| Jan 2008 | ||
| MLA Legislature Report Alana DeLong, MLA
ALANA'S RETROSPECTIVE OF 2007 As we all settle into the New Year, I am reminded that this is the appropriate season to take stock of the past year as we also make resolutions for the future ahead. As I look back on the previous twelve months I know that it has been about as full a year as I can remember. The 26th Legislature, 3rd Session started Wednesday, March 7, 2007 and officially ended on the evening of December 4, 2007. During this time I sponsored Government Bill 38, Government Organization Amendment Act, 2007. Prior to this Bill, all interprovincial trade agreements did not yet have an enforceable dispute resolution process which I saw as a major shortcoming. The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) Bill 38 now allows a TIMLA dispute resolution panel to file penalties with Alberta courts. This signals the commitment of the governments of Alberta and B.C. to eliminate needless obstacles to trade and investment opportunities between us. This Bill came into force on December 7, 2007. As an MLA I am afforded many opportunities to speak out about topics that are of great concern to my constituents. During this session I was able to stand on the floor of the Legislature and address the following issues:
With 100 new Albertans coming to Calgary each day over the past several years, there is no doubt a great demand on the province for new and improved roads, schools, hospitals, community facilities and other services and programs. My job will be ever more challenging as we improve government programs and services to meet these needs. A special thanks to all my constituents who have taken the time to call, write and meet with me over the past several years. Your many well thought out comments and advice has been of immeasurable value to our Government and to all the people of Alberta. As always, my staff and I are available to answer any questions and/or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to give my constituency office a call at (403) 216-5400 and/or e-mail me at calgary.bow@assembly.ab.ca COMMUNITY FUNDING FOR CALGARY-BOW Try to imagine what your life would be like if you grew up under different circumstances. Consider what you would be like if you grew up in an impoverished area lacking playgrounds, libraries or parks. Becoming the person that you are cannot be separated from the people and social circumstances that surround you. I believe that a healthy sense of community helps contribute to the development of a healthy, well adjusted individual. As your MLA, my most important role is to ensure that the communities I represent have every opportunity to grow and develop into richer, safer and stronger neighbourhoods. When I look back on this part of my career the final evaluation will come from how I have been able to improve the lives of the residents of Calgary Bow. Part of my strategy to accomplish improvements is to give Calgary-Bow access to funding which will allow it to rebuild its parks, community centers and recreational facilities. The Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) is a provincial program that provides financial assistance to build, repair, renovate or otherwise improve our extensive network of community-use facilities. Another program is called the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) which supports project-based initiatives in areas such as community services, seniors services, libraries, arts and culture, sports, education, health and recreation.
ALBERTA'S ENVIRONMENT At the time of this writing, there are a number of environmental issues coming to the forefront of public consciousness via the media, lobbyist groups, political parties and government projects. The international spot light is on Canada and other developed Western nations following the United Nations summit on climate change in Bali. This has compelled many experts to line up and debate the merits and pitfalls of differing environmental stances, yielding heated arguments on all sides of the spectrum. On the provincial level, recent articles have appeared questioning the appropriate degree of water usage in the northern oil sands development. Albertans are now asking questions about carbon sequestration and air quality as they adjust their lifestyles to reflect a growing environmental awareness. It may interest you to know that ALBERTA IS THE ONLY JURISDICTION IN NORTH AMERICA REQUIRING INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES TO REDUCE THEIR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Recently in the Legislature, I posed questions to Alberta's Minister of the Environment regarding our government's position on carbon sequestration technology and how soon it would be implemented. According to the Minister, Alberta possesses an ideal geology that's among the best in the world for CO2 storage capacity. Utilizing carbon sequestration technology is one of the most effective ways to remove large quantities of greenhouse gasses from the environment. A time line for its implementation