Jeremy Loome, Legislature Bureau
March 29, 2008

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There are some good intentions evident. But so far, the provincial government's plans for the next year appear to largely ignore those suffering from Alberta's inflationary economy, says a leading city activist.

John Kolkman develops policy proposals for the Edmonton Social Planning Council. The government's agenda - outlined in a series of mandate letters to cabinet ministers Thursday - is "not overly ambitious," he said.

"Obviously, they are making it a priority to implement some of their election commitments and some of those are helpful to people having difficulties. But there are definitely areas where we see room for improvement.

"Their most ambitious plan is a commitment to deliver 11,000 new affordable housing units within four years and even that commitment is weaker than it could be."

Kolkman said the province's rent supplement fund has helped some Albertans cope with skyrocketing monthly home costs.

But he said it could be broadened to include low-income Albertans who fall above the threshold of using 30% of their income for rent, given that other expenses have risen just as sharply thanks to the province's boom.

"We'd also like to see that funding be attached to the individual and not the unit, so that in the event that someone can find a better bargain, they're not faced with the prospect of either losing the funding or having to go through the application process all over again," he said.

The council gives the government high marks for including a mandate to boost aboriginal and immigrant employment across Alberta. But Kolkman said he's concerned by the plan to increase the number of temporary foreign workers here.

"What we particularly don't want to see is people being brought here by brokers who exploit them. And while including new immigrants in that statement is good, the goal of 3,000 staying in Canada through the provincial nominee program is disappointing."

Even Manitoba, with a fraction of the population and a more sedate economy, has managed to bring in more than 6,500 new permanent residents through the nominee program, while Alberta is still setting future goals of half that, despite bringing in the most temporary foreign workers in Canada.

"We don't know why Alberta finds it so hard to expand this when other provinces have been able to do a lot better," he said.

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