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.

Category Archives: News

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 The bill was withdrawn.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
Twitter
Facebook

The ER Crisis

Recent days in the legislature have focused on health care, and rightly so. We are facing a longstanding crisis in the area of Emergency Rooms. The current system is making the lives of our doctors, nurses, and medical staff extremely stressful. Medical staff has lost confidence in the government and AHS’s ability to run the health system adequately. Obviously this problem does not just affect physicians and medical practitioners. This very real emergency has caused additional injury and even the deaths of Albertans seeking out medical care.

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.

On the Civic Election

Yesterday, across Alberta, citizens went to the polls to vote for their municipal representatives. I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all elected and re-elected representatives. I would also like to emphasize that all candidates, win or lose, deserve our gratitude for stepping up to run for office. The great interest shown in the election this year by voters is due to the quality of the candidates seeking office.

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.

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.

Alberta Liberal Policy Convention

I am gearing up for a dynamic Alberta Liberal Party Policy Convention taking place this weekend in Edmonton. I am looking forward to a great opportunity to connect with Liberal members and discuss policy to take the party, and Alberta forward. The Friday keynote address is from Warren Kinsella who will give us his insight into political strategy. Over 40 new policy initiatives will be discussed at the Convention and I anticipate a great networking opportunity with our Liberal Team as well as a chance to enjoy the hospitality of the City of Edmonton.

I very much look forward to seeing you there; it will definitely be a great weekend!

Clean Governance Initiative

Today I unveiled an ambitious new plan aimed at improving governance and restoring the confidence of voters in Alberta. The Clean Governance Initiative is a 12 step plan with an aim to make Alberta MLAs more accountable and level the playing field during the course of elections. The initiative includes an independent and binding body determining the salaries and allowances of MLAs rather than MLAs themselves setting their own pay. In addition, all MLA expenses would become publically available online.

I want to encourage ‘whistleblowers’ who expose waste and corruption in government. An Alberta Liberal administration would appoint an independent ombudsman with the power to  protect whistleblowers from job loss and other unfair consequences.  

Democratic renewal is important to me and I want to regain trust as well as better engage the people in the political process. By offering a $50 tax credit to those who exercise their democratic right we are rewarding proper behavior as a citizen of Alberta. We hope that this incentive will improve voter turnout during provincial elections and entice voters to follow the issues of the campaign as well.

I am very keen to hear your questions and comments about this initiative and democracy in our province. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at Calgary.mountainview@assembly.ab.ca or 403-216-5445 to provide us with feedback on this plan.

Well done, Olympians!

On this Alberta Day at the 2010 Olympic Games, Canadians already have countless reasons to be proud of our athletes. On behalf of the Official Opposition, I’m more than excited to offer a well deserved “congratulations” to our Olympic athletes. A special recognition goes out to Spruce Grove’s Jennifer Heil and Canmore’s Mike Robertson.

These athletes make their respective sports look easy, but their shining Olympic moments are made possible only by hundreds of hours of grueling work in frigid temperatures and many early morning practices.
Athletic ability at the Olympic level takes more than just hard work and commitment, it takes years of sacrifice and a yearning to succeed that surpasses almost anything else.

Alberta’s world class training facilities draw hundreds of athletes from around the world. Thanks to these facilities, we are confident that many more medals will come from the many Canadian athletes who live and train in Alberta.

The heart of an athlete burns night and day for a chance to be the best and to make their country proud. Well done, Olympians! Thank you for inspiring us with your incredible examples of honorable sacrifice, courage, and self-discipline.

David

Haiti

On behalf of my colleagues in the Alberta Liberal Caucus, I send thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti and to the Haitian community here in Alberta.

As a young medical student, I spent time working with the people in Haiti. I understand how a natural disaster can create huge suffering for its citizens who are already having difficulties in their day to day lives.

While not much can be done to prevent natural disasters from happening, I trust that Albertans and Canadians countrywide will come together to assist in the recovery and rebuilding of Haiti.

My colleagues and I support any and all efforts by our governments, provincial and national, to assist the people of Haiti in their recovery from this disaster.

David

Jumping Ship

Two Tory back-benchers jumped to the WRA today, raising the stakes for Mr Stelmach’s government. While I don’t have much interest in getting into ‘domestic disputes’ (these are disenchanted Tories) this opens up the sensible center where the Alberta Liberals stand. People are hungry for moral government with a business-like approach to financial management, resource development, and public services. Elected Tories are now going to make a decision about staying with a sinking ship, moving hard to the Right or moving to the center, where a balance of public and private provide for Alberta for the longer term.

This is good news for political revival in Alberta!

David