By Sheila Pratt, Edmonton Journal November 23, 2012 7:07 AM

EDMONTON – Doctors will look at “novel” ideas, such as donating a day’s pay to Alberta’s opposition parties or local charities, as they figure out their next step in the dispute with the province, says Dr. Michael Guiffre, head of the Alberta Medical Association.

But “it would be a sad thing” if doctors had to resort to such tactics, he said Thursday. The AMA would prefer to restart talks “with a clean slate” with Health Minister Fred Horne on a fee schedule and on the Redford government’s new family care clinics that doctors have not been consulted about.

Guiffre is meeting doctors this week and next to devise a strategy to deal with what they have called the government’s “offensive” decision to impose a fee schedule and leave doctors out of plans for health care reform initiatives.

Physicians were angered last week when Horne imposed a $463-million fee package that includes a 2.5-per-cent increase and cost-of-living increases for three years, but also reduced funding for some specialties. Doctors said they would lose $210 million over the next five years.

Guiffre said money is not the issue, it’s the lack of consultation with doctors and the province’s decision to impose a contract.

When it comes to family care clinics, “we’re not even at the table, and what a terrible message that is for doctors,” Guiffre said.

Guiffre said the AMA has no problem in principle reviewing the fees paid to specialists, “but the ministers can’t just cherry pick a few specialists” and unilaterally lower fees. It requires an open process and an independent third party, he said.

At a Wednesday meeting with doctors, Dr. Lloyd Maybaum, president of the Calgary and area Medical Staff Association, suggested that doctors could donate a day’s pay, minus overhead — up to $4 million if all 8,000 doctors contribute — to charities or the opposition in the Alberta legislature to protest Horne’s decision to impose the fee dispute.

“This is not about money, it’s about having the AMA represent doctors,” said Maybaum, adding his idea was well received by doctors at the meeting.

If his proposal to donate to opposition parties is accepted, “this is going to be healthy for democracy in this province,” he said.

About 20 months ago, an eight -year agreement “that worked well” expired between doctors, the Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services, Guiffre said. It required consultation between all parties and decision by consensus.

A lot of progress was made with innovations to recruit doctors, get them into rural areas and devise alternative payment plans, Guiffre said. But “that’s all gone now and its insulting to doctors.”

Maybaum noted that in a recent survey, more than 80 per cent of doctors agreed that some fee codes are “outliers” and need to be rolled in, he said, but the issue cannot be resolved internally in the AMA.

“We need a transparent process with an independent, neutral body to set fee codes,” he said. “The health minister wants the AMA to get torn apart.”

The AMA had such high hopes when Horne was appointed health minister because he had “a brilliant career of 30 years” in health care policy, he said.

“Our expectations were through the roof in terms of co-operation and new scenarios, and then, bang, ‘it’s my way or the highway.’”

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© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Yesterday, Nov. 21, 2012, Bill 2 got third reading in the legislature. 

Bill 2 (and the amendments) was debated for over 18 hours on Tuesday, Nov 20, 2012 and well into the early morning, and afternoon of Nov. 21, and although all opposition parties were not in favor of the Bill as such, their efforts to have amendments considered by the PC party went unheard.  The Bill got third and final reading on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012.  See Calgary Herald Article attached or at this link: http://www.albertalandownerscouncil.com/bill2.htm

 This is a sad day for Albertans.

Well, perhaps heard, but ignored by the PC government, the amendments brought forward by the oppositions were designed to protect Landowners.  Dispite the many efforts by the Liberals, Wildrose, and New Democrate members, amendments that were brought forward were shot down by the PC government.  The PC’s have claimed that they are listening to Albertans, and Minister Ken Hughes claims that Bill 2 protects Landowners.  However, the many experts who do not agree with Minister Hughes feel that Bill 2 will be a colosal mess for Landowners, Environmental Groups, and Industry alike.  View the opinions of U of C Professor Nigel Bankes, U of C Professor Nickie Vlavianos, U of C Professor Shaun Fluker, Environmental Law Centre Lawyer Cindy Chiasson, U of A Law Professor Russel Brown, Prominent Surface Rights Lawyers, Darryl Carter and Keith Wilson on our website under “Bill 2” or by going to this link:  http://www.albertalandownerscouncil.com/bill2.htm

