Gwyneth Midgley
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Pat Chizek | Lethbridge-West
Pat was born in Saskatchewan but has lived all her adult life in Alberta. She has a Master's Degree in Education and was a teacher in the public school system for many years. She loves volleyball and still occasionally referees, as well as volunteering in the Norbridge Senior's Centre.
Pat will fight for public education, public healthcare, and getting our economy back on track.
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Interested in becoming a candidate?
Are you interested in running as a candidate for the Alberta Liberals in the next election?
We would love to hear from you!
Please contact our Executive Director, Gwyneth Midgley at [email protected] for more information.
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Gwyneth Midgley donated 2022-05-09 22:03:49 -0600
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Spotlight on Solutions: Environment
Spotlight on Solutions is our regular blog post that cuts through the partisan spin favouring positive, pragmatic and solutions-oriented politics.
The Carbon Tax and Energy Policy are making headlines once again, thanks to Alberta’s Premier.
John Roggeveen will have plenty to say on that in this week’s Friday Focus but today, we wanted to shine the spotlight on four under-discussed but critically important environmental issues that rarely make the headlines.
Expanding Protected Areas
Protecting nature is critical to preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change. Scientists have been calling on governments to set aside 50% of the planet for nature by 2050. Despite this, only 15% of Alberta’s natural environments are protected as Provincial or National Parks, Wilderness Areas, or Ecological Reserves. We support working with the federal government to achieve the goal of protecting 50% of our natural habitats by designating more protected areas.
Protecting Wildlife and Species at Risk
Alberta needs to step up its conservation efforts to preserve biodiversity by emphasising protecting species at risk. This includes implementing policies like working with conservation groups, increasing penalties for people who harm endangered species, and creating more wildlife corridors to facilitate the migration of displaced wildlife due to urban expansion.
Banning Clearcutting
The practice of clearcutting is hugely damaging to ecosystems, animal life, flood protection, and tourism. It also undermines the sustainability of our forestry industry. Yet, this harmful practice has continued unopposed by successive Alberta governments. We believe in banning clearcutting outright while working with the forestry industry to implement best practices for a sustainable industry.
Expanding Recycling Programs
Recycling is changing globally, and Alberta needs to adapt. Alberta can do this by expanding the Electronics Recycling Program to include small appliances and a host of other currently ineligible electronics and by taking advantage of newly passed Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. A strong EPR program makes the manufacturer of the product, not the consumer, responsible for the environmental impact of a product for its life cycle, which will lead to higher environmental standards in the long run.
These are just some environmental issues that don’t get the attention they deserve. In the coming weeks, we’ll be dedicating a whole Spotlight on Solutions to another critical matter, managing our water supply. If you have other topics that you think need the spotlight, let us know!If you want a more solutions-oriented approach to Alberta politics, please subscribe. If you’d like to share your policy thoughts or get involved in our policy process, reach us at [email protected].
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Gwyneth Midgley donated 2022-12-31 22:46:29 -0700
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Friday Focus: Red Alert!
Red Alert on Red Alerts
There were 135 red alerts across Alberta in the last 50 days, says HSAA, the paramedics’ union. A red alert means no ambulances are available in the event someone needs one. The frequency of red alerts is a long-standing problem in Alberta. As HSAA president Mike Parker pointed out, successive governments have failed to take action on this issue.
In 2018 the Alberta Liberals uncovered disturbing statistics around emergency medical services in Alberta. Our party put forward several solutions including hiring more intermediate staff, streamlining handover procedures, and incorporating new technologies. Our suggestions, and those coming from paramedics, have sadly been ignored by the current Alberta government and its NDP predecessors. The consequence is yet another avoidable healthcare crisis that puts Albertans at risk. Reliable EMS services are a necessity for all Albertans This must be fixed before an Alberta family suffers an avoidable catastrophe.
COVID Continues
There is good news on the COVID-19 front in Alberta. Cases are down and projections suggest they should continue to decline. Albertans should be relieved to hear this news, I know I am. Hopefully, the UCP has learned the importance of restrictions and protective measures in battling this pandemic. The last thing we need is another “open for summer” moment that undermines all the sacrifices made by Albertans. We must not let our guard down prematurely again.
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Your Priorities are our Priorities: Fall 2021 Legislative Sitting
Alberta's Legislature will soon be sitting. Unfortunately, there won't be any Alberta Liberals there, and Alberta will be the worse for it. Albertans need a Legislature that can collaborate and take constructive steps to improve the lives of Albertans, not constant bickering. The Alberta Liberals share your priorities. This Fall, our focus will be pressing the government to listen to Albertans
Employment through Education and Training
As the global economy adapts to climate change, more Alberta workers are vulnerable to unemployment and under-employment. Alberta should take advantage of historically low-interest rates to invest in education and retraining programs for workers in at-risk industries.
We support creating $160 million in annual grants for out-of-work Albertans who want to pursue post-secondary studies to launch their next career and making the “Alberta Jobs Nows” programs ongoing.
Read more