Red Deer Citizens' Forum - Health Care & Seniors
Please join the Seniors Task Force of Public Interest Alberta and Friends of Medicare for a Citizens' Forum on issues related to health care and seniors' issues on both a local and provincial level.
This will be a moderated forum with three panel discussions and question and answer periods where citizens and community members can become informed and voice their concerns.
The panel discussions will focus on the need for:
- a universal pharmaceutical coverage program
- expanded capacity and staffing in our hospitals
- major improvements in our seniors' care system
A full list of speakers will be available soon.
RSVP below!
4620 47a Ave
Red Deer, AB T4N 6C3
Canada
Google map and directions
2018 Child Care Survey
On January 16th, 2019, Public Interest Alberta held a press conference at Jasper Place Child Care & Family Resource Centre to release the summary of their 2018 Child Care Survey.
In addition to overall conditions in the child care sector, the survey sought to gain insights into the impact of of the Government of Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Centres pilot program, also known as the $25-a-day program. The results are clear: the pilot program is a success. While the child care sector continues to face challenges such as long wait lists, the ELCC program significantly reduces those barriers to high-quality child care. Through public funding, the ELCC centres are better equipped to support children with complex needs, and are able to hire and retain better-trained staff.
The continuation and expansion of the ELCC program should be a cornerstone of government priorities for strong public services.
Read the 2018 Child Care Survey Summary
Public Interest Alberta in the News
Benefits of $25-a-day daycare highlighted in new report
by Carly Robinson, CityNews
Alberta child-care survey points to success of $25-a-day programs
by
Calls to expand Early Learning Child Care Program
by Regan Hasegawa, CTV News Edmonton
Parents benefiting from provincially funded child care centres: survey
by Dylan Short, Calgary Sun
Will $25-a-day early child care be expanded in Alberta?
by Kendra Slugoski, Global News
Affordable childcare: How the $25-a-day program is working in Alberta
Interview w/ Andrew Grose & Joel French, 630 CHED
$25-a-day child care in high demand in Red Deer
by Susan Zielinski, Red Deer Advocate
$25/day child care earns praise from think tank
by Jeremy Appel, Medicine Hat News
Opinion: Keep momentum rolling on public childcare programs: YMCA
by Shannon Doram, president and CEO, YMCA Calgary; Sharon Hayward, CEO, YMCA of Medicine Hat; Nick Parkinson, president and CEO, YMCA of Northern Alberta; Jennifer Petracek-Kolb, CEO, YMCA of Lethbridge, Calgary Herald
Photos from the January 16th, 2019 Press Conference
Low Wage Report 2018
2018 Alberta Low Wage Report
Public Interest Alberta obtained the following information from Statistics Canada’s monthly Labour Force Survey. It indicates the average number of employed Albertans in each category for the year ending June 30, 2018. The total number of employed Albertans in this period was 1,913,200. The minimum wage will increase from $13.60 per hour to $15.00 per hour on October 1, 2018.
More than 300,000 Alberta workers will receive a raise on October 1st because of the minimum wage increase.
- 302,300 employed Albertans earn less than the incoming minimum wage of $15 per hour (15.8%).
- 359,100 earn less than $16 per hour (18.8%).
- 159,500 earn the current minimum wage of $13.60 per hour (8.3%).
More than 60 percent of workers receiving a minimum wage raise are women.
- 189,400 workers earning less than the incoming minimum wage of $15 per hour are women (62.7%).
- 100,100 workers earning the current minimum wage of $13.60 per hour are women (62.8%).
- 223,200 workers earning less than $16.00 per hour are women (62.2%).
More than three-quarters of workers receiving a minimum wage raise are 20 years of age or older.
- 233,300 are 20 years of age or older (77.2%).
o 163,300 are between 20 and 44 years old (54.0%).
o 59,300 are between 45 and 64 years old (19.6%).
o 10,700 are 65 years of age or older (3.5%).
Download our printable fact sheet
Read our media release showing what the data means for Albertans working in the province.