Again, one can only conclude that like Landowner requests to repeal Bills 19, 24, 36 and 50, this government is not willing to listen to landowners.  Their arrogance is astounding!  They repeatedly tell us that they are listening, yet none of the serious amendments that have been sought by Landowners have been addressed.  Attached is an article from the Calgary Herald, posted on our website at this link:  http://www.albertalandownerscouncil.com/bill2.htm  It demonstrates that Minister Hughes clearly doesn’t understand the gravity of Bill 2 and it’s affect on Landowners , and our democratic rights.

This government is running a course, and it is not altering it’s direction in any way, shape or form.  And unfortunately, that course is directly running roughshot over landowner rights in Alberta, and destined to cause conflict for Landowners, Environmentalists and Industry.  How, can this possibly make the process easier for anyone?

Here is a summary of the most important amendments that were supported by the Opposition, but rejected by the PC majority.

• An amendment that would restore the basic right of Albertans to be notified and have a hearing if they would be directly affected by an energy development project
• An amendment that would legislate a standard timeline for applications to ensure red tape is actually reduced
• An amendment to restore the ability of landowners to appeal to the Environmental Appeal Board when damages to land and the environment were not corrected or compensated for
• Prohibiting the Energy Minister from being able to demand any personal information he desires (such as medical and school records)
• An amendment that would mandate the new regulator to uphold property rights
• An amendment that would have mandated the new regulator to have representation from individuals with expertise in energy industry, landowner rights and environmental conservation
• An amendment to re-insert the concern for the “public interest” after the term was removed from the legislation

 There is still time to stop this Bill

Bill 2 will be implemented in June, 2013.  Althought the BIll is now passed, we will not see it come into action until early summer of 2013, so you still have time to let the Energy Minister know that you are not happy with the Bill.  We will keep you updated, and ask you to continue sending your emails, letters or phone calls ( toll free RITE Operator 310-0000) to Energy Minister Ken Hughes, and to your own MLA.  Again, the addresses can be found at this link: http://www.albertalandownerscouncil.com/MLA%20listing-Contact%20Information.csv

There are numerous Surface Rights Organizations, Grazing Lease Organizations, Stockholder and Landowners Organizations across the province who are adamantly opposed to Bill 2.  As we have done in the past, we will continue to strengthen in our united front to have  Bill 2 repealed.  Join in, and make yourself heard.  It is important for all Albertans.

 Rutherford Show-Lawyer Keith Wilson as a Guest Speaker

On Wednesday, November 28, at 10:00 am, Lawyer Keith Wilson will be on the Dave Rutherford Show to speak about the recent passing of Bill 2.  They will be discussing how Bill 2 will affect Landowners and how we feel about this Bill.

Nov 28, 10:00 am on 630 CHED -Keith WIlson

Nov 28, 10:00 am on AM 770 – Keith Wilson

For all information regarding Bill 2, go to this link on our website, AlbertaLandonwersCouncil.com

http://www.albertalandownerscouncil.com/bill2.htm

The fight has begun!  We will keep you posted.

Alberta Landowners Council

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 21 (UPI) — An executive at Canadian pipeline company Enbridge told an energy conference in Alberta that the nation’s oil pipelines “are pretty much full.”

The Globe and Mail newspaper in Toronto reports that industry analysts had expected pipeline capacity to reach its limit by 2014. Vern Yu, a vice president at Enbridge, told a petroleum conference in Calgary, however, that capacity has reached its maximum.

“All of the crude oil export pipelines are pretty much full, running at maximum capacity,” he was quoted as saying. “And we’re not likely to see any meaningful capacity added to these networks until the end of next year.”

Enbridge aims to build its Northern Gateway pipeline from Alberta oil sands projects to ports on the western Canadian border. Yu said Enbridge was planning to petition national regulators to reverse an existing pipeline so western Canadian crude oil can reach markets in Montreal.

