NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER MLA Michaela Glasgo speaks to a constituent last year at Medicine Hat Public Library's theatre.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo held her first town hall-style meeting Monday at Medicine Hat Public Library’s theatre, attracting a few dozen constituents to talk about a large range of issues.
The first-time elected official spent about 15 minutes at the beginning of the event sharing thoughts on her first nine months on the job. She also spoke about her government and the job it has done so far.
“Things have been moving at lightning speed,” she said. “Our government is taking a very concerted effort and fast-paced approach to enforce our mandate and enact our mandate that was received by voters.
“I just decided to have a town hall to hear from my constituents so they know I am listening to them and taking their concerns to Edmonton.”
Glasgo asked each speaker to talk for about two minutes to share thoughts on any issue or topic important to them.
One point that Glasgo brought up a few times during the event is that she is looking for her government to make positive changes to Alberta, even if they may be unpopular.
“I’m a firm believer that there’s no need to do something a certain way because you’ve always done it that way,” she said. “What we need is transformational change, new ideas and new ways of doing things.
“That might not be the most popular way sometimes.”
Just as they did for Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes’ public meeting in late 2019, many members of the education sector showed up Monday.
Teachers voiced concerns about their pensions and curriculum change, among other things.
“It’s my understanding that teachers are not being consulted (about curriculum changes),” one speaker said.
Another teacher added that countries around the world use Alberta’s education as a model to teach to their students – saying it shouldn’t be remade.
“Education is an investment,” Glasgo said. “From what I understand, with the curriculum, there were some needs to be readdressed.
“Teachers are still involved and being consulted.”
As for pensions, Glasgo says no decision has been made whether to pull out of the Canada Pension Plan.
“We’ve heard a lot from people when it comes to pensions,” Glasgo said. “Whether it be the proposed change of the CPP to the Alberta Pension Plan, if that’s what comes out of the Fair Deal Panel – I wouldn’t pre-judge that before (the panel finishes its report.)
“I’ve heard a lot of different takes on what is going on and that’s totally reasonable when we’re talking about something as sensitive as someone’s pension – people are rightfully concerned and I think there’s a lot of interesting conversation going on around this, not all of it is necessarily true.”
The mother of a Hatter with Crohn’s disease gave an emotional speech about changes being made to drug coverage, with patients using biologics being switched to biosimilars.
“These decisions are dangerous,” she said.
A resident with Crohn’s disease then spoke up, echoing the mother’s thoughts on the changes.
“I want my doctor to make these choices, not the government,” she said.
Glasgo said she did not want to make judgment on other peoples’ health cases, but says her government is working to do what its feels is right.
“I hear you and I understand that you are concerned,” she said. “We are getting our information from Health Canada.”
One of Glasgo’s first questions of the night regarded highways in southern Alberta.
She said that figuring out problems around Highway 3, though it is not in her riding, needs to be a priority. She also vowed to look at a specific area around Redcliff.
Glasgo also stressed the need, in her eyes, for pipelines in Alberta.
When asked about the corporate tax break, Glasgo said that the government is looking “long term” with the tax rate.
“We’re hearing optimism surrounding Alberta,” she said.
