Alberta Election 2008 questions

ALBERTA ELECTION 2008

FAMILY AND LIFE QUESTIONS
TO ASK YOUR CANDIDATES

1. Protection of fundamental freedoms legislation:
Preamble: There have been several recent high-profile cases before the Alberta Human Rights Commission, most notably, the current case against Ezra Levant and the Western Standard magazine. Given that, in these cases, courts and/or Human Rights Tribunals have repeatedly denied or struck down fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Canadian Charter.

Question 1: Will you, if elected, endorse a review and, if necessary, the amendment of legislation governing the provincial Human Rights commission?

2. Notwithstanding Clause:
Preamble: Premiers Lougheed, Blakeney and Lyon successfully negotiated for the inclusion of the Nothwithstanding Clause (section 33) in Canada's constitution in 1981. Said Premier Lougheed: "The reason we took that decision is we believed that when it comes down to it, there must be supremacy of the elected people over the supremacy of nine appointed judges." (Quoted by Licia Corbella, Calgary Sun, Wed. Jan. 11, 2006, "Martin Shocks Drafter of Charter of Rights.")

Question: Do you support the use of the Notwithstanding Clause when necessary to protect the rights and interests of Albertans?

3. Citizen's Initiative Legislation:
Preamble: In many political jurisdictions, citizens are empowered to initiate legislation through means such as a petition that, if successful, would result in a binding vote on specific issues such as tax increases or gun control.

Question: Would you support legislation that allows for citizen-generated initiatives?

4. Education:

Preamble: Nations from around the world have come to observe and desire to emulate Alberta's education system for a number of reasons, including the concept of respecting parental input in the process of developing programs of choice within the system as evidenced in the large variety of school programs such as the public, separate, independent, charter and home-school options available here.

Question: If elected, would you continue the current policy to support parents in their educational choices for their children?

5. Health Funding:
Preamble: In 2007, a national poll showed that 73% of Albertans surveyed do not support taxpayer funding of all abortions. The Canada Health Act does not specify the medical services for which provinces must pay. Alberta Health and Wellness records report that Albertans paid for 10,917 abortions in 2006. In 2005, 39.5 % of the abortions paid for in Alberta were repeat abortions according to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

Question: Do you support removing abortion services from Alberta Health Care's list of insured services, except in the case of medical emergencies?

6. Gambling:
Preamble: On July 1, 2000, Video Lottery Terminals were declared illegal and removed in South Carolina after state legislators reviewed multiple studies relating to the costs and complications involved with problem gambling. Other jurisdictions around the world have curtailed various types of gambling activity as a result of serious efforts to determine the social costs related to gambling.

Question: Will you support a meaningful review of the latest studies related to problem gambling and support taking appropriate measures to restrict or eliminate harmful gambling activities as other jurisdictions have done?

7. Provincial Incentives for Families:
Preamble: Governments in various jurisdictions have implemented policies designed to foster a family-friendly culture that ultimately benefits society and can help to increase the dangerously-low birth rate we are experiencing in this province and nation. Government initiatives have included financial bonuses for having more than one child, increased funding available for child-care or education to be used at the parents' discretion, the elimination of health-care premiums, and the implementation of a more favourable tax status for families.

Question: Would you vote for policies designed to reduce the financial burden for a stay-at-home parent household and to promote a family-friendly culture in this province?

8. Federal Subsidized Daycare:
Preamble: A Federal Private Member's Bill, C-303, is currently being debated in the House of Commons. It would require the Federal Government to commit up to $15 billion annually for subsidized daycare, based on the Quebec $7 per day model.

Question: Would you oppose this program of institutionalized daycare, in that it violates provincial jurisdiction in this area, is not in the best interest of children, and discriminates against families who choose other options for their children?

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