Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

During the disastrous June 2013 Southern Alberta floods, thousands of people were displaced and entire communities were affected by flooding that brought dramatic change to how people live, work and interact with each other. Furthermore, the financial losses are in the billions, which when everything is said and done will affect everyone in the province. The speaker will argue that the critical element to planning for the future is community engagement. Johnston will also argue that construction of flood-control dams, or physically changing or dredging parts of a river to better manage water flow -- need to be matched with non-structural or policy-based responses, such as incorporating current and best available flood hazard information into land-use planning and legislation, and even prohibiting development in high-risk places. It is extremely important that in addition to scientists and engineers, governments and developers, we have community involvement in any land-use planning process, not only to ens

Despite the growing gender balance in provincial premiers, elected politics remains the domain of men. According to the 2012 Global Gender Gap Report, Canadian women's position in politics is 20% of men's. How is this possible, given that Canada not only has no formal, legal restrictions on women's political representation and participation, but that discrimination based on gender is prohibited under sections 15 and 28 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? The speaker contends that women's reduced political position in Canada is a result of 1) a lack of demand for women candidates from Canada's political parties; 2) the reaction of some (male) voters to women candidates; and 3) stereotypes about women's political engagement. All three go some to way explaining why women in Canada are so perniciously underrepresented in federal politics. Speaker: Melanee Thomas Melanee Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on the causes and conse

Despite the growing gender balance in provincial premiers, elected politics remains the domain of men. According to the 2012 Global Gender Gap Report, Canadian women's position in politics is 20% of men's. How is this possible, given that Canada not only has no formal, legal restrictions on women's political representation and participation, but that discrimination based on gender is prohibited under sections 15 and 28 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? The speaker contends that women's reduced political position in Canada is a result of 1) a lack of demand for women candidates from Canada's political parties; 2) the reaction of some (male) voters to women candidates; and 3) stereotypes about women's political engagement. All three go some to way explaining why women in Canada are so perniciously underrepresented in federal politics. Speaker: Melanee Thomas Melanee Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on the causes and conse

Increasingly, the federal Government has been tightening its leash on its scientists and science in general. For instance, most publicly funded research must now have an industrial component. In several departments, researchers are now only allowed to speak about their studies if ministerial permission has been granted. In many documented cases, scientists have been muzzled in speaking to media about their research. The federal Government contends that when federal scientists speak with the media, they do so under media rules that were changed a few years ago. Interviews may now be permitted days, weeks or months after a request is made and by that time, of course, the story could be old news. The speaker will argue that there are few issues more fundamental to democracy than the freedom of our taxpayer funded scientists to follow their passion in research and our ability to access the scientific information that they produce. A society cannot make informed choices about critical issues if we don’t have th

Increasingly, the federal Government has been tightening its leash on its scientists and science in general. For instance, most publicly funded research must now have an industrial component. In several departments, researchers are now only allowed to speak about their studies if ministerial permission has been granted. In many documented cases, scientists have been muzzled in speaking to media about their research. The federal Government contends that when federal scientists speak with the media, they do so under media rules that were changed a few years ago. Interviews may now be permitted days, weeks or months after a request is made and by that time, of course, the story could be old news. The speaker will argue that there are few issues more fundamental to democracy than the freedom of our taxpayer funded scientists to follow their passion in research and our ability to access the scientific information that they produce. A society cannot make informed choices about critical issues if we don’t have th

The Parliament of Canada has two houses, the elected lower house (the House of Commons) and the appointed upper house (the Senate). Both houses are involved in the passing of legislation. Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, said the Senate was to be a place of "sober second thought" so that legislation would receive proper and careful consideration before finally becoming law. Has excessive partisanship eroded the “sober second thought” of the Senate? Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed 58 Senators since taking office in 2006, despite his stated intention to either transform the Senate into an elected body or abolish it altogether. The Harper Government is presently seeking clarification from the Supreme Court on its powers to change the Senate. Will the recent scandals involving Harper appointees change that strategy? The speaker will voice his opinion related to those questions and also argue that the current appointment process is not in step with the preference Canadians consis

The Parliament of Canada has two houses, the elected lower house (the House of Commons) and the appointed upper house (the Senate). Both houses are involved in the passing of legislation. Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, said the Senate was to be a place of "sober second thought" so that legislation would receive proper and careful consideration before finally becoming law. Has excessive partisanship eroded the “sober second thought” of the Senate? Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed 58 Senators since taking office in 2006, despite his stated intention to either transform the Senate into an elected body or abolish it altogether. The Harper Government is presently seeking clarification from the Supreme Court on its powers to change the Senate. Will the recent scandals involving Harper appointees change that strategy? The speaker will voice his opinion related to those questions and also argue that the current appointment process is not in step with the preference Canadians consis

