Alberta NDP News

PCs MUST REVERSE CUTS TO SERVICES FOR ALBERTANS WITH DISABILITIES: NOTLEY

2013-05-21T18:22:47+00:00

EDMONTON – With news that the PCs will be delaying changes to services for Albertans with disabilities, New Democrat Human Services critic Rachel Notley called on the government to think seriously about how their cuts hurt vulnerable Albertans.

“Ever since the broken promises budget was released, we’ve been calling on the government to restore funding to these vital programs for Albertans with disabilities,” said Notley. “After last week’s massive rally and the pressure of service organizations from around the province, this government might just be caving in and reversing their mean-spirited cuts. The decision to make these cuts was obviously much too rushed, and I think they need to think very seriously about how to do better for Albertans with disabilities.”

Last week, Notley asked questions in the legislature, detailing a series of cuts from the PCs that will hurt disabled Albertans and launched a petition calling on the government to restore funding, which has already received almost 1,000 signatures.

On Friday, the Minister indicated that his department is reviewing the cuts and delaying the implementation of the cuts.

“This is an absolutely crucial time for all Albertans to stand up and demand that the government takes care of Albertans with disabilities,” said Notley. “A half-measure to try and duck public pressure would be a massive betrayal of the Albertans who depend on these services. Let’s stand together and call on the government to fully reverse these cuts that will so drastically affect the quality of life for so many vulnerable Albertans.”

Sign the petition to restore funding to PDD here.

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca

SPRING SESSION MARRED BY BROKEN PROMISES: NDP

2013-05-16T18:10:37+00:00

EDMONTON – Redford’s first full session was marred by broken promises, inaction, secrecy and an unprecedented disrespect for the democratic process, said New Democrat House Leader Rachel Notley.

“The session began with a budget chalk full of broken promises to Alberta families,” said Notley. “Through massive cuts, this PC government attacked students, seniors and Albertans with disabilities.

“In the 56 weeks since the 2012 election, the legislature sat for just 15 weeks. Of the days the legislature sat, the Premier bothered to attend only 60% of the time,” said Notley. “In addition, when the PCs did bother to show up, they forced important legislation into debate at 2 a.m. This shows a profound arrogance and disrespect for Albertans.

Notley noted that this session has once again been marked by a series of scandals. The most notable scandals included the PCs’ refusal to allow the queue-jumping inquiry to complete their work—even after additional evidence of queue-jumping was uncovered— a $430,000 donation to the Conservative party that the PCs’ hand-picked Chief Electoral Officer decided was acceptable, and a PC MLA who appears to have disregarded both ethics legislation and the criminal code.

“We went into the session with a view to expose the real Allison Redford to those progressive Albertans she tricked into voting for her, and I believe that we succeeded in highlighting the litany of broken promises made at their expense.”

Click here to listen to audio from Notley’s availability.

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca

MASON: GOVERNMENT MUST INITIATE CALL FOR ETHICS INVESTIGATION

2013-05-14T16:57:55+00:00

EDMONTON— Alberta New Democrat leader Brian Mason said Tuesday that the government must call for the Ethics Commissioner to investigate the disclosure statements of PC MLA Peter Sandhu.

“It very much appears that Mr. Sandhu is in violation of section 18 of the Conflicts of Interest Act,” said Mason. “The PCs must call on the Ethics Commissioner must investigate these allegations. We have this legislation to protect Albertans from MLAs making backroom deals based on their private business, so it’s extremely important that all MLAs observe this policy.”

Section 18 of the Conflicts of Interest Act reads “A member breaches this Act if . . . the Member knowingly gives false or misleading information in a statement or return.” Despite the fact that Mr. Sandhu and his company owed over a hundred thousand dollars, none of those liabilities were apparently disclosed on his statement.

Moreover, by filing a sworn affidavit stating that he was out of the country from December 2012 until the middle of February 2013, despite clear evidence to the contrary, Mr. Sandhu may be in violation of Section 131 of the Criminal Code, which reads that anyone commits perjury makes a statement “by affidavit, solemn declaration or deposition or orally, knowing that the statement is false.”

“Albertans expect a higher ethical standard from their elected officials than these actions show,” said Mason. “But that’s not something they see from this PC government. So the PC caucus needs to make a decision about what kind of ethical standard they are going to demand from MLAs in their caucus and govern themselves accordingly.”