Yu’s statements in Alberta came as Canadian officials met with European leaders in London to press for a stronger oil trade. Advocacy group Oil Change International said about two dozen protesters tried to disrupt the conference.

First posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 07:18 PM MST | Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 07:57 AM MST

Premier Alison Redford’s sister needs to answer questions about using taxpayer dollars to boost Alberta’s Tories because she is “a person of interest.”

That’s according to the opposition Wildrose Party, which sent a letter Tuesday to Justice John Vertes — the commissioner appointed to Alberta’s Preferential Access Inquiry — demanding that Lynn Redford testify.

“We are of the opinion that these circumstances would make Lynn Redford a person of interest for the Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry,” party leader Danielle Smith wrote in the letter.

“Indeed, we think that she should be one of the first persons called to testify at the inquiry.”

Lynn Redford was acting as a government relations adviser in the Calgary Health Region when she expensed tickets to PC and Liberal fundraisers.

Vases, ice, booze and flowers were also expensed.

Of her expenses, 40% of the $7,668.28 between 2005 and 2008 went to political causes, revealed documents obtained by the Wildrose Party through a freedom of information request.

“Albertans are very concerned with the allegation that our limited health resources were accessed preferentially by some members of the political class and their delegates,” Smith said.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to get to the bottom of these issues are restore public confidence in the integrity of the health care system.”

In question period Tuesday, opposition parties continued to hammer the Tories on the spending allegations, but it was Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk who fired back.

He called the allegations “innuendo” and accused Smith of expensing a federal political party fundraising dinner for her and her husband.

Smith said the allegations were false.

By Dean Bennett | Nov 20, 2012 6:25 pm | 0 Comments

EDMONTON – Legislation tabled in the Alberta legislature would give the chief electoral officer power to publicly divulge the names of those who give and those who get illegal political donations.

The Election Accountability Amendment Act would also allow the elections officer to divulge specifics of an offence and detail the penalty imposed.

“The bill goes a long way towards ensuring that Alberta’s electoral system remains both accountable and responsive,” Justice Minister Jonathan Denis said Tuesday.

It addresses a core disagreement between current officer, Brian Fjeldheim, and Premier Alison Redford’s government over the interpretation of the disclosure law as it now stands.

Legislation Monitor Follow the bills

 The Tories said Fjeldheim already had the power to name names, but he said he didn’t.

Denis said that has now been fixed.

“This (bill) reflects the true intent of the (original) legislation,” he said.

The act is intended to clear up other concerns over public disclosure.

The Tories have been dogged in the past year by cases of improper donations to their party from government-funded municipalities, schools, colleges and universities.

The criticisms struck close to home for the premier Monday when it was revealed her sister, Lynn Redford, was reimbursed more than $3,000 by taxpayers to attend and hold PC party events while she worked for the Calgary Health Region.

Overall, Fjeldheim has opened up more than 81 files in the last year. Three weeks ago, he began investigating allegations that billionaire Daryl Katz contributed $430,000 to the Tory campaign in the spring election — well over the $30,000 individual maximum.

PC Party officials have not commented on the specifics of the Katz donations, but say there is no evidence that anyone contributed more than the maximum.

Fjeldheim must release his findings to Katz and to the Tories. Redford has said she will make the findings publicly available.

The new law would also allow Fjeldheim the one-time opportunity to publicly report on findings dating back three years.

NDP Leader Brian Mason and Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said that doesn’t go far enough, especially given that Lynn Redford’s PC donations began in 2005 and ended in 2008.

“What we were looking for in this legislation was a clear intent to allow the chief electoral officer to go back and investigate all the incidents of illegal donations,” said Smith.

“This looks to me like they’re limiting it to cover up.”

Mason said: “It was designed to protect the Progressive Conservative Party’s position, and to protect the premier and others who have not, in our view, allowed the truth to come out with respect to illegal donations.”