Regional Fact Sheets
- Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Lethbridge
- Medicine Hat
- Red Deer
- Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake
Public Interest Alberta in the news
Minimum wage debate Segment on Alberta Primetime (CTV Two)
300,000 Albertans to benefit from minimum wage boost Interview on The Ryan Jespersen Show (630 CHED)
Minimum wage increase to benefit Red Deer workers by Susan Zielinski, Red Deer Advocate
300,000 Albertans will be getting a raise next month by Daily Hive Calgary
One in six working Albertans can expect a raise when minimum wage goes up Oct. 1, advocacy group estimates by Hamdi Issawi, Star Metro Edmonton
Thousands of Red Deerians to receive minimum wage increase by Troy Gillard, rdnewsNOW
Pending minimum wage hike will boost local economy: PIA by Tim Kalinowski, Lethbridge Herald
Chamber joins poverty-reduction group in opposition to minimum wage increase by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News (Low Wage Report mentioned)
Group takes issue with minimum wage approach by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News
Better wages won't fix poverty: Thrive by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News (Low Wage Report mentioned)
Minimum Wage Increases in Alberta by Ania Werbeniuk, Lexology
Who's driving the Thrive bus? Letter to the Editor, Medicine Hat News
Minimum wage increase will have major pain by Dayla Lahring, St. Albert Gazette (Low Wage Report mentioned)
25% of workforce gets raise by Collin Gallant, Medicine Hat News
A guide to Alberta's new $15 minimum wage and what it will mean for the economy by Kieran Leavitt & Brennan Doherty, Star Metro Edmonton
Alberta's minimum-wage workers tell us what $15 an hour really means for their bottom line by Hamdi Issawi & Brennan Doherty, StarMetro Edmonton
What does the increase in minimum wage mean for you? Alberta at Noon (CBC Radio)
Goes too far or about darn time, Alberta minimum wage hike continues to divide by David Bell, CBC News
$15 minimum wage increase met with mixed reception from public by Evan J. Pretzer, The Stony Plain Reporter
Minimum wage increase draws mixed reviews by Eric Bowling, Westlock News
Previous Low Wage Reports
Revenue Reno
Public Interest Alberta has launched this new campaign calling for the provincial government to fix Alberta's revenue shortage to protect and revitalize our public services.
Albertans need public services. They must be strengthened, not cut.
Resource revenues should be saved for future generations, not relied upon to fund government's basic operations.
Alberta's revenue shortage is best solved by renovating our tax system with changes to personal income taxes and a sales tax.
To learn more about our campaign and to take action, please visit www.RevenueReno.ca
Read our campaign launch media release
Read our Red Deer event media release
Watch our public discussion event in Edmonton
Watch the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs event in Lethbridge
Public Interest Alberta in the news
Lobby group pitches sales tax in Alberta to save public services by Crystal Laderas, 660 News
An Alberta sales tax: The unpopular idea that just won't die by Robson Fletcher, CBC News (makes mention of the Revenue Reno campaign)
The Return of the Leg, Pipelines, and prep for the 2019 election by Dave Cournoyer and Ryan Hastman, Daveberta.ca podcast (mention of campaign begins at the 1 hour 8 minute mark)
The revenue reno campaign. Taxes could be good thing Interview with Joel French on the Rob Breakenridge show (News Talk 770)
Public Interest Alberta's revenue reno campaign Interview with Joel French on the Ryan Jespersen show (630 CHED)
Sustainable public services unattainable without 'revenue renovation' by United Nurses of Alberta news
Public Interest Alberta to host Revenue Reno in Red Deer Red Deer Advocate
Alberta’s revenue shortage concerns Central Albertans by Sean McIntosh, Red Deer Advocate
Alberta's tax system fair but failing, experts warn by Brodie Thomas, Star Metro Calgary
Advocacy group says tax reform, sales tax needed to get province off revenue roller coaster by rdnewsNOW
Globe editorial: It's time for Alberta to bite the bullet and impose a sales tax by The Globe and Mail
Opinion: Albertans face choice between service cuts or a sales tax by Joel French, Edmonton Journal
Alberta needs to renovate its tax system to generate more revenue by Joel French, Calgary Herald
Public Interest Alberta hosts meeting in Lethbridge for new 'Revenue Reno' campaign by Malika Karim, Global News Lethbridge
When Does "Advantage" Bring Structural Deficits? Ask Alberta Interview with Joel French on The View Up Here podcast
Alberta's tax regime today's SACPA topic Lethbridge Herald
Taxes only way to reduce deficit by Dave Mabell, Lethbridge Herald
Provincial Sales Tax Recommended by Public Interest Alberta 94.1 CJOC FM
Public Funds for Public Schools
Public Interest Alberta joined 18 other organizations in calling on the Government of Alberta to:
1. In Budget 2018, reduce public funding to private schools from 70% to 50% (with the exception of special needs schools).
2. Re-allocate the $30 million in savings to fund a classroom conditions improvement project in select Public, Catholic, and Francophone schools.
