Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

While most will agree the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games was an overall success and good for the City, Alberta and Canada, the bidding cost alone for the 2026 Games will be at least $30 million and the expenses for hosting the Games if Calgary is chosen, could top $8 billion, including interest, considering all three levels of Government are running deficits – hosting the 1988 Games cost less than $1 billion and turned a profit. The Alberta and Federal Governments have made their contribution to the 2026 Calgary Olympics conditional on a Nov 13, 2018 City of Calgary plebiscite. The non-binding plebiscite will offer two choices – for or against Calgary hosting. There are other key points to be sorted out as the City can’t rely completely on its 1988 Winter Olympic infrastructure – a new hockey arena and other facilities are needed – and there are still questions about hosting some events outside of Calgary – possibly Whistler, B.C., and Edmonton. While hosting the 2026 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Ga

While most will agree the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games was an overall success and good for the City, Alberta and Canada, the bidding cost alone for the 2026 Games will be at least $30 million and the expenses for hosting the Games if Calgary is chosen, could top $8 billion, including interest, considering all three levels of Government are running deficits – hosting the 1988 Games cost less than $1 billion and turned a profit. The Alberta and Federal Governments have made their contribution to the 2026 Calgary Olympics conditional on a Nov 13, 2018 City of Calgary plebiscite. The non-binding plebiscite will offer two choices – for or against Calgary hosting. There are other key points to be sorted out as the City can’t rely completely on its 1988 Winter Olympic infrastructure – a new hockey arena and other facilities are needed – and there are still questions about hosting some events outside of Calgary – possibly Whistler, B.C., and Edmonton. While hosting the 2026 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Ga

Elder abuse is any action or inaction by self or others that jeopardizes the health or well –being of an older adult. Elder abuse can take several forms including financial, emotional, physical, sexual, medication and neglect, with more than one type of abuse often occurring at the same time. Elder abuse can include the infliction of physical injury, restraint, financial exploitation, threats, ridicule, insult or humiliation, withholding medication, unwanted touching or sexual contact, forced isolation (physical or social), or forced change in living arrangements. It may also include neglect, which is defined as the refusal or failure to care for an older person. The Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network (LEARN) is a collaboration of human services organizations that responds to and provides education, awareness and advocacy for everyone that may be affected by abuse. The network consists of a full-time Case Manager, a part time Coordinator, a Steering Committee made up of representatives from Alberta He

Elder abuse is any action or inaction by self or others that jeopardizes the health or well –being of an older adult. Elder abuse can take several forms including financial, emotional, physical, sexual, medication and neglect, with more than one type of abuse often occurring at the same time. Elder abuse can include the infliction of physical injury, restraint, financial exploitation, threats, ridicule, insult or humiliation, withholding medication, unwanted touching or sexual contact, forced isolation (physical or social), or forced change in living arrangements. It may also include neglect, which is defined as the refusal or failure to care for an older person. The Lethbridge Elder Abuse Response Network (LEARN) is a collaboration of human services organizations that responds to and provides education, awareness and advocacy for everyone that may be affected by abuse. The network consists of a full-time Case Manager, a part time Coordinator, a Steering Committee made up of representatives from Alberta He

Alcohol abuse and addiction are two of the most complex and costly challenges facing Canadian society. According to the Washington Post, alcohol kills more people than HIV, AIDS, TB and violence combined. Heavy or even regular alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and rectum. In 2013, alcohol-related health care, law enforcement and lost productivity cost Canadians $14.6 billion. Globally, more than 3 million people die yearly from causes related to alcohol consumption. And it’s not just men boozing it up!! All over the western world, including Canada, women are consuming more alcohol than ever before. Compared to a decade ago, the latest Statscan figures show a startling 30 per cent rise in the number of Canadian women engaged in risky drinking. The adverse effects are not limited to women per se. Their children and subsequent generations are being seriously harmed. In Alberta alone, thousands of children are born each year with F

Alcohol abuse and addiction are two of the most complex and costly challenges facing Canadian society. According to the Washington Post, alcohol kills more people than HIV, AIDS, TB and violence combined. Heavy or even regular alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and rectum. In 2013, alcohol-related health care, law enforcement and lost productivity cost Canadians $14.6 billion. Globally, more than 3 million people die yearly from causes related to alcohol consumption. And it’s not just men boozing it up!! All over the western world, including Canada, women are consuming more alcohol than ever before. Compared to a decade ago, the latest Statscan figures show a startling 30 per cent rise in the number of Canadian women engaged in risky drinking. The adverse effects are not limited to women per se. Their children and subsequent generations are being seriously harmed. In Alberta alone, thousands of children are born each year with F

