Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Many Canadians are now sitting 9 hours or more per day whether they are part of the work force or retired. There may be health risks associated with “too much sitting”, and this has given birth to the catch phrase, ‘sitting is the new smoking’. A large percentage of today’s jobs require people to work sitting in front of a computer and although increasing numbers now have the option to stand, there is little doubt that a sedentary lifestyle can affect your well-being, especially in your “golden” years. For the majority of the speaker’s research life, the focus was directed towards studies of physical activity across the lifespan and healthy aging. Now she is interested in also studying the opposite end of the movement spectrum – sedentary behaviour. There has been a shift away from looking at physical activity in isolation, because we now know that all daily movement behaviours interact to influence your health. The speaker will talk about her latest research into how sedentary time affects our overall he

Alberta’s minimum wage increased to $13.60 on Oct 1, 2017 and is scheduled for a further hike to $15 on Oct 1, 2018. As well, thanks to recent changes to the provincial Labour Code, it will now be a little easier for workers to exercise their constitutional right to join a union and bargain collectively with their employers. What will that mean for Alberta businesses and workers? Arguably, the people who light their hair on fire about unions are the same ones who said tax cuts for the rich would bring prosperity for everyone (instead, they brought rising inequality); that budget cuts could end recessions (instead, they ended up making them worse); and that de-regulation would strengthen the economy (instead, it brought us things like the global financial crisis of 2008). It can be said too that the process of collective bargaining between workers and employers is good for both workers and the economy. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the OECD have all concluded that jurisdictions who su

Alberta’s minimum wage increased to $13.60 on Oct 1, 2017 and is scheduled for a further hike to $15 on Oct 1, 2018. As well, thanks to recent changes to the provincial Labour Code, it will now be a little easier for workers to exercise their constitutional right to join a union and bargain collectively with their employers. What will that mean for Alberta businesses and workers? Arguably, the people who light their hair on fire about unions are the same ones who said tax cuts for the rich would bring prosperity for everyone (instead, they brought rising inequality); that budget cuts could end recessions (instead, they ended up making them worse); and that de-regulation would strengthen the economy (instead, it brought us things like the global financial crisis of 2008). It can be said too that the process of collective bargaining between workers and employers is good for both workers and the economy. The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the OECD have all concluded that jurisdictions who su

It is difficult to look at a newspaper, watch TV, listen to the radio, or scan the news on the internet without some reference to personal privacy being compromised. Intrusions into government and private-sector systems have often exposed sensitive information and increasingly, systems are breached with more personal information uncovered. But what happens when this complex network of digital and industrial technologies becomes so fast, so automated and so ubiquitous (everywhere) that we are no longer capable of discerning the differences between public and private, real and fake, human and machine? And what if that process of technological change is so rapid and disruptive that we lose the very capability and/or willingness to even care? New Media Professor James Graham will argue that we are currently on the doorstep of this new era - a “perfect storm” of new technologies and systems – that will so completely automate and accelerate our physical and digital environment as to risk placing it beyond our a

It is difficult to look at a newspaper, watch TV, listen to the radio, or scan the news on the internet without some reference to personal privacy being compromised. Intrusions into government and private-sector systems have often exposed sensitive information and increasingly, systems are breached with more personal information uncovered. But what happens when this complex network of digital and industrial technologies becomes so fast, so automated and so ubiquitous (everywhere) that we are no longer capable of discerning the differences between public and private, real and fake, human and machine? And what if that process of technological change is so rapid and disruptive that we lose the very capability and/or willingness to even care? New Media Professor James Graham will argue that we are currently on the doorstep of this new era - a “perfect storm” of new technologies and systems – that will so completely automate and accelerate our physical and digital environment as to risk placing it beyond our a

Prompted by a drug related death epidemic that has devastated families across Alberta and indeed Canada, a former night club in Lethbridge is scheduled to become North America’s first supervised inhalation site when it opens early in 2018. To date, this facility is the only one to be granted approval by Health Canada for a site that will permit four types of drug consumption: injection, oral, intranasal and inhalation. ARCHES, the local harm reduction organization that will be operating the facility, currently support about 3,000 clients in Lethbridge and a similar number in rural areas surrounding the city. So far, Health Canada has approved six supervised consumption sites in Alberta, including four in Edmonton and one in Calgary. The latest provincial data from January to August, 2017 shows 315 individuals in Alberta died from an apparent drug overdose related to fentanyl, up more than 50 per cent from the same period last year. Per capita, Lethbridge’s drug overdose death rate exceeds that of both Calg

Prompted by a drug related death epidemic that has devastated families across Alberta and indeed Canada, a former night club in Lethbridge is scheduled to become North America’s first supervised inhalation site when it opens early in 2018. To date, this facility is the only one to be granted approval by Health Canada for a site that will permit four types of drug consumption: injection, oral, intranasal and inhalation. ARCHES, the local harm reduction organization that will be operating the facility, currently support about 3,000 clients in Lethbridge and a similar number in rural areas surrounding the city. So far, Health Canada has approved six supervised consumption sites in Alberta, including four in Edmonton and one in Calgary. The latest provincial data from January to August, 2017 shows 315 individuals in Alberta died from an apparent drug overdose related to fentanyl, up more than 50 per cent from the same period last year. Per capita, Lethbridge’s drug overdose death rate exceeds that of both Calg

