| Premier Ralph Klein’s caucus will choose which Learning Commission recommendations on education will be implemented, after a new report was released October 7.
The commission took a comprehensive look at Alberta’s education system in the wake of last year’s teachers’ strikes, and made a number of recommendations. Among those are calls to create junior and full-day kindergarten programs, implement class size guidelines and inject $60 million more into the system this year alone.
Learning Minister Lyle Oberg says he accepts all the recommendations, but will leave it up to caucus to decide which ones will be implemented. Critics fear that means the report’s implementation will be subject to political squabbling.
Although Oberg has repeatedly stated over the past few years that education funding is adequate, he now promises to put more money into the system, although he refused to say how much.
New Democrat leader Raj Pannu has called for Oberg’s resignation, saying the report shows he lied about the state of education in Alberta.
The Learning Commission report is available on the government Web site at www.alis.gov.ab.ca/mirror.
U of C smoking
The University of Calgary Students’ Union says it is shortening the length of its financial agreement with a tobacco company in an effort to mirror local smoke-free initiatives sooner.
SU president Jayna Gilchrist said in a statement that terms of the deal were shortened recently to take "a proactive step in giving our organization the flexibility to comply and support this initiative sooner than we could have otherwise."
An event sponsorship deal between the SU and cigarette maker Rothmans Inc. has been in place for several years. Terms of the deal were not released.
Seniors bus pass
City Council has scrapped an idea to raise the price of seniors’ transit passes, saying many seniors on fixed incomes simply can’t afford it.
City administration suggested boosting the rate of an annual pass from $35 to help raise more revenue for the transit system, but council decided that would be unfair. Although bus fares have increases several times over the past few years, the seniors’ pass remains one of the most affordable in Canada.
Stop smoking aid
The Distress Centre of Calgary is offering a smoking cessation program free of charge as part of the province’s drive to curb tobacco use.
The 24-hour counselling service says it is launching the six-week program to help Calgarians who want to quit smoking, but can’t afford programs to help them. The program will provide information and support to participants, beginning October 20. More information is available at 266-1601.
Business school
The University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business has been named among the world’s top schools in researching social and environmental stewardship.
The ranking, from a report by the Aspen Institute and World Resources Institute (two organizations promoting economic and environmental health), recognizes the school’s education of graduate students. Other recognized institutions include California’s Berkeley and the University of Michigan.
Community events
· An examination of the problems standing in the way of the elimination of poverty is being hosted by development agency CUSO. The event will feature speakers such as Catherine Little, the national manager of RESULTS Canada, and Heather Macintosh, the manager of international development projects at the University of Calgary’s International Centre. The event takes place October 16 at 7 p.m. at The House coffee sanctuary in Kensington.
· Best of the best: The third annual Best of the Best Urban Gala celebrates the winners of the recent Fast Forward Best of Calgary poll, with proceeds going to the Mustard Seed Street Ministry. The event will be hosted by One Yellow Rabbit's Michael Green and will feature fashions from the likes of Purr, Gravity Pope, Blue Light and Hedkandi Salon, music by Gerry Hebert Jazz Quartet and Hottie La La, and food from Piq Niq Cafe, Spolumbos and Aida's Mediterranean Bistro, among others. The event takes place October 16 at 7 p.m. at the Calgary Science Centre.
· A public meeting on electricity deregulation, featuring speeches from opposition politicians and activists, will take place on October 15 at 7 p.m. at the Varsity Community Centre. |
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