MY ANSWER: See above.

MY ANSWER: I currently reside in Calgary with my wife Marie and we have two adult children and one Grandson.

MY ANSWER: Organized for Laurence Decore, ran twice in Calgary for MLA and am now building the party in this leadership race.

MY ANSWER: Currently, we are not attractive to Albertans and I am striving to make us relevant again.

1. (Optional) Please submit a 1:30 minute video introducing yourself.

(See top of post for video)

2. Tell us about your family.

My family have been part of the bed rock Albertan’s for more than 120 years when my grandfather homesteaded at Payne Lake just outside of Waterton National Park. My other grandfather was part of building the Prince of Whales Hotel about the time that Alberta became a province. My family has grown up with Alberta.

Following the family tradition I grew up in Calgary and Lethbridge where I took a trade as a carpenter raised two adult children who have grown up to be very successful professionals, married and are beginning to plan their families.

I also have a wife Christine who I love very much and appreciate her dedication and support. I have a nine year old step daughter Kaija who is a real source of life and enthusiasm in our home.

3. Short answer: In fourteen words or less, what does it mean to be Liberal?

Being Liberal means to be inclusive and balanced, on essential issues that Albertan’s face.

4. Short Answer: Imagine yourself on the doorstep of a constituent. In fourteen words or less, what is the main message for why they should vote for you, the party, and candidates underneath the party banner?

Listening to you has affirmed to me that we share the same important values.

5. Where have you gone in your career(s)?

I have been privileged to have experience working and managing projects across Alberta in the Oil Field Industry, Road Construction, Major Infrastructure i.e. Homes, schools, universities, hospitals, production plants, commercial buildings as a carpenter, superintendant/ manager and business owner. At age 24 I was a superintendant overseeing large construction projects in excess of 38 million dollars. I have also had the opportunity in the early 1990’s to work as a senior pastor to establish and pastor two church congregations in Southern Alberta. As a pastor I developed leadership skills and a greater capacity to understand and respond to the complex needs of others.

More recently I have been elected as President of the Carpenters Local Unions and also the President of Building Trades of Alberta Southern Council and working as a business agent. My business agent role has allowed me to negotiate with some the big players in the Alberta Economy, Ellis Don, ATCO, PCL, City of Calgary, Calgary Board of Education, Graymont Western Canada, Calgary Stampede Board, Triple-M Housing, Armtec and others.

Sitting at the table negotiating with these companies afforded me the opportunity to demonstrate my leadership abilities to bring people together with various viewpoints and organizations and find win, win solutions establishing successful coalitions and partnerships peacefully, and harmoniously.  I was able to find solutions to meet the needs of the business to be vibrant, competitive and profitable while ensuring that the care and compensation of workers was fair. Further I was able to assist to create bargaining councils and coalitions to work together sharing resources  and assist them to bargain peaceful agreements in strength.

6. What communities, societies, and areas are you involved in?

In the Spring of 2005 I played a significant role in the building of a community of homes and Cultural Center in Sri Lanka as a humanitarian effort following the December 2004 Tsunami disaster. Upon returning I put my efforts into raising money from the labour organizations, church groups and friends that I have relationship with to purchase the tools and equipment necessary for the establishment of a permanent carpenter school in an orphanage in a village in Sri Lanka. In 2006 I was able to see my efforts come to life. I returned to Sri Lanka bringing the money and resources that allowed for the school to be established. The school is now running strong and young orphan children have the opportunity to develop the carpentry skills necessary to be able to sustain themselves into their adult life to be prosperous and poverty free.

I recently had the opportunity to put my solid faith and labour background to work as I was encouraged to assist in the development of an organization called MAC-G. I helped to bring more than 40 organizations, stemming from various labour unions, faith groups and communities and not for profit community organizations together. MAC-G is the Metro Alliance for the Common Good. By pooling resources of people and money MAC-G is positioning itself to negotiate from a position of power issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, poverty and other relevant social justice issues in and around Calgary. I have most recently stepped down as President to pursue my goal of becoming the Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.

I also have a strong connection to my Church Family and have served in many capacities within the congregation.

1. In the last ten years what have you done to build the party? Give three examples.

As an Independent MLA, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. David Swann and the Alberta Liberal Caucus as we held the government to account on the mismanagement of our health care system. When I joined the party on March 15^th, 2011, it had 2100 members. Within the first few months, we sold 700 new Liberal Party memberships, and entered the leadership contest when Dr. Swann announced his resignation. Since then, we’ve registered several thousand Albertans as supporters, and we are not done yet.

