Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

James Lovelock, scientist and originator of the Gaia hypothesis, said in 2007 that; "Before this century is over, billions of us will die and the few breeding pairs of people that survive will be in the Arctic." Recently, as reported in the Daily Mail, he said; “The problem is we don’t know what the climate is doing. We thought we knew 20 years ago. That led to some alarmist books – mine included...

In 1995 Premier Ralph Klein and the Progressive Conservative party began the restructuring of electricity in Alberta with the introduction of "The Electrical Utilities Act". In 2001 a fully deregulated electricity market was opened. The only province in Canada with a deregulated market in electricity, Alberta is said by many to have one of the highest electricity rates in Canada. Voices on both si...

In 1995 Premier Ralph Klein and the Progressive Conservative party began the restructuring of electricity in Alberta with the introduction of "The Electrical Utilities Act". In 2001 a fully deregulated electricity market was opened. The only province in Canada with a deregulated market in electricity, Alberta is said by many to have one of the highest electricity rates in Canada. Voices on both si...

Emerging super-power or developing country? Communist dictatorship or economic miracle of free-market enterprise? What’s happening in China and what’s been going on since Chairman Mao’s successor Deng Xiaoping declared in 1985, that “it’s okay for some people to get rich first”? Is the country opening up politically as well as economically? How free are ordinary Chinese? What do they talk about ar...

The SAAG, SACPA, McKillop United Church, Lethbridge Regional Police Service and OUTreach Southern Alberta Society are co-sponsoring the speaker Nate Phelps as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. MAY 17th from 7pm at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. Few minority groups have been as discriminated against as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two spirit and queer people . B...

Emerging super-power or developing country? Communist dictatorship or economic miracle of free-market enterprise? What’s happening in China and what’s been going on since Chairman Mao’s successor Deng Xiaoping declared in 1985, that “it’s okay for some people to get rich first”? Is the country opening up politically as well as economically? How free are ordinary Chinese? What do they talk about ar...

SACPA in Partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library A Perspective on Children's Mental Health: From Childhood Trauma to Adult Wholeness Mental Health Awareness Week is May 7-11, 2012. In addition, in many parts of Canada and the United States May 9th is Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. The week is dedicated to raising awareness of issues related to mental illness and mental health. One...

The front page headline in the Lethbridge Herald April 24 read, "Same Old Story". Was it really? Was this another automatic victory for the PCs? How did the Conservatives manage to win this one? How did the Wildrose manage to lose it? Did the pundits and pollsters miss something? What do the various parties have to learn – as they look back on this election? How has the Alberta electorate changed...

The front page headline in the Lethbridge Herald April 24 read, "Same Old Story". Was it really? Was this another automatic victory for the PCs? How did the Conservatives manage to win this one? How did the Wildrose manage to lose it? Did the pundits and pollsters miss something? What do the various parties have to learn – as they look back on this election? How has the Alberta electorate changed...

Lethbridge is a city that comes with many benefits including a small geographical footprint. Despite its small size it is largely a motorized vehicle culture. In light of rising costs for vehicle operation, health benefits from physical activity, and benefits in maintaining environmental integrity, very few citizens view bicycles as an effective mode of transportation. This presentation presents s...

Lethbridge is a city that comes with many benefits including a small geographical footprint. Despite its small size it is largely a motorized vehicle culture. In light of rising costs for vehicle operation, health benefits from physical activity, and benefits in maintaining environmental integrity, very few citizens view bicycles as an effective mode of transportation. This presentation presents s...

When it comes to energy, there seems to be a very large gap between scientific, economic and environmental facts, on the one hand and what the general public believes, on the other. While the public can be excused, because all the energy technologies involved are much more complex than they appear on the surface, the people behind each of these technologies have contributed in a significant way to...

When it comes to energy, there seems to be a very large gap between scientific, economic and environmental facts, on the one hand and what the general public believes, on the other. While the public can be excused, because all the energy technologies involved are much more complex than they appear on the surface, the people behind each of these technologies have contributed in a significant way to...

During the past Federal election campaign the Federal Conservatives promised a number of changes in the area of justice. During this winter's session of Parliament, that has taken the form of the "Federal Omnibus Crime Bill". The bill, which arguable was passed with imposed minimal debate, has not only been criticized by opposition parties, but also by several provinces and some non-parliamentary...

During the past Federal election campaign the Federal Conservatives promised a number of changes in the area of justice. During this winter's session of Parliament, that has taken the form of the "Federal Omnibus Crime Bill". The bill, which arguable was passed with imposed minimal debate, has not only been criticized by opposition parties, but also by several provinces and some non-parliamentary...

SACPA in Partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library Logging the Oldman Headwaters – What’s all the Fuss About? Date:Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Location: Lethbridge Public Library, 810 – 5th Ave. South Free admission, everyone welcome. Beginning in the late 1800s government recognized the importance of preserving the forests of the southern Eastern Slopes to protect the headwater...

SACPA in Partnership with the Lethbridge Public Library Logging the Oldman Headwaters – What’s all the Fuss About? Date:Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Location: Lethbridge Public Library, 810 – 5th Ave. South Free admission, everyone welcome. Beginning in the late 1800s government recognized the importance of preserving the forests of the southern Eastern Slopes to protect the headwater...

A new report from the U of A’s Parkland Institute says that despite a provincial deficit, the Alberta government will forego some $55 billion in potential revenue over the next three years as a result of overly generous royalty cuts and the government’s failure to meet even the modest targets set by previous administrations. The report looks at the most recent data on profits in the oil and gas in...

A new report from the U of A’s Parkland Institute says that despite a provincial deficit, the Alberta government will forego some $55 billion in potential revenue over the next three years as a result of overly generous royalty cuts and the government’s failure to meet even the modest targets set by previous administrations. The report looks at the most recent data on profits in the oil and gas in...

April 11th from 6-8pm at the SAAG. Southern Alberta Art Gallery, The U of L Department of Political Science and Southern Alberta Council of Public Affairs is pleased to present: Art, Security and the Arctic: New Understandings A presentation by Dr. Rob Huebert, Associate Director of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary Rob Huebert, Associate Director of the Ce...

The business model of Canadian immigration policy has dramatically resulted in the rise of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) through a combination of federal and provincial labour migration schemes. In Alberta, TFWs even surpassed the number of “landed immigrants” in 2006. The limited work visa issued to employers, not the worker, and structural barriers in place to regulate their mobility imply th...

The business model of Canadian immigration policy has dramatically resulted in the rise of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) through a combination of federal and provincial labour migration schemes. In Alberta, TFWs even surpassed the number of “landed immigrants” in 2006. The limited work visa issued to employers, not the worker, and structural barriers in place to regulate their mobility imply th...

Research indicates that there is some genetic influence on male homosexuality, yet homosexual males reproduce at a fraction of the rate of heterosexual males, if at all. This raises the question as to why genes associated with male homosexuality do not become extinct? Cross-cultural research conducted in the Polynesian island nation of Samoa provides intriguing and unexpected answers to this quest...