This was submitted to Ralph's World by a budding Albertan author.

Gather ye round all youse leedle kidlets ‘cause your uncle Jazbow’s gonna tell another funny badtime story. This one’s ‘bout a rollie pollie emperor called Emperor Klein. Emperor ‘sjus another way of saying a great big King – yaa!

Well, this here Emperor Klein one day says to his first minister, Mar, hey Mar!, I need a new set of spiffy clothes to brighten up my wardrobe for all dos pipples oouh reelee luf me. (They talked funny in those days). You – Mar, go get me the most bestest weaver in all da kingdom who’ll make me a new set of clothes so I ‘ll be outstanding in my field.

So kidlets, minister Mar jumps on his horse, so to speak, and finds him a weaver of horses tails and such, and tells him to make a set of duds for Emperor Klein that will make him outstanding in his field, an this here weaver, name of Maz, says he’s got a super duper type of golden thread spun by spiders, but is now made from goat’s milk(1). The Wizard Suzuki taught him how to make this magic thread. It’s so fine that when you spin it from Wizard Suzuki’s machine it’s invisible, but when you weave it into fabric and make it into clothes, it gives off a golden glow, and besides this, it’s also bullet-proof.

Well, Minister Mar was overjoyed, so he asked the weaver Maz how much do you charge to make Emperor Klein a whole new set of duds from this magic thread? And weaver Maz said – well, I charge thirty pieces of silver(2), but there are some special conditions. Oh says minister Mar and what would they be?
First I need a special room with a very large lock on the door, and I must not be disturbed while I’m making these clothes, except to bring me food and drink which you must leave outside the door. Next, when I’m finished making the clothes, and Emperor Klein is praised by all his loving subjects, I must have a Grande castle to live in, and it must be built in the Wizard’s west field, and the castle will be called the Great West castle(3).

So kidlets, minister Mar said – all will be done as you have asked, and great preparations were begun. First, weaver Mar had to measure Emperor Klein , and that wasn’t very easy because he was so rollie pollie, and sometimes couldn’t stand up from his drinking the elixir of life. But very soon all measurements were completed and Wizard Suzuki’s machine was installed, and one hundred goats were brought into the largest room of Emperor Klein’s domed castle(4), and weaver Maz began spinning and weaving and cutting and sewing. Bye and bye the new set of clothes were ready. Then a team of cabinet makers(5) helped weaver Maz and minister Mar to dress Emperor Klein in his new set of clothes.

When they had finished they all stood back admiring Emperor Klein and the new set of clothes. They all oooed and aawhed saying aren’t the new clothes beautiful. and don’t they give off such a bright golden glow. Oh yes, to be sure said weaver Maz, and don’t forget they are bullet proof, so I think we should show Emperor Klein how strong this material is. OK says minister Mar, but how can we do that? Well, says weaver Maz, since we haven’t yet invented bullets I suggest that one of your guards should try to puncture his clothes with a spear. So minister Mar commanded his guardsman Medi to puncture Emperor Klein’s new clothes – but don’t hurt him. And because of the magic thread, and Emperor Klein’s protective ego, it was impossible for guardsman Medi to penetrate the new clothes. In fact the new suit was so strong that guardsman Medi’s spear was broken into a million pieces. (Just like our medicare will be).

Now came the day when Emperor Klein was to show his new clothes to all the people of his kingdom. All of the nine kings from the other nine kingdoms were lined up, as well as Minister Anne, and King Cretien of the Ottawa fiefdom. As this huge entourage with Emperor Klein out in front in his splendid new clothes, marching down the corridor between the Great West castle and Wizard Suzuki’s castle, everyone cheered and said, yes Emperor Klein is outstanding in his field. (hum a few bars of Peter and the wolf).

