Conference Overview:

We are living in critical times. Alberta, like the rest of the world, is faced with some important decisions about how it responds to the economic crisis. The decisions that will be made will impact on every aspect of our lives and could reshape and strengthen the foundation of our economy and society. Governments around the world are being called on to take strong leadership and immediate action. But the public debate about solutions in Alberta has been far too limited, and the private interest lobby groups are mobilizing behind closed doors to secure their bailouts. Rather than pouring billions of dollars into corporate tax cuts, royalty roll backs and using public dollars for oil industry subsidies like carbon capture and sequestration, most Albertans have other priorities and values. We can actually invest in Albertans in a way that will build strong public services and programs for healthy communities and strong economy.

PIA’s third annual advocacy conference brought together key leaders from numerous community organizations, unions, students and the concerned and active citizens to explore how we can move beyond the band aids and bailouts and effectively advocate for public solutions that will build quality public services and transform and diversify our economy to a more sustainable and green future.