With less than two weeks to go in fall session, this has been an especially significant one for me as I had the opportunity to table my first bill: Bill 211 Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (Discretionary Trust) Amendment Act, 2017. I am so grateful to the over 3000 Albertans who signed the Inclusion Alberta petition supporting this bill and the countless families who shared their stories about why Bill 211 is important for their loved ones.
In addition to my private member’s bill, the government has also debated (and passed) numerous pieces of legislation this session. Whether it be Bill 19 that protects gas and convenience store workers or Bill 24 that supports students in GSAs in Alberta schools or Bill 20 that will bring fresh water to Indigenous people in the Beaver River Basin, each bill has been designed to make life better for Albertans.
In November, I was happy to share some of the important work being done in Calgary with the Minister of Seniors and Housing, Lori Sigurdson, as well as Child Services Minister, Danielle Larivee. Thank you to the students, staff, and faculty in the Department of Child Studies and Social Work at Mount Royal University for welcoming Minister Larivee and I on campus. It was a pleasure to tour the campus child care centre and the university’s innovative Child Development Lab.
Over the next few weeks—and as the holiday season gets into full swing—I look forward to visiting many of your community events. On December 8, I am very excited to attend the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI) Open House – they always have the best cookies!
As always, if you have questions please contact me at the office and be sure to sign up for my constituency newsletter on Facebook. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and happy, healthy holiday season.
~ Brian