As the parade continued marching down the long corridor they finally came to a high slender pillar that marked the grave of the long dead, but dearly beloved king of the Saskwatch, Douglas of the tribe of Tommyhawks(6). Suddenly, there began a mighty swirling of wind, and a roar of sound, and to the amazement and horror of all the people and all the courtiers and Emperor Klein, a huge transparent figure emerged from the clouds. It was the ghost of Douglas of the tribe of Tommyhawks. The ghostly figure began to speak. It was like a roar of thunder, and the crowd trembled in fear. The ghost, rising in a cloud above their heads, said in a booming voice “people of this kingdom of the Great Albert(7), who lived long ago and far away, you must lift the veil from your eyes and see that your king, Emperor Klein, is wearing an invisible suit of clothes. Because you are good and honest people you will be able to look beyond these golden but invisible clothes to see into Emperor Klein’s heart. You will see there a man who only cares for himself and his cronies. You must rid yourself of this king if you are to live and prosper and be healthy. And thus, so they did. They saw into the heart of Emperor Klein and they knew that they must find a better king in order to stay healthy.

THE END.

1.Nexia Biotechnology Inc of Montreal is developing a super strong thread, stronger than steel, from goat’s milk. which may be made into bullet proof vests.
2. Jesus was betrayed by 30 pieces of silver.
3. Don Mazinkowski author of the Mazinkowski Report is a member of the board of Great West Life Insurance that provides Health Care Insurance.
4. The “domed castle” is the Alberta Legislature Building.
5. Cabinet Makers - refers to members of the government’s cabinet.
6. Douglas of the Tommyhawks refers to Tommy Douglas, the father of healthcare in the province of Saskatchewan.
7. Great Albert – The province of Alberta named after Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria of England.


ANON

This presentation was given by Brian Staples, Chair of the Seniors Action and Liaison Team (SALT) to the Government MLA Committee on Strengthening Alberta's Role in Confederation at its hearing in Edmonton on Friday, February 27, 2004.

There are many things we could do to strengthen our role in Confederation, such as emphasizing the “progressive” side of our Progressive Conservative Government. This would mean we would be in the forefront of advancing, rather than resisting, such Canadian initiatives as public health care, Kyoto, the Wheat Board, and the firearms registry. There are three salient things we can and should do as a priority. Having successfully accomplished these initiatives, we would astound our fellow citizens in our country, and be a powerful role model for all other Canadian governments in advancing an equitable, just, sustainable and civil society. We would also set an example for the world.

1. Alberta as a Learning and Participatory Province. In 1970, Alberta had the lowest rate of community based learning in Canada, tied with Newfoundland at ten percent. Two initiatives were undertaken by the Province to attempt to change that. The first was the implementation of the Alberta Further Education Policy, which established eighty-two interagency Further Education Councils across Alberta. The second was the creation of the Alberta Interdepartmental Community School Programme. The result of this was the establishment of sixty-six Designated Community Schools in the province. These schools became community learning and participation centres in their communities. In some cases, community based learning rates increased ten fold in the community school catchment areas. This was accomplished even though Further Education Councils was already operating in many of the school catchment areas.

By 1984, a Statistics Canada study indicated Alberta had the highest rate of community based learning in Canada. The Canadian Association for Adult Education declared Alberta “Canada’s Learning Province.” The OECD carried out a study in 1992 to determine the best learning cities in the world. Seven were identified. They were Gothenburg, Vienna, Bologna, Pittsburgh, Adelaide, Kakagawa, and…Edmonton.

Both of these programmes had limited funding on their establishment. Each had a budget of about two million dollars annually. Even at that, they proved a success. The goal of the programmes was to get to a twenty-five percent participation rate in community based learning in Alberta. This was achieved in 1984, but that success was relative. The model country in the world for community based learning at the time we began to develop these programmes in 1970 was Sweden. They had a participation rate in community based learning of twenty-five percent. By 1984, the rate in Sweden had grown to fifty percent, while we achieved twenty-five. Since 1992, Alberta’s rate has declined by about twenty percent. The Community school programme was eliminated in 1993, and the Further Education Council Programme is a pale shadow of itself.

We need Alberta and Canada to be models of learning and participatory societies. This has economic, ecological, health and fitness, poverty, social, and many other benefits. An educated and learning population better understands the complexity of issues facing a society. Such a society can also devise more elegant resolutions of those issues.

Both of these programmes utilized existing institutions, were very economical and generated a very high rate of return on investment. They are both highly desirable and highly feasible.

2. Alberta as a Democratic Super Force. There is a growing concern in our country and province that people have given up on the political process. Voter turnouts at each level of governance are falling and approaching the 50% mark. Young people seem particularly disinterested, and their voting rate is markedly lower than for seniors. There is a serious need for action on the breakdown of meaningful democracy in Alberta and elsewhere in Canada.