Presently Canada is engaged in a highly conflictual national struggle over pipelines, to build or not to build. Ricardo Acuna of the Parkland Institute argues that a proper debate on the merits and pitfalls of pipelines would be a good thing for Albertans to engage in. Such a debate should include the impact on the provincial economy and our climate change targets. The problem is that the elevated rhetoric from both sides of the debate, along with a constant barrage of inflated, unsourced and questionable stats and data from both sides makes a healthy debate next to impossible. Ricardo Acuna will try to make sense of the numbers, stats and data – so that a more sane discussion can take place. He will tackle the central question of whether pipelines are in the public interest or not. Speaker: Ricardo Acuna Ricardo Acuna has been the Executive Director of the Parkland Institute, a public policy think tank in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta, since May, 2002. In that capacity, he is also o

Presently Canada is engaged in a highly conflictual national struggle over pipelines, to build or not to build. Ricardo Acuna of the Parkland Institute argues that a proper debate on the merits and pitfalls of pipelines would be a good thing for Albertans to engage in. Such a debate should include the impact on the provincial economy and our climate change targets. The problem is that the elevated rhetoric from both sides of the debate, along with a constant barrage of inflated, unsourced and questionable stats and data from both sides makes a healthy debate next to impossible. Ricardo Acuna will try to make sense of the numbers, stats and data – so that a more sane discussion can take place. He will tackle the central question of whether pipelines are in the public interest or not. Speaker: Ricardo Acuna Ricardo Acuna has been the Executive Director of the Parkland Institute, a public policy think tank in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta, since May, 2002. In that capacity, he is also o

Ambulance service in Alberta is a borderless system designed to respond as needed, with urban areas using rural ambulances during shortages, and in turn helping those communities when shortages occur. However, that system is problematic as rural areas potentially can go for hours without proper emergency services. One of the primary reasons for lack of ambulance services in rural areas are inter-facility transfers or appointments that draw ambulances out of those communities and sometimes causing long waits for ambulance service during emergencies. Why for example are non-emergency routine patient transfers tying up rural ambulances for hours when such transport could safely be provided by regular transport, while such ambulances may be needed if a serious emergency occur in their area? The speaker will argue this issue puts the citizens of Alberta and especially people in rural areas at a higher level of risk during those times when there are no available resources in these communities. He will further con

Ambulance service in Alberta is a borderless system designed to respond as needed, with urban areas using rural ambulances during shortages, and in turn helping those communities when shortages occur. However, that system is problematic as rural areas potentially can go for hours without proper emergency services. One of the primary reasons for lack of ambulance services in rural areas are inter-facility transfers or appointments that draw ambulances out of those communities and sometimes causing long waits for ambulance service during emergencies. Why for example are non-emergency routine patient transfers tying up rural ambulances for hours when such transport could safely be provided by regular transport, while such ambulances may be needed if a serious emergency occur in their area? The speaker will argue this issue puts the citizens of Alberta and especially people in rural areas at a higher level of risk during those times when there are no available resources in these communities. He will further con

Hutterites are taxed under section 143 of the Income Tax Act. Colonies are taxed as if they were a trust so the collective income of the community gets allocated to colony members who are 18 years of age and older Section 143 does not allow Hutterite colonies to allocate income to community members under the age of 18 while other farmers are allowed to do so. For example, a regular farmer can pay his child who is under the age of 18 up to $ 10,000 tax free, while Hutterites cannot. This is a arguably a disadvantage for Hutterite communities where both male and female young people usually join the colony workforce at age 15. It wasn’t until 1997 that colonies were allowed to allocate income to their spouses while other farmers have had that ability for many years.  Nor do they collect premiums from the Canada Pension Plan or receive social assistance. The income allotted to individuals gets reported on personal income tax returns and colony members pay taxes at the applicable personal tax rates.   Hutterites

Hutterites are taxed under section 143 of the Income Tax Act. Colonies are taxed as if they were a trust so the collective income of the community gets allocated to colony members who are 18 years of age and older Section 143 does not allow Hutterite colonies to allocate income to community members under the age of 18 while other farmers are allowed to do so. For example, a regular farmer can pay his child who is under the age of 18 up to $ 10,000 tax free, while Hutterites cannot. This is a arguably a disadvantage for Hutterite communities where both male and female young people usually join the colony workforce at age 15. It wasn’t until 1997 that colonies were allowed to allocate income to their spouses while other farmers have had that ability for many years.  Nor do they collect premiums from the Canada Pension Plan or receive social assistance. The income allotted to individuals gets reported on personal income tax returns and colony members pay taxes at the applicable personal tax rates.   Hutterites

The Alberta Party is a political movement dedicated to transforming government through citizen engagement. Instead of representing a particular segment of the traditional political spectrum, the Alberta Party seeks out the best ideas regardless of whether they are perceived to be from the left or the right. As a result, they are attracting thousands of Albertans from all regions, urban and rural, of all ideological backgrounds including those who have never been involved in a political party. Traditional parties arguably focus on what divides Albertans. The Alberta Party focusses on the common ground that unites them so they can build a stronger economy and society for all. Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Party views on deficits,

