At Work For You
For more information on Bill 206, including a Hansard Search to read the Legislative Assembly's debate and discussion on the Bill, please click on the link below:
Bill 206: School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009 (Forsyth)
Heather making a Member's Statement about the Equal Voice Mentorship Program in the Legislative Assembly on November 24th, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning I had the pleasure of hosting Equal Voice here at the Legislature. Equal Voice is an organization dedicated to getting women interested in politics. One of the activities that the group sponsors is the mentorship program called experiences. I have the pleasure of being involved in this program. Experiences gives young women the opportunity to job shadow women in politics and gain a greater understanding of the issue.
I’ve been mentoring a young woman from Calgary. At the beginning of our mentorship I asked her what she wanted to get from the experience, and I’d like to quote from her e-mail.
"I want to be challenged. New challenges provide the experiences to learn and grow. I’ve already discussed the opportunity to get involved with youth mental health. It would be great if I could attend a meeting or an event with you. There is a lot I don’t know about politics, and there’s a lot I’d like to learn. Even just observing you at such events would be great. Any way to get involved would be welcomed."
This is exactly the type of thinking that mentorship should promote. If all of the other participants are as intelligent and as enthusiastic, then there is a future that is very bright. I want to thank the staff and the volunteers of Equal Voice for the tremendous work they do. I also want to acknowledge the great work that you do, Mr.Speaker, to promote women in politics. I’ve been given the opportunity through your office to attend the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Association conference. This is a great opportunity to network with women representatives and focus on issues affecting women.
Thank you.
Heather speaking during Third Reading of her Private Members' Bill, "Bill 206, School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009" on November 23rd, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to move third reading of Bill 206, the School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009.
This bill will deal with a problem that has a very human side. There is the kindergarten student who is beaten up in the schoolyard, the elementary student who is afraid to ride the school bus because they will be tormented with vicious name-calling, the junior high student who is embarrassed and ostracized when lewd photos are posted on Facebook, and the high school student who is brutally assaulted during a hazing incident. These incidents would be serious enough if they were just a one-off, Mr. Speaker, but the reality is that they are often just a piece of an organized campaign of terror, a cruel pattern of behaviour that rapidly turns the victim’s life into a living hell, a cycle from one moment of anguish and fear to another.
I’ve talked before about some of the victims, and I want to remind my colleagues about their stories. There is the seven-year-old child who lives in my constituency that has seen a psychiatrist, and he is suicidal. There is a boy in Edmonton who committed suicide after a series of gruesome attacks, attacks that left him with injuries like an eight-centimetre blood clot in his testicles. When I hear the stories of these victims and their physical and psychological wounds, it seems like something from a conflict in a far-off land. These are the types of injuries that you expect refugees to have, and in a sad way that is what many of these children have become. Refugees in their own schools, they’re forced to hide on the playground and alter their walks home. Eventually they have to flee the school and find somewhere else where they can live and learn in peace, but this often doesn’t work. The bullies sometimes follow them to a new school, or a whole new set of children bully them, and it’s time to stop this.
Bill 206 will go a long way to stopping the problem. It’s going to ensure that each and every incident is dealt with, that we have adequate documentation when cases escalate, and that statistics are available to identify trends and allow policy-makers to act.
The second piece of this bill, as I have talked about, deals with drug paraphernalia and weapons. It’s going to make it so that simple possession is illegal; no more having to prove intent. The problems of drugs, weapons, and bullying really go hand in hand, Mr. Speaker. We know that hazing incidents, especially, often involve weapons. There are hockey sticks and there are baseball bats, canoe paddles, and all sorts of other stuff modified to commit assault, and right now it’s not illegal to have one of these things at school. Why would you want to have a goalie stick with the blade cut off and holes drilled in it in your locker? We know that the reasons students do this is to commit assault, so let’s stop that problem before it happens.
And the same goes for drugs. Crack pipes, as far as I know, have nothing to do with the curriculum, but they are part of the problem and part of a culture that can make our schools unsafe and violent places.