2. In the last ten years what have you done to build people outside the party? Give three examples.

Aside from my work in medicine and government, as an Independent Member I worked with all political parties to help solve the crisis we are facing in health care. My staff and I have toured from one end of this province to the other educating and advocating in partisan and non-partisan town halls. I’ve worked with Seniors United Now and Friends of Medicare in their efforts to build their organizations by acting as the keynote speaker at many of their AGM’s. Finally, we spearheaded the West Edmonton Synchronicity initiative geared towards helping improve the lives of youth in our communities.

3. What is the role of the leader and how should people fulfill it?

A leader is someone who inspires others to work together to achieve a common goal, not only for themselves, but for the betterment of everyone. A leader listens first and speaks last. It is someone who takes on more responsibility, but seeks less of the credit.

This means that a leader must articulate a clear vision, set a good example for others to follow, and works behind the scenes with individuals encouraging and helping them to reach their full potential in achieving a common goal. Lao Tzu said: “When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’”

4. What is the role of the leader of a political party and how should one fulfill it?

A party leader must be the face of the party and the voice of the people. Leaders need to hear what the people are saying, both their concerns and their solutions, and find a way to direct all of that input in a clear, coherent, and comprehensive way. This means not losing the common touch and working as a team to ensure the vision is being clearly communicated and understood.

5. How will you go about recruiting candidates in all 87 ridings? How will you work with constituency associations in picking candidates?

I feel that a fall election is not outside of the realm of possibility. That means time is at a premium. If elected Leader, I want to have several Super Saturday nomination events in which as many candidates as possible are nominated in a very short period of time.

In travelling across the province over the last number of years, I’ve personally met many very talented and committed people of good character. I encourage all of them to consider public service by standing for nomination, and then going out into their communities to get to know the people, to care about their problems, and to listen to their solutions.

I’ll work with constituency associations to focus on identifying local candidates who have the support of their community, and to make sure that as many nominations as possible are contested. Nominations need to be like mini elections that will grow the membership, increase interest, and build excitement in the Party.

6. What should be the relationship between caucus, candidates, and the party?

We are all members of the same team. We must respect and support one another and work together to represent the best interests of the people of Alberta. We must not play the game of politics, but serve the public.

7. In all parties there are divisions. What are the divisions you see in the Alberta Liberals? How will you mediate and solve/ease these internal issues?

I am happy to say that as a bit of an outsider, I do not know, but what I am sure of is that unity is only real if it comes from the heart. We should not have to compel people to do what is right; rather, we must set a high standard of expectation and help others to meet or exceed it.

It’s important for everyone to remember why we are here in the first place. The purpose of power is not to make a name for ourselves or to attain our own personal goals; there is but one proper use of power, and that is to help others.

8. What tools or ideas will you implement to grow the party in Edmonton?

We are fortunate that Edmonton has been a source of strength for our party. Nonetheless, the best way to crush our laurels is to rest on them. So, I would continue to open up the doors of innovation to create excitement about what is going on in our party. The more attractive we become, the more people we will attract.

Some practical steps we could take are continuing to promote the registered supporter option in all our nominations, and to make sure all future nominations are contested. Competition has a way of refining us and sharpening our skills for the next challenge.

Of course, we also want to reengage certain demographics that used to belong to the party, but for one reason or another are now lacking: the youth, the ethnic/immigrant communities, the business community and the agricultural industry.

9. What tools or ideas will you implement to grow the party in Calgary? 

Calgary is quickly becoming the city of the future, so what better party to represented them a dynamic, growing, and expanding Alberta Liberal Party?

I would continue to open up the doors of innovation to create excitement about what is going on in our party. The more attractive we become, the more people we will attract.

Some practical steps we could take are continuing to promote the registered supporter option in all our nominations, and to make sure all future nominations are contested. Competition has a way of refining us and sharpening our skills for the next challenge.

Of course, we also want to reengage certain demographics that used to belong to the party, but for one reason or another are now lacking: the youth, the ethnic/immigrant communities, the business community and the agricultural industry.

10. What tools or ideas will you implement to grow the party in rural Alberta? 

Rural Alberta is the backbone of our province. It feeds us, employs us, and entertains us. Do not let stereotypes fool you. Rural Albertans share our Party’s values of honesty, hard work, fair play, and taking care of others.

The contrast could not be clearer between what the conservatives say and what they do when they get into power. I think Albertans are sick of it; they are looking for the right leader and the right party that will capture their imaginations and earn their trust. 

11. If you are a sitting MLA, why haven’t you implemented the tools or ideas in questions eight through ten? 

I am currently an Independent MLA, which means my first loyalty is to my constituents. They have asked me to remain as their MLA and to follow my heart, and I have done so. We have tested our ideas in my own constituency of Edmonton-Meadowlark, and they have worked. We were able to sign up hundreds of new members, thousands of supporters, and to have one of the most successful AGMs in recent history, all in a few short months.