Nearly a quarter of a million patients are signed up for medical marijuana in Canada, compared with about 30,000 just two years ago.  That number is growing steadily every month, according to Health Canada. Private growers licensed by Health Canada to sell to medical users will also supply the recreational pot market. Many growers are expanding as fast as they can and Health Canada is approving licences more quickly with the department streamlining the procedure for obtaining them and hiring more staff. Considering there may not be enough marijuana for everyone by July 2018, when the federal government has promised recreational pot will be legal, should supply be prioritized for users of medical marijuana? The speaker will outline the benefits medical marijuana, in its many forms, provides for people to manage pain and suffering – and its limitations. He will also address potential issues concerning the pending legalization of cannabis in Canada. Speaker: Dr. Ife Abiola Dr. Abiola began his postseconda

Nearly a quarter of a million patients are signed up for medical marijuana in Canada, compared with about 30,000 just two years ago.  That number is growing steadily every month, according to Health Canada. Private growers licensed by Health Canada to sell to medical users will also supply the recreational pot market. Many growers are expanding as fast as they can and Health Canada is approving licences more quickly with the department streamlining the procedure for obtaining them and hiring more staff. Considering there may not be enough marijuana for everyone by July 2018, when the federal government has promised recreational pot will be legal, should supply be prioritized for users of medical marijuana? The speaker will outline the benefits medical marijuana, in its many forms, provides for people to manage pain and suffering – and its limitations. He will also address potential issues concerning the pending legalization of cannabis in Canada. Speaker: Dr. Ife Abiola Dr. Abiola began his postseconda

Wireless devices such as cellphones, cordless landline phones, Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth headphones, are becoming more and more popular. The wireless signals emitted from these devices, mostly in microwave spectrum, are penetrating our living spaces as well as most of the objects surrounding us. Even our newer model doorbells and electricity meters are emitting microwave signals. Wireless technology brings us convenience and the feeling of luxurious accessibility, but there has been a long time concern and more recently, heated debates regarding the impact of microwave radiation on human health. The center of such concern is that the national safety standards of many countries, including Canada, may not be adequate for protecting human safety from the astonishing level of increase in man-made microwave radiation all around our habitat. Trained in Industrial Design and currently a New Media educator at the University of Lethbridge, the speaker has been following this matter closely for the past three year

Wireless devices such as cellphones, cordless landline phones, Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth headphones, are becoming more and more popular. The wireless signals emitted from these devices, mostly in microwave spectrum, are penetrating our living spaces as well as most of the objects surrounding us. Even our newer model doorbells and electricity meters are emitting microwave signals. Wireless technology brings us convenience and the feeling of luxurious accessibility, but there has been a long time concern and more recently, heated debates regarding the impact of microwave radiation on human health. The center of such concern is that the national safety standards of many countries, including Canada, may not be adequate for protecting human safety from the astonishing level of increase in man-made microwave radiation all around our habitat. Trained in Industrial Design and currently a New Media educator at the University of Lethbridge, the speaker has been following this matter closely for the past three year

Win, lose or draw is a common phrase in many sports. It can be argued that in municipal elections, that phrase should read win, place or thanks for participating. At the recent 2017 Lethbridge municipal election, 29 candidates for Council and 3 candidates for Mayor put their name forward and while it was difficult for the voting public to properly assess 32 candidates, getting to know what they stood for was nevertheless possible through flyers, forums, electronic surveys, social media and newspaper articles featuring all the individual candidates. The speaker will analyze the election results focusing on what defined the campaign overall. She will also speculate on whether or not different personalities on Council may hamper the 2017-21 Lethbridge City Council from performing at an optimal level. Also added to the challenge will be to find ways for Council to work with a new City Manager starting in January 2018 following Garth Sherwin’s retirement. Speaker: Bonnie Farries Bonnie is a Political S

Win, lose or draw is a common phrase in many sports. It can be argued that in municipal elections, that phrase should read win, place or thanks for participating. At the recent 2017 Lethbridge municipal election, 29 candidates for Council and 3 candidates for Mayor put their name forward and while it was difficult for the voting public to properly assess 32 candidates, getting to know what they stood for was nevertheless possible through flyers, forums, electronic surveys, social media and newspaper articles featuring all the individual candidates. The speaker will analyze the election results focusing on what defined the campaign overall. She will also speculate on whether or not different personalities on Council may hamper the 2017-21 Lethbridge City Council from performing at an optimal level. Also added to the challenge will be to find ways for Council to work with a new City Manager starting in January 2018 following Garth Sherwin’s retirement. Speaker: Bonnie Farries Bonnie is a Political S

