Edmonton town hall on fair deal a success: Barnes
By GILLIAN SLADE on December 5, 2019.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade A local MLA on the provincial government’s Fair Deal Panel says public feedback at the first public town hall meeting is valuable. “We had over 200 people show up in Edmonton,” said Drew Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat. The first public consultation with Alberta’s Fair Deal Panel was in Edmonton on Dec. 3. There will be one in Medicine Hat on Jan. 17. A location and time are still to be announced. Barnes says about 40 people in Edmonton took the opportunity to speak to the panel from the main microphone. “I would suggest that three-quarters of the people spoke to wanting a fair deal in Canada,” said Barnes, noting it was valuable to hear what the frustration level is for Albertans. “What surprised me is the depth of people wanting more fair representation within Canada whether it is fairer House of Commons seats or fairer Senate seats.” Discussions with Albertans will help determine how best to define and secure a “fair deal” for the province, to give it a bigger voice and increased power in areas of provincial jurisdiction plus improved economic interests. The Fair Deal Panel will complete its report to the government by March 31. More information on how to participate is available at https://www.alberta.ca/fair-deal-panel.aspx 11-10