This call to reduce public funding to private schools would be the first step towards completely phasing out this funding over a three year period. Please see our previous media release from 2017 for more details.
Participating organizations:
- Public Interest Alberta
- Progress Alberta
- Alberta Teachers’ Association
- Public School Boards Association of Alberta
- Edmonton Public School Board
- Support Our Students (SOS) Alberta
- Calgary and District Labour Council
- Edmonton and District Labour Council
- Edmonton Catholic Teachers
- Edmonton Public Teachers
- Calgary Board of Education Staff Association
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Alberta
- CUPE Alberta Education Employees Committee
- CUPE Local 40 (Calgary Board of Education staff)
- CUPE Local 474 (custodial staff for Edmonton Public Schools)
- CUPE Local 1099 (St. Albert Public Schools support staff)
- CUPE Local 3550 (support staff for Edmonton Public Schools)
- CUPE Local 4625 (Sturgeon Public Schools support staff)
- Unifor Local 52A (support staff for Edmonton Catholic Schools)
Public Interest Alberta and partners in the news
Public school proponents push for cut in funding to Alberta private schools by Janet French, Edmonton Journal
Joel French interview on CBC Radio CBC Radio Active with Portia Clark
Une coalition demande à l'Alberta de réduire ses subventions aux écoles privées Radio-Canada/ICI Alberta
ATA joins call to scale back private school funding by Jen Janzen, ATA News
Should Private Schools Get Public Funding? by Joel French and David Staples, Alberta Views magazine
Think-tank calls for increased private school enrolment in Alberta by Janet French, Edmonton Journal
Other resources
Progress Report on LGBTQ Policies of Four Alberta School Boards
Public Interest Alberta and the University of Alberta's Dr. Kristopher Wells have released Progress Report on LGBTQ Policies of Four Alberta School Boards (download the full report).
This work builds on our previous work with Dr. Wells, Making the Grade: An analysis of sexual orientation and gender identity policies in Alberta.
Our organization has been supportive of efforts to ensure that the policies and guidelines of all of Alberta's 61 school boards fully reflect the requirements of recent provincial legislation with regard to sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ), and in particular the changes mandated by Bills 10 and 24. The provincial government originally required school boards to submit their policies in this area by March 31, 2018. These policies must be made publicly available by June 30, 2018.
As an interim measure, Dr. Kristopher Wells was asked by Public Interest Alberta to evaluate the current policies of four school boards, two each from public and Catholic school systems:
- Westwind School Division #74
- Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools
- Edmonton Catholic Separate School District No. 7
- Buffalo Trail Public Schools
The purpose of the project is not to generalize about the policies of the remaining boards on the basis of these four, but rather to analyze in detail the specific policies of these four boards in order to determine the nature and extent to which they currently meet the expectations of the legislation, and the kinds of changes that will be necessary in the near future as a result.
Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a process that will ensure all 61 boards have exemplary policies and guidelines which meet the legal requirements of government and, in turn, actively welcome, support, and affirm LGBTQ students, staff, and families as a full and valued part of the school community.
Public Interest Alberta in the news
School LGBTQ policies out of step with School Act changes, advocacy group says by Janet French, Edmonton Journal
Alberta school boards face steep climb to support LGBTQ students: Report by Kevin Maiman, Metro News
Deadline for LGBTQ school policy approaches by Susan Zielinski, Red Deer Advocate
Public Interest Alberta released a report on how school board policies need to change to support LGBTQ students, staff and families Danielle Smith radio show (News Talk 770)
Some school boards falling behind on protecting sexual minority students by Dave Cournoyer, Daveberta.ca
From Poverty to Progress
POVERTY FACTS
CHILDREN IN CRISIS
Nearly 150,000 children in Alberta – that’s one out of every six kids – currently live in poverty. Poverty is prevalent across the province, but vulnerable groups such as single parents, minimum wage earners, and racialized communities are more susceptible. The result is generation after generation of people who lack access to early education, health care supports, adequate housing, and proper nutrition.
LEARNING AND GROWTH
Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems, which continues into teens and adulthood.
- Children born into poverty are at a greater risk of low birth weight, poor nutrition and subsequent health issues, developmental delays, abuse and neglect, and behavioral and socioemotional problems.
- Many children in poverty arrive at school with developmental and behavioral disadvantages, which adversely effect academic outcomes
- Children in poverty are less likely to graduate high school
- Lack of education, supports, and chronic health conditions can lead to unemployment and adult poverty
THE WORKING POOR
Many children living in poverty have parents who work, but low wages and unstable employment leave their families struggling to make ends meet. Low-income earners face obstacles finding affordable housing, arranging transportation to and from work, buying basic necessities, arranging childcare, having unpredictable work schedules, and juggling two or more jobs.
