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CB Newsletter- Sunday Special Edition
Time is running out....membership deadline is TOMORROW!
Calgary Buffalo
April 21, 2024
Sunday salutations Calgary-Buffalo!
Welcome to your weekend edition of the Calgary-Buffalo newsletter, packed full of politics to pass some time on this most pleasant of Sunday afternoons. So please, grab a seat in the sun, kick-up your feet, and read-on!
 | Time is running out! If you aren’t a member of the NDP, or your membership has expired, sign up by tomorrow so you can vote for our next leader of the ANDP! Have your say, sign up TODAY! |
In this Issue
Membership - yes again
Leadership Race Updates
My Fine and Fancy Fundraiser
Mind your Mental Health
Latest from the Legislature
Arts and Culture Updates
Books abound
Local Events
Membership
THAT’S TOMORROW, SIGN UP NOW!
There are 2 ways you can become a voting member of the ANDP:
Join through the Calgary-Buffalo link (below). Make a monthly, pre-approved contribution (PAC) that keeps your membership up to date. It can be changed or canceled with one month’s notice. A PAC is a good way to provide steady support to the party while staying on budget. It also contributes to activities in our riding.
Join through the party link (below). Make a one-time donation for an annual membership. A membership only costs $10 (but of course you can donate more).
Leadership Race Updates
You’ll find the updated list of the leadership candidates below. Click on their names listed in blue text to get linked to each candidates website and read more about them.
 | 🧡 ✊ |
Several of the local NDP ridings recently hosted a meet and greet for the candidates earlier this month, it was a huge success! Miss it? Make it out, but hungry for more? Either way, we have the event for you! May 11, 2024: Save the date for the great YYC debate:
My Fine and Fancy Fundraiser
According to Elections Alberta, the UCP brought in more revenue than us in 2023, by a significant margin (for shame!). Although the difference in contributions made throughout the year was fairly modest, one area where there was quite a bit of disparity was in fundraising. Let’s fix that, shall we?
So if you’re sick of sweatpants and seemingly endless snow, and you want a reason to put on some fancy pants and open your pocketbooks, here it is!
This will be an occasion for reconnections and new connections, but most importantly, this evening will be an opportunity to thank Rachel Notley for her years of service and innumerable contributions to Alberta.
Join me and Rachel on Tuesday, May 7 for an evening of fine company and conversation.
For more details or to RSVP please email [email protected].
Mind Your Mental Health
Photo credit: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr/albertapolitics.ca
On April 2nd, the UCP announced it was creating a new organization called Recovery Alberta, which will take over the delivery of mental health and addiction services from Alberta Health Services. Operations are expected to move from AHS to Recovery Alberta by July 1 after legislation is passed.
Here’s a few expert quotes on the matter:
“While today’s announcement purportedly reiterated the importance of data and evidence, in reality, this government’s track record shows a repeated refusal to follow the best evidence, and a continued unwillingness to make treatment data available to Albertans. Moreover, what remained conspicuously unmentioned was the fact that in 2023, Alberta saw our highest ever number of drug poisoning deaths. But rather than addressing this crisis today, we instead saw the Premier use cherry-picked data in an attempt to justify their ideological model which continues to contribute to a staggering death toll year after year”
“Every AHS nursing employee will be impacted directly or indirectly by this decision to hive off mental health and addiction services into a separate organization, and it appears there was a serious lack of in-depth planning,”
“The Premier said, ‘we’re seeing addiction-related deaths at all-time lows.’ This statement goes against everything our Addictions Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, and Paramedics are seeing on the frontlines of a toxic drug crisis… If the Premier and the Minister are going to speak about the success of their Alberta Model, they need to back it up with facts and release up to date data on overdose deaths and the results of their recovery only approach.
“Alberta’s health-care professionals are an important voice of authority on the mental health and addictions crisis. We work every single day with folks battling addictions…We know what works — and what doesn’t.”
“Danielle Smith’s chaotic and expensive re-organization of AHS doesn’t solve the problem of drug poisonings, nor will spending more time and money on a new agency. The UCP needs to ensure the new agency isn’t siloed away from critical integration into the rest of the health-care system.
“There are many established organizations that have been consistently delivering, with a proven track record of success, wraparound treatment services in this province. These organizations have spent decades building trust within the community. Rather than funding these organizations, the UCP is moving forward with opaque, private contracts. This undermines the trust and transparency that Albertans require, particularly in a ministry dedicated to the sensitive care of vulnerable individuals.”
Drug Data Decoded is another potential source of information on this topic, offering some interesting perspectives on what is happening behind the scenes. I recommend checking out the Recovery Capitalists article series. Read it here: https://drugdatadecoded.ca/
Latest from the Legislature
Janis Irwin, Critic for Housing is standing up for Albertans, alongside her colleagues in other critic areas, against the Provincial Priorities Act which would require provincial entities to obtain prior approval from Alberta's government before entering into, amending, extending or renewing an agreement with the federal government. This could significantly slow down, if not completely stop, large amounts of funding announced in the federal budget to address Canada’s housing crisis, dollars that could go a long way for low income Albertans, Albertans struggling to find affordable rentals, and those looking to purchase their first home.
To learn more about the federal plan Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada’s Housing Plan, go here: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/alt-format/pdf/housing-logement/housing-plan-logement-en.pdf
This bill doesn’t just impact housing though, no, it also poses a huge threat to post-secondary institutions, among others. Critics say this could open the door to political meddling in academic research, risks delaying or halting such funding, and could drive top academics out of the province. "It's incredibly dangerous," said University of Lethbridge English Prof. Dan O'Donnell, who is president of the Council of Alberta Faculty Associations.
Arts and Culture Updates
Books Abound
Asking a question at the book launch for Back from the Deep by Doug Horner
On April 2nd I attended a book launch for book I read recently Back from the Deep by local author, Doug Horner. Full of impressive storytelling that skillfully weaves together scientific reporting, a compelling narrative about complex characters, themes of grief and love, and a touch of mythology and mystery. An engaging summer read for the patio or park. Pick up your copy a one of our local book stores, I happen to know that Shelf Life has a few copies in! https://steerforth.com/product/back-from-the-deep-9781586423841/
Kieran LeBlanc the Executive Director of the Alberta Book Publishing Association with Janet and I at an event earlier this month
Local events
Oh, And did I mention MY FUNDRAISER? Shameless, I know. But what event could possibly be better than an evening of culture and class, and of course, the ANDPs dynamic duo (me and Rachel, of course!).
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