There is a surprising initiative in governmental renewal in British Columbia. The Province of British Columbia has set up a Citizens’ Assembly on Election Reform. One hundred sixty citizens (half women, half men) from across BC have been selected at random to be in the Assembly. Two come from each riding, and there are two ensuring representation from native people.

Starting in January, the Assembly is studing electoral reform, i.e., different forms of voting systems. Later they will get input from BC citizens. Then they will write a report, due in December, 2004. Their findings will be put to a binding referendum in 2005, during their May election. If passed, the new arrangement will come into force in 2009. Sadly, the BC initiative does not address the critical financing of public governance.

It is very strange and highly ironic that, around the world, in nearly all democracies, government, supposedly to be for, by and of the people, is financed largely by the wealthy, and by corporate and business interests. We need to change this at all levels of government, everywhere in Canada. Provincially, Alberta must join Canada in adding to Mr. Chretien’s initiative to publicly finance Federal public governance. We can, and must make our Province a shinning example of a publicly financed, democratic super force.

3. Alberta as an Ecological Marvel. We are destroying our own nest, our planet, by pollution. The greatest threat to our survival as a species is global warming. Most of the damage is coming from the burning of hydrocarbons. Alberta has more hydrocarbons than possibly any other place on the planet. Certainly, on a per capita basis, we burn more hydrocarbons than any other place on the planet. Bear in mind there is a direct correlation between energy use and standard of living. What, then, must we do if we wish to keep some semblance of our standard of living?

We simply must stop burning hydrocarbons. Fortunately, Alberta has two of the best wind energy generation sites in the world at Pincher and Waterton. In fact, the whole southern one-third of the province is highly suited to energy production from the wind day and night, year round.

We need to have our provincial government invest every cent of our hydrocarbon wealth it can possibly find or generate into energy conservation and the new gearless wind turbines. We need to erect tens of thousands of them. We need to become a world leader in generating electricity from wind energy. We need to become a world leader in wind turbine manufacture. We need to become a world leader in storing wind generated energy. The most desirable and feasible way of doing that is through compressing air. Compressed air is portable and does not freeze at ambient temperatures. We need to become a world leader in storage, transport and utilization of compressed air as an energy source. And we need to become a world leader in developing transportation vehicles using compressed air. We need only to look to France where they have developed an auto that runs on compressed air. Interestingly enough, the engine of such a car also provides heating and air conditioning from the very process of operating. How elegant is that? If the air is compressed through wind energy, such modes of transport produce zero pollution.

Conclusion. With the huge economic advantage we would gain from being a world leader as a learning and participatory society, in democratic reform, and in non-polluting energy production and conservation, we can tackle all sorts of social, ecological and economic problems that cry out for attention.

Each of the above initiatives is essential, desirable and feasible! And, because we have been endowed with such wealth, we have an ethical responsibility to our younger generations and to the world to set an example in demonstrating that these things can be done.

Brian Staples, SALT Chair

Click here for the National Post story by Don Martin heralding the triumphant return of Steve West

Here's a recent picture of Steve.

These comments were provided to Ralph's World by an Albertan after listening to the recent throne speech.

We had a Throne Speech in Alberta on February 17th, 2004. It is available at the Alberta Government web site by clicking here.

Item One Quoted from the throne speech

Alberta needs to continue pursuing meaningful health reform so the system remains affordable and accessible to future Albertans. . . .
Alberta also pledges to work with other provinces and the federal government on a program of national health reform, because every government, regardless of ideology or party, has acknowledged that the system is not sustainable unless meaningful reform is made.

Ralph Klein must have delighted in having Lois Hole deliver his distortions for him. Note the emphasis I have placed on his words in the Throne Speech. Of course the real tragedy is not that Ralph makes the distortions; he has been doing that for years. The tragedy is that no one appears to be asking just how Ralph can prove that the health system is not sustainable. Certainly no one in the media will challenge Ralph on this. Why should the voters?

I bet that the media didn't even look in the Appendix of the Mazankowski Report where they buried the statistics indicating that health care is not out of control.

Does anyone want to know just what Ralph's definition of meaningful reform is? Probably not! We will likely only learn after the next election when Ralph says that has have a mandate to do whatever he then defines to be in the public interest (ie the interest of his corporate cronies).

