Opinion

"Who gives [politicians] this money? To what extent are corporations and unions involved? What do contributors expect in return? What are the limits on contributions? Are citizens made aware of who gave money to which candidates? To what extent does money have the potential to distort election results? For people who value democracy, these are all good questions. Unfortunately, because of the weak campaign-finance legislation in our city and province, the answers require a lot of digging—much more than should be the case.

"While Alberta Health Service’s decision not to proceed with the privatization of home care delivery at three Edmonton co-operatives is welcome, it also underscores the arbitrary and thoughtless nature of the original decision. Turning the delivery of home care over to large international corporations is ideological madness."

"The crowd cheered to the tune of ejecting the filthy rich from Calgary proper, the 'most unequal city in the country' according to the University of Alberta’s Parkland Institute. Well over a hundred people crowded into a sold out hall at Parkdale United Church on a favorably tepid spring night. The beginning of the 11th Annual Public Interest Alberta Conference, 'Fighting For Our Future: People Power versus Corporate Control' opened with investigative journalist Linda McQuaig, author of The Trouble with Billionaires".

"Minister Dave Hancock’s response to social workers is one more illustration of why many have abandoned hope for any progress on human services issues by the Redford government."

"While the new Children First Act appears to contain some steps forward in the oversight of child intervention services in Alberta, there are numerous unanswered questions regarding the shift in delegated responsibilities, the lack of consultation and the speed with which the legislation is being pushed through."

"Cathy’s story reveals another sobering aspect of poverty in our province: one in three (33.2 per cent) of female lone-parent families are below the LIM. Cathy's son is also an example of the more than 50 per cent of children in poor families that have at least one parent working full-time year round. In fact, one in four employed Albertans makes less than $15/hour, and 63 per cent of low-wage workers are women. Given this stark reality for so many families, we should not be shocked that more than 53,000 people rely on the food bank each month."

"Once again, as then health minister Ron Liepert did in 2008, the government plans to eliminate the universal seniors drug plan. The excuse this time is to create a means-tested plan to cover low-income Albertans who do not have access to coverage."

"Dear Mr Hehr: I am a working, middle class mother in your constituency. I earn an average salary as an administrative technical worker at an oil and gas firm. My husband works in computer desktop support. We own a small condo in Calgary with a mortgage, and we have a daughter aged 20 months. As it stands today, I am struggling without government assistance in order to keep working and support my family."

"Dear MLA Hehr: Rachel Sutherland suggested I give you my "daycare" struggle story. I am a single mother who adopted 2 Special Needs children from foster care in Calgary in late 2010. Bio brother and sister 7 & 8. My childcare bills per month are enormous."

"People close to the Seniors’ care system know that it isn’t working very well. The chronic shortage of longterm (nursing home) care beds has not been addressed. Home care is scarce, hard to access, and often not reliable. Care facilities are frequently under-staffed and staffed by people who don’t have the qualifications they require. Yes, there are exceptions to these conditions, but many of these are in facilities that few of us could ever afford."