Media Releases
New fact sheet says Alberta could save billions by addressing growing inequality
Fairer taxes and well-funded public services would improve health and reduce costs
A new fact sheet released this morning by the Parkland Institute says that Alberta should introduce progressive taxes and improve public services in the provincial budget in order to improve health outcomes and significantly reduce costs.
The fact sheet, written by Parkland Institute research director Shannon Stunden Bower, is titled Sick of Inequality: The case for action by the Alberta government on the social determinants of health. Stunden Bower highlights that inequality in Alberta is currently the highest in the nation. In 1982, the top 1% of income earners made ten times what the bottom 10% did. By 2011, the spread had grown to 18 times. At the same time, the earnings of the middle class have been severely squeezed.
New report highlights serious problems with elder care in Alberta
Government policies of privatization and offloading have negatively impacted quality of care
A new report by the Parkland Institute raises serious concerns about elder care in Alberta, and calls into question the government’s policies of privatization, offloading, and cutbacks.
Report says Albertans should be wary of cyber charter schools
Model sees private corporations using public dollars to deliver on-line education
A new report by the Parkland Institute looks into the growth of for-profit cyber charter schools in the United States, and identifies it as a disturbing North American trend that Albertans should be wary of.
Online charter schools pose risk to public system
For adults, falling leaves evoke Norman Rockwell scenes of school drop-offs, homework and planning Halloween costumes. For a growing number of students in North America, that picture is totally different. Rather than hoisting a backpack and throwing leaves in the school playground, on Monday morning a lone child sits at a computer at home and logs into a standardized off-the-shelf web-based program.
New report says city should reconsider P3 approach for Southeast LRT
City’s business case does not hold up to economic and public interest analysis
EDMONTON – A new report released this morning by the Parkland Institute recommends that the City of Edmonton should not proceed with a P3 approach for the building of the Southeast LRT Line, and should opt instead for either a design-bid-build or a design-build arrangement.
Safety dividend means unionized workers fare better on workplace injuries
Alberta government continues to understate the level of workplace injuries
A new fact sheet released today by the Parkland Institute highlights the true rates of workplace injury in Alberta, and demonstrates how unions protect workers both from unsafe workplaces and a government keen to downplay the risks.
Results-based Budgeting not likely to improve service delivery
More likely to result in bloated bureaucracy and to be used to justify cuts and privatization
A new report by the Parkland Institute finds that Alberta’s implementation of Results-based Budgeting (RBB) is driven by ideology, and will not yield the promised results of more effective and efficient service delivery.
Alberta’s whistleblower legislation ineffective
A new report released this morning by the Parkland Institute finds that Alberta’s new whistleblower legislation will be ineffective in terms of protecting those who blow the whistle on incompetence or corruption, and will not ensure that allegations are properly investigated.
New report looks at Albertans’ views on governance
Strong support for election spending limits and the role of protest groups
A new report released this morning by the Parkland Institute finds that Albertans strongly favour setting election spending limits in Alberta and recognize the important role that protest groups play in a democracy.
Taking the Reins
New report says public interest best served by slowing down bitumen production
A new report released this morning by the U of A’s Parkland Institute says another out-of-control bitumen boom would not be in the best interests of Albertans, and that the Alberta government should take action today to bring the pace of development under control.