Calgary news release: Albertans join together for public services

New campaign challenges government not to cut fabric of our communities

While the Alberta government is swearing in a new cabinet today, representatives from community human service organizations, teachers, parent groups, health professionals, students, faculty and labour organizations launched a new campaign in Calgary and Edmonton to get Albertans to join together for public services.

To help mobilize citizens and bring together people from various sectors, we are organizing 22 town hall events across the province. The town hall meetings will start January 25 and will go to a number of cities and towns before the final two large events in Calgary (February 16^th) and Edmonton (February 17^th).

“We are building an extensive movement to challenge the plan to cut $2 billion out of the provincial budget,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “People need to deliver a very loud message to the government – deep cuts to public services are going to hurt people and our communities, and they are completely unnecessary given the continued growth of our economy and our billions in savings.”

“What will the next Alberta look like? If we really want to strengthen both our economy and our quality of life, then we have to be prepared to invest in our people and our infrastructure. And that means making smart decisions about improving public services,” said Glen Scott, Vice President of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which represents over 70,000 public service employees.

“Universities, colleges and technical institutions have already been financially hit with $40 million in cuts this year. Further cuts will reduce the affordability, quality and accessibility of education to young Albertans,” says Kay She, Vice President of the Council of Alberta University Students representing 70,000 university students in the province. “Investments in post-secondary education will not only help to develop the full potential of all Albertans, but will diversify our economy and strengthen our communities.”

“Improving our health care system is one of the top priorities for most Albertans.  Our health system is already struggling and so deep cuts to the health budget are going to have very serious consequences for all Albertans who need and expect to have quality medical care,” says Elisabeth Ballermann, President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, which represents over 18,000 health care professionals. 

“Community disability service providers feel they have to take a stand for the vulnerable Albertans they support, now that the government has made it clear they are going to continue with the plan to cut millions of dollars from our programs and services,” says Ryan Geake, Executive Director of the Calgary Scope Society, one of many human service agencies supporting this campaign. “With threats of even larger cuts coming in the next budget, we are pleased to be able to join together with other organizations and Albertans who feel we must increase, not cut support to our most vulnerable citizens.”

“The campaign is making the case that Alberta can afford better education and other vital public services,” said Jenny Regal, President of the 7000 Calgary Public Teachers (ATA Local 38). “Alberta has one of the best systems of public education in the world. At the same time, we need to better address the needs of students who are at risk of dropping out. Further cuts to public education will compromise teaching and learning conditions, increase class size and diminish the quality of education our students receive. Education, health care, social services, and other public services weave together to form a fabric of care and security that we as teachers, neighbours, and citizens are committed to defending.”

“Seniors have worked for decades building quality public services and we are not going to sit idly by while this government dismantles the important things we and our families need,” says Andrew Koshel, President of the Coalition of Seniors Advocates. “By joining together with this impressive coalition of organizations, we are going to fight for the health, education and other services that provide quality of life for us, our children and our grandchildren.”

The campaign has chosen the Alberta tartan as the campaign symbol with the many colours woven together representing the strength and fabric of our communities.  People will be asked to wear tartan scarves and to write messages on coloured fabric that will be joined together and delivered to the provincial government before the next budget is passed in February.

To join the campaign, send messages to the government and to register for one of the 22 free town hall meetings, go to the campaign website www.JoinTogetherAlberta.ca

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Media contacts:

Bill Moore-Kilgannon - (780) 993-3736   ||   Gil McGowan - (780) 218-9888