We have had some recent input from community members on a particularly dirty issue; (Please pardon the pun...)

According to the City of Calgary's website on water drainage; "The City recommends using a commercial car wash to clean your vehicle. Commercial car washes drain to the City’s wastewater treatment facility where the wastewater is cleaned and treated. If you do wash your car in the driveway or street, you cannot use soap. Use water only and ensure that dirt or oil from your car does not get washed down the storm drain."

Also appearing on the site; in the storm-drain "prohibited items list" is the item "soaps or detergents (including biodegradable products)."

If you see someone washing their car in the driveway and dirt and/or oil are not being stopped from going down the storm drain; please call 311 to report the issue.  If you happen to have a camera, digital pictures are good evidence and bylaw officers can act on/with them.

Also from their site: "Failure to comply with the Drainage Bylaw could result in: contaminants or pollutants being released into our rivers obstructions in the storm drainage system (e.g. blocked swales or sewer backup in the pipe system); and flooding. Failure to comply with the Drainage Bylaw can also result in fines ranging from $75 to $10,000 and/or remedial orders."

 Alberta Launches Record Setting Construction Season
The province will invest almost $2 billion through the Capital Plan in 2008 on the ring roads in Calgary & Edmonton, new highway & bridge construction, & widening & on repaving of highway. 

Nearly 3,500 New Child Care Spaces to open
Opening across AB in 2008, these new spaces will ease some of the challenges families face when looking for quality child care.  In addition to these spaces, government will take action to support the creation of 14,000 more child care spaces by 2011.  With the Space Creation Innovation funding, operators can access up to $1,500 for each new space, to help offset the costs of planning, minor renovations and purchasing supplies, equipment and toys.  The fund is helping 106 applicants who operate either urban or rural programs, to open new child care spaces in 51 communities--before the end of the year.  Visit www.child.alberta.ca/childcare for much more! 

Student Assistance Package Boosted by $13.4 Million
Enhancements include:

• 2.5% interest rate reduction on student loans (variable rate loans have been reduced to the prime lending rate & fixed rate loans have been cut to prime plus 2%)
• doubling monthly part-time earning exemptions to $800/mo
• removing restrictions on scholarship earnings
• increasing annual student loan limits to $13,300
• 5% increase to the student living allowance

 AB Invests $79 Million to Enhance Students’ Career Pathways
…& in addition, the provincial government provided more than $14 million to school jurisdictions for equipment upgrades to more then 100 CTD labs throughout AB.  Out of the province’s 62 school boards and authorities, a total of 53 proposals (some containing multiple lab project upgrades) were submitted & approved for funding. 

In Pursuit of Olympic Excellence, AB Increased Support for Athletes & Training Facilities
AB’s high performance athletes & training facilities are receiving new funding as part of the government’s commitment to athletic excellence & promoting AB’s role in the Olympics & Paralympic Games.  The government is injecting $1.5 million annually to the Podium Alberta program, which will supplement the funding provided to AB’s high performance athletes by the federal government.  Calgary-Lougheed constituent Russ Tynan will lead an Olympic & Paralympic Secretariat responsible for coordinating AB’s approach & activities leading up to and during the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games.  The Secretariat will focus on coordinating & promoting AB’s sport, tourism, & cultural activities. 

AB to Improve Royalty System Evaluation & Public Reporting
The Government of Alberta will implement 13 recommendations to enhance how the performance of the royalty regime is measured and how that performance is reported back to Albertans.  The recommendations were included by former provincial Auditor Gerneral Peter Valentine in his report “Building Confidence:  Improving Accountability & Transparency in Alberta’s Royalty System.  In accepting the report, the government has also committed to the 30-, 60- and 90- day time frames identified by Valentine to begin work & establish plans for the implementation of the recommendations related to oversight, business processes & controls, & reporting. 

Health Care Premiums Eliminated Three Years Earlier than Expected
Albertans & Albertan businesses will save $1 billion annually with the elimination of health care premiums on January 1, 2009; and nearly $300 million in other targeted tax relief. 

New AB Enterprise Act Sets Next Generation Economy in Motion
AB has sent a signal to global investors by announcing a cornerstone to diversify & sustain the provincial economy.  Bill 4 will establish the Corporation—which will be independently managed & mandated--to develop a locally managed venture capital industry specifically supporting knowledge-based AB companies, while improving access to early stage venture capital.  This $100 million investment is one of the many steps to build on our strengths, & steer AB’s economy in a new direction--as a demonstrated leader in the next generation global economy.  AB’s plan includes a future where our children will fully participate in tomorrow’s global industries! 