is pending, awaiting the conclusion of studies being conducted by a federal/provincial task force. Water quality is another subject which has gained public interest. In a matter closer to home, we can take a look at what we do in our community to affect the Bow River. The water quality of this area has been improved, thanks to a progressive municipal commitment to sewage treatment. However, there is still a degree of contamination being added to the Bow as excess water from rain and snow is collected into storm drains and fed directly back into the river system. An easy way to tackle this problem is to introduce 'settling ponds' in Calgary-Bow. A settling pond is a place where water enters the basin at one end and the cleaner water is taken out at the other end by the process of settling. It is a simple but effective form of water purification and adds wildlife habitats and water features to our communities. If you would like to get involved in promoting this idea, please contact me. As always I would like to stress how important your input is regarding these issues. If you have any questions or comments about settling ponds and the state of the environment please feel free to contact me via e-mail at calgary.bow@assembly.ab.ca. Protecting and managing Alberta's environment is part of Premier Ed Stelmach's plan to secure Alberta's future by building communities, greening our growth and creating opportunity. SAFER COMMUNITIES I believe in a safer Alberta with safer communities. In the Spring of 2007, the Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force met with more than 1,700 Albertans in 14 communities. After hearing from Albertans, 31 recommendations related to enforcement, prevention and treatment were made. The task force heard clearly from Albertans that a balanced approach is needed, combining strong enforcement with proactive measures to prevent crime from taking root. The Alberta Legislature recently passed a private member’s bill that disrupts criminal activities such as drug dens, gang and prostitution houses by supporting local police in their efforts to shut down derelict properties.
Since similar legislation was enacted in Manitoba in 2001 more than 150 drug dens, gang and prostitution houses have been shut down. Upon coming into force, the Act becomes the responsibility of Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security. Before the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act takes effect in the fall of 2008, policies, procedures, and protocols will be developed in partnership with local police, health authorities, municipal agencies, and government ministries. Deputy Premier, Justice Minister and Attorney General Ron Stevens said passage of this bill demonstrates government’s strong commitment to respond to recommendations of the Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force. Community safety is part of Premier Ed Stelmach’s plan to secure Alberta’s future by building communities, greening our growth and creating opportunity. 2007 SENIORS WEEK In recognition of Seniors Week, I had the privilege of presenting seniors homes and clubs in Calgary-Bow with an engraved plaque to honour their outstanding contributions to enriching our lives. Calgary-Bow is fortunate to be home to many seniors. The best part of my job is chatting over coffee and listening to your personal stories of your families. Let’s all tip our hats to seniors who contributed largely to our province and made it what it is today.
BBQ WITH PREMIER I was delighted to host a stampede BBQ at my home in July. Premier Stelmach and over 300 constituents attended. Our Premier greeted everyone warmly and thoroughly enjoyed talking to constituents one-on-one. Again, thank you Calgary-Bow for making his visit to Calgary a huge success.
Alana DeLong was elected to her first elected as MLA Calgary Bow on March 12, 2001. Alana was born in Nelson, British Columbia and obtained her Bachelor of Science (honors) in mathematics with a minor in theatre from the University of British Columbia. She then moved to Calgary, where she attended courses at the University of Calgary in the Masters of Computer Science program. Alana has more than twenty years of experience in information technology and has worked for many leading high-tech computer firms in Calgary. She was also the first computer mainframe salesman with Sperry Univac, and was the first female marketing manager with Canadian General Electric Information Services. She has hosted a TV Ski Program, has been an actress with Theatre
Calgary and a singer with the Calgary Opera Chorus. She enjoys the
outdoors, and has hiked the province’s mountains and canoed
most of the rivers in southern Alberta. Alana has called the community
of Bowness home for twenty-nine years where she resides in a log
home that she built for her family. Alana is married to Dennis Beck.
Together they have two grown children, Samantha and James.
Public Consultations Please visit http://www.gov.ab.ca/home/Index.cfm?Page=625
and provide your input to matters that affect Albertans.
|
||
