For immediate release: Jan. 26, 2003

EDMONTON – Albertans want to hear support for positive and fair anti-smoking legislation, continued commitment to health, education and other public services, and a cautious approach to public-private partnerships, in tomorrow’s televised message from the premier, says the president of the province’s largest union.

Dan MacLennan, president of the 50,000-plus-member Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, said Sunday his conversations with AUPE members and other Albertans over the past few months show many people are greatly concerned with the course the premier will chart for the province in his televised remarks.

"There’s clearly a lot of support for strong legislation that will ban smoking in all public buildings," MacLennan said. "We really hope the provincial government will take the lead on this important public health issue.

"Acting now will save millions of dollars down the road by minimizing financial and health risks today," he said. "People’s right to a smoke-free workplace is a responsibility that shouldn’t be addressed on a town council by town council basis."

MacLennan noted the premier’s commitment to address health care in his 20-minute remarks, which will air at 6:40 p.m. tomorrow. "All our members, including the approximately 20,000 who work in health care, are concerned that Alberta is slipping into an increasingly privatized, two-tier health system.

"On the same day this message is being delivered, nursing assistants working five blocks from the legislative building are receiving layoff notices directly related to funding levels," he added. ( To see the employer’s announcement of the layoffs on the Internet, click here. To read AUPE’s response, click here.)

"We are hoping to hear meaningful assurances that the Alberta government does not intend to encourage a bigger role for private health care, which we believe would have an extremely harmful effect on the system," MacLennan said.

"AUPE agrees strongly with the recommendations of the Romanow Commission, as do most Canadians, and we believe it is important that Alberta move toward implementing the report of the commission," he added.

The AUPE president noted that it seems clear the province intends to proceed with so-called public-private partnerships in health care and elsewhere, despite the fact this approach as failed in other jurisdictions.

MacLennan noted that every model of public-private partnerships seen by AUPE indicates they cost taxpayers as much or more than traditional bidding methods, and leave taxpayers with few or no assets at the end of the process. "This could leave the government paying rent for decades while private developers profit. This is viewed by many as a direct corporate subsidy."

MacLennan also said AUPE members hope the current study of Alberta labour law by a legislative committee will result in the implementation of legislation that would impose a first contract by arbitration in cases where an employer refuses to negotiate in good faith.

"The time has come for laws that make it impossible for union-busting employers simply to refuse to negotiate as a way of thwarting the democratically expressed wish of their employees to be represented by a union," he said.

MacLennan will be available for media interviews throughout the day today and for reaction following the premier’s remarks Monday evening.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)