Risks are greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young and/or experience deep and persistent poverty.
Read more on child poverty here: Keep Investing in Alberta’s Children: The Government’s Role in Ending Child and Family Poverty
PROGRESS
QUALITY CHILD CARE
- Provide greater access to affordable, quality child care spaces to ensure that those wanting to participate in the work force or to increase their earning power through training or education can do so, particularly for women and single parents
- Develop a strategy to support child care centres implementing the province’s new curriculum framework.
- Continuing investments should be made to help support increased access to child care spaces for families with infants, children with special needs, and those living with lower incomes
- Improve hours of accessibility to child care spaces
- Establish child care centres in underutilized schools and require all new schools and other publicly-owned facilities to incorporate additional space for early childhood and after school programs
BETTER SUPPORTS
- All orders of government should adopt living wage policies for contracted services
- Provide additional support for language and employment training for Albertans who need to upgrade their skills and literacy or be re-skilled
- Increase social assistance rates, which are currently the lowest in Canada, and index income support programs like Alberta Works and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped to inflation
- Increase earnings exemptions and asset limits to make income support programs more fair and effective at lifting Albertans out of poverty
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- Increase direct to tenant rent subsidies to enhance affordability for low-income families and individuals in the rental market
- Remove the budget cap on rent supplements, which currently leaves eligible Albertans without that support after the budgeted amount has been spent each year
- Ensure affordable housing units are available in all neighbourhoods and municipalities
- Significantly increase asset limits for eligibility to social housing and lengthen the transition time for Albertans moving out of social housing
- Extend the Alberta Adult Health Benefit to low-income working Albertans
- Extend the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit to all low-income Albertans, including those without children
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
From Poverty to Progress is a campaign coordinated by Public Interest Alberta to educate the public on the problem of child poverty in Alberta and to mobilize the public to speak out for greater investments in poverty reduction. The number of children living in poverty in Alberta has remained virtually unchanged for 25 years. Helping children and their parents who continue to live in poverty must remain a priority.
From Poverty to Progress is a step towards ending the cycle of child poverty.
The campaign was launched on August 16, 2017 and includes:
- alarming child poverty statistics and their effect on children
- steps to be taken to reduce child poverty
- take action, sign our petition - From Poverty to Progress
The NDP government has made some significant positive steps to alleviate poverty:
- increased funding to Family and Community Support Services
- increased funding for women’s shelters
- increasing minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2018
- created a Status of Women Ministry
- funded 22 Early Learning and Care Centres
- implementing an ambitious Alberta Child Benefit focused on supporting our lowest-income families
- unveiled a new affordable and social housing strategy with significant funding attached
Despite these actions, Alberta’s women and children are still affected the most by income disparity. Children are overrepresented among Alberta’s poor; they represent 22 percent of the population but comprise 30 percent of all people living in poverty. Many families continue to struggle to afford quality, and accessible child care. Women are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to child care because it hinders their ability to fully participate in the economy, while children in poverty do not have access to quality care and early interventions.
Alberta needs a poverty-reduction strategy to prevent, reduce, and ultimately eliminate poverty in Alberta. This strategy should align with the local poverty reduction initiatives that are happening in municipalities across the province in order to effectively meet community needs.
The strategy needs to include good jobs at living wages that ensure full-time work is a way out of poverty; an effective child benefit that is indexed; a system of affordable accessible early learning and child care services available to all families; a program to create more affordable housing and to help maintain existing properties; an affordable and accessible post-secondary education system, and training programs that prepare youth and adults for employment leading to economic independence.
Low-wage Report 2017
2017 Low Wage Report
Public Interest Alberta obtained the following low-wage earner statistics from Statistics Canada's monthly Labour Force Survey. They indicate the average number of employed Albertans in each category for the year ending June 30, 2017. The minimum wage will increase from $12.20 per hour to $13.60 per hour on October 1, 2017.
Nearly one in five employed Albertans are low-wage workers.
- 343,500 of 1,895,000 employed Albertans earn $15 per hour or less (18.1%).
- 395,900 earn $16 per hour or less (20.9%).
- 221,600 earn the new minimum wage of $13.60 per hour or less (11.7%).
- 125,900 earn the minimum wage of $12.20 per hour (6.6%).
