January 2010
Happy New Year
As we head into 2010, I want to start by thanking you for reading my column and the publisher of this newsletter for printing it. I hope that you are approaching the New Year refreshed and ready to take on its many challenges and opportunities.
I anticipate that 2010 will be particularly challenging for the Alberta government as we prepare one of our toughest budgets in years. I also fully expect our province to rebound from economic downturn and, in fact, to thrive as never before in the next year or so.
Once the budget is tabled, I will hold a series of open houses to allow constituents to bring forward their questions or comments in person. Watch this column for the dates and location of these open houses. I encourage you to attend. Of course, I am always available by telephone or email. Feel free to call me anytime at (403) 256-8969 or email Calgary.shaw@assembly.ab.ca about any provincial government matter.
Chaparral Landfill
I recognize that residents of Lake Chaparral are currently struggling with a proposal by BFI Canada to extend the use of a nearby landfill site for another seven years. As your MLA, I will certainly support whatever stance you as a community take in this matter.
Although the decision to extend or deny BFI’s development permit rests with the City of Calgary, I can help to monitor the environmental impact of the landfill, which is a provincial responsibility. I have asked for an environmental assessment and will be encouraging BFI to mitigate the bird population associated with the dump.
If you have any questions about this issue, please call me or Alderman Linda Fox-Melway. Our contact information is available on the Contact page of my website: www.cindyady.com.
Celebrating Excellence
If you are in Grade 4 - 12, it’s not too late to enter a contest for free tickets to the Vancouver Olympics in February. One boy and one girl from each Alberta constituency will be randomly selected to go to the Olympics with a parent or guardian. This is a great opportunity and I’m excited to find out who will win from the Calgary Shaw constituency.
All you have to do is write a 150-650 word essay describing how you pursue leadership and strive for excellence in sports, arts, culture, education or community involvement. You could also win a laptop computer, so don’t delay. Everyone has an equal chance as the winners will be drawn randomly. Go to www.atco.com to submit your essay on line. The deadline is January 5. Good luck!
South Health Campus
Despite years of planning and anticipation, it’s still a bit of a shock when I see the South Health Campus rising steadily in the east. Situated on 44 acres at Deerfoot Trail and 196 Avenue SE, the new campus will open in 2012 with 293 beds and 200,000 outpatient visits and expand to 644 inpatient beds and 800,000 outpatient visits by 2018. The campus is being built as a partnership between Alberta Health Services and the Alberta government, which is providing $1.41 billion for Phase One construction.
As I look at my goals for 2010, this facility remains at the top of the list as we consider the staffing and programming required to bring the building to life. I will do what I can to ensure that construction stays on track and that staffing requirements are met, bringing much-needed medical care to the Deep South.
December 2009
A Learning Experience
Our first experience with managing a pandemic in Alberta proved to be a challenging one. I fully understand the frustration many constituents felt when our initial surge clinics were unable to handle the demand. Supply issues also led to delays, but fortunately, once we decided to offer the vaccination to high risk groups first, the clinics became more manageable. I hope that you and your loved ones have now had a chance to get an H1N1 flu vaccination.
I believe that the many lessons learned about how to handle a mass vaccination will be invaluable should we ever face a similar situation. If a system fails, all you can do is make corrections and learn from the experience. My apologies to anyone who was inconvenienced or distressed by the process. I hope you are going into the holiday season in the best of health!
A Holiday Message
Amazingly, another year has come and nearly gone. Soon I will be entering my ninth year as your MLA. As the holiday season approaches, I want to thank all constituents who have contacted or met with me over the past year. I am grateful for your input and proud of your willingness to participate in the political life of our community.
I wish everyone living in Calgary Shaw a very Merry Christmas. However you may celebrate, I hope that it is heart warming and memorable. I look forward to serving you in 2010!
An Exciting Year Ahead
While all eyes are currently focused on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, the legacy of the 1988 Calgary Olympics lives on.
The governments of Canada and Alberta and the City of Calgary have partnered to bring Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame to Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The new Hall of Fame, scheduled to open in spring 2011, will inspire national pride through the compelling stories that make up Canada’s sports history.
The Alberta government is providing up to $10 million to assist with the construction of the Hall of Fame. Of course, COP is also the primary training site of Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic winter athletes.
As the Olympics approach, mark January 18 on your calendar. That is when the Torch Relay comes through Calgary. I had the joy of greeting the relay when it first came to Alberta and can attest that seeing the torch really brings the excitement home!
Follow Along
Social networking tools are a great way to follow what I am doing as your MLA and as the Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. I am now on Facebook and Twitter, so please join me.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cindyadymla
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CindyAdy_MLA
November 2009
Power Plays
By the time you receive this newsletter, the fall sitting of the Alberta legislature will have resumed. One of the major issues before us is Bill 50, the Electric Statutes Amendment Act. Bill 50 provides government with the authority to approve critical electrical transmission infrastructure. This means that the Government of Alberta will be responsible for approving the need for major transmission lines just like it does for other infrastructure like roads, schools and hospitals.
Although this is a complex issue, it is important to understand it because it will be a major news story for months to come. Power companies will be launching public relations campaigns, the government will hold public meetings and much debate will ensue. I would encourage you to do your research. Alberta Energy provides a wealth of information at www.energy.alberta.ca.
Feel free to call my constituency office for clarification or to discuss this matter with me. My major focus as your MLA is to ensure that the electricity for your home and business is provided by a robust and reliable power grid, now and in the future.
A Path to Fish Creek
I am so pleased that the pathway system linking Chaparral to Fish Creek Provincial Park under Highway 22X is now complete. I know residents enjoyed the trails during our lovely, extended summer (of course, they can be enjoyed in any weather!)
I’m also pleased to report that damage caused by years of off-trail cycling in the west end of Fish Creek Park has been repaired. A 10 kilometre trail designed specifically for mountain bikes is now open, thanks to a joint federal-provincial initiative. Please remember that all cyclists must stay on designated trails in the park.
Carrying a Torch
Olympic excitement will escalate in November as the winter games grow ever closer. The Olympic Flame makes its first stop in Alberta this month and I’ll be there to greet the torch runners and celebrate with the community of Grande Prairie.
The Flame arrives in Calgary in January and of course, I’ll be there too, cheering on the home town crowd. With 60 per cent of Canada’s Olympic athletes currently training in the Calgary area, this celebration will be particularly sweet.
