MLA Report June 2

Hello Chestermere!
Let me begin by congratulating the Chestermere Food Bank on their 10th anniversary of serving Chestermere and vicinity. I had the honour of being asked to play at the celebration fundraiser held in the parking lot at No Frills in Chestermere. With entertainment, bouncy castles, mini golf, surrey rides, face painting, great food and local vendors a good time was had by all and some money was raised for this wonderful organization. Their motto, “Feed The Need”, says it all. They do not judge you, they just help. In times like these volunteer organizations like the Food Bank are more important than ever. Thanks to Mardi, Val and the rest of the Food Bank crew, and all the wonderful sponsors. My office is proud to collect for the Chestermere Food Bank, SE Rocky View Food Bank, and the Veterans Food Bank. When dropping donations off you may specify who you want to receive it or we will call around and see which organization needs it most.
My husband Malkeet took a truckload of supplies up to the Fire Evacuee Donation Centre in Lac La Biche. This small town has Alberta’s biggest heart, hosting approximately 3 times its population. Mark, who runs the centre, told him they have an urgent need for the following items:
Paper Towel, Laundry Soap, Dish Soap, Can Openers, Pillows, Size 5&6 Diapers, Dry Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Canned Chicken, Hams, and Tuna, Macaroni & Cheese, Canned Vegetables, Evaporated Milk, Juice boxes, Cereal, Granola Bars, Peanut Butter.
From the looks of this list there’s a lot of children to feed and clean up after! If you can help out with any of these please drop them off at the office. We will get them up there.
Well, the National Energy Board, our world class independent regulator, has approved the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as being in the public interest. The Wildrose has been pressing the government to insist that the Federal government stop the more time wasting political panels and expedite approval for this desperately needed project. So far they keep dodging the question. When the Premier hires an anti-pipeline activist to run her Calgary communications office one has to wonder if she really supports the project. I met with the great people from LNG Or Bust, some of our friends from Fort St. John, BC who see the same pressing need to get our abundant natural gas reserves to tidewater in the form of LNG. They are on their way to Ottawa to tell the Prime Minister to reject his ill-conceived tanker ban and we wish them luck.
The government has introduced Bill 18, which shuts down the recently established, arms-length, non- political environmental monitoring agency. Like the NEB, they seem to have a problem with agencies that base their decisions on facts and the best interests of citizens, not ideology. They have also introduced Bill 20, implementing the Carbon Tax. Funny, every day the cost to the average Albertan keeps going up yet they will not release their studies on the total cost to your pocketbook of this rushed, ill-conceived, ideological cash grab. We’ll keep pressing them to be honest with Albertans.
As always, we love to hear from you.