The majority of low-wage workers in Alberta are women.
- 206,300 low-wage workers are women (60.1%).
- 73,200 workers earning the minimum wage of $12.20 per hour are women (58.1%).
- 133,700 workers earning the new minimum wage of $13.60 per hour or less are women (60.3%).
More than three-quarters of low-wage workers are 20 years of age or older.
- 263,100 (76.6%) are 20 years of age or older.
- 191,200 (55.7%) are between 20 and 44 years old.
- 71,900 (20.9%) are 45 years of age or older.
Download our printable fact sheet
Read our media release showing what the data means for Albertans working in the province.
Regional fact sheets
- Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Lethbridge
- Medicine Hat
- Red Deer
- Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake
Previous Low Wage Reports
2017 Municipal Election
Welcome to Public Interest Alberta's progressive guide to Alberta’s municipal elections.
Learn about the issues, engaging your candidates, and informing yourself and your community before heading to the ballot box on October 16!
Together, we can make Alberta’s municipalities more fair, just, and progressive.
Download handout: A Progressive Guide to Alberta’s Municipal Elections
PRIORITIES AND QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
For Municipal and School Board and Municipal Candidates
- Do you oppose contracting private corporations to operate public services (like water services or public transportation and transit at the municipal level and custodial, maintenance, and support services at the school board level)?
- How would you work to protect our environment and support a green economy?
- What would you do to take action on reconciliation with indigenous peoples based recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership?
For Municipal Candidates
- Do you support increasing taxes to, at a minimum, meet the costs of inflation for the municipality’s services?
- How would you increase the quality and affordability of public transit and/or regional transportation?
- Would you support policy to ensure all workers employed by the municipality and its contractors are paid a living wage?
- What other action would you take to eliminate poverty and homelessness?
- What would you do to address racism and gender inequality in the municipality?
- What role do you think our municipal government can play in building a comprehensive, affordable, high quality, universal child care system?
- Do you support a ban on corporate and union contributions?
- What changes would you make to improve citizen engagement, policy making and governance?
For School Board Candidates
- If elected, how will you work to stop any government cuts to education? Will you work to reduce class sizes?
- Do you believe students in any school who want a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) should be entitled to one?
- If a student joins a GSA, do you think their parent should be notified, even without the student’s permission?
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
What will the future look like if we don’t take action?
- privatization of critical public services
- corporate control of our water and other resources
- cuts to services for families and people in crisis
- increased user fees and downloading costs to families
- big money influence on our political process and disempowered citizens
Citizen Forums
Public Interest Alberta in collaboration with the Edmonton and District Labour Council and the Calgary District Labour Council held citizen forums in Calgary and Edmonton to focus on issues and how citizens can advance progressive values.
Edmonton - Monday, September 25, 2017
Panel 1: Poverty, Child Care, and Education
- John Kolkman, Edmonton Social Planning Council
- Heather Quinn, Edmonton Public Teachers
- Suzanne MacLean, Oliver Centre
Panel 2: Democracy and Privatization
- Larry Booi, Public Interest Alberta
- Mike Scott, CUPE Local 30
Panel 3: Environment and Racism
- Lorelei Hanson, Athabasca University
- Bashir Mohamed, Black Lives Matter Edmonton
Thank you to the following candidates/campaigns who attended our Municipal Election Forum in Edmonton on September 25th: Kris Andreychuk, Glen Argan, Neda Asadi, Jeff Behrens, Rob Bernshaw, Nafisa Bowen, Brandy Burdeniuk, Shelagh Dunn, Trisha Estabrooks, Sam Filice, Kirsten Goa, Ben Henderson, Mark Hope, Nathan Ip Michael Janz, Miranda Jimmy, Joseph Luri, Dawn Newton, Mike Nickel, Mike Russnak, Bridget Stirling, Keren Tang, Sara Wagner, Tamie Ward and Mimi Williams
Calgary - Sunday, October 1, 2017
Panel 1: Poverty, Child Care, and Education
- Franco Savoia, Vibrant Communities Calgary
- Nevena Ivanovic, Women’s Centre of Calgary
- Barbara Silva, Support Our Students Alberta
2: Public Services, Privatization, and Democracy
- Alex Shevalier, Calgary and District Labour Council
- Joel French, Public Interest Alberta
3: Racism and Reconciliation
- Chantal Chagnon, Cree8
- Iman Bukhari, Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation
Thank you to the following candidates/campaigns who attended our Municipal Election Forum in Calgary on Oct 1: Brent Alexander, Blair Berdusco, Christopher Blatch, Coral Bliss Taylor, Patricia Bolger, Gian-Carlo Carra, Gord Cummings, Rekha Dhawan, Karen Lynn Draper, Janet Eremenko, Srinivas Ganti, Faith Greaves, Richard Hehr, Salimah Kassam, Greg Miller, Sara Peden, Michelle Robinson, Jennifer Seamone, Merle Terlesky, Tory Tomblin, and Steve Turner
Keep Drainage Public
UPDATE:
After only one public hearing to discuss Epcor's proposal to acquire $3.1 billion dollars worth of publicly owned drainage assets, City council voted 7-6 on April 12 to transfer all drainage assets to Epcor. Thus, putting billions of dollars of public infrastructure under the control of a private company. While EPCOR is completely owned by the City of Edmonton, it operates as a private company and is not bound to the same standards of transparency and public accountability as a utility controlled by the City.
