Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Inspired by, or at least imitating, the protests of France’s Gilets Jaunes, a Yellow Vest movement has similarly made headlines the past few months, especially in Alberta. In what ways does this movement echo the one in France – or even past movement in Canada? How, more broadly, should we understand the Yellow Vest protests? On the surface, the concerns seem clear enough: stalled pipeline project...

Inspired by, or at least imitating, the protests of France’s Gilets Jaunes, a Yellow Vest movement has similarly made headlines the past few months, especially in Alberta. In what ways does this movement echo the one in France – or even past movement in Canada? How, more broadly, should we understand the Yellow Vest protests? On the surface, the concerns seem clear enough: stalled pipeline project...

“If, instead of building the automobile, had I asked folks what they wanted, the answer would have been… [just] a faster horse.” (Henry Ford) EVs are touted as the next world-wide disruption, yet unlike the transition from the horse and buggy, physically owning and driving one is hardly disruptive at all. EVs are a timely and much-better version of what we already own and drive – a faster and bett...

“If, instead of building the automobile, had I asked folks what they wanted, the answer would have been… [just] a faster horse.” (Henry Ford) EVs are touted as the next world-wide disruption, yet unlike the transition from the horse and buggy, physically owning and driving one is hardly disruptive at all. EVs are a timely and much-better version of what we already own and drive – a faster and bett...

Alberta’s Partisan Politics and Ideology: Would Independent MLA’s with No Party Affiliation be a better Option? Canada’s NorthWest Territories has a consensus government, in which all members are Independent and do not belong to a political party caucus. This form of government has been in place for over 40 years. The direct democratic governance model used in the North West Territories has allowe...

Alberta’s Partisan Politics and Ideology: Would Independent MLA’s with No Party Affiliation be a better Option? Canada’s NorthWest Territories has a consensus government, in which all members are Independent and do not belong to a political party caucus. This form of government has been in place for over 40 years. The direct democratic governance model used in the North West Territories has allowe...

In today’s world, matchmaking tends to refer to apps and internet sites that we use to do the dirty work of sorting out good candidates for relationships, but for much of human history, the matchmaker was a person. Choosing a life partner was often viewed as far too complicated a decision for young people on their own, and from the Aztec civilization to ancient Greece and China, their elders (ofte...

In today’s world, matchmaking tends to refer to apps and internet sites that we use to do the dirty work of sorting out good candidates for relationships, but for much of human history, the matchmaker was a person. Choosing a life partner was often viewed as far too complicated a decision for young people on their own, and from the Aztec civilization to ancient Greece and China, their elders (ofte...

On September 17, 2018, City Council was asked to consider a one year pilot project for the keeping of up to 4 egg-laying hens on urban properties with suitable yard space. Council voted to investigate further and to have public consultations, with a decision to follow in late March 2019. Bylaw 3383 prohibits the raising of poultry within the City of Lethbridge and it has not been amended since 198...

On September 17, 2018, City Council was asked to consider a one year pilot project for the keeping of up to 4 egg-laying hens on urban properties with suitable yard space. Council voted to investigate further and to have public consultations, with a decision to follow in late March 2019. Bylaw 3383 prohibits the raising of poultry within the City of Lethbridge and it has not been amended since 198...

Who owns Outer Space? Could Elon Musk become President of Mars? How would one negotiate a treaty with aliens? Space is becoming a very busy place, with 90 orbital launches occurring in 2017 alone. Many of the governance challenges that currently exist on Earth will soon exist in Space. Yet the unique conditions of Space, including extremes of danger, distance and time, will necessarily require fun...

Who owns Outer Space? Could Elon Musk become President of Mars? How would one negotiate a treaty with aliens? Space is becoming a very busy place, with 90 orbital launches occurring in 2017 alone. Many of the governance challenges that currently exist on Earth will soon exist in Space. Yet the unique conditions of Space, including extremes of danger, distance and time, will necessarily require fun...

Of all the developed countries with universal, single-payer health care systems, Canada is the only one that does not include coverage for prescription drugs. There are currently 23 different public drug and supplementary plans within Alberta alone, but they provide benefits for just 20% of Albertans. Within Canada we have a patchwork of drug coverage, with more than 100,000 different drug and sup...

Of all the developed countries with universal, single-payer health care systems, Canada is the only one that does not include coverage for prescription drugs. There are currently 23 different public drug and supplementary plans within Alberta alone, but they provide benefits for just 20% of Albertans. Within Canada we have a patchwork of drug coverage, with more than 100,000 different drug and sup...

In May 2015 the people of Alberta were faced with a choice at the ballot box and they surprised the pundits by choosing an NDP government, despite all the predictions that the Progressive Conservatives would add to their 44 year term in office. Now, almost four years later, the Premier has indicated that she will hold the election in the Spring of 2019 and again ask the people of Alberta for their...

In May 2015 the people of Alberta were faced with a choice at the ballot box and they surprised the pundits by choosing an NDP government, despite all the predictions that the Progressive Conservatives would add to their 44 year term in office. Now, almost four years later, the Premier has indicated that she will hold the election in the Spring of 2019 and again ask the people of Alberta for their...

Canadian churches have made a huge impact on key justice issues over the past 50 years on education, economics, refugee sponsorship, the environment, domestic violence, public health care, women’s rights, and the cancellation of the debts of Global South countries. A new book from Citizens for Public Justice’s Joe Gunn features interviews with ten key people who have been active in social justice...

Canadian churches have made a huge impact on key justice issues over the past 50 years on education, economics, refugee sponsorship, the environment, domestic violence, public health care, women’s rights, and the cancellation of the debts of Global South countries. A new book from Citizens for Public Justice’s Joe Gunn features interviews with ten key people who have been active in social justice...

The Canine Unit is an integral part of the Lethbridge Police Service. Agility, obedience, tracking, building searches, compound/area searches, evidence searches, criminal apprehension and drug detection are the main components of training a PSD (Police Service Dog) for the Lethbridge Police Service. They provide an element to police work that you can’t get anywhere else and in some cases, the PSD’...

Since 1982 the Lethbridge Food Bank has been operated in the community of Lethbridge and serving the surrounding area with a “food share” program. Lethbridge, is home to nearly 100,000 people and growing, making the Lethbridge Food Bank an important part of a vibrant community to ensure a food security resource for families in need. As a non-profit organization, donations from individuals and busi...

Since 1982 the Lethbridge Food Bank has been operated in the community of Lethbridge and serving the surrounding area with a “food share” program. Lethbridge, is home to nearly 100,000 people and growing, making the Lethbridge Food Bank an important part of a vibrant community to ensure a food security resource for families in need. As a non-profit organization, donations from individuals and busi...

The City of Lethbridge use the council-manager form of city government i.e. city council makes laws and broad policy decisions for a city manager and staff to carry out. In other words, under the council-manager form of government a city manager fills the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the government organization. Like a private sector CEO does for a private company, a city manager overs...

The City of Lethbridge use the council-manager form of city government i.e. city council makes laws and broad policy decisions for a city manager and staff to carry out. In other words, under the council-manager form of government a city manager fills the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the government organization. Like a private sector CEO does for a private company, a city manager overs...

Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Liberal Party views on deficits, pipelines, economic development, opioids and Alberta...

Many Albertan worry about public spending, deficits and a growing debt. Does balancing the books in Alberta hinge on building pipelines to tidewater or are there other ways to achieve that goal? Are the present provincial Government’s budget predictions unrealistic? The speaker will articulate his and the Alberta Liberal Party views on deficits, pipelines, economic development, opioids and Alberta...