Since this article (of limited space) must be submitted a month prior to publishing, please access the most timely & in-depth information-- Directly (call, visit, fax, e-mail, or drop by!)  or via:  www.daverodney.ca

Woodbine, Woodlands, Canyon Meadows (SW), Shaw-Nee Slopes, Evergreen,Millrise, Bridlewood
#311A, 2525Woodview Drive SW,T2W 4N4, 238-1212, calgary.lougheed@assembly.ab.ca

Happy New Year, Everyone! It has been a pleasure to meet personally with thousands of you (from Students to Seniors!) again this year: on your doorsteps, in our office, at our Town Hall & Round-Table Sessions, over the phone, via e-mail/fax/letter, at our Annual “Picnic in the Park”, and in the community at large. 2007 has been a truly fascinating year; and 2008 is shaping up to be every bit as exciting!

It has been an honour to have served as your MLA for the past three years; & I am extremely pleased to report that in that time, our hard work together has really been paying off.We have been awarded 3 new schools in Calgary-Lougheed: Bridlewood Elementary K-4, Evergreen Catholic Elementary, and Evergreen Public Elementary. Additionally, all of the upgrades in Fish Creek Park have been completed—on time, and on budget. On top of that, we can look forward to the new South Calgary Health Campus—the largest facility of its kind in the world. Congratulations to all on a job very well done! Re: on-going issues, I will continue to work closely with the Shawnee-Evergreen Community Association on a desirable outcome to the Shawnee Golf Course situation. I will also continue to work diligently on issues that affect us across the province, while focusing on concerns in our riding--including the SW Ring Road.  Last year I put forward a motion in the Legislature to have an agreement put in place that would see construction begin this year; and I am still hopeful for that. I have asked some challenging questions about this in question period, and have spoken in depth about this with Infrastructure department personnel, the Minister in charge, City Planners, the Mayor, First Nations officials, and Federal Government employees--very regularly over the past 3 years; thankfully, all sides are motivated to reach an agreement. Here’s the latest: property value appraisals are expected shortly, the Tsuu Tina will vote on the proposal, the city and federal government will move to approve the arrangement, and our provincial government will then finalize payment. I am very pleased to tell you that I have spoken personally with Premier Stelmach about this on a number of occasions: he is completely aware of the history, and current status; and is actively, personally involved in working on a solution at the first possible opportunity. We will keep on fighting for this road until we are driving on it!

Our provincial government has made great strides this year. We resolved the Teacher Pension Unfunded Liability, and finalized the “Municipal Sustainability Initiative” (which will help our local communities more than ever before--$11.3 Billion!). We invested more than ever before in history in new & upgraded schools, post-secondary institutes, health infrastructure, & new paved roads ($4.1 Billion).

We are focused on 3 priorities in 2008: building communities, greening our growth, and creating opportunity. We will work to ensure our high quality of life is sustained and enhanced; will take bold action to deepen a strong environmental ethic, and secure long-term prosperity for all Albertans. And we are well on our way: “Calgary is the most dynamic and attractive city in Canada” says a new report from the Conference Board of Canada, based on economy, innovation, environment, education, health, society, and housing…& “Alberta leads in home ownership growth: higher incomes, economic stability cited as factors” (Calgary Herald, A1 & D3, Dec. 12, 2007). Albertans lead the country in virtually every economic category: we have the lowest unemployment rate, pay the lowest overall provincial taxes, and enjoy the highest personal disposable income per capita in the country. While all of this progress is impressive on many levels, it also brings with it a host of growing pains and difficult choices; so we must be vigilant if we are to continue to improve the well-being of our families, our province, and our country. I personally invite you to join me in being extremely active in our efforts to make Calgary-Lougheed, Alberta, and Canada the best they can be.

Annual Aldermanic Expenses

The 2007 year-end Ward office expense reports were made public at the end of January, 2008.  These expenses are to pay for assistant’s salaries, communications, business expenses, travel, and courses.  All Aldermen were allotted $126,205 for 2007. 

Budgets are set for a reason; however, I do not need to spend more than is necessary to do my job effectively for the resident’s of Ward 13 and the city of Calgary.  One of the things I do not do much of is travel – I find that I have more that enough to do right here in Calgary.

I am pleased to report that I was one of the two thriftiest members of Council, spending only $74, 917 or 59% of my budget.

Calgary Transit Safety Audit

Everyday there are 550,000 boardings on Calgary Transit and a large majority of them are law-abiding Calgarians traveling around the city.  However, crime on transit is occurring and the perception of riders is that their personal safety is at risk.

On 2008 January 21, Alderman Farrell and I brought before Council a Notice of Motion requesting that a comprehensive safety audit of Calgary Transit be conducted.  I am pleased to say that this passed Council unanimously.  Hundreds of you contacted me to let me know of your own person experiences on the trains and buses.

Given the emphasis that the City places on encouraging Calgarians to leave their cars at home and use public transportation, the growing concerns from riders should not be underestimated.  The safety audit will break down crime statistics, the ability to respond to incidents and rider’s perception of cleanliness and safety while using the system.  The safety audit is NOT to create a climate of fear, but to address the concerns brought forward but those who make use of the system.

The next step is to have the Audit Committee review, prepare the Terms of Reference, and present them to Council in April 2008.  Council then approves the Terms of Reference and the safety audit will commence with a report back to Council at its’ conclusion.

