I sent this to the Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner on September 1, 2010
Dear Commissioner,
Today I came across a news release from the Gaming Standards Association (GSA), of which the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) is a member, that greatly worries me. The release states that the AGLC is a member of the GSA.
The GSA's stated values include, "that open standards benefit our industry because they provide speed to market, innovation, value, and extended useful life" http://www.gamingstandards.com/index.php?page=what_is_gsa/vision_mission
The news release includes the following information, which is what concerns me about serious violations of privacy by the AGLC, as well as a definite conflict of interest between the stated goals, values, vision and mission of the GSA and the AGLC.
"The objective is to enable existing systems to link together to provide a completely integrated view of each customer from across the entire operation, including the customer's profile, their future itineraries, and past spending. Systems within the project scope include Property Management, Point-of-Sale, Player Tracking, Spa, Concierge, Show Ticketing, and other activities systems.
The effort will build upon and expand successful past efforts by GSA and HTNG in their respective arenas. HTNG's Single Guest Itinerary specification, which synchronizes customer records and itineraries across various hotel and resort systems, will be expanded to incorporate gaming activities. Elements of both HTNG's and GSA's customer profile are expected to be incorporated in a new, common profile format. The group will add historical spending activity to the structure so that hotel and casino staff can see a complete view of the value of the guest.
Implementation will occur through modest upgrades to existing systems, allowing hotels and casinos to avoid the expense and disruption of totally new systems."
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Leading-Technology-Associations-Team-Up-Integrate-Customer-Information-From-Wide-Range-1312345.htm
Further, a Mr. Jeff Wyton, Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission, sits as the Chair of the Operator Advisory Committee.
http://www.gamingstandards.com/newsletter/spring09/committeeupdate.html
Reading the GSA 2010 Objectives, it appears that the purpose of the GSA is primarily to find and implement means of tracking and sharing gambling profiles and history between gaming locales and convince government/regulatory/operator bodies to approve the sharing of this personal and private information with all players in the private gaming industry in order to increase their profits through the exploitation of this information.
Goal 1 Focus On The Operators Community
1.1 Create and execute an international marketing program focused entirely on convincing operators so they understand the value proposition from requiring GSA standards in the products they buy
1.2 Ask member companies to provide details of their 2010 sales force training events and user conferences and provide GSA materials designed for those audiences or offer speakers as requested
1.3 Ensure that operator community understands that GSA standards are now the product of choice, replacing SAS and that new business functionality is only available through the GSA standards
1.4 Actively recruit international operators as GSA members
1.5 Highlight the importance of the OAC process and utilize this to grow operator’s participation in the standards development process whilst growing operator membership
Goal 2 Focus And Support Regulators
2.1 Create an on-line data dictionary to facilitate a common understanding of gaming terminology
• Populate and maintain data-dictionary with terminology as defined in GSA standards
• Populate and maintain data-dictionary with terminology as defined by the various jurisdictional technical regulations and identify as such
2.2 Target key regulatory jurisdictions, as identified by the board or the industry, to accept GSA standards and provide support to early adopters
2.3 Organize a GSA update / follow up meeting in Australia with the local industry
2.4 Educate the regulators as to the value of GSA certification, progress and technology capabilities of the GSA standards through interactive and personal communications (road trips)
2.5 Identify key publications read or events attended by regulators and promote certification value and benefits
2.6 Identify key tradeshow or conference events where regulators are present and secure speaking opportunities
http://www.gamingstandards.com/pdfs/10-GSA-072_2010_Objectives.pdf
These GSA "Goals" seem to not support the stated Core Business of the AGLC as stated in their 2010-2013 Business Plan:
Core Business 2: Gaming
The AGLC licenses and regulates all charitable gaming activities (casino table games, pull-ticket sales, raffles and bingo events) and conducts and manages ticket lotteries and all electronic gaming devices (slot machines, VLTs, and electronic bingo).
These activities are conducted in Alberta under the authority of the Criminal Code (Canada), Gaming and Liquor Act and Regulation, other federal and provincial legislation, and Board policy.
The AGLC is committed to ensuring that all gaming activities are conducted with integrity, delivered in a manner that encourages responsible gaming, meet the needs of consumers and communities, and meet the expectations of Albertans.
http://aglc.ca/pdf/aglc/business_plan_2010_2013.pdf
I hope to hear from you soon regarding my concerns about privacy regarding the AGLC. As it appears from what I have seen, this violation of privacy legislation by sharing details of gambler profiles is being actively promoted by Jeff Wyton of the AGLC who is also acting as a Chair of Operators of the GSA and not as a Regulator representative.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Party Politics? Swann Song?
I have been considering David Swann's letter and the responses since I became aware of the "Let's Talk."
I believe that I am seeing, hearing and reading angst in response from Albertans that want ideals to be met. I too feel angst about the political situation that we face, and the options for change presented thus far.
I also firmly believe that the vast majority of Albertans share the same dreams, values and ideals.
I want to tell you a little about myself to put this post in context.
I am a 'cradle conservative.' I was raised in and believed in the Peter Lougheed conservatives, although I have to admit that I was far too involved in my own life to pay a lot of attention to policy.
Within a year of Ralph Klein's first election as premier, I knew that I could not support a government that had no plan to do anything other than cut the deficit, at any cost.
I could not hold my head high as I saw a premier that could, and would, marginalize segments of society with no care or understanding. I couldn't support a man who believed more in his own worth than his role as premier.
Although it is American, I believed that government was, "of the people, by the people and for the people."
That is not what I saw happening in my province of Alberta.
I saw a government that encouraged dividing and seperating people based on occupation, income, life circumstances, and influence.
I sought out a new political home.
I became, and still am, an outcast in my large family because, in my belief, the role of government is based on values. For years, our government has become increasingly based on power and influence.
I don't believe that this reflects most Albertans values, including mine.
Governance is not a game to me. Nor is politics a game to me.
I do not believe that under the present election laws, and with what I see as the habituized corruption of the electoral system and the governance of this province under PC rule, that any traditional political method or appeal will change change the status quo.
I say this not because I believe that Albertans don't care or are corrupt, but rather because Albertans feel comfortable with a PC government and want a PC government.
If Albertans want a PC government, but are unhappy with what it is doing, then it is our job to show Albertans that there is a way to change the PC government into a government that will rule in the way that they have said they want.
Albertans are increasingly saying that the PC government isn't listening to them.
Albertans have said, loud and clear, that they do not want a change in government.
They have also said, loud and clear, that they do want a change in governance.
The only way that Albertans can keep thier government, and attain the governance that reflects their values, is to give their PC government a means of accountability.
I believe that my values are reflected by holding government outcomes to represent what Albertans have said they want, not by pursuing the role of government.
In my mind, this is indeed a goal worth working for.
I believe that I am seeing, hearing and reading angst in response from Albertans that want ideals to be met. I too feel angst about the political situation that we face, and the options for change presented thus far.
I also firmly believe that the vast majority of Albertans share the same dreams, values and ideals.
I want to tell you a little about myself to put this post in context.
I am a 'cradle conservative.' I was raised in and believed in the Peter Lougheed conservatives, although I have to admit that I was far too involved in my own life to pay a lot of attention to policy.
Within a year of Ralph Klein's first election as premier, I knew that I could not support a government that had no plan to do anything other than cut the deficit, at any cost.
I could not hold my head high as I saw a premier that could, and would, marginalize segments of society with no care or understanding. I couldn't support a man who believed more in his own worth than his role as premier.
Although it is American, I believed that government was, "of the people, by the people and for the people."
That is not what I saw happening in my province of Alberta.
I saw a government that encouraged dividing and seperating people based on occupation, income, life circumstances, and influence.
I sought out a new political home.
