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

September 2008

I’d like to update you on some of my committee appointments. I have been appointed Chair of Social Care Facilities Review Committee. I continue to be a Member of the Alberta Heritage Trust Fund and a Member of the Standing Committee on Community Services. I’m quite pleased with these committee appointments as the issues each committee deals with directly affect all members of our community.

On August 10 I was pleased to see a good attendance for the Peacekeepers Day ceremonies at Garrison Green. On September 28 I will be attending the Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day ceremonies and hope to see you there.

The Alberta Heritage Trust Fund reached $17 billion in 2007-08, the highest reported value in its 32-year history. The Heritage Fund is invested in a balanced investment portfolio and has contributed more than $30 billion to Albertan’s priorities such as health care, education, infrastructure and the elimination of the accumulated debt.

In an effort to build the province’s workforce, the government is expanding its Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) to include family members. Eligible Albertans may sponsor a parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew for provincial nomination. They will have to meet provincial eligibility criteria and be able to join Alberta’s labour market. They must have post-secondary education, work experience and between 21 and 45 years old and do not need to have a job before they apply. This will ensure that there will be a larger labour force pool for employers to draw from.

Construction is set to begin in Hillhurst-Sunnyside on a new affordable housing complex for individuals and families. The Brenda Strafford Foundation Affordable Housing Initiative will feature 83 two bedroom apartments of which 33 units are targeted to support women and families leaving domestic violence.

The Alberta government has invested $1.76 million to fund 79 more beds in women’s emergency shelters across the province. The additional beds will increase shelter capacity by 15 per cent and will provide more options for people who are experiencing family violence.

The Alberta government creating two new funds totalling $4 billion to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equal to taking more than a million cars off the road each year. The province will create a $2 billion fund to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects while a second $2 billion fund will propel energy saving public transit in Alberta.

Recently the provincial government moved towards a single health system as a means to increase patient access and enhance care. The goal of the new system is to increase accountability for all health delivery through one coordinated, unified operation. This will help ensure that Albertans will receive the same quality of health care regardless of where they live in the province.

Youth justice committees are sharing $350,000 in grants from the Government of Alberta. The committees help youth accept responsibility for minor crimes, assist courts with sentencing, and engage in crime prevention activities. The youth justice committees work in partnership with the province’s justice system to give youth aged 12 to 17 alternatives to the formal court process.

Albertans are invited to complete an online survey at www.tomorrowsseniors.alberta.ca to share their thoughts on what support they anticipate they will need when they become seniors and how those needs should be met. Albertans of all ages can complete the survey, which is focused on baby boomers and those who are almost 65 years old.

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 215-4380, calgary.hays@assembly.ab.ca. Please include your name, address and phone number so we can respond to your inquiry. Information is also available at www.assembly.ab.ca.