Calgary Hays is located in Calgary's 'deep south' and includes the communities of:

Auburn Bay
Copperfield
Cranston
Douglas Glen
Douglasdale
McKenzie
McKenzie Lake
McKenzie Towne
New Brighton
Seton

For more information on these communities click here.

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Calgary Hays MLA Art Johnston's
Report To Constituents

July 2008

I’d like to wish everyone a happy Canada Day. I hope you managed to celebrate the fact that we are truly blessed by our freedom and to live in a country so rich in its bounty. Every year thousands of people from all over the world choose to start a new life here, many of them in Alberta, and their contributions and diversity strengthens our country and makes Canada a better place to live.

Like all Albertans I was saddened to hear of the death of one of our own, Corporal Michael Starker who was killed in Afghanistan. In his civilian life Corporal Starker was an EMS paramedic in Calgary who was respected and loved by his fellow workers. Dave Rodney and I were deeply moved and honoured to attend the prayers and eulogy for him at his funeral where I represented the province of Alberta. On behalf of Calgary Hays I would like to express our deep condolences to Corporal Starker’s family and friends.

I have received overwhelming email support from the city, police and Calgary Health Region for Bill 204 which would ban the use of cell phones while driving. I will continue to press for passage of this Bill through the legislature later this year. My trip to Halifax in May to meet with provincial counterparts to discuss their cell phone ban legislation was beneficial in shaping our understanding of how their legislation works and how we can apply it here.

I have introduced Motion 503 regarding street racing, and Motion 507 regarding cruelty to animals to the legislature. A Motion is designed to bring these matters to the attention of the sitting members and to encourage them to look into changing existing laws or creating new ones regarding these issues.

Albertans can now purchase and print sportfishing licences online at their convenience, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at https://www.albertarelm.com. Alberta is the first province to introduce complete online licensing for both hunting and fishing.

The Government of Alberta has launched a Community Spirit Program with the goal of increasing charitable donations from individuals through an enhanced charitable tax credit and a new donor-driven donation grant program. Visit www.communityspiritprogram.ca for more information.

In response to concerns raised by Albertans regarding the length of time it takes to prosecute people charged with an offence a total of 54 new Crown prosecutors and 9 new support staff will be added over the next three years. These additions will effectively enhance Alberta’s ability to prosecute serious and violent crimes.

Several members of my staff toured the Interfaith Food Bank. The tour of the facilities and administration was designed to help us better understand how the food bank works when we refer less fortunate members of our community who require its services.

The last week of June was Senior’s Week and I was pleased to be able to attend several functions in the company of these members of our community who have helped make Alberta the great place it is today.

I will be attending the Premier’s Stampede Breakfast at McDougall Centre on July 7 as well as the McKenzie Towne Stampede Breakfast on High Street on July 9. I hope to see you all there.

I was pleased to see everyone at this year’s McKenzie Frenzie enjoying the festivities with their families and I look forward to next year’s event.

I appreciate the input I receive from you and welcome any comments you may have. Please contact myself or Donna Elms at the constituency office at (403) 215-4380, calgary.hays@assembly.ab.ca. Please include your name, address and phone number so we can respond to your enquiry. Information is also available at www.assembly.ab.ca.