| Rally to call for more housing
A Calgary group is holding a protest on June 10 to call for rent controls, affordable housing and secondary suites in order to fight the current housing crunch. "We’re experiencing record population growth but no equivalent growth in accessible housing," says Grant Neufeld, a member of the Calgary Housing Action Initiative (CHAI), which is planning the rally. Since CHAI started last August, the group has had an overwhelming response from people being affected by the housing crisis.
The protest is partially taking aim at the provincial government, which last month rejected its own housing task force’s recommendation that the government impose temporary rent controls. "People are noticing the need. We now have Conservative MLAs who have spoken in favour of rent control," says Neufeld, whose own rent recently totalled 95 per cent of his income. "We still have a situation where the provincial government isn’t accepting its responsibility." He dismisses the government’s claim that rent controls would stifle development of rental units, pointing out that there hasn’t been any significant rental development in 30 years.
While politicians are invited to the rally, he says the focus will be on people who have been directly affected by the crisis. The issue of affordable housing came up in the legislature last month when dozens of people hurt by the housing crunch crashed the office of Ray Danyluk, minister of municipal affairs and housing.
The rally starts at noon at New Edinborough Park (5A Street at 3 Avenue
N.W.) and will include a march. It will be followed by a party to call for a city-wide ban on pesticides in public parks and celebrate New Edinborough’s pesticide-free status.
ANNUAL Gay Pride Parade
Calgary’s annual Gay Pride Parade takes place on Stephen Avenue on June 10 and ends at Olympic Plaza where there will be a street gala. For more information about the 2007 Pride Festival go to www.pridecalgary.ca.
By-election a test of Calgary anger
A byelection in Ralph Klein’s old riding will be a crucial test of the provincial government’s support in Calgary. The government’s popularity in the city has fallen in recent weeks as a result of the housing crunch and an ongoing funding dispute with the municipal government that saw the province accused of shortchanging the city on infrastructure funding. The byelection for Calgary Elbow is set for June 12.
The Liberals are pouring resources into the riding and believe that candidate Craig Cheffins, an administrator at Mount Royal College, can win the seat for the party. The Conservatives have nominated car salesman Brian Heninger to retain the seat, which they’ve held since 1971.
"It’s a must-win situation for both the Conservatives and the Liberals," says Doreen Barrie, a political science professor at the University of Calgary. For the Tories, it’s the first test of premier Ed Stelmach’s leadership, while for the Liberals it’s a crucial test of their ability to capitalize on voter anger with the ruling Tories. If they can’t harvest the discontent now, it bodes badly for them in the next general election, she says.
Barrie believes the Liberals will win the by-election, and that the Tories are ignoring the dissatisfaction with their government. "(Calgarians) are angry at the government for not stepping up to the plate on issues like… affordable housing, schools and health care," she says. The Tories currently hold 20 seats in Calgary, compared to three for the Liberals.
Union organizer Al Brown is running for the NDP and the Alberta Alliance is fielding Jane Greydanus. Green Party leader George Reid is carrying his party’s banner in the riding. Trevor Grover of the Social Credit party and independent Jeff Willerton are also running.
Company offers Green power
Albertans interested in reducing their environmental footprint now have the option of buying 100 per cent green power from Ontario-based Bullfrog Power. The company currently provides power to 4,000 residential customers and 200 businesses in Ontario.
Theresa Howland, vice-president of the western region for Bullfrog Power, says the company plans to buy wind power from the Old Man River Wind Farm and the company is "committed to bringing new renewable power online" as its customer base grows. The company is investing in Alberta Wind Energy as well.
Howland says Bullfrog Power will be slightly more expensive than non-green power at around $13 more a month. However, customers will be able to play their part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing renewable energy. For information visit the company’s website, www.bullfrogpower.com.
No nukes
Calgary activists are putting on an anti-nuclear rally on June 9 to protest the proposed nuclear reactors that Energy Alberta Corporation plans to build in northern Alberta. The company is proposing to build two 1,100 megawatt ACR-1000 reactors and plans to sell much of the electricity generated to oilsands companies.
The rally takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Harry Hays Federal Building (220 4 Avenue S.E.). |
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