A person with an experience is never at the mercy of someone with an argument. We’ve said it, we’ve done it, it works, and we can do it again all across the province.

12. What skills do you have to build up the Alberta Liberal Party as leader?

First of all, I don’t like to toot my own horn, but, what I can tell you is that in medicine, I make life and death decisions everyday. Many of my professional skills of teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making are easily transferable to the political arena.

Equally important, I know what it takes to win in education, sports, business, and politics. If we want to be winners in the next election, we have to start behaving like winners right now.

13. What are your skills in conflict resolution?

Moments of conflict are moments of opportunity, both for good and for bad. Ideally, we want to solve problems before they become emergencies, but sometimes situations can get out of hand, and if we’re not able to stop them, the best thing we can do it to immediately repair any damage caused.

An emergency doctor never runs to a crisis, we walk because we must keep our heads cool while all of those around us are losing theirs. In my many years of working in the inner city, I’ve seen it all. Resolving conflict requires patience, caring, and reminding everyone one of what is really important. It is often amid conflict where we find the best opportunity to re-evaluate and change.

14. If you lose the leadership will you stay on as a leadership figure in the party?

I’ve made a public commitment that, no matter the outcome of the leadership race, I will seek nomination as an Alberta Liberal Party candidate for Edmonton-Meadowlark in the next provincial election.

1. What issues make the Alberta Liberals attractive to Albertan voters and Albertans in general?

Here is where I fundamentally disagree with many of my colleagues and contemporaries. I believe that political parties exist to advance the interests of the people, not the people for the interests of the party.

The party policy must come from the grassroots up, not from the top down. People know what their issues are, and many already know what needs to be done to address them. It is up to us as a Party to listen to them and to accurately represent them to the larger public.

Finally, everybody loves a winner. When the Party is open, dynamic, and growing people will take a look to see what is going on. When the Leader, MLAs, and candidates become attractive by what they say and do, they will draw a following.

2. What is your stance on Bill 44?

I walked out of the government caucus meeting when they wanted to remove the entire section 3 out of the Human Rights Charter and dissolve the Human Rights Commission. I fought to maintain and improve the Commission and put “sexual orientation” into the Charter. That said, the decision regarding the education system needs to be reversed.

3. What is your stance on Bill 50?

Bill 50 caused a huge controversy in my area because one of the preferred routes for the 500 kV power lines ran right through Edmonton-Meadowlark. My constituents organized rallies, packed churches and arenas for “information sessions”, which I attend and spoke at, despite my government colleagues’ warnings to stay away.

Bill 50 is one of the best examples of bad legislative practice.

4. Would consider you merging the Alberta Liberals with the Alberta Party?

Quite simply put, I am running to be the Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party. My intent is to take us from Official Opposition status to the governing party.

5. Would you entertain the idea of cooperation (before, in, or after) with another party for electoral purposes?

I am a problem-solver, which means every option is placed on the table, and then it is evaluated before a decision is made. However, I plan to run quality, local candidates in all 87 ridings in order to give every Albertan the chance to help build a better Alberta.

6. Are you in favour of changing the name of the Alberta Liberal Party?

The name of the Party isn’t the problem. The people of Alberta will support a party that accurately represents them and shows them that it has what it takes to win. I had the opportunity to join any party, but I am running to be Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, not because of its name, but because it stands for something important, and I think Albertans are smart enough to make the same choice.

7. Proportional Representation: Are you in favour of a PR system being introduced into Albertan elections.

Nothing will change unless we elect a new government. The current reality is that the Alberta Liberal Party must compete and win in a first-past-the-post system. I have always said that all options are on the table, but this conversation must take place on the floor of the Legislature where the people ultimately make the final decision.

8. How do we fix postsecondary education?

Alberta has one of the highest high school drop-out rates and lowest post-secondary participation rates. This means young people are either not seeing the value of their education, or there are too many barriers stopping them from going forward. We need to encourage, motivate, and enable as many people as possible to invest in themselves and commit to lifelong learning; our collective futures depend on it.

A successful post-secondary education sector gives us the opportunity to grow our economy by training researchers, entrepreneurs, and equipping people for work in all industries. We need to make education open and affordable and provide students with tools necessary for students to be successful. This means a well-rounded funding system where students have a mix of options from loans, to grants, to other government programs to help them with their finances.

9. How do we fix education in general?

Our problems in education are not just government problems; they are societal problems as well. Fortunately, education is a key to solving them. That is why it’s important to make sure all Albertan families have access to an affordable, quality education. We need to make sure our schools have stable, predictable funding and the wrap-around services needed to allow them to focus on the job of educating, so let’s resource our schools so that they become hubs for community involvement and activity.