Other noteworthy aspects of the legislation include:

— Fines for breaches would increase from a maximum $1,000 to a maximum $10,000.

— The act would not apply just to general elections, but also to party leadership contests.

— The maximum individual contribution remains at $30,000.

— There is no overall limit to party fundraising and spending.

— Anyone donating less than $250 to a party would not have his or her name made public; that’s down from $375.

— Donor information would be made public quarterly on the Elections Alberta website rather than once a year, as is the case now.

Alberta Liberal critic Laurie Blakeman said the $30,000 limit for unions and corporations is still too high.

“It’s same old, same old,” said Blakeman.

“People don’t want to see a government that is going to allow legislation that allows people to buy an election or to buy legislation that suits them.”

The act also incorporates previously announced changes to municipal voting rules. Post-secondary students who have left home to study would be able to vote at home or in the district where their school is located.

As outlined previously by Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths, local politicians are to serve for four years rather than three, starting with elections in 2013.

The proposed law would require voters to produce identification for municipal contests. It also mandates that if an incumbent candidate decides not to run again, any surplus campaign funds in his or her account are given to the municipality or to charity.

November 18, 2012 – 4:15am By ALY THOMPSON The Canadian Press

Alberta Premier Alison Redford said Saturday that Canada is facing new energy opportunities, citing the importance of exploring new markets in the United States and Asia.

Redford told the Halifax International Security Forum that her province’s oilsands need to access new markets, pointing to the Keystone XL pipeline to Texas and the Northern Gateway Pipeline to British Columbia as potential opportunities.

She said that would allow countries to divert their dollars from potentially volatile countries.

Although B.C. Premier Christy Clark has expressed environmental concerns about the pipeline and is demanding a bigger share of the revenues for her province, Redford said a nearing provincial election could change the mood towards the project.

“What we’re starting to see is a willingness to talk about what arrangements might be able to be put in place to allow for access to Asia,” said Redford during a discussion about international energy security. “We know that we need to have access to Asia, and there are some very good pipelines structures already in British Columbia that allow for some of that access.

“Things like this lead to economic growth, so one of the questions that I think is starting to be asked in British Columbia (is), ‘Do we want this economic growth, and how are we going to balance that?’”

Redford also cited ongoing talks about moving resources from Western to Eastern Canada. She even went so far as to suggest eventually exporting those resources off the East Coast.

“My understanding is that at a commercial level, there’s been very good discussions going on and that there’s even been some work done with respect to test samples, so we’ll see just how quickly this could get ramped up,” said Redford.

“We have the ability to work with pipeline infrastructure that is already in place just about across most of the country and I think it is important to talk about the economic benefits.”

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, who was also a part of Saturday’s panel, told the conference that his office recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama to urge action over TransCanada’s Keystone XL Pipeline.

Obama rejected TransCanada’s application 10 months ago, citing concerns about the risks posed to an environmentally sensitive area in Nebraska by the pipeline’s original route.

But the president invited Trans-Canada to submit another application after rerouting the pipeline around Nebraska’s Sandhills, necessitating another State Department environmental review of the US$7-billion project.

By Sarah O’Donnell, Edmonton Journal November 15, 2012

EDMONTON – Describing whistleblower protection laws crafted by the Alberta government as terribly flawed, Wildrose MLAs said they will propose 21 amendments to the legislation.

Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said Thursday her party will not support Bill 4, the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act, as it is. Based on their party’s analysis, and comments from other experts, Smith said she does not have confidence the proposal will truly protect public servants who report serious wrongdoing within government.

Premier Alison Redford said she believes it is essential to have legislation in place to protect government workers who report corruption or mismanagement.

The proposed act, which has been given two of the three readings in the legislature that it needs to be approved, will apply to provincial agencies, boards and commissions, academic institutions, school boards and health organizations such as Alberta Health Services, as well as government departments.

It sets up both an internal process within each government department or agency to report wrongdoing, and an overarching public interest disclosure commissioner.

Redford defended the bill against critics last week, saying she believes the legislations is drafted in a way that is flexible enough to allow the commissioner to protect whistleblowers under a range of circumstances, not just those who go through the prescribed process.

