A welcomed commentary on “Bankrupt Budget 2013″

On Thursday, March 7, Allison Redford’s Progressive Conservative government released a budget that—in the 2013-14 fiscal year—will run a $1.97 billion deficit. That will borrow $4.3 billion for new infrastructure. That will withdraw $2.1 billion from the Sustainability Fund—now renamed the Contingency Fund—savings account, dropping the balance to $691 million, a significant decrease from the $17 billion in 2008.

With questions, comments and concern swirling around this “Bankrupt Budget” in the wake of the announcement last week, I wanted to bring one commentary in particular to your attention, courtesy of Susan Wright and her blog, Susan on the Soapbox. I encourage you all to read this excellent analysis of this Progressive Conservative government’s lack of vision and fiscal planning: Budget 2013 (If you want to play with the Big Boys, you play by Big Boy Rules).

Join the Call for a Public Health Inquiry

For two months, I have been calling for an inquiry into problems within the health care system. This session of the legislature it seems like another doctor comes forward complaining of intimidation by Alberta Health Services or the regional board that preceded it.

The government bent already and called a Health Quality Council (HQCA) investigation into cases of compromised ER care and possible cases of delayed cancer care. The HQCA review, which reports directly to the Minister of Health as opposed to the Legislature or people of Alberta, is meant to investigate wait times and issues of patient care but are ill-equipped to investigate the intimidation of healthcare professionals. The reason for this is that the HQCA is unable to subpoena witnesses or financial records and cannot does not provide protection for doctors to reveal details that have been sealed within non-disclosure agreements.

Our health care workers are among the best in the country and deserve an opportunity to testify and make public any intimidation from AHS or from the government they have suffered without fear of retribution.

The Alberta Liberal Caucus and I will continue to call for this inquiry until one is called. We are not the only group who sees this inquiry as the only way to move forward. The Alberta Medical Association, which represents over 6500 doctors and 3500 retired doctors, students and residents, have now called for the same. Just this week, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, which represents 21000 allied health professionals, has also called for a public inquiry.

Please write to or e-mail the Premier (premier@gov.ab.ca) and Health Minister (edmonton.millcreek@assembly.ab.ca) and copy my office (Calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca). It will take letters such as yours to save our health system by calling a public inquiry. Our health workers need to be free from fear and intimidation if they are to be able to deliver the quality of care that Albertans need and deserve.

Legislature Review

The Alberta Liberal Caucus has enjoyed several victories in the legislature this session.

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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On MLA Grey Cup Tickets

After taking free fishing trips, concert tickets, and other large gifts from corporations and seeing the outrage from Albertans at these freebies, government MLAs still have not learned a lesson. Government MLAs are now taking free tickets to the Grey Cup festivities in Edmonton valued at $275 per ticket. All MLAs can well afford to pay their own way to see the Grey Cup should they be inclined to go. It is a sad statement that more free tickets are afforded to MLAs than are given to under-privileged children.

I have chosen to decline the seats I was offered and look forward to watching the Grey Cup game, hopefully involving the Calgary Stampeders, from my home and with my family.
Please read the full story in the Edmonton Journal here.

“Potatogate” and the Sale of Public Land

The Stelmach government is pushing through the sale of 16,000 acres of provincial land without a shred of concern for the environmental impact or for the people who live nearby. The buyer of this land has donated to a Conservative candidate and constituency association and is now buying the land for pennies on the dollar. This area of land near Bow Island and Taber is one of the most drought-ridden in the province, yet a large-scale potato farming company is looking to purchase it. This will put a lot of strain on several federally protected species that call the grasslands home as well as strain the already low water table.

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.

On Mr. Stelmach’s Response to the Visit of James Cameron

If this government had taken the environment seriously from the outset, Alberta would not be in the middle of an environmental PR battle and would not be straining credibility to prove that they are doing something for the environment. Unfortunately there has been a terrible lack of leadership, investment, and stewardship from this government.

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.

Response to the Schindler Report

The peer-reviewed research of David Schindler’s team at the National Academy of Science on environmental pollution from oil sands development reveals that the Stelmach administration has not done nearly enough to protect Alberta’s watersheds or the international reputation of our oil and gas sector. Contrary to his government’s prior claims, toxic contamination of the Athabasca River can’t be entirely blamed on nature; oil sands development, including toxic tailings ponds, is almost certainly responsible. Slick communications strategies aren’t enough – the Premier must take direct action now.

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.

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!

MLA Expenses

Clean government involves accountability and transparency. Among my 12 Steps for Clean Government released two weeks ago I have called on the Stelmach government to open the books on expenses of all MLAs and their offices. Albertans deserve to know how their dollars are being spent by those they elected.

In Alberta, only the provincial Auditor General can access the specific information of expenses. The general public cannot. Unfortunately, the Alberta Conservative government has stated that the issue is not on the agenda and goes so far to say that there is no need for this information to be public knowledge.

As a commitment to the issue of financial accountability I will be posting the monthly statement of expenses for my constituency – Calgary Mountainview – in the coming weeks. This information will be available directly on my website for constituents and all Albertans to review.

News from the ALP Convention: Resolution on Cooperation

The biggest news out of this weekend’s Alberta Liberal Party convention and annual general meeting was the passing of a resolution on “Cooperation with Other Political Parties.” I watched with a great deal of interest as both sides of the debate made their points and counterpoints. It was a very passionate and fascinating discussion. Contrary to some media reports, I abstained from the vote, as I wanted this question to be decided by the members of our party. I will follow the wisdom of the majority, who decided in favour of the motion.

What the resolution actually says, is not very specific. The contentious part of the resolution that laid out specific instructions was removed following an amendment by one of our longtime Liberal members. The resulting amended resolution was clearly more palatable to the majority of our members in attendance and this is what we will be working with in the coming weeks and months as we prepare for the election.

This is clearly a COOPERATION resolution calling for us to work with progressive parties and voters, including progressive Tories who are leaving the Progressive Conservative party of Alberta in droves, seeking an alternative.

We ARE that alternative. We ARE the ONLY centrist party in Alberta with policies in place and a structure out there in all 83 ridings across the province. It only makes sense that we would be the party to extend a hand and offer to work together.

It’s often said that I’m not a typical politician. I would like to suggest to you that this makes me the ideal person to introduce a new way of doing politics in Alberta, as urged by the resolution this weekend. It is a less confrontational kind of politics, one that puts the interests of the citizens of this province ahead of narrow partisan interests.

The Alberta Liberal Party under my leadership will work in earnest and with the full and open involvement of our membership, to bring people together so that we can form a new kind of government for this province, one we can all be proud of. This is what cooperation means and this is what any good government does.

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.

Category Archives: Government Accountability