I became, and still am, an outcast in my large family because, in my belief, the role of government is based on values. For years, our government has become increasingly based on power and influence.
I don't believe that this reflects most Albertans values, including mine.
Governance is not a game to me. Nor is politics a game to me.
I do not believe that under the present election laws, and with what I see as the habituized corruption of the electoral system and the governance of this province under PC rule, that any traditional political method or appeal will change change the status quo.
I say this not because I believe that Albertans don't care or are corrupt, but rather because Albertans feel comfortable with a PC government and want a PC government.
If Albertans want a PC government, but are unhappy with what it is doing, then it is our job to show Albertans that there is a way to change the PC government into a government that will rule in the way that they have said they want.
Albertans are increasingly saying that the PC government isn't listening to them.
Albertans have said, loud and clear, that they do not want a change in government.
They have also said, loud and clear, that they do want a change in governance.
The only way that Albertans can keep thier government, and attain the governance that reflects their values, is to give their PC government a means of accountability.
I believe that my values are reflected by holding government outcomes to represent what Albertans have said they want, not by pursuing the role of government.
In my mind, this is indeed a goal worth working for.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Because not telling the truth to the voters is not acceptable
My last post was about government MLA Griffiths threatening that someone’s head was going to roll because the helipad in his riding that was closed by the Alberta Health Board, on the premise that changes by Transport Canada, meant that the helipad didn't meet new requirements.
When the story about rural and the Royal Alex heliport closures first broke, Transport Canada (TC) denied that they had made any changes that would affect Alberta's heliports, which the Alberta Health Board (AHB) was claiming closures were due to Transport Canada; the helipads didn’t meet Transport Canada requirements, they (the AHB) told us. In the following days, the Alberta Health Board stood by their original story, continuing to claim that safety concerns due to Transport Canada standards required the closing of the heliports.
STARS also had no advance notice of the closures. Sources say that notice was given to the affected parties on about June 25th or 26th, for the July 1st closures of rural and Royal Alex Helipads.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Unspecified+safety+concerns+behind+Alberta+helipad+closures/1744740/story.html
Further disturbing inconsistencies in the information about the closures from the Alberta Health Board:
Sundre Mayor Roy Cummings learned only Saturday evening -- three days before the local hospital's helipad was set to close--that it will not be approved for use pending an evaluation by the province.
"We're one of the busiest STARS locations in the province," Mayor Cummings said. "This just blew me away."
Alberta Health Services said letters were sent out nearly two weeks ago informing mayors, reeves and MLAs in the communities affected by the ‘temporary landing pad closures.’
"Every effort was being made to contact people," said Alberta Health Services spokesman Bruce Conway. "There was a process in place to inform them by letter, but obviously in this case (Sundre) it didn't happen and we're sorry for that."
Helipad closure angers Sundre mayor Calgary Herald June 28, 2009 http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Helipad+closure+angers+Sundre+mayor/1741216/story.htmlJuly 14, 2009
Griffiths representation in my recent post reputes this statement, as he sent his letter to Town Council on June 25th, announcing closure on June 30th:
“In a letter to Wainwright town council, dated June 25, Battle River-Wainwright MLA Doug Griffiths alerted the town that Alberta Health Services (AHS) will close the helipad, along with seven others in Alberta, effective June 30, because the helipads do not meet Transport Canada standards.”
He investigated: "Griffiths called Transport Canada himself.
“According to Transport Canada, they didn’t order this,” said Griffiths. “Everything is fine, as far as they are concerned.”
Griffiths explained that according to the people he spoke to at Transport Canada, they haven’t undertaken any assessments that would have caused the closure of the helipads."
http://starnews.squarespace.com/starnews/2009/7/3/confusion-over-closure-of-stars-helipad.html
The Alberta Health Board line about the blame being with Transport Canada continued, according to a news story on June 29th:
"Alberta Health Services, which operates 64 helipads in the province, ordered the closure after inspection reports determined eight were not up to Transport Canada regulation standards. In addition to the one at the Royal Alexandra, helipads in Barrhead, Castor, Consort, Didsbury, Sundre, Wainwright and Westlock were also ordered closed. The closures begin on Tuesday and continue until fall.
Bruce Conway, Alberta Health Services spokesman, said officials will spend the next two months examining the sites and compiling a report of recommendations for each helipad. "That means either going forward with the necessary remediations at certain helipads and continuing as helipad facilities, or it could mean offering other levels of service," he said.
Conway said this could mean some helipads could be closed for good."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/06/29/9966546-sun.html
In Westlock, Ken Kowalski's riding, the Westlock News quotes the Transport Canada representative, in confirming that the closures have nothing to do with Transport Canada,
http://www.westlocknews.com/news/2009/0707/news1.htmw
"Bruce Conway, spokesperson for Alberta Health Services, said the eight heliports were closed because they weren't compliant with federal standards, noting there are a total of 64 heliports throughout the province.
He could not elaborate on how the heliports contravened Transport Canada's regulations, though he suggested it may have to do with sight lines or proximity to the health care centre.
However, Maryse Durette, spokesperson for Transport Canada, said Alberta Health Services' decision to close the heliports was not as a result of Transport Canada inspections or new regulations."
Suddenly the week of July 7th, all of these rural helports are now reopened, BUT only with some unknown strategy for meeting an extension purportedly granted by Transport Canada (TC) to the ‘unknown’ failures to meet TC requirements, and final decision to be made in the fall after some undescribed review by the Alberta Health Board.
Today, Dr. (not medical) Stephen Duckett, says, while on vacation, all of this was as a result of a decision he made based on “bad information."Spokespeople for Alberta Health Services, as well as board chairman Ken Hughes, repeatedly said Transport Canada had set a June 30 deadline to fix site problems that posed safety concerns for pilots, patients and those on the ground, or close the heiports. What those problems were has never been revealed.
The Alberta Health Board flip-flopped and reopened the helipads within days, claiming that Transport Canada allegedly given the AHB a reprieve.
Throughout this debacle, the federal department in charge of helipad standards said it had no serious concerns with the landing pads, and hadn't even inspected three of the sites.”
Today, July 14th, Dr. (not medical) Stephen Duckett admits that the helipads were closed in “error.”
Alberta health board CEO admits helipad error
Transport Canada hadn't given deadline
By Jodie Sinnema, Edmonton Journal July 14, 2009 http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Alberta+health+board+admits+helipad+error/1789287/story.html
Had there not been several official comments regarding the closures being the result of Transport Canada standards, and had there not been the blatantly untrue statement about the reopenings being a result of TC providing the AHB with a time extension to bring the helipads up to standards, and had two Tory MLA’s (Doug Griffiths and Ty Lund) not gone on record about having no previous or insider knowledge about the closures or the reasons for them, then this whole fiasco might have gotten a whitewash.
As an aside, and perhaps more telling, Dr. (not medical) Duckett is on holiday less than 3 ½ months after starting the job. He started his well paid position on March 23rd of this year, introduced an 80 some page organizational chart, got rid of around a hundred managers and announced that he now personally signs off on each and every new hire. And he’s now on vacation???
Heads should roll on this one.
This wasn’t an unverified email that was acted on and apologized for the next day.
This was an orchestrated series of events, over a period of time, based on invented circumstances and designed to change an aspect of health care in Alberta while keeping Albertans in the dark. Albertans were deliberately mislead by the false information given to them by The Alberta Health Board, it’s communications people, and by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Ken Hughes, on July 9th when he clearly told a reporter that Transport Canada was prepared to give the Alberta Health Board and extension on the heliports.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Helipads+reopen+rural+hospitals+Ottawa+relents/1766664/story.html July 14, 2009
Either Dr. (not medial) Duckett is utterly incompetent, a puppet of his masters above, or just untrustworthy. Whichever it is, Dr. (not medical) Duckett has proven himself unworthy of his position as the captain of the Alberta Health Services ship.