10. How do we fix healthcare? 

Simple, but it begins with leadership. First, we need to stop privatizing and make a commitment to fix our publically-funded universal health care system. Next, we must stop building buildings and use our investments to support public home care, rehab care, seniors’ supports, and long-term care. Once those who don’t need to be in the hospital are back in their homes, our wait times will immediately decrease. We need to switch our focus away from treating illness to promoting prevention and wellness. We need more family doctors and primary care teams to keep you from getting sick in the first place. Finally, we need strong performance and accountability measures for those who govern, administer and work in the system. Something which all opposition parties have been vocal on wanting to legislate.

11. How do we fix the environment?

We don’t need to fix our environment; we need to fix our relationship with it.

Alberta is one of the most beautiful places in the world with a diverse landscape and ecosystem. We need to be responsible citizens, protecting the environment we inhabit, and making sure that the land we use for economic purposes is reclaimed.

We need to work together as government, industry, organizations and citizens, to educate and motive everyone to do their part to make Alberta a cleaner and safer place to live, work, and play.

12. How do we safeguard the economy?

Any economy based heavily on commodity prices is at risk from forces beyond its control. We need a stable knowledge-based economy making use of education, innovation, and technology to make Alberta a centre of excellence and service. Let’s add more value to our products here at home instead of shipping off our raw materials to someone else. Furthermore we need to expand our markets beyond the U.S.A. and make a pipeline to the west coast a priority. We need to support and expand all of our industries, including agriculture and forestry, in order to compete in a global marketplace. And, we need to make sure we stop the boom/bust approach to decision-making and spending. We should ensure stable and predictable funding so that our stakeholders are able to plan and administer complex and costly programs. Finally, paying ourselves first means not only increasing our savings, but maintaining important investments so that we don’t fall behind in other areas while we work on eliminating our deficits.

13. What is your stance on Carbon Capture and Storage?

This was a 2 billion dollar decision made exclusively by the Premier and Cabinet. The government caucus was not consulted and the taxpayer did not have a say. The people of Alberta are owed an apology and this issue needs to be brought back to them.

14. How will you present issues and ideas to the Albertan public in a way that will (a)  grow the party and (b) increase Liberal electability?

I do not accept that Albertans won’t vote Liberal because of our Party’s name; they are more sophisticated than that. Our history shows us that Albertans have an amazing potential to vote for a change when they feel it is necessary to get behind an idea. What the people of Alberta won’t do is embrace fantasy, negativity, or mediocrity.

We grow the Party by better representing the people of Alberta on the issues that matter to them, by providing common sense, not ideological, solutions to everyday problems, and by being the kind of Party that people want to be associated with: open, dynamic, and relevant.

We will have no problem getting elected when our candidates are local, respected members of the community whose main goal is to serve the public, not the Party.

15. Would you pledge never to take a political appointment from the federal Liberals?

I know this is an issue because the federal Liberals have a history of luring away our best and brightest, often leaving a gaping wound in our Party at the worst possible moment.

I have no intention of abandoning Alberta in favour of Ottawa. I am running to be Leader of the Alberta Liberal Part for one reason alone: to fix the province’s problems and to help build a better Alberta.

16. Do you believe that the separation between the federal and provincial Liberals should continue? Why?

We must not let the failures of the past determine our future. Where there are wounds, we must heal them. Where there are divisions, we must mend them. There is more that unites us than divides us. Let’s seek common ground, not just between our political parties, but individually and collectively as well.

The problem in Alberta today is not P.E.T. or the N.E.P., it’s the PCs.

1. (Optional) Please submit a 1:30 minute video introducing yourself.

(See top of post for video)

Please also check out my laurie4leader.ca website, twitter #laurie4leader, facebook l4l, the YouTube channel, my MLA work website laurieblakeman.com  The last site has archived material going back to the early 2000s with excerpts of Bill debates, questions asked in QP etc.

2. Tell us about your family.

I share a household with Ben Henderson, Councillor for Ward 8, City of Edmonton, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, a Newfie X, a special needs Maine Coon cat, and two rescue cats; a Himalayan, and a three-legged cat.  I live in the fabulous constituency of Edmonton-Centre.  I am the daughter of two teachers and sister to two unionized ironworkers.

3. Short answer: In fourteen words or less, what does it mean to be Liberal?

Social justice combined with economic pragmatism, tempered with environmental protection.

4. Short Answer: Imagine yourself on the doorstep of a constituent. In fourteen words or less, what is the main message for why they should vote for you, the party, and candidates underneath the party banner?

We have the courage and experience to change government, implement new ideas, restore public participation.