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca

STATEMENT FROM DERON BILOUS TREATY 8’S REJECTION OF BILL 22

2013-05-13T22:03:03+00:00

EDMONTON— In response to today’s decision by the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta to fully oppose Bill 22 in its entirety, NDP Aboriginal Relations critic, Deron Bilous, is again calling on the PC government to immediately rescind the bill and to begin proper and respectful consultations with Alberta’s First Nations.

“Notification is not consultation. The Minister of Aboriginal Relations continues to claim consultation occurred yet Alberta’s First Nations continue to say otherwise.

“Today’s outright objection to Bill 22 by the Chiefs of Treaty 8’s First Nations shows this to be otherwise. We are calling for the PC government to immediately rescind this Bill until meaningful consultations with Alberta’s First Nations occur.”

Earlier today the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta held an emergency executive meeting of Chiefs to Bill 22 and announced their decision this afternoon. Concerned representatives from treaty groups and various Alberta First Nations will be at the legislature this evening to observe second reading of Bill 22 from the public galleries.

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For more information contact:

Olenka Toroshenko, Communications Assistant, 780-935-9242 or Olenka.Toroshenko@assembly.ab.ca

CENTRALIZATION OF LAB SERVICES IN EDMONTON HURTS COMMUNITIES: MASON

2013-05-13T21:59:25+00:00

EDMONTON— Alberta New Democrat leader Brian Mason said Wednesday that the government continues to centralize services for rural Albertans in the Wainwright, Westlock and Vermilion areas without any consultation with frontline health care staff.

“The government is moving services out of these communities and into private labs in Edmonton and endangering patient care,” said Mason. “You can’t trust this government to stand up to protect quality health care. Their focus is always on centralizing and privatizing important services for Albertans.”

Laboratory services for Wainwright, Westlock and Vermilion are being transferred to DynaLife laboratories in Edmonton. 13 jobs will be lost in these communities. The Westlock hospital has a specialized stroke centre, and the cancellation of the immunochemistry lab services in Westlock means that stroke patients may have to be sent from the stroke centre to Edmonton in an ambulance or a cab.

DynaLife is a private health care provider with a long history of donating to the PCs in Alberta.

“This government continues to take care of their friends and insiders instead of taking care of the needs of Albertans,” said Mason. “We’re seeing lay-offs across the health care system, everything from health care aides to interpreters to LPNs. Instead of investing in front-line care, this government is cutting the services that Albertans need.”

Click here to view the memo documenting changes.

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca

STATEMENT FROM DERON BILOUS ON BILL 22

2013-05-10T20:43:41+00:00

EDMONTON—In response to the growing number of objections from First Nations to Bill 22, Alberta NDP Aboriginal Relations critic Deron Bilous made the following statement:

“We are calling for the PC government to immediately rescind this Bill and conduct meaningful consultations with First Nations. The relationship between the Government and First Nations must begin with the recognition that First Nations are partners with the Government – not subordinate to it.

“Notification is not consultation. The more that this PC government insists that this is the case, the more strained the relationship becomes with First Nations. This PC government’s handling of Bill 22 is paternalistic and will further damage a crucial relationship that depends upon the honour of the Crown.

“Only by rescinding Bill 22 and engaging in meaningful consultation can the Government fulfill their obligations to First Nations.”

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NOTLEY: BROKEN PROMISES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES APPALLING

2013-05-09T17:42:44+00:00

EDMONTON— Today, Alberta New Democrat Human Services Rachel Notley released an e-mail that suggests that the cuts to PDD may be significantly higher than the Minister suggested, and called once again on the government to restore funding for PDD.

“As information starts to trickle into different regions and organizations from PDD boards, the full extent of how these short-sighted cuts will affect the quality of life for Albertans with disabilities is becoming disturbingly clear,” said Notley. “Disabled Albertans and their families are wondering whether any of the services they are currently receiving will continue. Organizations across the province are suggesting that tens of millions of dollars more than what we saw in the budget are being taken away from care for vulnerable Albertans.”

In an e-mail detailing cuts to the Northeast PDD region, the Alberta Council for Disability Services says that the total cuts to the Northeast region are close to $9 million out of a total budget of $23 million. If these cuts were just to Community Access, the number would likely be closer to $2 million. As the Northeast region serves 525 individuals out of 10,000 individuals in the province, it appears that the impact is much greater than expected. Various individuals within the disabilities services communities calculate that the total cuts are between $60 and $100 million, not the stated $42 million cut from Community Access.