The every government quote is also pretty sweeping, what? Every government must want Ralph's solution of private for profit also, eh? Sure.



Item Two Quoted from the throne speech

Quality of patient care will be further strengthened through a new mandate for the Health Services Utilization and Outcomes Commission. This year, the Commission, which will be renamed the Health Quality Council of Alberta, will take on an expanded mandate for patient safety. This builds on its current role of monitoring and reporting on the performance of Alberta's health system.

Is this not a brilliant counter the National Health Council proposed by the Romanow Commission. Now Ralph can thumb his nose at the feds, control what the monitoring body will say and he did not even need to create a new body; he just renames an old one.

In the meantime. Ralph, whose biggest problem is hiding money, will continue to advocate that we unplug our mothers, that people should just get healthy and that healthcare money is just going down a "black hole". The man has no difficulty communicating; he has difficulty communicating the truth.

Submitted by Kevan Rhead

Today I received a copy of a letter that Allan Dane, a retired power transmission engineer, sent to Murray Smith, our Minister of Energy. That letter is reproduced here and as is our custom here at Ralph’s World, we will publish Minister Smith’s response when it is received. This government has never responded to any of our letters yet but hope springs eternal. Click here to see their response record.

Mr. Dane points out a couple of problems with deregulation which he asks the Minister to address.

Co-generation power plants are generation facilities built by private industry primarily to supply their own electrical energy needs but they sell the excess into the Alberta Interconnected System (AIS). This leftover power is available for residential and commercial users. The questions posed by Mr. Dane are these.

As these co-generation owners need more power to supply their expanding industries (oil sands, chemical plants etc.) the leftover power needed by the rest of us will become in short supply. Short supply leads to both high prices and increased risk of power outages. So two of the supposed features of de-regulation, lower cost and more reliable supply actually result in higher costs to consumers and a less stable supply. Could you please explain how this benefits Albertans?

The second issue addresses a lack of planning in the transmission facilities. Co-generators typically build near their own industry so they don’t need to care about transmission facilities as long as they can supply their own industry. How does the de-regulated electrical power industry address this problem?

Good questions.

Here is Mr. Dane’s letter.

February 18, 2004

Hon. Murray Smith
Minister of Energy
404 Legislature Building
Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2B6

Dear Mr. Smith:

I received your letter to me of February 11, 2004 and I have carefully reviewed the attachments.

I notice that most of the larger generating units that were added to the AIS in the 1998-2002 period were co-generation. I presume that these co-generation units were larger than the owner needed for his facilities at the time they were placed in service so the owner could sell power and energy to the AIS until the owner needed to expand his facilities at which time the initial excess capacity would no longer be available to the AIS.

It is of great interest to me to know how much power is available now to the AIS from each of the co-generation units which have installed capacity 100 megawatts or more, and what fuels they use. For example I suspect that TransAlta’s 120 megawatt unit at Fort Saskatchewan may soon become unavailable to the AIS and its 360 megawatt unit at Fort McMurray definitely will become unavailable in the future if the expansions of the oil sands projects occur.

The point I make in regard to power generation needed by the petroleum and natural gas industry is that it mostly leaves the Province of Alberta in the form of chemical energy and only a small portion will be available for manufacturing industries that will be constructed here or are already here.

The untutored person might be greatly impressed with a total new generation of 2,307 megawatts on line in 1998 - 2002 but I do not draw the conclusion that 2,307 megawatts of new power was made available to the AIS because most of that power is co-generation and I suspect that most of it is fuelled with natural gas which will increase in cost as the years pass. In other words, I very much doubt that the AIS will have access to much of that 2,307 megawatts in the year 2010.

Of the new generation additions of first quarter 2003 only 200 megawatts, in my opinion, likely will be available to the AIS in 2010 and, even then, I may be optimistic.

Hydro power, particularly in Southern Alberta, is a “sometimes” thing as is wind. When they are available use them but don’t rely on them.

The most encouraging features of your projections in the 2003 - 2006 time-frame are EPCOR’s Genesee III, Fording’s 1,000 megawatt powerplant near Brooks and TransAlta’s Keephills III.