5. Where have you gone in your career(s)?

Successful actor on stage, in film, radio and tv to producer of new Canadian and Albertan plays to theatre manager specializing in reducing deficits and debts of troubled theatres to not-for-profit manager of provincial organizations, including The Alberta Advisory Council on Women’s Issues to freelance advocacy provocateur to MLA.

6. What communities, societies, and areas are you involved in?

Downtown community leagues, urban planning, LEAF, Equal Voice, Terra Centre for Parenting Teens, Parkland Institute, Canada West, Council on Government Law and Ethics, Consumer’s Association of Alberta, Alberta Motor Association, Art Gallery of Alberta, Humane Society, Project for Families of Deceased Workers’ Obelisk, United Way Labour Appreciation, ACTRA, Equity, Canadian Conference of the Arts, Alberta Theatre Projects, Northern Light Theatre, Workshop West Theatre Citadel Theatre, Varscona Theatre Consortium, Edmonton Opera, Alberta Ballet, Harcourt House, Latitude 53, Interfaith Centre,

7. Why are you running for the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party?

To offer an alternative of parliamentary and party experience coupled with a belief in building coalitions to achieve public policy change.  I am pragmatic, progressive, positive and passionate.

8. Tell us a story: Why are you a Liberal?

I have been a social activist since junior high school when I wore a Flora MacDonald ‘Why Not?’ button to school.  I’ve campaigned for human rights, equality seekers and social justice, support for the arts, constitutional reform and other issues.  The realization that I had reached a plateau in my effectiveness in moving public policy coincided with Ralph Klein’s election as Leader of the Tories.  At that time I was Executive Director for the Alberta Advisory Council for Women’s Issues and I knew Alberta would be in for a rough ride.  I investigated the Tories (not for long) and the NDP.  Both had too much rigid ideology, and not enough willingness to get things done.  I chose the Liberals as they were most willing to bring me in and let me work.  I joined in 1992, worked a successful election in 93, joined my local constituency association in 93, started donating in 1994, was nominated as a candidate in December 1996, elected in March 1997.

1. In the last ten years what have you done to build the party? Please give three examples.

When I was asked I stepped up in whatever role was needed.  I’ve taught election readiness workshops, chaired panel discussions, chaired the 2004 and 2008 Candidate Recruitment Committee, served as caucus-party liaison, subbed in for the leader as asked at events, presentations and special ceremonies, given introductory remarks, sat on a policy convention resolutions committee.  Given advice to the Leader (3 different ones) on a regular basis, worked with the Executive Director (2 different ones) on convention organization, MLA involvement.  I’ve written and directed MLA spoof presentations for the merriment of conference participants and organized local artists to perform at party functions.

2. In the last ten years what have you done to build people outside of the party? Please give three or more examples.

I started a matching mentorship program for women in order to attract more women candidates.  I also wrote to every elected woman in Alberta from school trustee to reeve to town or city councilor asking them to consider running for the Liberals in a provincial election.  I followed up with any responses – positive or negative.

I am the only Liberal MLA to use the Liberal membership list to ask people to lobby their MLA, regardless of party, to support a Liberal initiative – Bill 204/2008 to give municipalities a percentage of provincial corporate and personal income tax.  I also wrote to every municipal mayor and councilor asking them to lobby their MLA to support the Bill.

In 2000 I wrote, advocated for and successfully got passed 5 queer friendly resolutions including same sex marriage and including sexual orientation in Human Rights Legislation.  This attracted membership and financial support from the GLBTQ community.

I supported the labour friendly First Contract resolution in 2003 and proposed and had passed a resolution on No Replacement Workers.  This has helped us with union organizations to demonstrate our support and to bring in membership and donations.

3. Long Answer: What is the role of a leader and how should people fulfill it?

A leader creates the culture in which people are encouraged and challenged to be creative, hard-working, well researched, and skilled at working as an ensemble.  A leader brings in people who are better skilled or talented in an area than the leader.  The leader then manages that team of experts.  There are libraries full of books on successful management styles, each person works in their own style.  I like to work with younger, creative, loyal, people who challenge the status quo and me.  I also want as much diversity at the decision-making table as possible.  I’m collegial on big decisions, consultative on medium decision and dictatorial on small decision.  A leader sets an example, challenges staff and volunteers to be amazing, shows appreciation, values input, makes decisions, is accountible to all and transparent in process and outcome.

4. Long Answer: What is the role of a leader of a political party and how should a person fulfill it?

The Leader of the Party leads both volunteers, members, supporters, and staff as well as filling the role of Leader of Caucus for MLAs, staff and volunteers and the role of Official Opposition Leader.  The challenge is to recruit people to fill the many support roles in finance, constituency support, candidate recruitment, training, campaign support, policy development, communication in both the Party and the Caucus.  There is also an element of cohesiveness that is essential.  You want to bring people together under one tent, with a strong dynamic, outward looking, positive and action oriented.   But you can’t please all the people all the time.  A leader knows that, does their best, and moves on.