The Alberta Party is a political movement dedicated to transforming government through citizen engagement. Instead of representing a particular segment of the traditional political spectrum, the Alberta Party seeks out the best ideas regardless of whether they are perceived to be from the left or the right. As a result, they are attracting thousands of Albertans from all regions, urban and rural, of all ideological backgrounds including those who have never been involved in a political party. Traditional parties arguably focus on what divides Albertans. The Alberta Party focusses on the common ground that unites them so they can build a stronger economy and society for all. Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Party views on deficits,

Seventy years after Israel’s establishment as an independent state, its accomplishments in high tech, medical research and innovation has far exceeded expectations of a country its size. Some might be surprised to learn that Israel consistently ranks in the top 15 countries on the “Happiness Index.” All this despite the fact that Israel has been at war with its neighbours since its inception – and the threats to its security are as real today as they were in 1948. In this talk, the speakers will describe the complex and long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, beginning with the longing of the Jewish people for a state, the emergence of the Zionist movement, the British Mandatory period and the Arab world’s rejection of Israel’s right to exist. In the absence of diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbours, wars have played a significant role in determining borders. Hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the 1990s resulted in peace agreements with the Egyptians and Jordanians

Seventy years after Israel’s establishment as an independent state, its accomplishments in high tech, medical research and innovation has far exceeded expectations of a country its size. Some might be surprised to learn that Israel consistently ranks in the top 15 countries on the “Happiness Index.” All this despite the fact that Israel has been at war with its neighbours since its inception – and the threats to its security are as real today as they were in 1948. In this talk, the speakers will describe the complex and long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, beginning with the longing of the Jewish people for a state, the emergence of the Zionist movement, the British Mandatory period and the Arab world’s rejection of Israel’s right to exist. In the absence of diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbours, wars have played a significant role in determining borders. Hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the 1990s resulted in peace agreements with the Egyptians and Jordanians

The United States has repeatedly indicated that a key tension in NAFTA renegotiations is Canada’s continued protection of dairy, poultry and egg producers. These protectionist policies, known as supply management, were also an irritant in the Trans-Pacific free trade negotiations. The question for Canadians is why broad trade agreements, which benefit almost all Canadians, are being jeopardized to continue to protect a small subset of farmers in Canada—estimated at 13,500 nationwide. Supply management is a set of government-imposed production quotas and structured prices to limit domestic supply while impeding consumer access to foreign imports through tariffs. The outcome arguable is, reduced choice and higher prices for consumers, and higher revenues for producers. The speaker will contend that an often overlooked aspect of this protectionism is that it disproportionately affects the poor. Policies that raise prices of milk, cheese, eggs and chicken affect low-income families, and those with children, to

The United States has repeatedly indicated that a key tension in NAFTA renegotiations is Canada’s continued protection of dairy, poultry and egg producers. These protectionist policies, known as supply management, were also an irritant in the Trans-Pacific free trade negotiations. The question for Canadians is why broad trade agreements, which benefit almost all Canadians, are being jeopardized to continue to protect a small subset of farmers in Canada—estimated at 13,500 nationwide. Supply management is a set of government-imposed production quotas and structured prices to limit domestic supply while impeding consumer access to foreign imports through tariffs. The outcome arguable is, reduced choice and higher prices for consumers, and higher revenues for producers. The speaker will contend that an often overlooked aspect of this protectionism is that it disproportionately affects the poor. Policies that raise prices of milk, cheese, eggs and chicken affect low-income families, and those with children, to

Basic income in Canada has been debated since at least the 1930s during the Social Credit movement, but as in other parts of the western world, the discussion has increased during the last decades. Different models can be considered such as a Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI), Social Dividend or Basic Income. William Aberhart, Premier of Alberta, was inspired by Major C. H. Douglas Social Credit theory and tried to implement a basic income for Albertans during the 1930s but was thwarted in his attempts by the Federal Government. The (GAI) model was tested in Manitoba in the 1970s in what was called the Mincome experiment. It allowed every participating family unit to receive a minimum cash benefit, with every dollar earned over the benefit amount taxed back at varying (experimented) levels. There are some obvious impediments to the implementation of a (GAI) in Canada. For example, how would such a program impact work incentives? What would the program cost? What model is likely to be politically acceptable? W

Basic income in Canada has been debated since at least the 1930s during the Social Credit movement, but as in other parts of the western world, the discussion has increased during the last decades. Different models can be considered such as a Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI), Social Dividend or Basic Income. William Aberhart, Premier of Alberta, was inspired by Major C. H. Douglas Social Credit theory and tried to implement a basic income for Albertans during the 1930s but was thwarted in his attempts by the Federal Government. The (GAI) model was tested in Manitoba in the 1970s in what was called the Mincome experiment. It allowed every participating family unit to receive a minimum cash benefit, with every dollar earned over the benefit amount taxed back at varying (experimented) levels. There are some obvious impediments to the implementation of a (GAI) in Canada. For example, how would such a program impact work incentives? What would the program cost? What model is likely to be politically acceptable? W