Sorry about the lack of posts lately! I’ll try and keep this blog more updated from now on. I’ve been super busy.

I was up in Edmonton twice this past month. Once for the Alberta NDP Organizing Institute, which was quite valuable. It gave me valuable tips on getting involved at a local level. Plus I got a bunch of leaflets that I get to hand out! The second time was for the Alberta NDP Convention. I saw my girlfriend, who lives up near Edmonton, and we went to dinner together at the fundraiser which Jack Layton attended. I met up with Jack in the hallway and we started to compare our “Make Poverty History” bracelets… his was quite dirty, but it was union made

I also went on a camping retreat with the student legislative council at SAIT, which I was recently elected onto. It was great; it’s been such a long time since I last went camping. Part of the activities included repelling off a cliff, which I chickened out of, oh well there is always next time. Anyways, we’ve started off a sustainable committee on campus, and we’ve already had our first meeting. I’m going to advocate at the next meeting that we try and start friendly competitions with other universities/colleges and see who can be the “greenest”! I’ll keep you guys updated on that.

Last Wednesday, I was involved in a conference call with Jack Layton about our position in Afghanistan. This conference call involved students from across Canada and we had a chance to get our questions answered. I got my question answered on the phone, and I also got it answered in an email which I will be sharing in my next post. The conference call got us prepared for the peace rallies taking place all across Canada last Saturday. There was over 150 people that showed up in Calgary, and we got a lot of support from motorists. I managed to collect 66 signatures on a petition calling on the Canadian Government to begin the withdrawal of Canadian Forces from southern Afghanistan, so that a comprehensive peace process can begin.

I will be out in Kensington this weekend collecting some signatures for this petition as well and I hope to double the amount of signatures. I’m planning on going out into the public each Saturday with petitions and/or pamphlets, just to let Calgarians know that the NDP is active in Calgary! I think it’s important to have presence in the community all year round.

I shall post again soon.

Harper’s environment plan can not be called a plan and certainly can not be labeled as environmental. Stephen Harper announced that the government will be implementing intensity-based targets.

You may ask, what are intensity based targets? Intensity based targets means that if the economy is growing, more greenhouse gases are allowed to be produced. Our economy is doing great right now, so that means our environment will suffer under the Conservative plan. An environmental plan should lessen our negative impact on the environment, but this just allows that impact to grow. This is not an alternative to the Kyoto accord and Canadians should feel insulted for being deceived. Let’s not wait for a depression or a stock market crash for us to lower our emissions, let’s protect the environment today and preserve it for our grandchildren!

“they were shocked and they were awed and they were blown in half” - Fun & Games, Barenaked Ladies

The BBC has a story on their website that states that 655,000 Iraqi civilians have died since conflict began in 2003, who would otherwise be alive if no conflict had taken place. And with 4000 Iraqi police officers dead within the past 2 years, it’s hard to say this is not a civil war.

Thanks to leftdog for pointing out that the number of deaths of Iraqi civilians is greater than the population of Winnipeg.

I’m getting so sick of this. Our environment minister and our Government keeps on dodging the environment issue. We’ve had eight months of “we are developing a made in Canada plan” which has now turned into an “approach” which no deals have been made public. And also during these eight months we’ve heard the phrase “Liberal inaction” countless times. Liberal inaction, sure I agree with that! But what is the Conservative government going to do about it? Right now it looks like they are going down a worse path than the Liberals – Liberal and Conservative inaction. Cutting programs will save money, but if you don’t replace it with anything, the environment loses.

Climate change is a top issue. If Rona Ambrose can’t see this, then she must resign from her portfolio. Right now she is acting as the Minister of Profit for Oil and Gas. The environment is a time sensitive issue and voters will realize this in the next election.

An election in Alberta is looming. A new leader is about to be picked for the Progressive Conservatives. I believe the new leader will want to have an election as soon as possible so that he/she can have a fresh mandate. Even if the leader does not call an early election, an election is still around the corner.

Alberta’s population is changing though. With leaky schools, the Tories lack of regard for oil revenues and no plan for the oil sands, the Progressive Conservatives are going to have to work really hard for their usual vote they are accustomed to in Alberta. I really do believe that we are coming to a shift of power in Alberta, and the party who truly stands up for Albertans and proves to Albertans that they actually care, will be the winners.

Not only have the issues caused the PC party to lose support, but also new comers to the province are creating greater support to the other parties. People from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and everywhere else know that things can be done a lot better. Why do Albertans, living the richest province in Canada, pay health premiums, high auto insurance and high oil/gas prices? Why do several schools in Calgary have leaky roofs? Why is our homeless rate climbing higher and higher? Where are the affordable homes? These are appropriate questions that the Tories are going to need to address and solve in the next election if they want to be elected again. I am very doubtful the questions will even be addressed, let alone dealt with and solved.

It’s time for a change Alberta. Make your vote count in the next election, vote for change.