5. How will you go about recruiting candidates in all 87 ridings? How will you work with Constituency Associations in picking candidates?

I would recruit the best Liberal candidates and make sure they have the training and support to succeed.  I would start with the ridings where we are strong already and work from there. Spreading the party resources thin running 87 candidates is an exercise in futility.  Even the Tories can’t get 87 credible, strong, well resourced candidates to run for them.  It stretches the ALP too thin and no one gets the support they need.  Remember even Peter Lougheed won only urban seats first time out.  He targeted urban ridings and on the second election moved out to rural ridings.

Ideally the primary job of the constituency associations is to find a candidate who best represents them but that rarely happens.  I would start with some workshops for local Constituency Associations to help them with ideas on where to look for people who would make good MLAs. It is important that there is a good match between the constituency and the candidate.

After Chairing the Recruitment Committee for the ALP I know that the Leader and those traveling with her meet all kinds of people who would be good candidates and MLAs.  A strong follow-up plan is a must to contact those individuals, connect them to the local constituency and help them to bring in their own network of friends, family, co-workers and other to help.

And I also learned that everyone wants to be wooed.  It’s a big leap to take and knowing that people who already have taken that leap believe you can do it is a big boost.

Finally we know that a large number of our constituency associations are essentially moribund.  In those cases there is an incredible opportunity for people with good networks to gather their people together, focus, work hard, have fun and win.  They will form their own association from their support group and move on from there to grow their campaign team.  Nothing wrong with that method and it brings new people in to the party.

6. What should be the relationship between caucus, candidates, and the party?

Ideally a knowledgeable and respectful relationship with built in mentorship and succession opportunities, good support systems, timely useful communication and a clear goal-oriented plan with measurable targets and timelines.  Everyone works together to attain the same goal-  to make Alberta better.

However, I’ve never seen all these things happen at the same time.  Particularly when members feel that the party fortunes are declining there is a desire to find what is wrong and fix it.  Fair enough.  But the search for the ‘what’s wrong’ tends to focus on media uptake, which is not under caucus, leader or party control.  Secondly, the smaller the caucus, the fewer people to share the load and inevitably some tasks fall off the table, usually communication.  So the job gets done but no one knows.

We have an opportunity to capitalize on the infrastructure we have built over many years and add to that the new higher tech focus brought in more recently.  Use of social media, and various IT tools and software make it easier and cheaper to communicate internally and externally.  And to offer a wider range of tools and assistance to constituency associations.

If members, caucus and candidate all have jobs to do that they can see contribute to an end product of a win, tensions tend to fall to the side.

7. In all parties there are divisions. What are the divisions you see in the Alberta Liberals? How will you mediate and solve/ease these internal issues?

Most of the divisions I see come from a sense of lack of forward motion.  The less confidence people have they can win or even gain in the next election, the more tensions that ensue, followed immediately by second-guessing.   Providing clear direction, defining what can be done, what must be done, and what cannot be done given time, money and volunteers is first.  Then prioritize that to-do list, set goals, timelines and metrics.  This gives everyone something to work to and by.   And by which to measure progress and instill confidence and hope.

8. What tools or ideas will you implement to grow the party in Edmonton?

I think this is an urban strategy rather than an Edmonton vrs Calgary one.  I include other cities like Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and Red Deer in this.  In opening up the membership of the Party, we have created a HUGE opportunity.  People no longer need to sign up for life, they can pop in and out.  Use social media to do updates and celebrations., without leaving out those who are not connected out by social media.  You need the champion, or cheerleader in each location who knows the character of the city, what works and what doesn’t.  Build coalitions with like-minded organizations, university clubs, environmental groups, student and senior groups, urban transit supporters, urban planners.  Send people to events that already happen and have them join in, learn, spread the word.  For those who like to talk and have the time, get them to phone in to talk shows.  Ditto for the writers to write op ed pieces or Letters to the Editor.  Wear the t-shirt, show up, talk it up.  Break jobs down in to smaller pieces so no one person has to shoulder a huge time-consuming job.  People have less time today to volunteer and want to see that their contribution did something.  Find new ways to show volunteer appreciation.  Look to arts festivals and sports competitions for ideas on what is working today.

9. What tools or ideas will you implement to grow the party in Calgary?

See answer to Q.

10. What tools or ideas will you implement to grow the party in rural Alberta?

I think we need to build on issues that speak to the public good and are understood and supported by urban dwellers as well.  So issues like limiting urban sprawl to protect prime agricultural land; food security; protecting water; creating value added opportunities to diversify the economy.

