PIA Media Releases

• Legal Action Launched to Challenge Alberta Election Failures

  A legal action has been launched calling for a judicial declaration to deal with mismanagement and political influence related to the March, 2008 Alberta provincial election.

• It's Time to Make Alberta Poverty-Free - November 24, 2009

  A provincial network of people and organizations is calling upon the provincial, federal and municipal governments to work together with community organizations and others to develop a plan to eliminate poverty in Alberta.

• Stop the Cuts to Human Services

  A new campaign is asking Albertans to speak out for more investments in quality human services for our most vulnerable citizens, and to challenge the government not to cut these vital programs and services.

• Government Under Spends on Childcare by $19.2 million - Oct. 2, 2009

  The Ministry of Children's Services' annual report reveals another year of under spending. Albertan families struggling to find and afford quality childcare should be concerned with the government's failure to utilize the available budget, which is still the lowest in Canada.

• Documents Reveal Cuts, Deregulation and Privatization of Long-Term Care - September 22, 2009

  Leaked documents reveal government plans for significant changes to the long-term care system, including deregulation and privatization that will put the burden on seniors and their families while securing private-sector profit.

• Childcare Funding Lowest in Canada - Sept. 16, 2009

  According to a recent nation-wide study on early childhood education, Alberta spends significantly less than the national average, and less than other provinces, on childcare.

• Campaign Challenges Cuts to Post-Secondary Education - Sept. 15, 2009

  Investing in post-secondary education at this critical time of economic uncertainty is necessary to build a prosperous future in Alberta. The post-secondary system has already been damaged by cuts, and deeper cuts will significantly reduce the quality of our education.

• Long-term Care Policy Hurting Alberta Seniors - July 15, 2009

  The provincial policy to no longer build new long-term care hospitals despite the aging Alberta population is being challenged by concerned citizens and organizations throughout the province. In particular, residents in Fort McMurray (including the MLA) are angry that the government’s commitment to build a 48 bed long-term care hospital has been cancelled.

• PIA Calls for Reform of Electoral and Political Party Financing - June 30, 2009

  Alberta has some of the least innovative and least democratic rules on electoral financing in the country. It's time for reform of our campaign and party financing regulations, and to make sure our political process is working in the public interest.

• New Pharmacare Strategy Helps Insurance Industry, Not Seniors - April 23, 2009

  Minister Liepert’s latest approach to a pharmacare plan for seniors has shifted the whole model to a means tested insurance system that will not help the majority of seniors.

• Majority Wants Government to "Invest in Albertans" - April 2, 2009

  “As the recession continues Albertans will need to put pressure on the government to make wise choices that will address the priorities of the majority of our province’s people,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.

• Corporations ask for $100/day Long-Term Care - April 21, 2009

  The Alberta government has just completed a closed door consultation with invited stakeholders to discuss increasing the cost for long-term care residents to encourage private corporations to build more facilities.

• Don't Cut Seniors Out - March 3, 2009

  Organizations join forces to stop plans to cut seniors pharmacare and continuing care

• Alberta's Income Support System Remains the Lowest in Canada - December 10, 2008

• 77,595 Alberta Children Live Below the Poverty Line - November 21, 2008

  Report Calls for a Comprehensive Poverty Reduction Strategy

• Warning from Campaign 2000 to Federal Parties - September 29, 2008

  High Child Poverty Rates Threaten Social Fabric of Canada’s Cities

• New Schools' Price Tag Skyrockets - September 19, 2008

  Public-private contract leaves many questions

• Community Organizations Fear Crisis is Worsening - May 7, 2008

  Many organizations are being forced to shut down spaces for children or cut programs to families to address staffing crisis

• Advocates Propose Solutions to Crisis in Seniors Care - May 6, 2008

  Premier Stelmach and Minister listen, but still need to be convinced

• Minimum Wage Increase Keeps Working Poor Still Struggling Below the Surface - March 18, 2008

• FOIPP Documents Reveal Game of Hide and Seek - March 7, 2008

  Advocates call on Auditor General to review federal funding of childcare

• Democracy is not a Monologue - February 25, 2008

  Progressive Conservative Party not willing to address public interest questions

• Seniors Demand Action on Crisis in Continuing Care - February 20, 2008

• Democracy is a Dialogue: Your Voice - Our Future - February 14, 2008

  New campaign calls on citizens to speak out on important public interest issues during election

• Government action on childcare questions fails to pass “smell test” - February 7, 2008