I was aware that EPCOR was actually constructing Genesee III but I was unaware that TransAlta had started construction of that huge 900 megawatt unit at Keephills! That is very good news, if true.

If a total of 1390 megawatts is added to the Genesee - Keephills area, as an electric power transmission engineer I can tell you that you will have more than your share of grief in getting that additional power to the market unless you manage to get the transmission lines in that region upgraded to 500 kilovolts before those units start spinning! Actually, 1390 megawatts would justify 765 kilovolts but, unfortunately, those circuits were not constructed for 765 kilovolt operation...

I have reliable information from Fording that it has sold all of its heating coal properties to Sherritt. I knew, of course, that Fording had wanted permission to construct a powerplant, near Brooks, as early as 1992, a time when Alberta’s electric utilities operated in a regulated environment. Deregulation probably had nothing to do with the sale of their heating coal interests to Sherritt but it certainly cannot be argued that deregulation had increased their interest!

Please make sure that a 500 kilovolt circuit is constructed from the proposed site to the switchyard at East Calgary and please make sure that it is available before the powerplant at Brooks is ready to spin! That powerplant would relieve considerable congestion in the Edmonton - Calgary corridor even if it were only 800 megawatts which was the capacity that Fording wished to construct.

Did Fording increase its plans or does your staff confuse MVA with MW? 800 MW at 80% powerfactor would mean 1000 MVA and most alternators are designed for 80% powerfactor.

May I suggest that you check that TransAlta is constructing that 900 MW unit at Keephills and that Sherritt is constructing that 1,000 MW powerplant near Brooks? The last news I had received with regard to Keephills III indicated that TransAlta was unwilling to commit to future environmental requirements and had decided not to construct. If these two plans are not actually in the construction phase at this moment, your estimates of powerplant capacity for 2006 will be in excess of reality by at least 1,900 MW.

Yours very truly,

K. Allan Dane, M.Sc. (EE)
copies:
Premier Klein
Mr. Hugh McDonald
Dr. Kevin Taft.
Dr. Brian Staples
Dr. Raj Pannu
Mr. Brian Mason
Paula Simons

Premier and Staff Spend Big at Home as well as Abroad

Public Accounts Chair Hugh MacDonald of The Alberta Liberals has released some tantalizing expense account information regarding spending habits of Premier Klein, his wife and various Tory ministers and staff as they travel the world seeking truth, wisdom and business on our behalf. Details of the various expense items tend to be like the Tories themselves when it comes to spending of our tax dollars; - a little on the vague side. For example, during a trip to Mexico in September 2002, the Premier and his sidekick Mark Norris paid $1097.00 in gratuities to the concierge and maid at the Four Season's Hotel. I want to a little more detail on what the maid and the concierge did for our boys that occasioned such generosity. Cleaned toilet bowl 8 times at $25 per clean. Smiled, bowed and said "Welcome Premier and Honorable Sidekick" 12 times at $15 per suck up. That's the kind of detail I want.

So here's the contest.

We'll provide the real expense account items just as Ralph and his folks submitted them. Not much detail. Your job is to speculate in detail on how just how that money was spent. Use your creativity just like the Tories. Points will be awarded for innovation, innuendo, and imagination.

Send in your submissions to johnnyslow@hotmail.com and we'll announce the winners at the end of the current legislative session. We'll publish your works on Ralph's World under your name or anon. Just let us know.

Here is the background material you have to work with as extracted by the Liberals from the government under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy act (FOIPP).

BACKGROUNDER

1. GOVERNMENT TRIPS

Between the last election (March 12, 2001) and January 24, 2004, the government has publicly released information on 122 trips taken out of province by ministers and MLAs. The actual number of trips may be higher. (These are trips paid for by government ministries, not the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.) The total reported cost of all trips was $1,114,355 but the government did not publicly provide costs for 26 of the trips, so the actual total is much higher. The government failed to provide itineraries for 79 of the trips. That means taxpayers do not know specifically what business was conducted during these trips. 21 out of 24 Cabinet Ministers (including the Premier) took trips out of province. 20 MLAs took trips out of province. Government members visited every continent except South America and Antarctica.