When the topic of evolution comes up it is often to discuss the debate, to choose sides, and to balance the arguments, but is it time to quit debating evolution? By affording anti-evolutionists equal time we risk spending all our time debating evolution and missing the real debates within evolution. These debates, full of exciting controversy and disagreement, are obfuscated when the focus is on the wrong discussion. The speaker will start with a brief look at the amazing diversity and beauty of nature, then the weight of the evidence in favour of our current understanding of evolution by natural selection, and then he will delve into the interesting but entirely understandable debates within evolutionary science. Speaker: Dr. Dan Johnson Dan Johnson studied at the University of Minnesota (started in Anthropology), University of Saskatchewan (biology and geography), and University of British Columbia (graduate degrees, Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, and Department of Plant Science). He is curren

When the topic of evolution comes up it is often to discuss the debate, to choose sides, and to balance the arguments, but is it time to quit debating evolution? By affording anti-evolutionists equal time we risk spending all our time debating evolution and missing the real debates within evolution. These debates, full of exciting controversy and disagreement, are obfuscated when the focus is on the wrong discussion. The speaker will start with a brief look at the amazing diversity and beauty of nature, then the weight of the evidence in favour of our current understanding of evolution by natural selection, and then he will delve into the interesting but entirely understandable debates within evolutionary science. Speaker: Dr. Dan Johnson Dan Johnson studied at the University of Minnesota (started in Anthropology), University of Saskatchewan (biology and geography), and University of British Columbia (graduate degrees, Institute of Animal Resource Ecology, and Department of Plant Science). He is curren

In 2008, Prime Minister Harper apologized for the shared government and church-run Indian Residential School System. As part of that apology, an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission was struck, using a model practiced by only a handful of countries worldwide. Its mandate runs through 2014, and in June and July it will hold local public hearings in Alberta- hearings where former students and others will stand before us and tell their stories. What does this kind of courage have to do with Albertans and Canadians? What is the TRC trying to address, and why? Should we care? Should we attend? This presentation will address these questions, and invites you to bring your own. Speakers: Julie Graham and Mike Frank Julie Graham is the human rights Education and Campaigns Coordinator for KAIROS, the social justice organization of eleven national Canadian churches and church agencies, represented in Lethbridge by an energetic local chapter. The daughter of immigrants, she is from Coast Salish territ

In 2008, Prime Minister Harper apologized for the shared government and church-run Indian Residential School System. As part of that apology, an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission was struck, using a model practiced by only a handful of countries worldwide. Its mandate runs through 2014, and in June and July it will hold local public hearings in Alberta- hearings where former students and others will stand before us and tell their stories. What does this kind of courage have to do with Albertans and Canadians? What is the TRC trying to address, and why? Should we care? Should we attend? This presentation will address these questions, and invites you to bring your own. Speakers: Julie Graham and Mike Frank Julie Graham is the human rights Education and Campaigns Coordinator for KAIROS, the social justice organization of eleven national Canadian churches and church agencies, represented in Lethbridge by an energetic local chapter. The daughter of immigrants, she is from Coast Salish territ

The practice of enhancing physical performance with ingested substances has been around since ancient times. The Greeks were known to use a form of opium; other cultures have used mushrooms and even strychnine. But in modern times, the use of synthetic drugs to enhance athletic performance, commonly referred to as doping, has exploded, as evidenced by the recent massive doping scandals involving legendary athletes in the Tour de France and Major League Baseball. In response, a number of anti-doping organizations have been created to aggressively pursue what they regard as fairness in competition. The moral and ethical landscape surrounding doping is far from simple. How should we as society determine what are acceptable strategies for performance enhancement and what are not? The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), set up in 1999 by the International Olympic Committee to combat illegal performance enhancement in sports, defines doping as use of drugs that meets two of three criteria: enhancement of athletic pe

The practice of enhancing physical performance with ingested substances has been around since ancient times. The Greeks were known to use a form of opium; other cultures have used mushrooms and even strychnine. But in modern times, the use of synthetic drugs to enhance athletic performance, commonly referred to as doping, has exploded, as evidenced by the recent massive doping scandals involving legendary athletes in the Tour de France and Major League Baseball. In response, a number of anti-doping organizations have been created to aggressively pursue what they regard as fairness in competition. The moral and ethical landscape surrounding doping is far from simple. How should we as society determine what are acceptable strategies for performance enhancement and what are not? The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), set up in 1999 by the International Olympic Committee to combat illegal performance enhancement in sports, defines doping as use of drugs that meets two of three criteria: enhancement of athletic pe

The Progressive Conservative Party has been the governing party for more than four decades in Alberta for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that there has rarely been a viable alternative party with enough support to move from the Opposition to the Government benches. In almost every political system that employs a single member plurality electoral system the opposition parties merge into one party (or a coalition) to provide an alternative to the government. But in Canada we have done the opposite by creating multiple parties that do not cooperate during elections. So the rebirth of the Alberta Green Party is not a surprise but is it a good thing for democracy? The speaker will argue that the re-emergence of the Alberta Green Party is important to democracy for two reasons. She will argue that the most serious issues facing the Alberta economy are environmental and Alberta’s economy will be devastated if we don’t start moving quickly toward the new, smart, greener way of doing things. Seco

