In essence, a Member Statement is a short, formal speech presented in the Legislature by an MLA that requires little (or no) response from the floor. By presenting statements in this way, they are recorded in the public diary ('Hansard'), and become part of the permanent (and historical) record of the government.
We will use this space to re-print statements that are relevant to our constituents.
Member Statement Regarding Crime Prevention:
Alberta Hansard, May 26, 2009
Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Crime affects all of us, even if we’ve never been robbed or attacked or assaulted ourselves. Crime affects us because of its cost to the broader community and because of the lurking threat that at some point we could become the next victim. For some people that means living in fear, but for others it means taking action to prevent crime from happening. Today I want to speak about a community taking action.
The truth is that many crime rates are lower now than in the past, but crime prevention is as important as ever. One of my constituents, Richard Law, along with approximately two dozen community members have accepted responsibility for maintaining
their community’s safety by working diligently to watch for, report on, and prevent crime in the Belgravia neighbourhood right here in Edmonton. The approach is simple but powerful. When people see suspicious behaviour in the neighbourhood or learn of a neighbourhood crime – a prowler, a stolen bicycle, a break and enter – it’s quickly and widely reported throughout the community by Richard through the use of the web. If someone out for a walk sees
something suspicious, they may take a photo and send it to Richard, who posts it for other neighbours to see. The effect is powerful. Very quickly everyone in the neighbourhood is watching out for everyone else.
There’s nothing vigilante about this. There aren’t organized patrols or citizens’ arrests, but there is a close relationship with the police, who find reports come in quicker and more accurately because citizens are paying attention and taking responsibility.
The Belgravia community has never been a high-crime area. This community group with Richard Law as its catalyst is working to make sure it never is. Their responsible and prudent actions make Belgravia and the surrounding area a safer place to live and a stronger community.
On behalf of the wider community I thank these people for their dedication and hard work in bringing people together to respond to crime.
Thank you.
Member Statement Regarding Bitumen Upgrading:
Alberta Hansard, May 5, 2009
Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. The Alberta Liberal caucus strongly believes that as much bitumen as possible should be upgraded right here in Alberta. Upgrading bitumen here ensures that we ship a more valuable product. It provides many profitable spinoff industries. It creates long-term, well-paid, full-time employment for thousands of Albertans. We cannot have our province become a strip mine for raw bitumen export.
We are impatient to see government action on this issue. Such action might involve bitumen royalties in kind used to boost the local upgrading market. It might involve other measures, too, if necessary. We’re impatient because we’re concerned by the increasing rate of bitumen exports to the United States. Pipeline companies are getting long-term contracts. New upgrading facilities are being built in Texas, Illinois, and Oklahoma. We here in Alberta are getting left behind.
What we need to do is clearly assess what proportion of bitumen can be upgraded here in Alberta. We need to look at the labour resources and limits, the environmental resources and limits, and the infrastructure resources and limits. When we know what we can upgrade here, we can get on with it. If there’s too much production for Alberta’s capacity, which at the top end of predictions would probably be the case, we would look first to our neighbours in Canada to pick up the surplus, thus building a broader coalition of national support for our oil sands industry.
We can do this. We can make it work. It will take determination and vision. But if we do it, we can look forward to an upgrading industry in Alberta that drives this province and this country to a prosperous future.
Thank you.
Member Statement Regarding Lyme Disease:
Alberta Hansard, November 20, 2008
Dr. Taft: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected tick. Ed Sperling, a young constituent of mine who I just introduced, has battled not only this disease but the conflicting information about
Lyme disease in Alberta’s health care system. Ed was tested for Lyme disease, but the diagnosis came back negative under Alberta criteria, and Ed slid into a protracted catatonic state. Ed’s parents persisted in their search for a diagnosis and sent their son’s blood to California. Those tests came back positive. But without a positive diagnosis from an Alberta lab, any physician willing to treat the disease risks censure by the Alberta college. Alberta Health reports that Lyme bacteria are not found in Alberta,
and our Provincial Lab recommends that patients without a realistic likelihood of Lyme exposure should not be screened. Yet, Mr. Speaker, Capital health reports that Lyme bacteria have been found even in the Edmonton area in ticks in the river valley. Clearly, there are obvious deficits in the available background information, diagnostic criteria, and testing recommendations for Lyme disease in Alberta. Tomorrow Janet and Felix, Ed’s parents, who are both entomologists at the U of A, will join other scientists to discuss Lyme disease at a University of Calgary workshop sponsored by the Canadian
Lyme Disease Foundation. I urge this government to work with the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, otherwise known as CanLyme, on a formal public review and work with federal agencies to revise Lyme disease testing. Albertans who catch Lyme disease need proper diagnosis and treatment.
Thank you very much.