Smith said she thinks those protections should be explicitly outlined.

“There’s a mismatch between what (the premier) says she wants the bill to do and some of the provisions that are in the act and what it actually does,” she said.

The Wildrose proposes a range of changes to the bill, such as altering it so that whistleblower protection extends to all provincially licensed health and seniors facilities, and the Crown prosecutors office. The party also wants the legislation to be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2003.

Liberal and NDP MLAs also have raised concerns about the bill and whether it does enough to protect whistleblowers.

Don Scott, associate minister of Accountability, Transparency and Transformation, said in an email Thursday he just received the amendments to review and is looking forward to the debate next week.

He did not offer any comment on the changes suggested by the Wildrose.

[email protected]

Twitter.com/scodonnell

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

JOSH WINGROVE

EDMONTON — The Globe and Mail

Published Thursday, Nov. 15 2012, 8:41 PM EST

Last updated Thursday, Nov. 15 2012, 8:54 PM EST

Alberta Premier Alison Redford is backing away from her pledge to balance the books, saying she won’t delay spending as revenues sink because of lower-than-expected oil prices.

Instead, Ms. Redford and her ministers have this fall begun using a different term: “operational balance.” They say provincial revenues will cover everything – except billions in infrastructure spending, which the province will pay for by taking on debt. Fast-growing Alberta can’t afford to not build schools and roads, Ms. Redford said.

“For us, it’s about reality. The reality is the economic downturn has gone in a way that no one expected it to,” the Premier said Thursday, after a speech in which she said Alberta’s worst deficit would be one of infrastructure. By repaying infrastructure debt over time, she said, “we will pay less in the long run, socially and financially.”

Alberta’s outlook comes after the federal government this week projected larger deficits and pushed back its target date for a balanced budget, with both governments blaming lower energy prices.

Debt-free Alberta is running its fifth consecutive deficit budget, despite low unemployment and a relatively strong price for oil, which closed at $85.31 Thursday. Until now, deficits have been covered by the province’s rainy day Sustainability Fund, and Alberta expected a surplus by next year. Using debt to pay for infrastructure marks a change of tune in a province where former premier Ralph Klein held back on spending to balance the books – a legacy Ms. Redford suggested she’s cleaning up after.

“We had an awful lot of catching up to do. And we’re not going to fall behind again,” she said.

Experts say any budget must include infrastructure to be considered balanced. “The province needs to be honest to Albertans and businesses about that,” said Ben Brunnen, chief economist with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Borrowing for individual capital projects, like a school, is actually sound policy, Mr. Brunnen said, but deficits aren’t. The province needs a new fiscal framework that limits spending growth, forecasts infrastructure spending and saves surpluses, he said.

Mr. Klein’s legacy poses problems for Ms. Redford’s plan, said Duane Bratt, chair of the department of policy studies at Calgary’s Mount Royal University. “In any other jurisdiction, this is not news. But Alberta is different, and Alberta is different because of Ralph Klein. He made this a mantra,” he said.

Opposition Leader Danielle Smith said the government is mismanaging its money. “Ralph Klein was able to balance the budget when oil was $30,” the Wildrose Leader said. “If there is one jurisdiction on the planet that should be able to balance its books, it should be Alberta.”

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Alison Redford admitted Thursday that while her party didn’t campaign in the April election on running up debt, the economy has worsened since then and now they must adapt.

“It (borrowing money) is not something that we talked about during the campaign because that wasn’t the fiscal reality during the campaign,” Redford told reporters.

But she pointed to Tuesday’s announcement by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty that a weak global economy means the federal deficit will hit $26 billion this year, $5 billion more than predicted.

“The economic downturn has gone in a way that no one expected it to, the federal government has said that,” said Redford.

“What we will do is manage our government and manage our budget in tune with the times.

“We always said we would build infrastructure for the future.”

Her comments follow a weekend announcement by Finance Minister Doug Horner that the province will now begin taking out loans to pay for infrastructure while keeping the $40-billion day-to-day operating budget balanced.

