Here is a link to a blog post on the Next Alberta.  This is an exciting project about the future Aspirations of Albertans for themselves and our province.  Just the kind of stuff the Reboot Alberta movement is all about. 

http://ken-chapman.blogspot.com/2011/01/learning-our-way-to-next-alberta.html

It is being done in conjunction with the Alberta Teachers' Association.

27th November, 2010, Greg Weadick, MLA for Lethbridge West, told the Lethbridge Herald that he favours more local imput from the local health advisory councils. (Apparently, the one in Lethbridge doesn't hold many public meetings.) He added that he'll also be scheduling meetings  to get citizen input. 

A good start, maybe. 

But  Weadick and the rest of the Tory caucus know,  the Alberta Health Services Superboard is not bound to take the advice of local advisory committees. And Weadick stopped short of advocating a return to the our province's political tradition of electing local hospital board trustees.
Why? The traditions  of Electing both local hospital trustees (and education trustees too) goes back to the roots of the province?
Is the Tory Caucus opposed to any citizen input they can control? And why do Albertans put up with the erosion of our democratic traditions?

Surely, the province's dark past, as home to the worst eugenics sterilization scandal in the British Empire (carried out at the bidding of an non-elected, out of control band of government appointees who did not even bother to follow the flawed dictates of  Sexual Sterilization Act),  suggests that we need more accountability to the electorate in our health system, not less. 

If we aren't careful, the province's politicians will shut out  the electorate when it comes to education, too. I predict that our local school boards will soon become the plaything of mandarins in Edmonton, too -- unless we stand up and say 'no'.
Let's reverse the trend.

I have just found this site and thought I would say hello to everyone here.  Could anyone tell me how you get added to the blog roll?

In the aftermath of Reboot 3 I put a few thoughts up on the event and where I think the Reboot movement can and should be going.

http://myroundhouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/reboot-3-now-what.html

Much is being said these days about austerity measures that Europe in enacting and the likelihood that similar "structural adjustments"  will be made here in North America.  But no where have we seen comments by the main stream media (MSM) being made about austerity for the banks and big business.

This has resonance here in Alberta, we have a party in power that has time and time again demonstrated its lack of impartiality when it comes to small business and the middle class in Alberta.  The trend continues from the Klein years where deregulation follow downloading of fiscal responsibility to municipalities, to today where realities are reduced or forgiven in the name of economic growth.

We hear reverberations of cuts in social spending, with the hidden and ominous  prelude of a sales tax.  Yet again, nothing is made of large business and the grants, loan guarantees, preferential, tax regimens, and when all else fails.....the bail out.    

Here is a link to my blog post yesterday on my take of the implications for Progressives in Alberta as a result of the local elections on October 18th.

The success of so many Reboot participating people in the local elections all over Alberta was very impressive.  Naheed Nenshi's dramatic and game changing victory as Mayor of Calgary is the most obvious.  But there are many others who are worth noting in school boards, town, city and county councils all over the province. 

There were others who made a difference in this election too.  DJKelly's work in Calgary as a columnist and commentator in MSM on Metro Calgary and election night of Global TV Calgary plus his social media contributions were masterful.  The blog writings of folks like  Chris LaBrossiere, Mack Male, Joey Oberhoffner and Dave Cournoyer put a progressive lens before the voting public in their political commentary.

If you ever doubted the impact of social media, and an active and engaged young electorate, it's time to stop and look at the reality.

I was watching two major storylines tonight as the provinces municipal election results streamed onto my laptop, iPad and iPhone. The TV was only one for background noise and quickly faded away to the real-time discussion that can only happen online.

First, the progressive candidates proved they have resounding support. That support was loud and clear from the social media population who is mostly younger, more socially progressive, and fiscally more centrist. Read Chris's full blog post here.

There are some indications that this is changing in Calgary and Edmonton at least. I have not had the time to review other places to get a sense of voter turnout intentions. I can only hope the sense of the import of the opportunity to participate in our democracy is hitting home with Albertans.

I read through the following link and watched the video narrated by Danielle Smith. My first response was- "Hmm... this hits some interesting notes". Some of what is being said is very appealing and I'm guessing it will resonate with many people. Parents who are facing over-crowded classrooms and didn't not receive one of the 18 new ASAP schools may nod their heads in agreement. Parents who wonder why their child, who clearly needs a full-time aid, is instead sharing an aid with other children. The education system is not perfect and it is easy to stand on the outside of it and criticize.

But let's dig a little deeper, beyond a quick emotional response and examine the content (and implications) of the Wildrose education plan. Read the rest of Sue's post HERE.

There are some indications that this is changing in Calgary and Edmonton at least. I have not had the time to review other places to get a sense of voter turnout intentions. I can only hope the sense of the import of the opportunity to participate in our democracy is hitting home with Albertans. Read the rest of Ken's blog HERE.