’s decision to cut our environment department by $17.5 million this year speaks volumes about its priorities and its irrational fixation on public relations at the expense of real solutions.

Albertans want to be proud of our oil sands development. We’re leading the way in providing energy to the world; now we need to take the next step, by leading the way in real environmental protection. Human health, the economy and the environment are inextricably linked, and would be the top priorities of a David Swann government.

And this negligence hasn’t stopped. Since this child’s death in 2005, three more children have died in foster care. When will the current government insist on thorough and fail-safe background checks of foster parents, and provide adequate support to those foster parents who take on this immense service to society?

The mismanagement and continued strain on Children and Youth Services has to stop before the futures of even more young Albertans are compromised. This is yet another example of how the current government’s lack of basic business principles is costing future generations.

Some might say fossil fuels are Alberta’s greatest resource. I disagree. Our greatest resources are our children and grandchildren, who will continue to lead this province long after our economy has changed in ways the rest of the world is already moving.

Without any provincial consultation, the federal government and Industry Minister Tony Clement have elected to eradicate Canada’s long-form census. We strongly disagree with this action as the long-form census provides crucial data needed to provide social programs and supports for those Canadians who require them. A voluntary version of the long-form census, preferred by Industry Minister Tony Clement, is a poor substitute as it would not supply the depth of information needed for government to make effective decisions and allocate resources appropriately, now and into the future.

One of the most concerning effects of changes to the mandatory long-form census will be the loss of reliable data used to track important social information such as family income, educational status, area of residency, and employment information. This is crucial data to have at hand when planning for health care delivery. It should be the goal of the Government of Canada, and the Province of Alberta, to reduce health inequalities wherever possible and the information gathered by the long-form census is an important tool in locating and analyzing social determinants of health. The information gathered by the long-form census is especially important for fast growing provinces like Alberta. We need this data to adapt to and understand the rapidly changing social and economic demographics in this province.

Alberta is currently the only province that has not come out in opposition to this decision. As Leader of Alberta’s Official Opposition, I feel it is my duty to urge you to join with other provinces in voicing these concerns to the federal government. It is time to be brave and make a stand – to stand up for Albertans and to stand against this irrational decision by Prime Minister Harper’s government.

It is the opinion of the Alberta Liberal Caucus that without the information provided by the mandatory long-form census, it will be very difficult to address many of the factors that contribute to the numerous health and social inequalities that exist in our great province. I urge you, as Premier, to take a stand and let Prime Minister Harper know that you oppose his government’s decision regarding the census.

Sincerely,

David Swann, MD
Leader of Alberta’s Official Opposition

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

David Swann
Leader of the Official Opposition