Spring is here: Canada geese return to Shawnee Slopes, and I was quick enough to snap some shots.

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)