11. If you are a sitting MLA, why haven’t you implemented the tools or ideas in questions eight through ten?

Ah but I have!  I have always reached beyond to bring in new people by building coalitions with other groups.  What I’ve given above is based on experience.  All but the rural party growth.  I have worked alongside my MLA colleagues to debate issues that were important to rural constituencies only to see us lose again.  Our rural base is weak and will require re-building that goes on beyond the next election cycle.  I don’t profess to be an expert in this – therefore I would seek an expert in it to advise and guide party efforts.

12. What skills do you have to build up the Alberta Liberal Party as leader?

I’m focused, clear about my abilities and where I need to seek help and advice, long institutional memory of the Party and who is around that could help if asked, open and enthusiastic about use of social media and new technology, excellent rapport with youth, seniors, unions, small business owners, the queer community, and other traditional and new supporters.  I’m a very good communicator, explain complex ideas and issues well to others, work hard, know my stuff.  I’m also fierce, ruthless when necessary and get things done.

13. What are your skills in conflict resolution?

Listen carefully, validate the experience, research the options, help people to understand their own and opponent’s real concerns and underlying interests before jumping to answers.

14. If you lose the leadership will you stay on as a leadership figure in the party?

Of course.  I run to serve my constituents first and would stay to serve them.  In doing so I am there for the party.  Every time the leader, caucus or party has asked me to step up, I’ve done so.  As long as my work is respected and my input valued, I’ll be there.

1. What issues make the Alberta Liberals attractive to Albertan voters and Albertans in general?

Well, we come up with the good ideas first!  Sustainability Fund, a savings plan, endowment funds for education, infrastructure and the arts. We value education, we believe in a publicly funded healthcare system which is local decision making, delivery and accessiblility.  We believe government’s role in promoting the public good, protecting consumers, valuing people over property.

2. What is your stance on Bill 44?

I was the lead Official Opposition Critic on this Bill.  As such there is hours of Hansard text and audio.  I published the Bill immediately on my Facebook site asking for feedback and then worked with that feedback and with experts from the queer, legal, human rights, education and ethics communities to present amendments and highlight issues in debate.  Search my YouTube channel for more on this issue. Download Complete Debate on Bill 44

Link

3. What is your stance on Bill 50?

This is what I said on Third Reading of Bill 50 (November 25, 2009):

“I don’t think this bill is savable, and I don’t think it should pass. I think it should be sent back. Somebody else was referring to a mulligan, the golf term, where it’s like a do over, but it’s completely without any kind of recrimination or bias. Indeed, I think that’s what we do need to do here.  Really, I came at this from two ways. There are two sorts of responses that wash back against me. One is that this bill was actually created to address a very specific set of circumstances: you needed the four lines; you needed to be able to do them now. Well, to be fair, that was about opportunities not taken in the past. For us to have to be put into a hurry-up mode because there was a failure to plan or to put things in place from the government, really I don’t think that the cost, the burden of that should be borne by the consumers and by the citizens. If the government was able to make that case of urgency, which, I would argue, they didn’t, but if they were able to make that case for urgency, then it should have been specific to the problem at hand.

 

Full Bill 50 Debate:

November 24, 2009

Link

Link

November 25, 2009

Link

4. Would consider you merging the Alberta Liberals with the Albert a Party?

Yes, I’m on record saying that.  While I think there will be some combination of the two parties in the future, I do not think that day is tomorrow.  And it is essential that such collaborations are driven by the members themselves not by individuals.  But I am definitely open to building coalitions with outside groups and this may be one of the groups we work with.

5. Would you entertain the idea of cooperation (before, in, or after) with another party for electoral purposes?

Yes.  Always have, always will.

6. Are you in favor of changing the name of the Alberta Liberal Party?

I don’t think changing the name would automatically win us the election but there is no question that in many cases it causes us grief at the doors and at the ballot box.  I also don’t think that not changing the name will automatically make us lose the next election.  But if the membership so desires I have no problem going there.

7. Proportional Representation: Are you in favor of a PR system being introduced into Albertan elections.

Yes.  But success does rely on the parties producing lists that are fair, and reflective of the population.

8. How do we fix postsecondary education?

Best example recently:

Link

“Certainly, when I went to university, yes, a number of my fellow students worked but not out of desperation, and that’s certainly what I’m seeing now. They have to. It has flipped. Instead of, “How much time outside of my school do I have to go and work and supplement the money that I have?” it’s now determined the other way around: “How much time do I have left after working to earn enough money to invest in education this year?” The whole focus of a student’s life has switched around from education to work with a little education on the side. I’ll be very interested to see what the effect is of the policies that the government is instituting now, with even further tuition increases, decreases in funding directly to the universities so that they’re looking for additional funding through a number of sources, and this corresponding lack of increase, inflation-proofing, or indexing in some way of the various bursary and grant programs.”