  Information and privacy office delays FOIPP request to March 3rd

• Children and families face worsening crisis - February 1, 2008

  New survey shows community agencies' staffing crisis is getting worse

• It's Time to Invest in Post-Secondary Education - January 7, 2008

  New advocacy campaign challenges Alberta government to build high-quality, affordable and accessible post-secondary education system

• PIA launches More Democracy! campaign for New Year - December 20, 2007

  Advocacy group calls on Premier to implement in 2008 a six-point plan for a more democratic Alberta

• Alberta government is not making the grade on childcare - December 13, 2007

  Alberta still the lowest spender on licensed childcare

• Edmonton's new recreation centre: Just Do It - But make it public - December 4, 2007

  City Council must learn from other municipalities' P3 fiascos.

• Child and Family Poverty Too High in Wealthy Alberta - November 26, 2007

  New statistics show need for provincial poverty reduction strategy and living wage policies

• Taking Money From Childcare - November 20, 2007

  Advocates call on Alberta government to use $25.9 million from federal government on childcare

• Royalty Shell Game Hides Real Loss in Revenue - October 25, 2007

  “Today’s announced royalty shell game has created the illusion that Alberta’s revenues will increase and that we are going to get more from our scarce resources, but when you look under all the shells you can see that the government’s new royalty regime will actually mean less for Albertans” said Bill Moore-Kilgannon, PIA’s Executive Director.

• Democracy is More than Voting - September 14, 2007

  With four days to go before the September 17th nominations day, a new province-wide campaign calls on young people to get active in the upcoming municipal and school board elections.

• Minister's Plans Do Not Add Up - June 14, 2007

  Albertans should not be fooled by the ideological shell game in today’s announcement to build 18 new schools in Edmonton and Calgary.

• Citizens Honoured for Changing Alberta - May 31, 2007

  Two advocates for the public interest who have worked for years to bring about change in Alberta will be given the second annual Public Interest Awards this Saturday.

• Time for a Genuine Comprehensive Plan for Post-Secondary Education - March 21, 2007

  Public Interest Alberta called on the provincial government to implement a bold new plan for Alberta's post-secondary education system, based on developing the full potential of every Albertan.

• Advocates Call for Comprehensive Plan for Democratic Renewal - January 30, 2007

  Public Interest Alberta called on citizens and all levels of government to work together to develop a comprehensive plan that will address all aspects of Alberta's democratic deficit.

• Too many Albertans are not 'Making a Living' - January 10, 2007

  New Report Calls on Governments to Establish Living Wage Policies

• Survey on Education a Wake-up Call for Alberta Government - November 20, 2006

  A new report by Public Interest Alberta shows that many Albertans have serious concerns about the current state of our K-12 education system. The report is based on an online survey of over 4000 people from every corner of the province.

• Seniors Bring 'Long Message' to Conservative Party Debate - November 13, 2006

  As the candidates for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party and their supporters arrive at the Mayfield Inn for the debate in Edmonton tonight, they will be greeted by a 300-foot-long message from Alberta seniors.

• Campaign challenges government to take action on Seniors' Care - October 18, 2006

  Public Interest Alberta, an independent, non-partisan advocacy organization, has set up billboards in six cities around Alberta to challenge the provincial government to take five important steps to address the serious situation of homecare and long-term care.

• Develop the Full Potential of All Alberta Students - September 13, 2006

  Province-wide campaign to pressure government to improve our education system Edmonton - Public Interest Alberta (PIA) launched a province-wide advocacy campaign today calling upon the provincial government to deal with urgent issues in education and to "develop the full potential of all Alberta students."September 13, 2006

• Ordinary Albertans Recognized for Extraordinary Achievements - June 2, 2006

  Public Interest Alberta honoured Betty Mardiros of Edmonton and Ron and Lynda Jonson of Hinton with the first annual Public Interest Awards.

• City of Edmonton calls on Harper to maintain childcare agreements - April 26, 2006

  Public Interest Alberta congratulates the City of Edmonton for its excellent letter in support of the existing federal-provincial childcare agreements. The Mayor of Edmonton, Steven Mandel, sent a strongly worded letter today to Prime Minister Steven Harper in defence of the importance of maintaining the childcare agreements.

• Don’t claw back federal support from Alberta’s poorest children - March 22, 2006

  Public Interest Alberta and Campaign 2000 challenged the provincial government today to not claw back the proposed new federal $100/ month for each child under the age of six from families on income support.