Mr. Hughes has proven that he is prepared to treat Albertans with disdain by being an Alberta Health Board public spokesperson with position and authority for the July 9th article in the Calgary Herald in which he misstated the true facts and mislead Albertans. Whether he did in fact have ‘bad infromation’ as Duckett claims he had, and didn’t bother to verify it, or whether he knowingly told untruths, he has shown that he is not competent to oversee such a complex and multifaceted system as our public health care system.
Health Minister Liepert’s actions in the next few days will tell us a lot. If he was unaware of Dr. (not medical) Duckett’s actions and misinforming the people of Alberta, than he has a CEO that is out of control. If he was unaware of the full extent of Mr. Hughe’s actions, then he is incompetent as Health Minister. If he is complicit in what happened with the heliports and the mistruths repeatedly told to Albertans, than he will do nothing.
In the end, the buck stops at Ed Stelmach's office. His response to this scandalous situation will say a lot about the man, and about his ability to govern.
When the story about rural and the Royal Alex heliport closures first broke, Transport Canada (TC) denied that they had made any changes that would affect Alberta's heliports, which the Alberta Health Board (AHB) was claiming closures were due to Transport Canada; the helipads didn’t meet Transport Canada requirements, they (the AHB) told us. In the following days, the Alberta Health Board stood by their original story, continuing to claim that safety concerns due to Transport Canada standards required the closing of the heliports.
STARS also had no advance notice of the closures. Sources say that notice was given to the affected parties on about June 25th or 26th, for the July 1st closures of rural and Royal Alex Helipads.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Unspecified+safety+concerns+behind+Alberta+helipad+closures/1744740/story.html
Further disturbing inconsistencies in the information about the closures from the Alberta Health Board:
Sundre Mayor Roy Cummings learned only Saturday evening -- three days before the local hospital's helipad was set to close--that it will not be approved for use pending an evaluation by the province.
"We're one of the busiest STARS locations in the province," Mayor Cummings said. "This just blew me away."
Alberta Health Services said letters were sent out nearly two weeks ago informing mayors, reeves and MLAs in the communities affected by the ‘temporary landing pad closures.’
"Every effort was being made to contact people," said Alberta Health Services spokesman Bruce Conway. "There was a process in place to inform them by letter, but obviously in this case (Sundre) it didn't happen and we're sorry for that."
Helipad closure angers Sundre mayor Calgary Herald June 28, 2009 http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Helipad+closure+angers+Sundre+mayor/1741216/story.htmlJuly 14, 2009
Griffiths representation in my recent post reputes this statement, as he sent his letter to Town Council on June 25th, announcing closure on June 30th:
“In a letter to Wainwright town council, dated June 25, Battle River-Wainwright MLA Doug Griffiths alerted the town that Alberta Health Services (AHS) will close the helipad, along with seven others in Alberta, effective June 30, because the helipads do not meet Transport Canada standards.”
He investigated: "Griffiths called Transport Canada himself.
“According to Transport Canada, they didn’t order this,” said Griffiths. “Everything is fine, as far as they are concerned.”
Griffiths explained that according to the people he spoke to at Transport Canada, they haven’t undertaken any assessments that would have caused the closure of the helipads."
http://starnews.squarespace.com/starnews/2009/7/3/confusion-over-closure-of-stars-helipad.html
The Alberta Health Board line about the blame being with Transport Canada continued, according to a news story on June 29th:
"Alberta Health Services, which operates 64 helipads in the province, ordered the closure after inspection reports determined eight were not up to Transport Canada regulation standards. In addition to the one at the Royal Alexandra, helipads in Barrhead, Castor, Consort, Didsbury, Sundre, Wainwright and Westlock were also ordered closed. The closures begin on Tuesday and continue until fall.
Bruce Conway, Alberta Health Services spokesman, said officials will spend the next two months examining the sites and compiling a report of recommendations for each helipad. "That means either going forward with the necessary remediations at certain helipads and continuing as helipad facilities, or it could mean offering other levels of service," he said.
Conway said this could mean some helipads could be closed for good."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/06/29/9966546-sun.html
In Westlock, Ken Kowalski's riding, the Westlock News quotes the Transport Canada representative, in confirming that the closures have nothing to do with Transport Canada,
http://www.westlocknews.com/news/2009/0707/news1.htmw
"Bruce Conway, spokesperson for Alberta Health Services, said the eight heliports were closed because they weren't compliant with federal standards, noting there are a total of 64 heliports throughout the province.
He could not elaborate on how the heliports contravened Transport Canada's regulations, though he suggested it may have to do with sight lines or proximity to the health care centre.
However, Maryse Durette, spokesperson for Transport Canada, said Alberta Health Services' decision to close the heliports was not as a result of Transport Canada inspections or new regulations."
Suddenly the week of July 7th, all of these rural helports are now reopened, BUT only with some unknown strategy for meeting an extension purportedly granted by Transport Canada (TC) to the ‘unknown’ failures to meet TC requirements, and final decision to be made in the fall after some undescribed review by the Alberta Health Board.
Today, Dr. (not medical) Stephen Duckett, says, while on vacation, all of this was as a result of a decision he made based on “bad information."Spokespeople for Alberta Health Services, as well as board chairman Ken Hughes, repeatedly said Transport Canada had set a June 30 deadline to fix site problems that posed safety concerns for pilots, patients and those on the ground, or close the heiports. What those problems were has never been revealed.
The Alberta Health Board flip-flopped and reopened the helipads within days, claiming that Transport Canada allegedly given the AHB a reprieve.
Throughout this debacle, the federal department in charge of helipad standards said it had no serious concerns with the landing pads, and hadn't even inspected three of the sites.”
Today, July 14th, Dr. (not medical) Stephen Duckett admits that the helipads were closed in “error.”
Alberta health board CEO admits helipad error
Transport Canada hadn't given deadline
By Jodie Sinnema, Edmonton Journal July 14, 2009 http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Alberta+health+board+admits+helipad+error/1789287/story.html
Had there not been several official comments regarding the closures being the result of Transport Canada standards, and had there not been the blatantly untrue statement about the reopenings being a result of TC providing the AHB with a time extension to bring the helipads up to standards, and had two Tory MLA’s (Doug Griffiths and Ty Lund) not gone on record about having no previous or insider knowledge about the closures or the reasons for them, then this whole fiasco might have gotten a whitewash.
As an aside, and perhaps more telling, Dr. (not medical) Duckett is on holiday less than 3 ½ months after starting the job. He started his well paid position on March 23rd of this year, introduced an 80 some page organizational chart, got rid of around a hundred managers and announced that he now personally signs off on each and every new hire. And he’s now on vacation???
Heads should roll on this one.
This wasn’t an unverified email that was acted on and apologized for the next day.
This was an orchestrated series of events, over a period of time, based on invented circumstances and designed to change an aspect of health care in Alberta while keeping Albertans in the dark. Albertans were deliberately mislead by the false information given to them by The Alberta Health Board, it’s communications people, and by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Ken Hughes, on July 9th when he clearly told a reporter that Transport Canada was prepared to give the Alberta Health Board and extension on the heliports.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Helipads+reopen+rural+hospitals+Ottawa+relents/1766664/story.html July 14, 2009
Either Dr. (not medial) Duckett is utterly incompetent, a puppet of his masters above, or just untrustworthy. Whichever it is, Dr. (not medical) Duckett has proven himself unworthy of his position as the captain of the Alberta Health Services ship.
