UCP agenda focus of SACPA talk
By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 26, 2024.
The UCP government has been working at a frenzied pace, which some believe is causing more chaos for Albertans.
This was the topic for this week’s Southern Alberta Council of Public Affairs meeting Thursday in the dining room of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.
Jason Foster, director of Parkland Institute at University of Alberta and professor of human resources of labour relations at Athabasca University, led the conversation.
Foster says the government is making so many prominent changes in such a short amount of time and it is an intentional to push through their agenda of power and authority.
“They are intentionally creating this chaos and trying to overwhelm us in order to push through a longer-term political agenda and it’s a political agenda about centralizing control in provincial government,” said Foster.
Foster added the provincial government is undermining sources of power and authority and credibility in the interest of privatization and dimmish public services.
One of the areas we see this is the attempt to do away with Alberta Health Services.
Foster says instead of investing in ways to improve AHS, the government is intentionally working on undermining Albertans’ faith in AHS to pave the way for privatization.
“They could focus their energies on fixing the healthcare system, on getting us more doctors, getting us more spaces in ERs so people aren’t having to wait for hours on end. These are all practicable problems that can be fixed. They are choosing to ignore them because they have this other agenda, they’re willing to pursue instead,” said Foster.
While things may be hectic at the moment, not all is lost. Albertan’s still have a say in what their government does, Foster says.
Foster says if Albertan’s aren’t happy, they need to speak up.
“If Albertans speak up, the government will back down,” said Foster.
Foster added it’s crucial to keep plugging away, as you never know when change will happen.
“Change can happen very quickly. Change can happen unexpectedly, so we keep plugging away until it happens,” said Foster.
The next SACPA meeting will discuss how to disagree without being cruel, which will take place on Oct. 31 beginning at noon at the Lethbridge Seniors Citizens Organization behind City Hall.
16-15
Lightning War
Blitzkrieg, meaning ‘Lightning War‘, was the method of offensive warfare responsible for Nazi Germany’s military successes in the early years of the Second World War.
NDP echo chamber.
Interesting timing for this speaker, in an NDP dominated SACPA meeting held where else, the LSCO which the NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro is the Executive Director of.
Every province is suffering from doctor and nurse shortages, if you watch the news. Using this to attack the UCP is getting old and insults the intelligence of the electorate. Just as the CPP scaremongering! Desperate acts by a desperate NDP!
From the AB gov website:
The Alberta Pension Protection Act, (formerly Bill 2) protects the pensions and benefits Albertans have earned and guarantees they are the decision-makers in pursuing a provincial pension plan.
The Alberta Pension Protection Act guarantees the government won’t launch an Alberta Pension Plan unless Albertans vote in favour of it in a referendum. The act also guarantees that Albertans would pay the same or lower contribution rates and receive the same or better benefits as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). It also ensures the assets transferred to Alberta from the CPP would only be used to set up a pension plan and operate it in the best interests of Albertans.
The Alberta Pension Protection Act is part of the government’s commitment to protect Albertans’ choices and to keep more money in their pockets.
I have the same question. Why has their been a shift to the Miyashiro’s LSCO from the lower level of the Keg. Raises a number of questions
As to the pension question the CPP has an annualized rate of return of .08% over the last five years. You can’t confuse the naysayers with facts even when reality stares them in the face. There are numerous letter writers and commenters in the past who would have marched straight into their investment managers office and fired them over .8% return. Yet they bray about Smith and don’t steal our pension. Thought the NDP liked strong women. Oops, only the ones they agree with.
You are clearly misinformed about the rate of return for CPP.
It is -0.8% for one quarter which is normal given the general ups and downs of the market. The 5-year annualized return is 7.4% and the 10-year annualized return is 9.8%.
All this info can be easily found.
That was from August 2023. The info I found posted in May 2024 is similar.