Edmonton news release: Albertans Join Together for Public Services

New campaign challenges government not to cut fabric of our communitie

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 16th) and Edmonton (February 17th).

“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 Gil McGowan, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour.

“We are building an extensive movement to challenge the plan to cut $2 billion out of the provincial budget,” says Noel Somerville, from the Seniors’ Task Force 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 our economy is growing and we have billions in savings.”

We have chosen the Alberta tartan as the colours and logo for the campaign.

“We wanted to talk about how public services strengthen the fabric of our communities, and the tartan, with the many colours woven together, makes a wonderful symbol for us,” says Gil McGowan.  “We are going to wear tartan scarves, encourage everybody to wear the tartan and talk about building our province up, not cutting it down.”

Citizens will also be asked to write messages about their concerns on coloured fabric pieces that will be joined together to create a significant symbol.

“Albertans won’t be fooled by Ted Morton’s harsh budget talk. The town halls will be an important opportunity for people to talk about what they expect – what they need – in health care, education, and the full range of public services,” said McGowan.

“Alberta’s excellence in K-12 education and our ability to continue to improve is under threat,” said Carol Henderson, President of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. “Further cuts to public education will compromise teaching and learning conditions, increase class size and diminish the quality of education our students receive.”

“Albertans across the province are already angry about more cuts to health care,” said Heather Smith, President of the United Nurses of Alberta. “The government better be listening to Albertans who want our system fixed. They do not want health care reduced further with even more bed, staffing and service cuts.

“When you carefully examine the situation, you see that when formal government services are reduced, it affects everyone,” said Cindy De Bruijn, Executive Director – Gateway Association for Community Living. “If we fail to adequately support someone who needs assistance, there is a huge impact on the natural supports that surround them.  Where social services were once required to help one person, we have now stressed an entire network of people, leading to greater long term demands on social services.  Funding shortages are a short-sighted solution.”

“Cuts really limit potential for our university and college students,” said Carol Newman, Executive Director – Alberta Student Executive Council. “Fewer young people will get access and the quality of programs for those who do get in drops. Cuts really impair the future of the next generation to compete, succeed and take our province further.”

“Cutting budgets and standards for continuing care for frail seniors and our most vulnerable citizens is a crime,” said Noel Somerville. “We hear terrible stories all the time about failures of care for seniors, and cuts will make things worse.”

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

                                                                                    -30-

Media contacts:

Bill Moore-Kilgannon (780) 993-3736

Gil McGowan (780) 218-9888