Ward 13 Traffic Warrant Studies

As a result of safety concerns expressed to my office, we asked City Administration to evaluate locations throughout the ward for enhanced safety measures, in particular traffic signals.  Counts and analysis were conducted during the summer and early fall.  Results and recommendations were included in Roads’ annual warrant studies report to the November meeting on Land Use Planning and Transportation where they were added to the citywide priority list.  Below is a list of those intersections that were studied and that will have traffic signals installed during the 2008 construction season.

*The intersection of 162nd Avenue & 24th Street SW (warrant score of 58) warrants a 4-way stop due to its’ collision history.  As per Council approved policy, based on sound engineering principles, whenever an intersection with a very wide centre median warrants a multi-stop, it is also deemed to warrant a traffic signal, regardless of warrant score.

As always, you can contact my office regarding this or any other civic matter at 268-1624, by email at dcolley@calgary.ca, or through my website, www.aldermandiane.ca.  Alternatively, you can contact ‘311.’

May was certainly an exciting month in our riding and our province! Highlights included:

• Awarding centennial medallions and scrolls to Marguerite Steele (pictured above) and Jessica Robertshaw (the World’s best impromptu speaker) *
• Hosting Town Hall Meetings on both the north and south sides of Fish Creek (during which constituents shared both appreciations and concerns)
• Meeting with individual residents and community presidents on a wide range of issues
• Bringing greetings from the province and climbing the Calgary Tower (twice) for the Alberta Wilderness Association
• Presenting a live video-conference entitled “the Everest of Politics” to junior high students
• Addressing the students at EP Scarlett during “Festival of Words” week
• Attending the Alberta’s International Health Symposium, during which professionals from around the world suggested:
  • There is no single solution to health care, and improvements (which focus on the patient and evidence-based outcomes) must evolve over time—and must meet the expectations and values of Albertans
  • Openness to ideas is necessary for the best possibilities and options; and quality care is best achieved when health professionals learn together, collaborate, and act accordingly
  • Change must be focused on what will work, and what and will make a positive difference to the health of the population

As the Symposium closed, I had the pleasure of announcing a brand new $400,000 partnership with Calgary’s Salvation Army Drug Treatment Program. Other AADAC Chair activities included meetings in Stettler and sharing a member’s statement in the Legislature about the miracles that AADAC’s colleagues and clients perform daily!

In addition, May saw the approval of the provincial budget, which featured:

• The Best Place to Live, Work, Visit, and Live
• Health and Wellness budget up 8.6% to nearly $9 billion, including an 11.3% increase in health authority base operating grants
• $80 million boost for AISH this year/$198 million over 3 years
• 10% increase for policing and justice system
• Funding enhances seniors' dental and optical assistance, and protects senior homeowners from school property tax increases
• Fiscal and economic
  • Alberta's 12th consecutive balanced budget, and the first with the elimination of the accumulated debt (!)
  • Deficits remain against the law, and there is no new debt to increase operating spending
  • The Heritage Fund is to be inflation-proofed, with $667 million over three years
  • Economic growth in 2005 is forecast at 3.7 per cent, and job growth is projected at 33,400
• Unleashing Innovation and Competing in the Global Marketplace
  • $9.2 billion Capital Plan commits unmatched support for infrastructure; municipalities get $3.1 billion over three years
  • $250 million provided through endowment funds for medical, science, and engineering research over the next three years
  • $200 million over 5 years will encourage the development of technology to enhance oil and gas recovery
  • $5.5 billion will be available for reallocation from the Sustainability Fund
  • Alberta is Canada's low-tax province: AB Family Employment Tax Credit enhanced, school property tax mill rates cut 5%
• Leading in Learning
  • Advanced education funding increased 13.4% (strengthening access and affordability)
  • $3 billion endowment in the Heritage Fund ($250 million initial allocation)
  • 7.1 per cent increase in education, and class size reductions continue

At this wonderful time of the year, I congratulate all of you who will be graduating from any level of education. I wish you the best in your future endeavors, whether they be further steps on your scholastic journey, or getting your feet wet in the working world!

But first, as we begin to take holidays (and the days finally get longer and warmer!), I hope you will take time to enjoy the company of family, friends, and fellow Albertans…as we celebrate our province’s centennial! For information on upcoming events, please contact our office or visit www.albertacentennial.ca. <And if you are looking for further information on the legislature and/or government, please check out www.assembly.ab.ca and www.gov.ab.ca (or call 310-0000) for a wealth of information.>

Finally, my wife Jennifer and I wish you a safe, happy summer; and don’t forget: you can pick up Travel Alberta Campground Guides, Vacation Guides, and Centennial pins at our office!

*PS: If you know anyone who is celebrating an achievement and/or milestone occasion, pleasecontact us: we may be able to provide scrolls and/or medallions to help celebrate your good news!

June 2005 Newsletter - MLA Dave Rodney.pdf (75.79 kb)