Member Update: Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004

EDMONTON — Monday’s provincial general election results indicate that Albertans want quality public services in health care, education and government, AUPE President Dan MacLennan says.

“The election results make it clear that voters throughout the province oppose moves toward more private-sector approaches to important government services,” MacLennan said.

“The message all elected MLAs should take from these results is that Albertans want and expect quality public services, public health care and public education delivered in a dependable fashion,” he said.

“The leaders of all three major parties deserve congratulations,” MacLennan added.

“The premier has another majority government, and the leaders of both opposition parties have overseen significant and dramatic gains, with the New Democrats doubling their seat count from two to four and the Liberals increasing to 17 seats from seven at the last election.”

The results in ridings such as Calgary Varsity show that union members and students can have a real impact on provincial politics if they get out and vote, he observed.

Working with some faculty members and the University of Calgary Students Association, AUPE Local 052, which represents non-academic staff of the U of C, ran a vigorous pre-election campaign that helped highlight the need to further increase funding to post-secondary institutions.

“The advertisements and mass student actions struck a chord with voters, who want properly funded post-secondary education for Albertans,” MacLennan said.

During the “political action week” at Calgary post-secondary institutions, students, faculty and AUPE members held a bake sale to symbolically help pay down the U of C deficit, took part in a political carnival, ran a symbolic soup kitchen and formed the words I VOTE for an aerial photograph.

“The government now has an opportunity to move to solve the funding crisis at the U of C and other Alberta post-secondary institutions that has seen job cuts at those facilities while Alberta’s economy is booming.”

MacLennan congratulated AUPE member Brad Smith for his well-fought campaign in the Edmonton-Calder constituency.

“While Brad didn’t win this time, he was a credible candidate and a excellent representative for AUPE,” MacLennan said.

“Edmonton-Calder was one of only two ridings in Alberta where three parties all polled more than 25 per cent of the vote.”

For his part, Smith congratulated David Eggen on his victory in the riding. “David worked hard for a long time for the right to represent this riding, and he fought an excellent, enthusiastic campaign,” Smith said.

“I trust David will be a hard-working MLA for our community, and I wish him well in that role,” concluded Smith, an active member of AUPE Local 050, which represents employees of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.