We urge you to remember this important decision city council made before breaking for an election in the fall.
Mayor Iveson was supported in voting for the transfer by Councillors Michael Oshry, Andrew Knack, Scott McKeen, Michael Walters, Bryan Anderson and Ed Gibbons.
Voting against were Loken, Moe Banga, Ben Henderson, Tony Caterina, Mike Nickel and Bev Esslinger.
Public Interest Alberta -- along with Progress Alberta, the Edmonton & District Labour Council and Coalition of Edmonton Civic Unions -- opposed the transfer and despite the deal being approved, there were some positive changes made to the final motion. For instance, while EPCOR is not subject to Freedom of Information Legislation (FOIP), City Council stipulated that the final agreement include a FOIP-like process which will provide a way to access information about this essential utility (including an appeal process to resolve disputes about what should and should not be accessible).
Another concern was related to the potential for EPCOR to sell the drainage asset behind closed doors, much like EPCOR's power-generation assets were spun off into Capital Power in 2009. While this concern still exists, some assurances are included to ensure that, in the event EPCOR proposes a sale, the City must hold a public hearing.
While we fell short of our ultimate goal (drainage remaining within the City of Edmonton's organization), some important details to help address the concerns around transparency and accountability were added to the final motion, thanks in part to the lobby efforts of the concerned groups listed above and the engagement of many Edmonton citizens.
OUR CAMPAIGN
Edmonton City Council is considering selling $3.1 billion worth of drainage assets to EPCOR for just $1.00. We are urging City Council to keep drainage public. Why? Read Progress Alberta's Five big reasons to keep Edmonton's drainage public.
A recent poll released by the Edmonton and District Labour Council shows that Edmontonians are generally opposed to the privatization of essential city infrastructure and showed a lack of community awareness and consultation around the sale. Recent independent analysis of the sale shows that the public interest is not served by selling public City assets to EPCOR. View the full report online.
Read our media release. Listen to Public Interest Alberta Executive Director, Joel French, discuss drainage issues on the Ryan Jespersen Show, January 25, 2017.
Get Involved
Contact your city councillor and let them know that you want to keep Edmonton's drainage assets public.
The sale must be stopped to ensure the best interests of Edmontonians are protected. If EPCOR takes control of Edmonton’s drainage assets:
- Edmontonians will lose transparency and accountability as decisions are moved from the City Council chambers to behind closed corporate doors.
- The focus of those running our drainage services will be more focused on cutting costs and making profits than on providing a high quality service.
- There is a future risk that EPCOR could sell Edmonton’s drainage assets to a fully-private corporation.
Need to find your city councillor? Use the City of Edmonton's Ward Boundary and Neighbourhood Map.
Public Interest Alberta in the news
EPCOR and the drainage system Ryan Jespersen Show
For more information
Stakeholders voice concern over EPCOR's proposed takeover of Edmonton drainage utility by Jennifer Ivanov, Global News
EPCOR drainage proposal doesn't hold water, report says by Nola Keeler, CBC Edmonton
Epcor takeover of Edmonton drainage would include transparency clause, city report says by Gordon Kent, Edmonton Journal
Rejecting Epcor's drainage bid: Privatizing a public resource doesn't benefit the city by Ricardo Acuna, Vue Weekly
Drainage debate: Edmonton city council divided over who should control drainage system by Paula Simons, Edmonton Journal
Public to have say on Epcor taking over drainage by Nola Keeler, CBC News
Five big reasons to keep Edmonton's drainage public by Duncan Kinney, Progress Alberta
City of Edmonton documents related to the proposal can be found here and here