Earlier Thursday, in a speech to rural and county politicians, Redford expounded on that theme.

“We will ensure that we put in place the right progress that we need to make on infrastructure so that the schools, the hospitals, clinics, water systems and roads are in place in your communities.

“There are lots of different ways to talk about deficit, but the one thing we can’t have is an infrastructure deficit.”

She said the time is right.

“Our Triple-A credit rating allows us low borrowing costs, and if we pay for capital over time, just like we do in our lives, and not put off projects, we will pay less in the long run — socially and financially.”

Opposition Wildrose leader Danielle Smith accused Redford of manipulating Albertans in a cynical political shell game by delivering a set of rosy oil price and corporate growth projections in February’s pre-election budget knowing they wouldn’t be met.

The budget predicted an $886-million deficit but a return to surplus budgets in 2013-14.

But after the election, in August, Horner announced a revised budget deficit forecast to be as high as $3 billion.

“This is fairly typical of a premier who talks out of both sides of her mouth,” said Smith.

“They didn’t want to go to the public and face the electorate saying, ‘Hey vote for us and we’ll go back into debt again.’

“So now they feel safely into another majority mandate, they don’t really care what their promises are. This is sort of a pattern for this premier. She’ll say anything to get elected.”

Smith noted when Horner announced the $3-billion deficit in August he stressed the budget numbers vary widely as oil prices fluctuate, and stressed they weren’t going to radically alter course based on one set of bad numbers.

However Redford told reporters Thursday the bad first-quarter was one of the reasons for the policy shift.

“I think that you’ve clearly seen through our first-quarter update and what’s going on in the world that the world has changed,” said Redford.

Smith said regardless of the rhetoric, a province of under four million people with resource revenues at $10 billion a year should not be going hat in hand to the capital markets.

“The world has not changed so much (in the past six months) that we need to go into debt. We have a government that needs to get its spending under control,” said Smith.

Debt freedom has been a point of pride for the Tories since they retired the $23-billion debt under former premier Ralph Klein.

The issue has become the clear ideological dividing line between the Tories and the Wildrose, both of which are right-centre parties.

The verbal sparring has been bitter.

Tory cabinet minister Doug Griffiths labelled the 17 Wildrose MLAs “hypocrites” on Tuesday for pushing lower spending overall but higher spending on pet projects in their constituencies.

Without calling out the Wildrose by name, Redford made the same point in her speech.

“It’s pretty easy to travel around the province and say, ‘You know, when that budget is balanced, we’ll invest in infrastructure,’ and (say) ‘You know what, we need a school here,’ when you’re in one part of the province and then you go to another part of the province and say something different,” said Redford.

“Responsible provincial governments don’t have the luxury of being able to do that.”

Smith said her party does have a plan, one that doesn’t involve taking on debt.

She said the Wildrose would install a $4-billion base of funding every year for infrastructure, which is comparable on a per capita basis to big provinces like Ontario and B.C.

Hikes to that $4 billion would be tied to inflation, she said.

Add to that she said, there would be increased funding for municipalities for infrastructure needs equal to 10 per cent of overall provincial revenues, starting at $1.6 billion this year.

“Over a 10-year period, our balanced budget plan calls for $75 billion in infrastructure spending,” said Smith.

“So for a premier to say that somehow $75 billion in new infrastructure funding on a pay-as-you-go basis is not going to be enough to meet the needs of our growing economy, I have to scratch my head and say ‘What would be enough?'”

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George now faces the new proposed AltaGas pipeline, but this time around he wants things to be done differently. He says the pipeline is an “inconvenience, a financial loss and an economic burden” and is calling for landowners along the proposed pipeline route to come together and organize in a bid to see a fairer contract drawn up with AltaGas. To see his call to landowners, click here.

George has contacted AltaGas with questions he believes are pertinent to drawing up a fair deal between the company and landowners. To see his letter, click here.

 To view PipelineObserver.ca in a new window, click here.