Mr. Hughes has proven that he is prepared to treat Albertans with disdain by being an Alberta Health Board public spokesperson with position and authority for the July 9th article in the Calgary Herald in which he misstated the true facts and mislead Albertans. Whether he did in fact have ‘bad infromation’ as Duckett claims he had, and didn’t bother to verify it, or whether he knowingly told untruths, he has shown that he is not competent to oversee such a complex and multifaceted system as our public health care system.
Health Minister Liepert’s actions in the next few days will tell us a lot. If he was unaware of Dr. (not medical) Duckett’s actions and misinforming the people of Alberta, than he has a CEO that is out of control. If he was unaware of the full extent of Mr. Hughe’s actions, then he is incompetent as Health Minister. If he is complicit in what happened with the heliports and the mistruths repeatedly told to Albertans, than he will do nothing.
In the end, the buck stops at Ed Stelmach's office. His response to this scandalous situation will say a lot about the man, and about his ability to govern.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Conservative MLA threatens that “Someone’s head is going to roll.” after he calls Transport Canada to confirm that they haven’t made changes to close
Conservative MLA threatens that “Someone’s head is going to roll.” after he calls Transport Canada to confirm that they haven’t made changes to close Heliports for STARS air ambulance service.
Doug Griffiths, MLA Battle River-Wainwright, called Transport Canada to find out what changes they had made that required Alberta Helath Services to close the Wainwright helipad.
When he found out that Transport Canada hadn’t done anything to require the closure, he vowed that he would have the answers by the caucus meeting in Calgary during the Stampede (today) or “Someone’s head is going to roll.”
Today, the Calgary Herald reports that rural helipads will reopen, but that Transport Canada is providing more time to meet the guidelines.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Helipads+reopen+Alberta+rural+hospitals+Ottawa+relents/1766664/story.html
At the same time, according to the Herald article, Transport Canada is still saying it has nothing to do with the closures.
So who is telling the truth and who isn’t, and why?
It is time for truth from Health Minister Ron Liepert, and transparency and accountability from the Alberta Health Board and Liepert, to say nothing of our premier.
Confusion over closure of STARS helipadReporter: Kelly Clemmer Friday, July 3, 2009 at 9:00AM News
The helipad near the Wainwright Health Centre used by STARS Air Ambulance is closed, at least for now.
Wainwright’s ground ambulance will now transport patients to the Wainwright Airport to be picked up by STARS helicopters for emergency transport to Edmonton hospitals.
In a letter to Wainwright town council, dated June 25, Battle River-Wainwright MLA Doug Griffiths alerted the town that Alberta Health Services (AHS) will close the helipad, along with seven others in Alberta, effective June 30, because the helipads do not meet Transport Canada standards.
Transferring a patient from the hospital to the helipad usually takes about a minute, currently. The helipad is located next to the Wainwright High School, across the street from the Wainwright Health Centre. Transferring a patient to the Wainwright Airport to meet STARS will add the driving time through town, along Canola Road, then three miles south of Wainwright to the airport.
If patient transportation is required from STARS, time is of the essence. Fixed wing air ambulances are also used, but the helicopters have reduced travel time for critically ill or injured patients.
After Griffiths received phone calls from concerned constituents who had phoned Transport Canada to find out what standards the helipads did not meet, but found Transport Canada denying their involvement, Griffiths called Transport Canada himself.
“According to Transport Canada, they didn’t order this,” said Griffiths. “Everything is fine, as far as they are concerned.”
Griffiths explained that according to the people he spoke to at Transport Canada, they haven’t undertaken any assessments that would have caused the closure of the helipads.
After calling AHS back, looking for why the helipads are being shut down, Griffiths didn’t get any answers there either, only more questions.
“If we can’t find the (Transport Canada) reports, I say we shouldn’t close them,” said Griffiths. “The new choppers can land anywhere, they can land in ditches if they have to, why suddenly are there new stringent standards for these helipads?”
In Griffiths’ early letter to council the letter notes that the 2008/2009 annual utilization data for the Wainwright Health Centre helipad was nine flights.
Griffiths explained that he was told by AHS that there could be financial considerations to upgrade the helipads due to the new larger AW139 helicopters coming into service later this year. Those upgrades could be a factor, but when the MLA pressed for confirmation on dollar amounts for those upgrades, those numbers couldn’t be found, except a number of $3 million for Edmonton upgrades alone.
“I don’t know exactly what is going on, but I’m going to find out,” said Griffiths. “It doesn’t mean that the helipads won’t be closed, but I want to get to the bottom of this.”
During the Stampede caucus in Calgary next week, Griffiths said if he doesn’t find out what’s going on by then, he’s going to demand answers.
“It will be a subject of discussion, I assure you.”
From the STARS website, “It is more expensive to operate a helicopter air ambulance than a fixed wing air ambulance. However, one of the helicopter’s key advantages is that it can transport a patient from “bed to bed,” eliminating the need for transfers by ground ambulance to and from airports. Also, the helicopter response is dedicated primarily to “red” or critically ill or injured patients, and also for remote area access.”
Funding to run STARS comes from private corporations as well as fundraising efforts.
“I’m still waiting for answers, this is a complete... mess,” Griffiths said. “I’m mad as hell, but I’m not sure who to be mad at yet.
“Someone’s head is going to roll.”
http://starnews.squarespace.com/starnews/2009/7/3/confusion-over-closure-of-stars-helipad.html
Doug Griffiths, MLA Battle River-Wainwright, called Transport Canada to find out what changes they had made that required Alberta Helath Services to close the Wainwright helipad.
When he found out that Transport Canada hadn’t done anything to require the closure, he vowed that he would have the answers by the caucus meeting in Calgary during the Stampede (today) or “Someone’s head is going to roll.”
Today, the Calgary Herald reports that rural helipads will reopen, but that Transport Canada is providing more time to meet the guidelines.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Helipads+reopen+Alberta+rural+hospitals+Ottawa+relents/1766664/story.html
At the same time, according to the Herald article, Transport Canada is still saying it has nothing to do with the closures.
So who is telling the truth and who isn’t, and why?
It is time for truth from Health Minister Ron Liepert, and transparency and accountability from the Alberta Health Board and Liepert, to say nothing of our premier.
Confusion over closure of STARS helipadReporter: Kelly Clemmer Friday, July 3, 2009 at 9:00AM News
The helipad near the Wainwright Health Centre used by STARS Air Ambulance is closed, at least for now.
Wainwright’s ground ambulance will now transport patients to the Wainwright Airport to be picked up by STARS helicopters for emergency transport to Edmonton hospitals.
In a letter to Wainwright town council, dated June 25, Battle River-Wainwright MLA Doug Griffiths alerted the town that Alberta Health Services (AHS) will close the helipad, along with seven others in Alberta, effective June 30, because the helipads do not meet Transport Canada standards.
Transferring a patient from the hospital to the helipad usually takes about a minute, currently. The helipad is located next to the Wainwright High School, across the street from the Wainwright Health Centre. Transferring a patient to the Wainwright Airport to meet STARS will add the driving time through town, along Canola Road, then three miles south of Wainwright to the airport.
If patient transportation is required from STARS, time is of the essence. Fixed wing air ambulances are also used, but the helicopters have reduced travel time for critically ill or injured patients.
After Griffiths received phone calls from concerned constituents who had phoned Transport Canada to find out what standards the helipads did not meet, but found Transport Canada denying their involvement, Griffiths called Transport Canada himself.
“According to Transport Canada, they didn’t order this,” said Griffiths. “Everything is fine, as far as they are concerned.”
Griffiths explained that according to the people he spoke to at Transport Canada, they haven’t undertaken any assessments that would have caused the closure of the helipads.
After calling AHS back, looking for why the helipads are being shut down, Griffiths didn’t get any answers there either, only more questions.
