CUPE Members Step up to Run in Provincial Election Why You Should

Winter 2012 CUPE members step up to run in provincial election problems in Alberta’s long term care system. She’s quick to point out that as the government for the last forty years, the Conservatives have a lot to answer for. “Before the last election, the Conser vatives promised to create 800 new long term care spaces,” said Singh. “They’ve created none. They’ve done little to nothing to improve staffing ratios, turnover, and the high cost of care.” And while the NDP has historically done poorly in previous elections, all three CUPE candidates are optimistic that things are changing. “Polls have shown the NDP at almost double the share of the vote it received in the last election,” said Seelinger. “Here in Red Deer – the response Red Deer North NDP candidate Derek Seelinger (centre) with NDP MLA Rachel Notley (front, second from the right) and a group to our campaign has been terrific. of supporters. Seelinger is running an energetic campaign and promises to surprise people on election night. People are excited that they have an alternative to support.” Three CUPE members and two indivi All five candidates are running for NDP MLAs elected in the upcoming duals with strong CUPE connections the Alberta NDP. election. Scott pointed out that even a small have taken the plunge to run for increase in the number of NDP MLAs political office in the upcoming Scott and Singh are no strangers to “Right now, working people have elected will bring benefits to regular Alberta Provincial Election. politics; both ran in the recent federal two NDP MLAs sticking up for us Alberta families. election. But for Derek Seelinger, it’s in a legislature of 83,” said Scott. Mike Scott from CUPE 30 will run in a new adventure. “Brian Mason and Rachel Notley “With only two MLAs, the NDP has the riding of Strathcona Sherwood are the only politicians standing up been able to shame the govern-ment Park. CUPE 8 member Collette Singh “I felt it was important for CUPE for better long term care, for lower into all kinds of moves that benefit is letting her name stand in Calgary members to walk the walk,” said electricity prices, and for better regular people. The NDP McCall, and Derek Seelinger from Seelinger. “We’re pretty good at education funding.” spent months pushing for better CUPE 417 is running in Red Deer complaining about how government’s funding for education before the North. Former CUPE 3550 President don’t listen – but it takes more than “That’s not good enough. Things have Conservatives reversed their own Trudy Grebenstein is also running in complaints to change things.” to change – and I’m determined to budget cuts.” BarrheadMorinvilleWestlock, and do what I can to change it.” former CUPE 182 member Regina Scott is a member of the CUPE “If they can do that with two MLAs, Vergara is seeking election in Alberta political action committee As the President of CUPE Local 8, imagine what we can accomplish Calgary Hays. and is committed to getting more Collette Singh has seen firsthand the with ten?” ✿ Why you should vote. In 2008, former NDP leader Ray Martin Close elections happen though, right? In the same election year that Ray lost his seat in the Alberta Legislature What can anyone do? Martin went down to defeat, fellow by 337 votes. NDP MLA David Eggen lost the riding of In the contest that saw Martin lose by Edmonton Calder by an even thinner In his previous term in office, 337 votes, over 20,000 people in the margin of 201 votes. In this case, Martin had developed a reputation riding didn’t bother to go to the polls – almost 19,000 people declined to vote. as the leading advocate for affordable a feeble 34% turnout. The riding turnout was only 37%. housing and rent restrictions at a time when the oil boom was making If only 1.6% of the people who didn’t Eggen was one of the Legislature’s Edmonton an impossible city for vote made it to the polls and voted NDP strongest supporters of the environ families to live in. – the Legislature wouldn’t have lost a ment. He was defeated by a Conser lifelong advocate for working people. vative MLA who’s only claim to fame The person who defeated him? in four years was when he made A former Conservative MLA from Martin’s result was not a fluke. In comments that young girls should another riding who was so lacklustre, spite of Alberta’s reputation of always learn to smile and be nice to boys in he couldn’t win his own party’s electing Conservatives to massive order to get ahead in life. Former NDP MLA David Eggen lost his nomination in the riding he had served. majorities, the truth is close election riding of Edmonton Calder by 201 votes in He’s gone on to be almost invisible in results and low turnouts are actually What can anyone do? 2008. Almost 19,000 voters failed to cast the Alberta Legislature. quite common in our province. Vote. ✿ a ballot. Canadian Union of Public Employees • www.cupe.ca • 1 877 YES CUPE • www.alberta.cupe.ca Ten reasons for CUPE members to vote NDP Leader Brian Mason has a long history of sticking up for middle class families As organizations, CUPE and CUPE Alberta Alberta NDP has pledged to 6. The Conservative push for energy 2. Alberta has the worst, most have passed convention resolutions to reverse privatization and bring deregulation has been a disaster expensive child care system support the New Democratic Party. more services back in house. for consumers. Electricity and gas in the country. Provinces like bills have skyrocketed. The NDP Quebec and Manitoba have In this year’s provincial election, 8. Alberta has the most anti will scrap the Conservative de quality, public child care systems there are excellent reasons for working worker Labour Code and Labour regulation scheme, which makes which cost parents between people to abandon the Conservative Standards in Canada. It is harder the energy companies rich, but $5$15 per day, a fraction of government and switch to a labour to join a union in Alberta than leaves the rest of us struggling what Albertans are charged. friendly government. Here are 10: almost any other province in to pay our bills. The Conservative government’s Canada. Brian Mason and the solution is more private day care 10. The Conservatives have NDP have pledged to make it 5. The NDP supports an – even though that system has consistently underfunded easier for any worker who wants environmental cleanup program resulted in shortages and very education. Even with the recent to join a union to do so. Among for the oil sands, and an energy expensive fees. Brian Mason’s reversal of budget cuts, our nonunionized workers, Alberta retrofit program that would NDP understands that Alberta schools are still over crowded has the lowest minimum wage create tens of thousands of jobs families need quality care at a and special needs kids still don’t in Canada, even though our for Albertans. The Conservative price they can afford – and that get the support they need. The economy is one of the strongest. government has no such plan. means a public system. Alberta NDP has pledged to lift the freeze on special needs 7. Alberta has the highest rates 4. The Conservatives continue 1. Before the last election, the funding, and provide stable for auto insurance in Western to support the export of raw Conservatives promised that if funding to enact the class size Canada. Albertans pay more for bitumen resources to Texas for elected they would build 800 new recommendations of the 2003 insurance than any other western refining. Instead of exporting the long term care spaces. Learning Commission. province, even though we are raw resources to the south (only insured for less than any other to buy back the finished product) They have built zero. 9. The continued privatization of drivers. The difference is that NDP Leader Brian Mason has health care services has increased the other provinces have public continually called for an end to Instead, they have looked to the expenses and wait times in the auto insurance, which reduces the export of bitumen and more private sector to create ‘assisted health care system. Premier costs for drivers. The Redford government efforts to refine it living’ spaces. Assisted living is Redford has made it clear private government won’t even consider in Alberta. a much lower level of care for a delivery of services will continue public insurance, the NDP is much higher price to the patient and perhaps increase. The promising it. 3. For too long, the Conservatives and their family. So inadequate have been giving away our is the service that most doctors energy resources to big energy won’t release seniors from companies for next to nothing. hospitals unless there is a proper Albertans own the oil and gas long term care space for them that exist beneath our feet, but to go to. This means the hospital the Conservatives sell it to the oil beds are used up (at great companies for a fraction of what expense to the taxpayer) and wait most other energy producers times increase across the system. charge. Albertans are getting such a bad deal on energy royalties, Brian Mason and the Alberta NDP the province is running a deficit have been relentless advocates and has little in the Heritage Trust of building more long term care Fund after decades of energy beds in the province.

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