These cuts mean that not only will many Albertans with disabilities lose support to attend community programs, but many will lose essential services. Some high-needs individuals will be losing necessary one-on-one staff support—others will lose residential care or overnight staff support, as organizations face lay-offs of nearly half of their staff.

Ralph Helder of Blue Heron Support Services in Barrhead, which provides supports to 68 Albertans with disabilities, told the Alberta New Democrats that his organization may be unable to continue their work as a result of these cuts. Their monthly budget is going from $390,000 to $214,000, which represents far more than cuts to their Community Access program.

“These cuts are absolutely devastating to Albertans with disabilities,” said Notley. “This government has broken their promises to support our most vulnerable, and are asking these vulnerable Albertans to pay the price for their fiscal mismanagement.”

Notley will be asking questions regarding these cuts in Question Period today, and will launch a petition calling on the government to restore funding to PDD.

Click here to view the email

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916

GOVERNMENT MUST REMOVE PROTTI AS CHAIR OF NEW REGULATOR: NDP

2013-05-08T20:32:10+00:00

EDMONTON— Alberta New Democrat leader Brian Mason said Wednesday that the government must reverse their appointment of Gerry Protti as the chair of Alberta’s new energy regulator.

“Mr. Protti is currently registered as a lobbyist for the Energy Policy Institute of Canada, just the latest in a long and distinguished career in pushing the agenda of the energy industry,” said Mason. “He’s still the vice chair of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada, which represents the absolute who’s who of energy companies in this country.”

Protti’s resume includes work with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Encana. During his tenure with Encana, Protti attempted to justify a project which would have seen over 1,200 wells drilled in a protected wildlife area.

“This is an absolutely outrageous appointment,” said Mason. “Given Mr. Protti’s history, this government has made an absolute mockery of energy regulation in this province.”

Click here to view a backgrounder with a full list of the membership of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada.

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca

STATEMENT FROM MASON ON PUBLIC FATALITY REPORT, NEED FOR STAFFING RATIOS

2013-05-07T20:55:53+00:00

EDMONTON— Alberta New Democrat leader Brian Mason called on the government in Question Period today to legislate staff-patient ratios in long-term care to avoid further fatalities like William Buckley’s in 2010.

“Over the years, the New Democrats have tabled thousands of working short forms in the legislature and called repeatedly on the government to legislate staff-patient ratios. The levels of staffing in these facilities are already far too low. Seniors need to know that they can live with dignity and safety in long-term care in Alberta.

“As this government moves to patient-based funding for long-term care, which will further reduce staffing in these facilities, meaning that levels of care for our seniors will be further reduced. You just can’t trust this government to stand up to protect Alberta’s seniors. It’s past time for this government to take action and legislate staff-patient ratios in our long-term care facilities.

“A scathing report from the Auditor General in 2005 pointed to a whole heap of safety and staffing measures that were lacking from provincial long-term care and the government is not even close to addressing the issues that the Auditor General raised eight years ago. Seniors in this province continue to pay the price.”

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca

REPORT ON PIPELINE SAFETY MUST BE RELEASED

2013-05-07T20:43:00+00:00

Click here for a backgrounder on pipeline safety

EDMONTON – New Democrat Environment critic Rachel Notley said Tuesday that the Energy Minister’s must release his department’s report on pipeline safety in Alberta.

“Albertans demanded that this government conduct an independent review of pipeline safety and the New Democrats called for the auditor-general to inspect our pipeline safety over the summer,” said Notley. “But even though the Minister of Energy has had his industry-dominated report on his desk for months, he continues to hide it from Albertans who deserve to know.”

Prior to setting up the pipeline audit, the Minister met with oil and gas executives to obtain their support for the review and to discuss its parameters. Framing the issue as a problem created by negative media attention, the Minister wrote that it was important for industry and government to work together on “how to communicate our safety commitment.”

Pipeline safety in Alberta is also called into question by documents obtained by the New Democrats under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. The documents provide more details on decreasing pipeline inspections in 2011, including a 98% drop on inspections of pipelines under construction.

“You can’t trust this PC government to protect our environment or our industry,” said Notley. “Alberta has over 400,000 kilometres of pipeline and we’ve added thousands of kilometers in the past two years. There’s absolutely no reason why we should be conducting fewer inspections.”

Click here for a backgrounder on pipeline safetyClio

Click here to see a backgrounder on pipeline safety

Click here to listen to Rachel Notley's press conference

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For more information, please contact:

Adrienne King, Director of Communications and Research: 780-916-3937 or adrienne.king@assembly.ab.ca