10 top travelers (ministers):

Murray Smith, Energy 22 trips
Ralph Klein, Premier 17 trips
Mark Norris, Economic Development 16 trips
Halvar Jonson, International and Intergovernmental Affairs 11 trips
Lyle Oberg, Learning 7 trips
Iris Evans, Children's Services 6 trips
Ron Stevens, Gaming 6 trips
Heather Forsyth, Solicitor General 6 trips
Gene Zwozdesky, Community Development 5 trips
Pat Nelson, Finance 4 trips
(tied) Victor Doerksen 4 trips

2. EXPENSES

This information, obtained through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP), provides more detail on the cost of particular government trips, including trips where little or no information on costs was provided publicly. In some cases, expenses have been charged by individuals who were NOT publicly reported as being on the trip in question. All amounts shown are in Canadian dollars. Where necessary, foreign currencies were converted according to the exchange rates on the date expenses were charged.

The Mission to New York

Who went: (according to gov't news release): Mark Norris (Economic Development Minister), Premier Ralph Klein, Murray Smith (Energy Minister)
Dates: approximately December 7 to December 10, 2002
Reported cost: Costs not reported
Reported business: meetings aimed at increasing investment in Alberta. No itinerary was provided.
Details uncovered through FOIPP: $14,316 charged in expenses by Gordon Olsen (Executive Director for the Southern Alberta Office of the Premier until March 1, 2003) and Cal Lawinger (lawyer) Including:$8320 spent on car service in Manhattan, $5996 spent on accommodation, food and the mini-bar at the Sheraton Hotel. These are costs charged by Executive Council members only and so the actual total cost of this trip was probably much higher.

The Team Canada Mission to the UK and Ukraine

Who went: (according to gov't news release): Premier Ralph Klein, Colleen Klein (wife), Gene Zwozkesky (Community Development Minister), Dave Broda, MLA, and three staff members
Dates: May 14 to May 22, 2002
Reported cost: $88,000
Reported business: In the UK, meetings with British Petroleum and Centrica. In Ukraine, "Expanding Alberta's deep and historic connections to Ukraine and establishing relations with top Ukrainian government leaders" (news release).
Details uncovered through FOIPP: $15,720 charged in expenses by Chris Heseltine in London only Including:$4,922 spent on accommodation at the Millennium Mayfair Hotel in London, $1,451 spent on one lunch at the Marriott Hotel, London, May 17 2002, $4,511 spent on car service in London, $248.58 paid to bell boys, check-in staff and other staff in gratuities

The Mexico Trip

Who went: (according to gov't news release): Premier Ralph Klein, Minister Mark Norris
Dates: approximately September 19 to October 2, 2002
Reported cost: Costs not reported
Reported business: Opening a trade office. No itinerary provided.
Details uncovered through FOIPP:$15,526 charged in expenses by Douglas Lane, Collin Jeffares, Jack Davis Including:$3,601 spent on the Premier's accommodation at the Four Season's Hotel, $1,097 paid to the concierge and maid in gratuities, $2,624 spent on a dinner for 12 people, September 22, 2002

The Team Canada Mission to Asia, Russia and Germany

Who went: (according to gov't news release): Premier Ralph Klein, Colleen Klein (wife) Mark Norris (Economic Development Minister), unnamed staff member
Dates: February 5 to February 22, 2002
Reported cost: $32,000
Reported business: meetings with investors, trade partners and government officials
Details uncovered through FOIPP:The itinerary stated the budget for this trip was $32,000 but the final budget was higher. $38,076 charged in expenses by Doug Brower, Jamie Davis, Ralph Klein, Mark Norris Including:$1,475 spent on 3 nights' accommodation at the New Otani Hotel, Tokyo for Premier Klein and Colleen Klein, $1,152 spent on 3 nights' accommodation at the New Otani Hotel, Tokyo for Jamie Davies and his wife

3. ALBERTA'S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LEGISLATION

Alberta passed its Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in 1995. It requires the government to disclose information that is in the public interest. However, certain sections of the act specifically exempt members of the Executive Council, which includes the Premier and his staff:Section 4(1)(o) * The Act does not apply to a personal record or constituency record of a member of the Executive Council Section 4(1)(q) * The Act does not apply to a record created by or for a member of the Executive Council, that has been sent or is to be sent to a member of the Executive Council*For Executive Council members, the only information that is not considered "an unreasonable invasion of a third party's personal privacy" is a person's "classification, salary range, discretionary benefits or employment responsibilities*" (Section 17)

