Heather MacKenzie

This was posted this evening by an Edmonton doctor. Please read this thread. And ask yourself if the steps necessary to stop the spread of this disease are re...ally too much to ask to avoid doing this to the people we know, love, and need. It’s tough, yes. But no one ever said courage & sacrifice was easy.

Last night I participated in a political panel with Alberta Primetime again. We discussed the WE Charity scandal and the conservative leadership race. We are first up in the segment.

Our kids deserve better! The Government of Alberta has announced a back-to-school pandemic plan that leaves our children and their educators both underfunded and unprotected. This, in addition to the fact that each Edmonton student will be receiving 6% less support than last year because of funding cuts the UCP has refused to roll back despite a global pandemic. Enough is enough! ... I am now collecting names of all those interested in petitioning to remove Edmonton's sole voice within the UCP Caucus - Kaycee Madu. If you would like to join me in petitioning for the removal of Mr. Madu for his failure to protect Edmonton students, staff and families, please indicate your interest below and/or PM me. If you would like to initiate a similar petition in any other part of Alberta, please don't hesitate to let me know as well. Once the legislation is passed this fall and the formal mechanisms for recalling an MLA are made public, we will then be a step ahead in getting this ball rolling and putting an end to this UCP negligence.

So frustrating to see some landlords unwilling to support locally run businesses. The landlord says they would be disadvantaged by the federal program but that begs the question, why have other landlords been willing and able to help their tenants through this difficult time with this program or their own creative solutions and not you?

My thoughts on the EPSB decision to delay action on ending the SRO program of policing students in high school pending more info on whether it is harmful to rac...ialized youth are: Why not stop the program until the board has evidence it is NOT harmful to racialized youth? Even if the board thinks it has delayed making a decision on this matter, sticking with the status quo while requesting more info is also a decision. It is a decision to delay action and that decision will likely have many adverse impacts on the lives of some of the most marginalized youth in our district. Inaction is action. The board has taken a conservative decision that is harmful, particularly at a time when racialized Edmontonians and their allies are rightfully demanding to see concrete action taken to end systemic racism at every level of government. It is not too late to correct this wrong. Call another board meeting. Follow the lead of those trustees like Bridget Stirling, Mike Janz, Shelagh Dunn, and Nathan Ip, and show the Edmonton youth and public that this board cares about ending systemic racism and will do everything in their power to address problems within our own control whenever they are brought to our attention. Get it done. You are more than capable. UPDATE: A special meeting of EPSB has been called for June 30 and a motion to reconsider suspending the SRO program until a review has been completed will be debated. Let’s hope folks have heard the feedback that has been generated since the last debate. Thanks to all those who have raised their voices to express concern. If you haven’t spoken up yet then please consider contacting your Trustee before the 30th. I can tell you who your rep is if you need that info.