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Prairie Post — Prairie Life, Prairie People Friday, March 30, 2009 - 5
Speak up about
education concerns
There’s never been a more important time than now to be engaged in
politics.
The Alberta government is beginning its “dialogue” with Albertans
about the future of education. They are seeking input about what the
education system should look like in the coming years and even the next
two decades.
What that system looks like really is up to
Albertans. If people don’t offer their input and
suggestions, government won’t consider
implementing them.
One area Albertans should especially be
concerned about is the future of public school
boards. There could be big changes coming,
especially if what was done to the health-care is
Rose
any indication, when regional health boards
were axed last year.
Sanchez
The same could happen to our elected school
boards if Albertans don’t speak up in their
favour.
Don Braid, a columnist with the Calgary Herald, in his online forum said
Education Minister Dave Hancock is taking a hard look at school boards
since “they’re becoming irrelevant to many Albertans; 60 per cent of
trustees were acclaimed in the most recent local elections, an alarming
figure.”
In the blog, Hancock is quoted as saying, “I don’t want to give the
impression I’m hankering to go out and abolish school boards. I’m not,
but I do want to make them relevant. When you’ve got 60 per cent of
trustees acclaimed, you have a problem.”
Letters to the Editor
Really? So when trustees are getting in by acclamation because they’re,
say, doing a good job and people want them there that’s a problem, but
it’s okay for the Conservatives to sweep an election with 41 per cent
An open letter to Brad Wall
voter turnout?
Only 41 per cent of people in Alberta voted and of that only 23 per cent
EDITOR: CBC TV news carried a portion of the Bishops’
voted Conservative. Isn’t that like getting in by acclamation?
You stated that the people of Saskatchewan will be news conference, but the news piece ended with an
What’s good for the goose isn’t so good for the gander, I guess.
able to participate in the nuclear power question, but interview of yourself so that you would have the
Conservatives defended the low voter turnout by declaring when people
you’ve also said that the question of whether or not opportunity to have the final say on the matter.
don’t vote it’s because they’re happy with the status quo. Can the same
there will be nuclear power in the province is not on Mr. Premier, I was surprised at your response. As if
not be said of local school boards? Trustees are doing a good job, so
the table. It looks like the level of participation is only by divine right, you dismissed them, failing to
electors see no reason to waste money holding an election to replace
token, with citizen decision-making being reduced to acknowledge they offered a means for enriching the
them.
when, how, and where, not if ‘adding value to democratic process and an opportunity for you to
Now is the time for Albertans to speak up about these and other
uranium’ will come. show that wisdom and humility required you take
concerns in education, rather than sticking their heads in the sand.
On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, three Bishops, their words to heart—you too might have something
representing the Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran to learn. You deflected their comments by using your
Moen’s numbers tell it all
Evangelical Traditions, who also spoke on behalf of reading of the polls to try to trump their words. You
four other Saskatchewan Bishops, released a joint said the polls indicate a majority of citizens of
Being on the checking line for the Ducks didn’t bring many
statement calling on your government to listen to the Saskatchewan favour nuclear power.
chances for scoring for Travis Moen from Stewart Valley, nor did
voices of the citizens of Saskatchewan so they might Is that the truth? What preparatory work has been
checking other teams top lines enhance his plus/minus figures.
participate meaningfully in the nuclear question done to help citizens think through this complex
Duck’s coach Randy Carlyle often praised Moen’s easy
before you act on recommendations that your- matter? Who framed the polling questions? Front
manageability, fitness, tough checking and ability to duke it out, if
nuclear panel will give you at the end of March. They page newspaper articles have only echoed
required. Since Moen and Paulson were traded, the Duck’s win
also asked you to provide adequate forums so pronuclear points of view. Crafting the decision
record has been nothing short of dismal.
nuclear power generation and other renewable making process in this way denies the people of
Moen’s new coach for the Sharks is none
energy approaches could be studied in an unbiased Saskatchewan the opportunity to make an important
other than Todd McLellan, a Mellvile
and transparent way. moral choice for themselves. Is it ethical and wise to
native, and a past coach of the Swift
Additionally, the Bishops called upon their own by-pass their discussions and discernment when it
Current Bronco’s who had to be pleased
Diocesan Church members to begin a process of will be citizens and their grandchildren who will have
to get Moen. He obviously values Moen’s
critical examination of the issues surrounding ‘added to live with the consequences of expensive power
past Stanley Cup experience, and great
value’ to our uranium resource so that when called generation, radioactivity and waste disposal for
record for scoring during play off games
upon, their participation would be intelligent, many, many life times to come?
Dale
which stands at nine goals and six assists
responsible and moral. I remind you that together the Mr. Premier, the Bishops call you to use the power
in 36 games.
religious leaders who signed the statement represent vested in you to act responsibility. Show you respect
Since joining the Sharks, Moen has two
about 250,000 people, fully a quarter of the dignity of the people of the province by engaging
Ferrel
goals and an assist in five games and
Saskatchewan’s population. them with the lesser questions of when, where and
scored the only goal to defeat his old team
The Bishops said it would be sinful to make a how without omitting the more telling question of IF
1-0, March 15th, after being honoured by
choice without careful consideration of the we should have nuclear power in our province at all.
the Ducks and their fans for his four years with that team.
consequences that the decision would have on In the spirit of the Cluff Lake Inquiry and as you did
Moen has happily joined the Sharks, captained by Aneroid hockey
community and environment. with the Uranium Development Panel who now use
great Patrick Marleau. Stewart Valley’s pride and joy is now on a
Quite significantly, the Bishops’ statement calling our money to promote nuclear power, fund
team that is challenging Detroit for first place in the NHL standings
for genuine participation has been endorsed by environmental and clean green groups so they can
and has a great chance of winning a Stanley Cup.
groups which are not Episcopal polities — the River begin a process of informing the public about the up
He’s also, along with his wife Amy, the proud father of son Carter
Bend Presbytery of The United Church of Canada, and downside of every kind of power generation.
Shawn. the Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church
BERT PITZEL,COMMUNITY CO-ORDINATOR OF
A career in professional hockey can’t get much better than that! of Canada and the Mennonite Central Committee. SASKATCHEWAN, KAIROS PRAIRIES NORTH
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