I want to end by sharing yet another story by a mom. This story is just one example of the many that I’ve been inundated with. Her son went to a local school. He was beaten repeatedly. One day in a school class he’s surrounded by five students in a corner. They are armed with a metal pipe. They threaten to shove that pipe somewhere not very nice. Fortunately, he had some training in martial arts and was able to defend himself. But our children should not have to defend themselves, Mr. Speaker. We should be defending them. Bill 206 will defend our children and our teachers and everyone else who works in our schools from the mean-spirited behaviour of bullies, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill in third reading.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Heather speaking at the Committee of the Whole on her Private Members' Bill, "Bill 206, School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009" on November 16th, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s my pleasure to begin committee stage for Bill 206, the School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009. I want to start by thanking my colleagues for their input during second reading. Their comments were very helpful to me as I moved forward with this bill.
I’ve had feedback from some of my colleagues and from some other stakeholders about the intent of this legislation, and I want to make one thing very clear. This bill is about protecting students and staff in our schools; it’s not about usurping the power of the school boards or the principals or the teachers. The students who are bullied frequently live in a constant state of torment. This bill aims to protect them.
As I mentioned during second reading, I’ve done a lot of work with stakeholders to make sure I got this bill right. I’ve talked with parents, I’ve talked with police, I’ve talked with principals, and I’ve also talked with the Alberta Teachers’ Association. The ATA expressed some concerns that section 5 of Bill 206 could take away the power of principals to suspend students whose conduct is detrimental to school safety. This was completely inadvertent and not consistent with the bill’s intent. I fully appreciate that suspending a student is sometimes necessary.
To ensure that there is no conflict between the intent of this bill and its provisions, Mr. Chairman, I would like to table an amendment to Bill 206. This amendment deals with section 5 of the bill, which impacts section 24 of the School Act.
This amendment proposes to strike out section 5 of the bill and substitute the following. Section 24 is amended (a) in subsection (1) under (i) in clause
(a) by striking out “section 12, or” and substituting “section 12, 12.1 or 12.2,” and under (ii) by adding the following after clause (a): “(a.1) the student has failed to participate in an educational measures program, as directed under section 23.1, or”; and (b) in subsection (7) by striking out “section 12” and substituting “section 12, 12.1 or 12.2”.
With this issue cleared up, I’d like to make a couple of points about Bill 206. Some have asked if I would include more provisions to define certain behaviours as illegal. I’ve been asked if I would include a specific section on hazing or to protect those who are bullied because their family is poor. There certainly is some merit to this position. At the same time, defining behaviours too narrowly leaves room for the offender to argue that their behaviour is not covered under the act. I don’t think anyone wants to get into that kind of debate. The bill in its current form will outlaw all behaviours which harass or intimidate other students.
The provision in this bill which deals with bullying has sparked a lot of interest. My phone has rung off the hook with people asking questions and offering feedback. This is very positive, Mr. Chairman. It’s high time that we have this discussion.
There is another part of the bill, though, that I want to highlight. Bill 206 would make it illegal to have drugs, drug paraphernalia, or weapons in our schools. Period. No more wrangling about the student’s intent or whether that billy club was really going to be used to harm another student. It would be illegal to have these things, and the bill would give our police officers and school staff the ability to deal with it.
It’s also going to tackle the problem of cyberbullying head-on.
We know that being bullied on Facebook or your cellphone or Twitter or any one of the myriad of other technologies out there can turn a student’s life into a living hell. Mr. Chair, sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Or will they?
Ugly. Faggot. Slut. Fatso. I hate you. You are sad and disgusting, and you will never amount to anything.
Mr. Chair, I just finished a book, which was given to me by a mom whose son was tormented. He eventually took his own life. This book is about other kids who were bullied in school and ended up committing suicide. The name-calling was the start of many more things to come.
Mr. Chair, Bill 206 is a positive trend for our schools, and I’m asking my colleagues to assist in helping me pass Bill 206. Thank you.
Heather speaking during the 2nd reading of her Private Members' Bill, "Bill 206, School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009" on June 1st, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce Bill 206, the School (Enhanced Protection of Students and Teachers) Amendment Act, 2009, for second reading. Our society is changing rapidly. We have all these new technologies – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, text messaging – and somebody is probably inventing a new way to communicate right now as I’m speaking. All of these new technologies have put a new face on an old problem, bullying. It used to be that a bully’s insults were heard by 30 other kids in a cafeteria. Now it’s out on the web for 6 billion people to see. These days electronic media is a crucial part of kids' culture. They can’t imagine life without it. They run home from school and the first thing they do is log on so that they can talk for hours using instant messaging, bulletin boards, and chat rooms. But the chatter and the gossip can spin out of control and become degrading.