4. ALBERTA AUDITOR GENERAL'S MANDATE

Alberta's Auditor General has a significantly difference mandate from Canada's Auditor General. The Federal Auditor General Act states the Auditor General must report "money that has been expended without due regard to economy or efficiency" (section 7d).The Auditor General of Alberta Act is far less focused. It states that Alberta's Auditor General must report accounting systems and management control systems, including those systems designed to ensure economy and efficiency, that relate to revenue, disbursements, the preservation of assets or the determination of liabilities were not in existence, were inadequate or had not been complied with" (section 19 (2) (d)). In other words, the federal Auditor General tracks expenditures whereas the Alberta Auditor General tracks accounting and management systems. The goal of Alberta's Auditor General would seem to be to help the government improve its systems, whereas the Federal Auditor General seems to be a more direct advocate for taxpayers. The Auditor General of Alberta's main publication is the Annual Report. It does not provide detailed information on the results of the Auditor General's investigations. Instead, its main focus is on recommending how the government can improve its accounting as well as updating the status of the government's compliance to previous years' recommendations. Unless the mandate of Alberta's Auditor General is changed, Alberta's finances will be subjected to far less scrutiny than those of the Federal Government.

The following letter to our Premier was sent February 6, 2004 by COSA (see below). It supports the position of the Senior’s Action and Liaison Team as expressed in this letter to the Premier of January 30, 2004. If any of these letters to the Premier are answered by the Premier or one of his staff they will be posted here.

February 6, 2004

Hon. Ralph Klein, Premier
Government of Alberta
#307 – 10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5K 2B7

Dear Mr. Klein:

It is disappointing to the Coalition of Seniors’ Advocates Association (COSA) Board, members and supporters that your January 4, 2004 speech did not recognize the financial, social and health plight that seniors on fixed incomes are coping with because of the too far, too fast budget cuts to excellent pre 1993/94 seniors programs. Without going into detail, the 1993/94 and subsequent budget cuts have negatively affected the wellbeing of Alberta seniors. Fifty-seven percent of seniors have a gross annual income of $20,000 or less, many below $15,000. Only eight percent of seniors have a gross annual income of $40,000 or more.

The Alberta Seniors and Special Needs Assistance programs are a detriment and do not begin to match the basic financial needs of low income seniors. The ASB Program, which is income tested, discriminates because if a senior’s income is even $10.00 over the threshold amount, he/she does not qualify. Meanwhile, medium income seniors are falling between the cracks. The Alberta Advantage is the Alberta seniors’ disadvantage. As you may recall, before the 1993/94 budget cuts, you personally stated that seniors would not be affected.

To begin repaying the financial shortfalls affecting seniors, we ask that you start by eliminating Alberta Health Care Premiums for all Albertans.

Rationale:

1. Only Alberta and British Columbia residents pay health care premiums that are in reality a tax. Alberta does not have a sales tax, however, Albertans pay an increasing number of user fees in lieu of taxes.

2. One of the reasons that senior’s financial benefits were cut was to help eliminate the annual deficits. The deficits have been eliminated and the Government’s estimated surplus for the first quarter of 2004 is well over $2 billion. It is time to partially reimburse seniors directly by eliminating AHC premiums. This would be a truly visible tax relief.

3. AHC premiums are a regressive tax that particularly affects low and middle income Albertans.

4. AHC premiums are inequitable whereby some Albertans pay, some do not. Keep in mind that Albertans contribute to the taxes that pay the premiums of Members of the Legislative Assembly, provincial employees, etc.

5. Within the framework of the Canada Health Act, Albertans must receive comprehensive, universal, portable and accessible health care even if they do not pay premiums.

6. Elimination of AHC premiums would signify a legacy of your government in next year’s centennial celebration.

Finally, plan ahead for the future retirees. Rather than cutting support for education, health and seniors’ programs, consider increasing revenue. One superb source would be to increase the oil and gas royalties which you, when Energy Minister, cut the levels under the Lougheed and Getty governments.

We look forward to your personal written reply.


Yours sincerely,

Jerry Pitts
Chairman, COSA

Cc: Dr. Raj Pannu, MLA
Dr. Ken Nicol, MLA
Ralph’s World Website
COSA Website