“If we can’t find the (Transport Canada) reports, I say we shouldn’t close them,” said Griffiths. “The new choppers can land anywhere, they can land in ditches if they have to, why suddenly are there new stringent standards for these helipads?”
In Griffiths’ early letter to council the letter notes that the 2008/2009 annual utilization data for the Wainwright Health Centre helipad was nine flights.
Griffiths explained that he was told by AHS that there could be financial considerations to upgrade the helipads due to the new larger AW139 helicopters coming into service later this year. Those upgrades could be a factor, but when the MLA pressed for confirmation on dollar amounts for those upgrades, those numbers couldn’t be found, except a number of $3 million for Edmonton upgrades alone.
“I don’t know exactly what is going on, but I’m going to find out,” said Griffiths. “It doesn’t mean that the helipads won’t be closed, but I want to get to the bottom of this.”
During the Stampede caucus in Calgary next week, Griffiths said if he doesn’t find out what’s going on by then, he’s going to demand answers.
“It will be a subject of discussion, I assure you.”
From the STARS website, “It is more expensive to operate a helicopter air ambulance than a fixed wing air ambulance. However, one of the helicopter’s key advantages is that it can transport a patient from “bed to bed,” eliminating the need for transfers by ground ambulance to and from airports. Also, the helicopter response is dedicated primarily to “red” or critically ill or injured patients, and also for remote area access.”
Funding to run STARS comes from private corporations as well as fundraising efforts.
“I’m still waiting for answers, this is a complete... mess,” Griffiths said. “I’m mad as hell, but I’m not sure who to be mad at yet.
“Someone’s head is going to roll.”
http://starnews.squarespace.com/starnews/2009/7/3/confusion-over-closure-of-stars-helipad.html
Thursday, May 14, 2009
48 cents a barrel
this is just one of many programs to 'help' out the industry that has seen record breaking profits for a record breaking number of years...
INNOVATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM MAY 2009 DATA
Perhaps complaints about royalty 'breaks, reductions, forgiveness, etc.' could be seen more realistically if we called the oil and gas companies, and the coal mining and forestry companies, Pawn Brokers. We Albertans have these assets, but we don’t believe in ourselves enough to clean them up, pack them up and sell them. We're not prepared to invest ourselves in doing the grunt work. Instead, we turn them over to the Pawn Brokers and take a small fraction of the value and the Pawn Brokers take ownership and can do with them what they will.
Pawn Brokers generally profit handsomely by relying on the desperate or lazy, by paying as little as they can get away with, and selling as high as they can. Unless the owners of the asset have no choices, there will be a point where they will refuse to sell to the Pawn Broker, because they can do better selling elsewhere, or they cannot stomach the insult.
For example, if I had a an asset with a commonly known market value of, say $60.00, I would not consign it to a Pawn Broker for 48 cents. If the Pawn Broker claimed that he would have to lay off staff, stop paying taxes, and move his shop to someplace where I could no longer pawn my assets to him, I would say, “So long, don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out!” because, in a real free market I know that I could get more than 48 cents for my $60. asset, and if I couldn't, I would hang on to it until I could. Especially if I had to fill my basement full of sewage to brng the asset to the surface in order to pawn it.
Today our government gave the oil and gas industry (Pawn Brokers in my little story) another hunk of Albertans cash, to the tune of $41,500,000.00
The needy recipients are:
May 14, 2009
Province supports nine innovative energy projects
Edmonton... The Government of Alberta is strengthening its commitment to establishing the province as a world-class centre for responsible energy development through funding for nine innovative energy projects.
ARC Resources Ltd. $7,560,000.00 Redwater Immiscible CO2 Vertical Pilot Project
Location: Approximately 10 kms north of Fort Saskatchewan
EnCana Corporation $5,000,000.00 Deep Basin Development and Measurement of Marginal Zones Location: Encana’s Bighorn Area near Grande Cache
EnCana Corporation $1,830,000.00 Deep Tight Gas Horizontal Well Stimulation
Location: Encana’s Bighorn Area near Grande Cache
EnCana Corporation $1,550,000.00 Suffield Conventional Heavy Oil Chemical Flood
Location: Suffield Upper Mannville UU Pool
Husky Oil Operations Ltd. $5,000,000.00 Advanced Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) Process Using Surfactants Derived from Renewable Natural Resources
Location: Taber Field - Glauconitic K Pool - Township-Range: 9-16W4
Husky Oil Operations Ltd. $2,700,000.00 Rainbow Keg River O Pool Enhanced Gas Recovery
Location: Rainbow Lake (located approximately 132 km west of High Level)
Imperial Oil Resources $10,000,000.00 Cold Lake Solvent Assisted - SAGD Pilot
Location: Cold Lake Mahkeses
Laricina Energy Ltd. $4,300,000.00 Saleski Oil Sands Pilot Project - Phase 1
Athabasca Grosmont formation
Pengrowth Corporation $3,540,000.00 Quaternary Acid Gas Injection at Judy Creek BHL ‘A’ Pool
Location: Judy Creek Beaverhill Lake (BHL) ‘A’ Pool.
The projects will receive royalty adjustments totalling up to $41.5 million under the third round of Alberta Energy’s Innovative Energy Technologies Program (IETP). This is in addition to 16 projects previously announced.
The IETP offers royalty adjustments of up to $10 million per pilot project that demonstrates new or innovative technologies to increase environmentally sound recoveries of existing reserves and encourages responsible development of new oil, natural gas and in situ bitumen reserves. The total program value in terms of royalty adjustments is $200 million over five years.
http://alberta.ca/home/NewsFrame.cfm?ReleaseID=/acn/200905/259633FB95F8E-F374-022C-B935A1C0CD667B1F.html May 14, 2009
Earlier, in November 2007, these welfare projects were announced:
November 13, 2007
Province supports new projects to study innovative energy development
Edmonton... Two new and innovative projects that will explore environmentally sustainable ways to recover previously untapped energy resources have been given the green light thanks to an investment by the Alberta government.
Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. $10,000,000.00 Whitesands Experimental Project
Location: Whitesands Insitu Ltd.’s oil sands lease, approximately 13 km west of Conklin, Alberta
Penn West Energy Trust (PWET) $6,471,000.00 South Swan Hills Unit CO2Pilot Project
Location: 175 km NW of Edmonton
http://www.alberta.ca/acn/200711/2250939D9C594-D9A6-E37D-49ED8132765BE7B6.html May 14, 2009
And on March 20, 2007:
March 20, 2007
Province supports three innovative energy projects
Edmonton... Three innovative energy projects may generate new ways to recover previously untapped energy resources, thanks to support from the Alberta government.
Canadian Natural Resources
Limited (CNRL) $1,143,000.00 Brintnell Field Horsetail Polymer Flood Pilot
Location: Brintnell, 25km NE of Wabasca-Desmarais
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $5,250,000.00 Air Re-pressuring at Christina Lake for production of SAGD bitumen
Location: Christina Lake, 20km east of Conklin, Alberta
Petro-Canada $1,440,000.00 Steam and Gas Push (SAGP) Process for Bitumen Production using Produced Gases and an Ejector
Location: MacKay River SAGD Oil Sands Project
http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200703/21202702FA0F1-9BCE-1A74-648BF124BC63A702.html May 14, 2009
And much more…
November 4, 2005
Revised
Projects will advance the development of province's energy resources
Edmonton... Thirteen pilot and demonstration projects that will advance technology to aid in the development of existing and new oil, natural gas and in-situ reserves were announced under round one of Alberta Energy's Innovative Energy Technologies Program (IETP).