February 25, 2010

9.  How do we fix education in general?

“I support, and have worked toward creating, an excellent public education for all students in our province.   An education that is inclusive of all children, fully tax supported, and locally controlled has been my goal.  Those schools must have resources available that allow for a wide range of high quality programs.  I am particularly concerned that program offerings be balanced and include a strong Arts component.”

“I am not sure Alberta schools have ever recovered from the devastating cuts of the 1990s.  Parent fund raising and school fees being levied are testament to the inadequacy of current funding formulas.

Jurisdictions elsewhere have been looking at adequacy funding models.  That is, actually determining what resources are needed to reach specific objectives in various types of schools and costing these programs out.  Based on actual costs then, a budget is set.  The reverse is what is done now. Each year the government sets the budget and then schools cut and manipulate programs to fit available resources.  Dollars deemed available, not students and programming needs drive current budgets.”

10. How do we fix healthcare?

Restore  Accountability

 

“Okay. Thanks very much, Mr. Chair. I guess I want to start out by talking to the principle of the amendment that’s in front of us. What I really see encompassed in this is the public’s frustration over what they see as a lack of accountability. The whole concept of a wait-list, while it may be arbitrary, might be even a somewhat false accounting – and I’m sure there are people that can argue that – it is something that the public can grasp, look at, compare, and make their own decision on. Based on what has gone on in this province over the last couple of weeks, the reaction I’m getting from my constituents and from others – and I don’t know why I get them from others, but I do; I think because I used to be the health critic, and I’m still on people’s Rolodex – is that they’re really frustrated and bewildered at what is actually going on.”

 

From Bill 17 Debate November 24, 2010

Link

 

HealthCare Issue file (Spring 2010 – Spring 2011):

Link

 

In other words, quite creating chaos and havoc.  Aim for stability and predictability in funding and administration.  Focus on deliver not administration.  Focus on prevention, chronic disease management, fund long term care beds, increase student spots in medical training and residency programs, work with incentive programs, listen to health professionals on the front line, change rules so health professionals can work to full scope of practice.

11. How do we fix the environment?

• Fund enforcement not greenwashing.
• Set transparent, achievable  environmental goals and enforce those standards.

 

 

Environment Issue File (Spring 2010 – Spring 2011):

Link

Clean Air, Clean Land, Clean Water and Cutting Carbon:

Link

12. How do we safeguard the economy?

“On that, I would like to challenge the government to do a white paper on government revenue. I would like to have a white paper produced that we could discuss in all kinds of contexts, all kinds of forums, on Twitter and Facebook, about how the government raises money and what it does with it. What do our constituents really think about taking natural resource revenue and subsidizing services they are getting today with that money, right out of the ground right to paying services today, no savings involved? What do they really think about a consumption tax or about municipal funding? Let’s do a white paper on that. That would be interesting. That would be new.”

February 23, 2011 Link

Since these remarks I have fine-tuned my ideas and now present my proposal to create the process of a Citizen’s Assembly. This brings together representatives of regions, issue and/or geographic constituencies.  They are given access to experts on both sides of the issues and even a wildcard point of view, and to evidence.  Allow them to examine how Government gets it revenue, from where, what kind of tax or mix of taxes is appropriate in the 21^st century.  How should unallocated off-budget money be spent (in other words surpluses).  How much should be saved, in what kind of instrument?  The final recommendations should receive a feedback loop with the public and be presented to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.  The Assembly is obliged to consider and debate the recommendations.

Economy File (Link)

13. What is your stance on Carbon Capture and Storage?

Not a fan.  We should honour the contracts signed thus far but additional phases or new projects should not go forward.  Money should be re-directed to alternate green energy/technology sectors.  This seems to be mostly about continuing to do business as usual while pretending that what goes down never comes up and will allow us to continue to be fossil fuel dependent.

Full Archive on CCS Link

14. How will you present issues and ideas to the Albertan public in a way that will (a) grow the party and (b) increase Liberal electability?

At this point in the election cycle, focus on the facts, and on the alternatives we propose.  Deliver clear messages backed up by additional information and realistic examples.

15. Would you pledge never to take a political appointment from the federal Liberals?

What has that got to do with the leadership of the provincial liberals?  Simple answer: No I will not pledge to never take an appointment. If asked to serve, I will.

16.Do you believe that the separation between the federal and provincial Liberals should continue? Why?

Since most viable provincial constituency associations share members with federal associations I think a review is well in order.  Is this the first thing on the agenda – No.  But it is worth the discussion at some point.