Media releases

EDMONTON - Public Interest Alberta is calling on the provincial government to amend its budget and invest in climate mitigation and adaptation. The provincial government’s proposed budget lacks any real investment in climate adaptation and mitigation to keep people safe and healthy, and protect agricultural lands and ecosystems. While other provinces, like British Columbia, have spent the past several years developing strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation, Alberta has instead cut funding to piecemeal projects and neglected to convene resources in an overall government strategy.

EDMONTON - “For the third year in a row, the budget is balanced — on the backs of Albertans,” said Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune. “Don’t fall for their spin. This is an austerity budget, plain and simple. The UCP are ignoring the needs of Albertans to continue their disastrous record of cuts, chaos and privatization.”

EDMONTON - The Alberta provincial budget will be released on Thursday, February 29th. In anticipation of its release, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune has issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - In response to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s public commitment to call a special meeting to declare a housing and homelessness emergency, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - With sources within City Hall and administration confirming the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has unilaterally enacted a plan to forcibly decamp hundreds of Edmontonians in what is likely the city’s largest encampment sweep ever, Public Interest Alberta and allies are calling for EPS to stand down. The planned decampent is an infringement of the Charter rights of houseless people by EPS, will make the situation worse on the ground, and will bring Edmonton’s already massively strained emergency health system further to the breaking point.

EDMONTON - Today, The Child and Youth Advocate released their annual report. This report included the disturbing revelation that the office of the Advocate saw the highest number of deaths of young people in care since 2012, the year the office received a mandate to conduct investigative reviews. Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, issued the following statement in response:

EDMONTON — Yesterday’s Speech from the Throne in Manitoba laid out the new government’s agenda. The speech includes commitments to: “increase the hours of direct care for each senior living in personal care homes. And create a Seniors Advocate — a strong, independent voice for seniors and their families,” as well as a commitment to increase home care support for seniors to remain in their homes.

For years, Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta have been advocating for an independent, legislated, and properly empowered seniors advocate. Manitoba will now be joining British Columbia in having a Seniors Advocate with real teeth to conduct monitoring and analysis of seniors’ services, and to make recommendations to address issues and make long-overdue changes to the way that care is provided. Unfortunately, the UCP government has consistently insisted there is no need for such an advocate here since cutting the position in their last term.

As the Alberta Legislature resumes and Albertans wait to hear the priorities of the UCP government through the Speech from the Throne, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - In response to the release of the UCP’s release of a report on the creation of the Alberta Pension Plan (APP), Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - As the cost of living for everyday Albertans continues to skyrocket and Danielle Smith and the UCP government continues to hide its report on a new Alberta Pension Plan, a new coalition – the Canada Pension Plan Working Group – is demanding their report be publicly released immediately.