The Progressive Conservative Party has been the governing party for more than four decades in Alberta for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that there has rarely been a viable alternative party with enough support to move from the Opposition to the Government benches. In almost every political system that employs a single member plurality electoral system the opposition parties merge into one party (or a coalition) to provide an alternative to the government. But in Canada we have done the opposite by creating multiple parties that do not cooperate during elections. So the rebirth of the Alberta Green Party is not a surprise but is it a good thing for democracy? The speaker will argue that the re-emergence of the Alberta Green Party is important to democracy for two reasons. She will argue that the most serious issues facing the Alberta economy are environmental and Alberta’s economy will be devastated if we don’t start moving quickly toward the new, smart, greener way of doing things. Seco

Our understanding of brain development and function has fundamentally changed in the past decade. Brain development embody much more than just the simple unfolding of a genetic blueprint but rather represents a complex dance of genetic and environmental events that interact to adapt the brain to fit a particular environmental context. Thus, it is now clear that prenatal, postnatal and early childhood experiences set the brain on a trajectory that profoundly influences not only how children learn and develop but also contribute to health and wellness throughout the lifespan. The speaker will expand on this fascinating topic and also very briefly touch upon the possible effects common drugs and injuries (concussions) may have on the brain. Speaker: Dr. Bryan Kolb A native of Calgary, Bryan Kolb has been professor at the University of Lethbridge for 37 years and was the co-founder of their Neuroscience Department. He has published five books, including two textbooks with Ian Whishaw and roughly 350 ar

Our understanding of brain development and function has fundamentally changed in the past decade. Brain development embody much more than just the simple unfolding of a genetic blueprint but rather represents a complex dance of genetic and environmental events that interact to adapt the brain to fit a particular environmental context. Thus, it is now clear that prenatal, postnatal and early childhood experiences set the brain on a trajectory that profoundly influences not only how children learn and develop but also contribute to health and wellness throughout the lifespan. The speaker will expand on this fascinating topic and also very briefly touch upon the possible effects common drugs and injuries (concussions) may have on the brain. Speaker: Dr. Bryan Kolb A native of Calgary, Bryan Kolb has been professor at the University of Lethbridge for 37 years and was the co-founder of their Neuroscience Department. He has published five books, including two textbooks with Ian Whishaw and roughly 350 ar

Economists agree almost unanimously that a consumption tax could help level out the peaks and valleys of our provincial revenue now tied to the price of fossil fuel. If combined with a decrease in personal income tax, a sales tax could lead to increased economic diversification while capturing spending from out-of-province visitors. A consumption tax or a revised tax system could pave the way for a balanced budget in Alberta without severe cuts to services thereby enabling future generations to take full advantage of our resource assets. Alberta is the only province in Canada without a sales tax. While not advocating for implementing a sales tax, the speaker will expand on how the introduction of a revised tax system in the province can be framed so it would be acceptable to Albertans. Speaker: Ron Liepert Ron Liepert was born and raised in Saltcoats, Sask, where his primary education began in a one-room elementary school. After his senior high schooling, he moved to Alberta, where in 1971 he enrolled

Economists agree almost unanimously that a consumption tax could help level out the peaks and valleys of our provincial revenue now tied to the price of fossil fuel. If combined with a decrease in personal income tax, a sales tax could lead to increased economic diversification while capturing spending from out-of-province visitors. A consumption tax or a revised tax system could pave the way for a balanced budget in Alberta without severe cuts to services thereby enabling future generations to take full advantage of our resource assets. Alberta is the only province in Canada without a sales tax. While not advocating for implementing a sales tax, the speaker will expand on how the introduction of a revised tax system in the province can be framed so it would be acceptable to Albertans. Speaker: Ron Liepert Ron Liepert was born and raised in Saltcoats, Sask, where his primary education began in a one-room elementary school. After his senior high schooling, he moved to Alberta, where in 1971 he enrolled

Science fiction and science are deeply intertwined. From the space race to nanotechnology scientists are following the predictions of science fiction. This talk will discuss how science fiction has predicted and influenced science and technology. Prof. Jason Donev from the University of Calgary will provide a whirlwind tour of science fiction in books, movies and television and how our world is different as a result. The talk will also explore how Star Trek, H.G. Wells, Michael Crichton, and even CSI influence how we look at science, technology and scientists. Speaker: Jason Donev Dr. Jason Donev is a professor in the department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. He studies how people learn science and teaches about energy issues, especially nuclear power. A long time geek he has enjoyed seeing the interplay between science fact and science fiction. Dr. Donev is also the official mad scientist for the Canadian science fiction and fantasy publishing house, Tyche Books.