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) $ 1,084,200.00 Brintnell Field Horsetail Polymer Flood Pilot
Location: Brintnell - 25km NE of Wabasca-Desmarais - TWP 81 RNG 22 W4M
ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp. $10,000,000.00 Surmont SAGD Pilot
Location: Surmont Area 24 TWP 83 RGE 7 W4M
Deer Creek Energy Limited $ 5,708,570.00 Deer Creek Josylyn Low Pressure SAGD Project Phase I
Location: 75km North of Ft. McMurray - TWP 95 RGE 12 W4
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $1,368,000.00 Vapor Extraction Recovery (Vapex) at the Suffield Upper Mannville A Pool
Location: Suffield Upper Mannville A Pool - TWP 19, RGE 7 W4
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $ 4,170,000.00 EnCAID - EnCana's Air Injection & Displacement Project for Gas-over-Bitumen Gas
Location: Cold Lake Air Weapons Range - TWP 73 RGE 6 W4M
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $ 152,703.00 Low Pressure Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Artificial Lift Bench Scale Testing Program
Location: Lab Demonstration- Edmonton
Husky Oil Operations Limited $10,000,000.00 Taber S Mannville B Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (Warner ASP) Flood
Location: Taber South Mannville B Pool - TWP 7 RGE 16 W4
MGV Energy Inc. $ 7,000,000.00 Mannville Horizontal Natural Gas From Coal (NGC) Project
Location: Bittern Lake/Wood River (roughly SE of Leduc 12- 30 miles)
Applicant: MGV Energy Inc. $ 6,750,000.00 MGV Horizontal Natural Gas From Shale (NGS) Project
Location: TBA
Paramount Resources Ltd. and
ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp $ 3,594,000.00 Surmount Gas Re-Injection & Production Experiment (GRIPE) Pilot
Location: Chard McMurray "AAA" and "X" pools - TWP 81 RGE 5 and 6 W4M
Paramount Resources Limited $ 38,400.00 Surmount Wabiskaw-McMurray Gas Pool Production and Shut-in Pressure Data Analysis
Location: Surmount - TWP 80 RGE 5 to TWP 84 RGE 8 W4M
Paramount Resources Limited $ 48,000.00 Bitumen De-methanization Lab Demonstration Project
Location: Lab Demonstration
Suncor Energy Inc. $ 4,500,000.00 Low Pressure SAGD Artificial Lift Pilot
Location: Firebag East, TWP 95 RGE 6 W4M
http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200511/190255CE640C5-F833-1CD3-0BE714C3FD7FC08F.html May 14, 2009
INNOVATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM MAY 2009 DATA
Perhaps complaints about royalty 'breaks, reductions, forgiveness, etc.' could be seen more realistically if we called the oil and gas companies, and the coal mining and forestry companies, Pawn Brokers. We Albertans have these assets, but we don’t believe in ourselves enough to clean them up, pack them up and sell them. We're not prepared to invest ourselves in doing the grunt work. Instead, we turn them over to the Pawn Brokers and take a small fraction of the value and the Pawn Brokers take ownership and can do with them what they will.
Pawn Brokers generally profit handsomely by relying on the desperate or lazy, by paying as little as they can get away with, and selling as high as they can. Unless the owners of the asset have no choices, there will be a point where they will refuse to sell to the Pawn Broker, because they can do better selling elsewhere, or they cannot stomach the insult.
For example, if I had a an asset with a commonly known market value of, say $60.00, I would not consign it to a Pawn Broker for 48 cents. If the Pawn Broker claimed that he would have to lay off staff, stop paying taxes, and move his shop to someplace where I could no longer pawn my assets to him, I would say, “So long, don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out!” because, in a real free market I know that I could get more than 48 cents for my $60. asset, and if I couldn't, I would hang on to it until I could. Especially if I had to fill my basement full of sewage to brng the asset to the surface in order to pawn it.
Today our government gave the oil and gas industry (Pawn Brokers in my little story) another hunk of Albertans cash, to the tune of $41,500,000.00
The needy recipients are:
May 14, 2009
Province supports nine innovative energy projects
Edmonton... The Government of Alberta is strengthening its commitment to establishing the province as a world-class centre for responsible energy development through funding for nine innovative energy projects.
ARC Resources Ltd. $7,560,000.00 Redwater Immiscible CO2 Vertical Pilot Project
Location: Approximately 10 kms north of Fort Saskatchewan
EnCana Corporation $5,000,000.00 Deep Basin Development and Measurement of Marginal Zones Location: Encana’s Bighorn Area near Grande Cache
EnCana Corporation $1,830,000.00 Deep Tight Gas Horizontal Well Stimulation
Location: Encana’s Bighorn Area near Grande Cache
EnCana Corporation $1,550,000.00 Suffield Conventional Heavy Oil Chemical Flood
Location: Suffield Upper Mannville UU Pool
Husky Oil Operations Ltd. $5,000,000.00 Advanced Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) Process Using Surfactants Derived from Renewable Natural Resources
Location: Taber Field - Glauconitic K Pool - Township-Range: 9-16W4
Husky Oil Operations Ltd. $2,700,000.00 Rainbow Keg River O Pool Enhanced Gas Recovery
Location: Rainbow Lake (located approximately 132 km west of High Level)
Imperial Oil Resources $10,000,000.00 Cold Lake Solvent Assisted - SAGD Pilot
Location: Cold Lake Mahkeses
Laricina Energy Ltd. $4,300,000.00 Saleski Oil Sands Pilot Project - Phase 1
Athabasca Grosmont formation
Pengrowth Corporation $3,540,000.00 Quaternary Acid Gas Injection at Judy Creek BHL ‘A’ Pool
Location: Judy Creek Beaverhill Lake (BHL) ‘A’ Pool.
The projects will receive royalty adjustments totalling up to $41.5 million under the third round of Alberta Energy’s Innovative Energy Technologies Program (IETP). This is in addition to 16 projects previously announced.
The IETP offers royalty adjustments of up to $10 million per pilot project that demonstrates new or innovative technologies to increase environmentally sound recoveries of existing reserves and encourages responsible development of new oil, natural gas and in situ bitumen reserves. The total program value in terms of royalty adjustments is $200 million over five years.
http://alberta.ca/home/NewsFrame.cfm?ReleaseID=/acn/200905/259633FB95F8E-F374-022C-B935A1C0CD667B1F.html May 14, 2009
Earlier, in November 2007, these welfare projects were announced:
November 13, 2007
Province supports new projects to study innovative energy development
Edmonton... Two new and innovative projects that will explore environmentally sustainable ways to recover previously untapped energy resources have been given the green light thanks to an investment by the Alberta government.
Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. $10,000,000.00 Whitesands Experimental Project
Location: Whitesands Insitu Ltd.’s oil sands lease, approximately 13 km west of Conklin, Alberta
Penn West Energy Trust (PWET) $6,471,000.00 South Swan Hills Unit CO2Pilot Project
Location: 175 km NW of Edmonton
http://www.alberta.ca/acn/200711/2250939D9C594-D9A6-E37D-49ED8132765BE7B6.html May 14, 2009
And on March 20, 2007:
March 20, 2007
Province supports three innovative energy projects
Edmonton... Three innovative energy projects may generate new ways to recover previously untapped energy resources, thanks to support from the Alberta government.
Canadian Natural Resources
Limited (CNRL) $1,143,000.00 Brintnell Field Horsetail Polymer Flood Pilot
Location: Brintnell, 25km NE of Wabasca-Desmarais
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $5,250,000.00 Air Re-pressuring at Christina Lake for production of SAGD bitumen
Location: Christina Lake, 20km east of Conklin, Alberta
Petro-Canada $1,440,000.00 Steam and Gas Push (SAGP) Process for Bitumen Production using Produced Gases and an Ejector
Location: MacKay River SAGD Oil Sands Project
http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200703/21202702FA0F1-9BCE-1A74-648BF124BC63A702.html May 14, 2009
And much more…
November 4, 2005
Revised
Projects will advance the development of province's energy resources
Edmonton... Thirteen pilot and demonstration projects that will advance technology to aid in the development of existing and new oil, natural gas and in-situ reserves were announced under round one of Alberta Energy's Innovative Energy Technologies Program (IETP).
