Alberta’s future
Alberta needs to have a Magna Carta with a long-term vision for the future — a vision that will create jobs, assist the environment and reduce our dependency on the energy sector over the next 25 years, a vision that will make Alberta a leader in both Canada and the world.
Here are some of my ideas for the Alberta Magna Carta:
- Creation of a new east-central irrigation zone, spanning east from Edmonton to Lloydminster and north to St. Paul and south to Wainwright. This zone would be created by diverting water from the North Saskatchewan River into a massive reservoir. This would allow for increased agricultural production, which would in turn create more employment and export revenue.
- A policy to stimulate the manufacturing of value–added agricultural products. All we have been doing is selling bulk commodities such as grain, cattle, etc., without adding a whole lot of value to them. Instead of bulk shipments of our wheat to countries like Egypt and Algeria, why not sell them flour made to their local specifications? Alberta could easily become a global exporter of value-added agricultural products.
- Gradual elimination of coal-fired electrical generating plants. Replace them with hydro-electric power.
- A hydro-electric dam on Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta. Excess power could be sold into the U.S. power grid — a clean form of energy that would reduce our reliance on oil.
- A policy that would mandate pharmaceutical companies to build manufacturing facilities in Alberta if they wish to sell their myriad of products here in the province. This would create a lot of white-collar jobs and would help diversify the economy.
- Creation of a water conservation policy. Incentives to be given for micro-drip irrigation and for homeowners who replace water guzzling lawns with vegetable or tree fruit gardens. This would create a legacy of urban farmers and increase local food production. Initiate mandatory lawn watering days for those who wish to keep their grass. Finally, ban all cattle from close proximity to riparian areas.
- Implement a complete phase out of oilfield fracking, which damages and pollutes our water tables and aquifers. It also creates earthquakes, which is something we never used to have in Alberta.
- Government incentives for electrical cars and wind/solar power.
- Prohibit the export of raw log exports from Alberta forests. All logs will be processed into value-added products. Why can we not make our own doors, windows, flooring, etc? Government to provide incentives to small business and manufacturers to make these products for local and inter-provincial use.
- Reduce foreign ownership of agricultural land and strategic resources. The federal government allowed the former CWB to be taken over by a Saudi Arabian Sovereign Fund? I am glad they are securing future food production for their own populaces while we are not securing for own people.
- Assist with expansion of the native commercial fishery on both Lake Claire and Lake Athabasca. Help local aboriginal communities with adding value to these local fish stocks.
- Incentives for organic and local food production. Disincentives for the use of herbicides and pesticides. Implement an immediate ban on bee-killing pesticides such as neonicotinoids.
- Incentives for family farms and small business as they create the most jobs. Disincentives for corporate agriculture. Eliminate corporate tax breaks, grants, etc.
- Free education (tuition) for the first year of studies for university, college and technical school students.
- Work toward gradual removal of inter-provincial trade barriers.
- Establish exclusive free trade zones within the province for export-based manufacturers.
- Create a joint venture super oil refinery owned and operated by the provinces of Alberta and Sask-atchewan.
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I trust that the powers that be in the government of Alberta will consider some of my suggestions for a Magna Carta and for future implementation. I look forward to receiving feedback from fellow Western Producer subscribers.
Thomas Deak
Edmonton, Alta.
Personal protection
Re: Farmers on edge over crime fears (WP, Sept. 29).
RCMP Sgt. Earl Leblanc doesn’t want me carrying a firearm to protect myself. Sounds good. Next time I’m confronted on a lonely rural road by masked men pointing handguns at me, I’ll be sure to phone him.
Steve Clifford
Love, Sask.