• While politicians talk, families and workers face cuts to childcare - March 8, 2006

  Childcare advocates called on the Minister of Children’s Services, Heather Forsyth, and the new Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Diane Finley to resolve the issue of the impending cuts to the childcare agreement with Alberta when they meet in Ottawa this afternoon.

• Alberta must defend improvements to childcare system, Feb. 8, 2006

  “The Minister of Children’s Services, Heather Forsyth, needs to stand up and defend Alberta’s five-point childcare agreement that she signed with the federal government” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.

• Conservatives ‘duck’ debate on Public Interest Forum - Jan. 12, 2006

  Organizers and sponsors of a Federal election forum to be held at the Royal Alberta Museum tonight are very frustrated that the Conservatives are not sending anyone to debate five key public interest issues. The four main political parties were invited to send any representative from Edmonton to participate in the forum. Despite a lead-time of over a month, the Conservative Party has indicated that “no one will be able to attend…as the local campaigns have previous commitments made.”

• Albertans Give Government Failing Grades on Post-Secondary Education - Oct. 31, 2005

  The majority of Albertans who participated in Public Interest Alberta’s on-line report card and who spoke out at eight public forums across the province have given the government failing grades and have raised serious concerns about Alberta’s post-secondary education system.

• PIA calls on government to deliver on solutions - Nov. 2, 2005

  “It is time for action; it is time to deliver on the promises and solutions we heard here today at the Minister’s Forum on Post-Secondary Education,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta (PIA).

• Government needs to go back to school on post-secondary education review - Aug. 30, 2005

  The provincial government’s review of post-secondary education has failed to involve any meaningful input or debate from Albertans and public interest advocates around the province are concerned that nothing will change unless citizens get involved.

• National Childcare Deal Signed Today - July 7, 2005

  “Finally! Families and community advocates are celebrating today the signing of a federal-provincial early childhood education and childcare agreement”, says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta.

• Father's Day Message to the Alberta Government: Families want Quality Accessible Childcare Now! - June 17, 2005

  Alberta families have waited too long for governments to commit to building a quality early childhood education and childcare system that is accessible to all”, says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of the provincial advocacy organization Public Interest Alberta.

• Instead of flowers for Mother’s Day, give us a national childcare system! - May 6, 2005

  “Alberta families are tired of waiting” says Lynn Odynski, with Public Interest Alberta. “The time has come for the Alberta government to offer all parents the choice of access to a quality, affordable and accountable early learning and childcare system that they can trust”. Professional associations, unions, seniors, students and community organizations joined together with Public Interest Alberta, a non-partisan provincial advocacy organization, to challenge the Klein government to stop dragging its feet and commit to sign a deal with the Canadian government.

• Stop Playing Politics with Child Care - Apr. 22, 2005

  Edmonton, Public Interest Alberta is calling on the provincial government to stop playing politics and get on with establishing an accessible, affordable and high quality child care and early childhood education system.

• Post-secondary education promises need to be put to the test - Mar. 2, 2005

  Public Interest Alberta is challenging the Klein government to take us “Back to the Future” by committing to support post-secondary education to the same level they found it in1993.

• Albertans are anxious to see the proof in the Klein pudding- Feb. 8, 2005

  When Albertans tune in tonight after their dinner to hear Premier’s Klein’s fireside chat about the future of Alberta, most people will be looking for something with substance rather than the usual fluffy sweet promises that come each year.

• New Minister of Advanced Education is a good first step - Nov. 24, 2004

  Public Interest Alberta is pleased that the Klein government has announced the creation of the new portfolio of Minister of Advanced Education. With the announcement today that David Hancock will be the new minister, advocacy groups for post secondary education are optimistic that the government will be taking real action to resolve the issues facing Alberta’s post-secondary system.

• PC Party Fails to answer key public interest questions - Nov. 23, 2004

  In the day after the provincial election, Albertans are wondering if the Klein government will ever provide answers on key public interest questions.

• Poll shows Albertans want government to focus on public interest issues - Sep. 7, 2004

  Public Interest Alberta, a new political advocacy organization, unveiled today an Ipsos-Reid poll that shows that public interest issues are very important to a vast majority of Albertans and they want the government to make them a top priority.

• A Fair Deal For Alberta Families - Oct. 21, 2004

  Just days before an expect election call, a network of organizations and individuals launched a new province-wide strategy to get all politicians to make this election about the many serious public interest issues facing this province.