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) $ 1,084,200.00 Brintnell Field Horsetail Polymer Flood Pilot
Location: Brintnell - 25km NE of Wabasca-Desmarais - TWP 81 RNG 22 W4M
ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp. $10,000,000.00 Surmont SAGD Pilot
Location: Surmont Area 24 TWP 83 RGE 7 W4M
Deer Creek Energy Limited $ 5,708,570.00 Deer Creek Josylyn Low Pressure SAGD Project Phase I
Location: 75km North of Ft. McMurray - TWP 95 RGE 12 W4
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $1,368,000.00 Vapor Extraction Recovery (Vapex) at the Suffield Upper Mannville A Pool
Location: Suffield Upper Mannville A Pool - TWP 19, RGE 7 W4
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $ 4,170,000.00 EnCAID - EnCana's Air Injection & Displacement Project for Gas-over-Bitumen Gas
Location: Cold Lake Air Weapons Range - TWP 73 RGE 6 W4M
EnCana Oil and Gas Partnership $ 152,703.00 Low Pressure Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) Artificial Lift Bench Scale Testing Program
Location: Lab Demonstration- Edmonton
Husky Oil Operations Limited $10,000,000.00 Taber S Mannville B Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (Warner ASP) Flood
Location: Taber South Mannville B Pool - TWP 7 RGE 16 W4
MGV Energy Inc. $ 7,000,000.00 Mannville Horizontal Natural Gas From Coal (NGC) Project
Location: Bittern Lake/Wood River (roughly SE of Leduc 12- 30 miles)
Applicant: MGV Energy Inc. $ 6,750,000.00 MGV Horizontal Natural Gas From Shale (NGS) Project
Location: TBA
Paramount Resources Ltd. and
ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp $ 3,594,000.00 Surmount Gas Re-Injection & Production Experiment (GRIPE) Pilot
Location: Chard McMurray "AAA" and "X" pools - TWP 81 RGE 5 and 6 W4M
Paramount Resources Limited $ 38,400.00 Surmount Wabiskaw-McMurray Gas Pool Production and Shut-in Pressure Data Analysis
Location: Surmount - TWP 80 RGE 5 to TWP 84 RGE 8 W4M
Paramount Resources Limited $ 48,000.00 Bitumen De-methanization Lab Demonstration Project
Location: Lab Demonstration
Suncor Energy Inc. $ 4,500,000.00 Low Pressure SAGD Artificial Lift Pilot
Location: Firebag East, TWP 95 RGE 6 W4M
http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200511/190255CE640C5-F833-1CD3-0BE714C3FD7FC08F.html May 14, 2009
Monday, August 4, 2008
Our Simple Premier
Governments wasting our money.
I can sympathize with Henning, of the Taxpayers Federation, for his questioning of a city website to measure our carbon footprint. (article follows).
I am astounded to find that my dollars are paying for Premier Stelmach’s “One Simple Act,” also known as his climate change plan. Don’t stop reading, this gets even better.
You and I are not only paying for a website that doesn’t really have much in the way of significant information, we are also paying for a team of people to travel around the province finding people who do do (oops), “One Simple Act!”
Oh my, the website has even been updated since Friday! On Friday we had a running total telling us that we had saved about 14 garbage truckloads…..The website has now been redesigned and the running total is now replaced by pictures from “Flickr.” I am betting that our ‘brain trust’ in the Edmonton Legislature found a way to pay someone for taking the video, posting the video, or just putting it on “Flickr.” We Albertans can now proudly say that that we have now saved 104 garbage truck loads from the dump (as of the updated statistics since Friday) since this one simple idea for one simple act was implemented by our one simple premier since his big announcement on June 2! I’m not quite sure how we got from 14 garbage trucks to 104, …and got a redesigned website in a few days…but hey, if the budget is unlimited you can waste money anywhere! This busy, busy team, who you can bet are getting paid, are selling the “One Simple Act” around the province with 2 public appearances in July 2008, 3 in August and 1 in September.
Henning, let us start looking at the real waste and corruption.
Web reference: http://alberta.ca/acn/200806/236584A0625CE-B234-7A78-7FBBEDDD2D4F8696.html
Mon, August 4, 2008
Green website a waste
Taxpayers federation says city's carbon footprint calculator way too expensive
By ALYSSA NOEL, SUN MEDIA
The city's new carbon- footprint calculator doesn't add up as an advantage for Edmontonians, charges a taxpayer watchdog.
Officials recently unveiled the online tool as part of an initiative to make Edmonton a more environmentally friendly city.
It allows citizens to figure out their carbon and ecological footprint.
However, dozens of similar tools are available for free online, argues Scott Hennig, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"The issue isn't whether or not the city should be providing people information on their carbon footprint, the real issue is they could've picked one of a dozen websites to link to," he said.
"It'd be no different than the City of Edmonton spending money to create its own search engine. Google is already doing it for free, or Yahoo or a hundred other ones."
The website, http://edmonton.zerofootprint.net, cost $40,000 to launch and it's estimated it will cost $5,000 a year to maintain.
Hennig is also opposed to the city doling out prizes for people who, after calculating their footprint, promise to reduce their emissions.
"One of the (prizes) is a one-year lease for a hybrid vehicle," he said.
"I don't think most people are going to be opposed to the government being more environmentally friendly, but here you just give your name and say you're going to do something and you can win a prize.
"Handing out prizes doesn't normally sound like the role of government."
But Coun. Don Iveson, whose portfolio includes environment issues, argued the calculator offers residents a unique service while providing the city with useful data at the same time.
"A big advantage of the system we've partnered with is first of all it's more detailed than the free calculator sites out there," he explained.
"When we're partnered with the supplier, we have access to the data ...
"It's not just about giving citizens a tool, it also allows us, in general terms, to look at trends and decisions citizens want to make."
Municipal governments play a huge role in combating global warming, he added.
"Globally, more than half the world's population lives in cities and it's much higher in Canada," he said.
"From what I've read, about 75% of the world's energy consumption takes place in cities ... Cities definitely have a part to play if we're going to actually reduce emissions.
"Federal and provincial governments have the resources and the legislative power, but the place where most of the changes will happen is the cities."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/08/04/6347311-sun.html
I can sympathize with Henning, of the Taxpayers Federation, for his questioning of a city website to measure our carbon footprint. (article follows).
I am astounded to find that my dollars are paying for Premier Stelmach’s “One Simple Act,” also known as his climate change plan. Don’t stop reading, this gets even better.
You and I are not only paying for a website that doesn’t really have much in the way of significant information, we are also paying for a team of people to travel around the province finding people who do do (oops), “One Simple Act!”
Oh my, the website has even been updated since Friday! On Friday we had a running total telling us that we had saved about 14 garbage truckloads…..The website has now been redesigned and the running total is now replaced by pictures from “Flickr.” I am betting that our ‘brain trust’ in the Edmonton Legislature found a way to pay someone for taking the video, posting the video, or just putting it on “Flickr.” We Albertans can now proudly say that that we have now saved 104 garbage truck loads from the dump (as of the updated statistics since Friday) since this one simple idea for one simple act was implemented by our one simple premier since his big announcement on June 2! I’m not quite sure how we got from 14 garbage trucks to 104, …and got a redesigned website in a few days…but hey, if the budget is unlimited you can waste money anywhere! This busy, busy team, who you can bet are getting paid, are selling the “One Simple Act” around the province with 2 public appearances in July 2008, 3 in August and 1 in September.
