Environment

EDMONTON—Public Interest Alberta says that the Redford government's budget cuts to public services are going to have a serious impact on our families and the economy.“This budget is full of bad decisions”, says Bill Moore-Kilgannon of Public Interest Alberta.The budget released today will have the following impacts:Culture

EDMONTON—The Alberta government’s Water Conversation survey of just 15 questions that was launched this week, fails to give Albertans the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the direction of water policy in the province, say groups working on provincial water issues.

"It was a dance like never before. Holding placards in support of Idle No More, more than 200 people joined activist Morningstar Mercredi in a tea dance at Churchill Square on Monday. 'As the drums begin here today, we call upon all races and all nations to stand in solidarity with Idle No More,' Mercredi told the crowd, which included representatives from Greenpeace, the Alberta College of Social Workers and Friends of Medicare."

"The Idle No More movement marked a global day of action Monday with a rally in Churchill Square that saw leaders from a variety of organizations declare solidarity with the movement. More than 200 people gathered in Churchill Square to hear representatives from nine organizations, including labour and environmental groups, share short messages of support for Idle No More and sign a declaration of solidarity. The speeches were followed by a tea dance with the Dene Tha’ Drummers."

"The Alberta government hopes community meetings this winter will bolster public confidence in how it manages water. A leaked draft plan says the government has been holding off on making decisions on water policy because of 'challenges associated with trust.' Priority issues identified in the document include use of water in hydraulic fracturing, effective water management, sustainable drinking water and healthy lakes."

EDMONTON Leaked Alberta government documents released today by the Our Water Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) Network outlining plans for a million-dollar “Water Conversation (WC)” with Albertans indicate that long-awaited public consultations about Alberta’s water allocation system will amount to little more than a public relations effort.

"Watchdogs are worried the government’s million-dollar 'Water Conversation' will white-wash public consultations about Alberta’s water allocation system. Alberta Environment will hold three-hour meetings in 20 communities, but early government documents suggest a it’s a public relations effort, said Scott Harris of The Council of Canadians, a member of the Our Water Is Not For Sale network."

"Alberta Environment is set to launch a public consultation on water issues in 20 communities, but critics say a leaked government document suggests the process is shaping up to be a million-dollar sham. Public Interest Alberta said Thursday the water strategy document, obtained from an undisclosed source, shows the Alberta government is steering the consultation away from controversial issues and limiting discussion at the three-hour consultation meetings to 30 minutes."