| The integrity of Alberta’s forests was ranked last among the country’s larger provinces in a new study looking at the disturbances of Canadian forests.
Oil and gas development, mining and logging were blamed for disturbing all but 17 per cent of the province’s forested areas – the worst ranking outside of the smaller east coast provinces.
The report brought a new round of criticism against the Alberta government for allowing too much industrial activity in the province’s wilderness.
The report also says 60 per cent of Canada’s total forest remains intact, which is a significant chunk of all undisturbed forest in the world.
Methadone clinic
Calgary’s first methadone clinic to treat opiate addicts has opened.
The facility, part of the Calgary Health Region medical clinic at 8th Avenue and 8th Street S.W., has been in the works for months, but has already been criticized as too small to treat the city’s addicts.
Methadone is a drug given to heroine addicts to help quell cravings and stabilize their need for opiates. Methadone has been used successfully for decade in other countries and provinces, but has been long delayed in Calgary. The clinic is intended to provide a safe environment for drug users.
Natural gas rebates
The provincial government’s musings about giving gas rebates only to poor Albertans has drawn criticisms from opposition politicians.
The Tory government announced it would give the rebates to help offset the high price of natural gas, but has since said it is considering a rebate program tied to income, under which only lower income earners would receive rebates.
New Democrat MLA Brian Mason says the Tories should stick to a rebate plan for all Albertans whenever the need arises, not just "in the run-up to elections."
WTO collapse
The latest round of World Trade Organization trade talks broke down in Mexico on September 14, mostly due to a newly formed alliance of poor countries.
The emergence of a trading bloc of poor countries, called the G21 and led by Brazil, India and new member China, stymied attempts at brokering new global trade deals because of its insistence that North America and Europe reduce agricultural subsidies to make the international food export market more fair.
Traditionally, only richer nations have wielded the power to impose their ideas on such trade talks, but the emergence of the G21 has been called a huge power shift. Anti-globalization activists heralded the collapse as a victory against unfair trade practices.
Alberta advantage
The recent throwing of a pie into the face of Premier Ralph Klein at a Stampede breakfast is being used as the launching point for a Calgary organization’s criticisms of the Alberta government.
The Calgary Anti-Capitalist Collective is planning a community forum to discuss the "myths of Ralph Klein’s Alberta Advantage."
The organization says the pie-tossing incident is an indication of the frustration with government that many people feel. The forum is intended to facilitate dialogue, and will feature speakers Donna McPhee, an aboriginal anti-poverty activist; Maggie Pompeo, an energy deregulation activist; and environmental activists Jeff Emmett.
The event takes place September 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Development Centre (3810 - 17 Ave S.E.).
Gay marriage
Parliament narrowly voted this week to reject the traditional definition of marriage, opening up the doors to federal legislation to allow gays and lesbians to wed.
In a 137-132 decision on September 6, MPs voted against a Canadian Alliance motion that would have limited marriage to "one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others."
Canadian for Equal Marriage, a new national organization in support of changes to federal marriage legislation, stated that the vote reaffirmed the human rights and religious freedom of all Canadians. |
Copyright ©2003 FFWD. All rights reserved.