Henning, let us start looking at the real waste and corruption.
Web reference: http://alberta.ca/acn/200806/236584A0625CE-B234-7A78-7FBBEDDD2D4F8696.html
Mon, August 4, 2008
Green website a waste
Taxpayers federation says city's carbon footprint calculator way too expensive
By ALYSSA NOEL, SUN MEDIA
The city's new carbon- footprint calculator doesn't add up as an advantage for Edmontonians, charges a taxpayer watchdog.
Officials recently unveiled the online tool as part of an initiative to make Edmonton a more environmentally friendly city.
It allows citizens to figure out their carbon and ecological footprint.
However, dozens of similar tools are available for free online, argues Scott Hennig, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"The issue isn't whether or not the city should be providing people information on their carbon footprint, the real issue is they could've picked one of a dozen websites to link to," he said.
"It'd be no different than the City of Edmonton spending money to create its own search engine. Google is already doing it for free, or Yahoo or a hundred other ones."
The website, http://edmonton.zerofootprint.net, cost $40,000 to launch and it's estimated it will cost $5,000 a year to maintain.
Hennig is also opposed to the city doling out prizes for people who, after calculating their footprint, promise to reduce their emissions.
"One of the (prizes) is a one-year lease for a hybrid vehicle," he said.
"I don't think most people are going to be opposed to the government being more environmentally friendly, but here you just give your name and say you're going to do something and you can win a prize.
"Handing out prizes doesn't normally sound like the role of government."
But Coun. Don Iveson, whose portfolio includes environment issues, argued the calculator offers residents a unique service while providing the city with useful data at the same time.
"A big advantage of the system we've partnered with is first of all it's more detailed than the free calculator sites out there," he explained.
"When we're partnered with the supplier, we have access to the data ...
"It's not just about giving citizens a tool, it also allows us, in general terms, to look at trends and decisions citizens want to make."
Municipal governments play a huge role in combating global warming, he added.
"Globally, more than half the world's population lives in cities and it's much higher in Canada," he said.
"From what I've read, about 75% of the world's energy consumption takes place in cities ... Cities definitely have a part to play if we're going to actually reduce emissions.
"Federal and provincial governments have the resources and the legislative power, but the place where most of the changes will happen is the cities."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2008/08/04/6347311-sun.html
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Are Iris Eyes Smiling on Budget Day?
Minister Evans,
Since the mid 1990’s ‘severely normal Albertans’ have watched your government talk tough about everyone doing their part to get rid of the debt. Albertans bought in and took their lumps with massive cuts to social programs that hit the most vulnerable populations hard. Your government has squeezed every last drop of economic blood out of seniors, single parents, unskilled workers and the mentally ill, people with developmental disabilities and their families and every other demographic that has not been able to benefit from the so-called “Alberta Advantage.”
You sat at the Cabinet Table when doctors, teachers and nurses were made out to be the enemies; your government vilified each group at your own time in order to convince ‘severely normal Albertans’ believed that each group, in your time, was “the bad guy” and force wage cuts, and cuts to seats at Universities and colleges that directly lead to today’s shortage of health care professionals. You also sat at the cabinet table when the decisions were made to rip apart every segment of public policy that actually provided direct benefits to Albertans, like electricity deregulation, the sale of valuable Albertan owned assets like the Holy Cross, A.G.T. and the natural gas company that Albertans owned, and that now provide fat cheques to their owners.
Minister Evans, will this budget finally acknowledge that all Albertans do not have the same advantage and finally walk the talk about Alberta being a caring and inclusive society? Will your budget allow AISH and Alberta Works recipients to live with some sense of dignity? Will your budget allow seniors in care to spend their final years living in dignity? Will your budget make a real attempt to undo the damage that you, as Health Minister caused by using Calgary as a Petri dish for private health care (or as Ralph and you called it then…the “THIRD WAY”?
Minister Evans, will this, your first budget, offer Albertans complete transparency about who are the winners and losers? Will it tell Albertans (your employers) whether all Albertans will benefit from all of the various grants, loans, and graft that we all know is right there in the billions that might never be properly accounted for since your government refused the Auditor General a $20,000? budget increase to publish biannual reports, rather than annual reports?
These are but a few of the questions that I have for Minister Evans.
As Health Minister she globe-trotted on a pretty regular basis, yet Albertans have yet to see any benefit from the thousand upon thousands of public dollars she spent seeing New Zealand, Australia, France and the U.K. (at a cost of over $20,000 – and that’s just for France and the U.K.), Switzerland, Sweden, Washington (and don’t fool yourself that this would be an inexpensive trip – it came in at just under $12,000. – a relatively CHEAP outing for Minister Evans). As employment Minister Iris had some lovely adventures, spending your $32K plus to visit the Philippines, Japan and China October 5 – 19 2007, just shy of $36K to see Paris, France. London, England. Berlin, Germany. Amsterdam, Holland from April 19-29 in 2007, and a mere $14,419.72 in Dallas from March 21, 2007 to March 27, 2007.
Since the mid 1990’s ‘severely normal Albertans’ have watched your government talk tough about everyone doing their part to get rid of the debt. Albertans bought in and took their lumps with massive cuts to social programs that hit the most vulnerable populations hard. Your government has squeezed every last drop of economic blood out of seniors, single parents, unskilled workers and the mentally ill, people with developmental disabilities and their families and every other demographic that has not been able to benefit from the so-called “Alberta Advantage.”
You sat at the Cabinet Table when doctors, teachers and nurses were made out to be the enemies; your government vilified each group at your own time in order to convince ‘severely normal Albertans’ believed that each group, in your time, was “the bad guy” and force wage cuts, and cuts to seats at Universities and colleges that directly lead to today’s shortage of health care professionals. You also sat at the cabinet table when the decisions were made to rip apart every segment of public policy that actually provided direct benefits to Albertans, like electricity deregulation, the sale of valuable Albertan owned assets like the Holy Cross, A.G.T. and the natural gas company that Albertans owned, and that now provide fat cheques to their owners.
Minister Evans, will this budget finally acknowledge that all Albertans do not have the same advantage and finally walk the talk about Alberta being a caring and inclusive society? Will your budget allow AISH and Alberta Works recipients to live with some sense of dignity? Will your budget allow seniors in care to spend their final years living in dignity? Will your budget make a real attempt to undo the damage that you, as Health Minister caused by using Calgary as a Petri dish for private health care (or as Ralph and you called it then…the “THIRD WAY”?
Minister Evans, will this, your first budget, offer Albertans complete transparency about who are the winners and losers? Will it tell Albertans (your employers) whether all Albertans will benefit from all of the various grants, loans, and graft that we all know is right there in the billions that might never be properly accounted for since your government refused the Auditor General a $20,000? budget increase to publish biannual reports, rather than annual reports?
These are but a few of the questions that I have for Minister Evans.
As Health Minister she globe-trotted on a pretty regular basis, yet Albertans have yet to see any benefit from the thousand upon thousands of public dollars she spent seeing New Zealand, Australia, France and the U.K. (at a cost of over $20,000 – and that’s just for France and the U.K.), Switzerland, Sweden, Washington (and don’t fool yourself that this would be an inexpensive trip – it came in at just under $12,000. – a relatively CHEAP outing for Minister Evans). As employment Minister Iris had some lovely adventures, spending your $32K plus to visit the Philippines, Japan and China October 5 – 19 2007, just shy of $36K to see Paris, France. London, England. Berlin, Germany. Amsterdam, Holland from April 19-29 in 2007, and a mere $14,419.72 in Dallas from March 21, 2007 to March 27, 2007.
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