Carding is the police practice of arbitrarily stopping people in public for identification and questioning. The practice has come under fire as discriminatory and a violation of civil rights. And while some jurisdictions are working to reduce or eliminate this practice, it is arguable still commonplace in Lethbridge and Alberta. Data shows black people may be nine times more likely and Indigenous people five times more likely to be stopped and asked by police to provide identification and other personal information in Lethbridge. Should police be able to stop people and ask for information without being advised that they can refuse to answer without consequence? Is carding part of an ongoing systemic racist practice and an example of discrimination in our system? Will consultations by the Alberta Government result in tighter regulations? Generally, there are questions whether carding is in fact a legal process and there are court challenges ongoing in Ontario asking if carding is consistent with Canadian l

Carding is the police practice of arbitrarily stopping people in public for identification and questioning. The practice has come under fire as discriminatory and a violation of civil rights. And while some jurisdictions are working to reduce or eliminate this practice, it is arguable still commonplace in Lethbridge and Alberta. Data shows black people may be nine times more likely and Indigenous people five times more likely to be stopped and asked by police to provide identification and other personal information in Lethbridge. Should police be able to stop people and ask for information without being advised that they can refuse to answer without consequence? Is carding part of an ongoing systemic racist practice and an example of discrimination in our system? Will consultations by the Alberta Government result in tighter regulations? Generally, there are questions whether carding is in fact a legal process and there are court challenges ongoing in Ontario asking if carding is consistent with Canadian l

The Senate is going through a period of remarkable change as the institution aims to become more independent, transparent, and accountable and less partisan. A significant part of this modernization process has involved the establishment of a new, non-partisan, merit-based process to advise on Senate appointments. Furthermore, the Government has created a Representative Team in the Senate, consisting of three Independent Senators, to ensure Senate business can be effectively coordinated in Parliament.  These measures have catalyzed changes that will have an historic impact on how the Senate functions, improve its capacity to serve Canadians, and help restore public confidence. The speaker will share his perspective on the changing dynamics in the Senate of Canada and outline his role as Government Liaison. Speaker: Senator Grant Mitchell Senator Grant Mitchell is proud to represent Alberta as an Independent Senator. He has had careers in the public service, business, and politics in Alberta, and was call

The Senate is going through a period of remarkable change as the institution aims to become more independent, transparent, and accountable and less partisan. A significant part of this modernization process has involved the establishment of a new, non-partisan, merit-based process to advise on Senate appointments. Furthermore, the Government has created a Representative Team in the Senate, consisting of three Independent Senators, to ensure Senate business can be effectively coordinated in Parliament.  These measures have catalyzed changes that will have an historic impact on how the Senate functions, improve its capacity to serve Canadians, and help restore public confidence. The speaker will share his perspective on the changing dynamics in the Senate of Canada and outline his role as Government Liaison. Speaker: Senator Grant Mitchell Senator Grant Mitchell is proud to represent Alberta as an Independent Senator. He has had careers in the public service, business, and politics in Alberta, and was call

Liberal education and its role in the 21st century do not appear to be widely understood or valued in society as a whole. Many parents and prospective students are attracted to professional programs or applied studies perceiving that they are the best routes for gainful employment. The University of Lethbridge is committed to a strong liberal education program at the undergraduate level but needs to modernize and remodel the program and communicate the uniqueness of its approach and the positive outcomes of such an education. Many University of Lethbride graduates only understand the value of their liberal education degree years after the fact. This observation underscores their degree’s true worth as a pathway to meaningful employment and engaged living, but also how challenging it might be to build a tangible case for liberal education in today’s crowded market. The speaker will give perspective to U of L’s long standing commitment of supporting liberal education and offer insight into U of L’s decision to

Liberal education and its role in the 21st century do not appear to be widely understood or valued in society as a whole. Many parents and prospective students are attracted to professional programs or applied studies perceiving that they are the best routes for gainful employment. The University of Lethbridge is committed to a strong liberal education program at the undergraduate level but needs to modernize and remodel the program and communicate the uniqueness of its approach and the positive outcomes of such an education. Many University of Lethbride graduates only understand the value of their liberal education degree years after the fact. This observation underscores their degree’s true worth as a pathway to meaningful employment and engaged living, but also how challenging it might be to build a tangible case for liberal education in today’s crowded market. The speaker will give perspective to U of L’s long standing commitment of supporting liberal education and offer insight into U of L’s decision to

Hurricanes, typhoons, killer heat waves, droughts, floods, wildfires — these things seem to be getting worse all the time. Are these events caused by global warming? Or are they just bad weather? Climate scientists are careful to explain that one cannot attribute any particular storm or wildfire to climate change alone. But there is strong evidence that global warming is steadily increasing the chance that the intensity and sometimes the frequency of such disasters will occur. Climate is complex, but the simple fact is that there is more heat than there used to be in the atmosphere and oceans and all that heat has to go somewhere. And go it will, whether or not there are people with their vulnerable infrastructures in the way. Is the human species doomed? The speaker will say that reports of our imminent extinction are greatly exaggerated. But there is no hope of getting through our present ecological bottleneck without acknowledging the reality and the seriousness of the self-induced survival cha