Bullying has always had the potential to turn school into a living nightmare for some children, but now the problem is going beyond the schoolyard. It’s bad enough that a bully can make a child’s life hell in school, but these new technologies are allowing for 24/7 bullying. You can put somebody down with a text message at suppertime, lewdly doctor photos of them and post the photo on Facebook at 8 p.m., and threaten them on Twitter at bedtime. The keyboard has indeed become a weapon.
Mr. Speaker, to deal with these types of incidences, we need to think creatively. Bill 206 will be the first legislation in Canada that expressly bans bullying by electronic media. Specifically, it will ban bullying by means of a school computer or the Internet, access through a school computer, or at any time where such activity may reasonably be expected to cause a substantial and material disruption at school.
We’re taking extraordinary action to deal with an extraordinary problem. Bullying is so damaging to the mental health of our children. I talked to one mother whose seven-year-old was bullied so viciously that they had to pull him out of school. He was so traumatized that he currently receives therapy from a psychiatrist because he’s suicidal. Seven years old, Mr. Speaker.
I talked to another mother today whose son was bullied maliciously. I have a file two inches thick on this case. It contains emergency room reports of the horrific injuries that the boy sustained, including an eight-centimetre blood clot in his testicles. It also contains pages of letters that the mother wrote trying to protect her child. Ultimately, the only action that was taken was that the boy was moved to another school. On June 5, 2008, with a few weeks left in the school year he started his car in a closed garage and slipped away from all of his worldly cares. What a terrible tragedy, Mr. Speaker.
We can’t let our youth be terrorized in a way that affects them for life. Our schools are diverse, and this is a good thing. They’re reflective of the vibrant and diverse society that we have in Alberta. Unfortunately, sometimes differences make children a target for bullies. Bill 206 makes it illegal to harass somebody on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability. That doesn’t mean that these are the only behaviours targeted by the bill. Other forms of harassment include stealing the possessions of an individual, physical or sexual assault or threats of physical or sexual assault on that individual, threats of death to that individual. These are ugly and serious behaviours. We have to stamp them out so that they can’t ruin the lives of our youth.
For anyone keeping score at home, I’ve used the word "bullying" or a variant of it nine times so far. That’s because bullying is a very important part of this bill. But it’s not the only type of behaviour in school which endangers students. Weapons don’t belong in school. They’re dangerous, and they’re harmful. We’ve had this sad fact illustrated to us by the tragedy that occurred in Taber 10 years ago. Jason Lang was only 17 when his life was so tragically ended. He was shot by a student who brought a gun to school. You can open the paper any day and find other children who’ve been killed at a school somewhere around the world.
This bill will allow our police to act immediately when a weapon is found. Right now it can be difficult for police to act when they find a weapon in our schools. The provision of the Criminal Code puts the burden on our police to prove intent. So if the police find a billy club in a kid’s locker, they often have to wait for them to use it or to threaten or injure another student. I’ve talked to our police officers countless times about this, and they’re frustrated. Mr. Speaker, there is no good reason for a billy club in school. It doesn’t improve your math skills. It’s not part of any physical education class. What could a student possibly be using it for? We know that these types of devices are used to inflict harm. It makes no sense to wait until harm occurs to take action. Bill 206 will make weapons in our schools illegal and allow police and school officials to take immediate action.
Mr. Speaker, we all know that drugs are dangerous for our youth. Recently two teenaged girls west of Edmonton died after taking ecstasy, and events in Vancouver have illustrated the violence associated with the drug trade. Two high school boys in Surrey were killed last week in an event that may be drug and gang related. We need to keep these types of danger out of our schools. That’s why this bill will make the possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia on school property an offence.
One of the key pieces of this bill involves mandatory reporting. In my conversations with our police officers they have told me that they often are only contacted when an incident spirals out of control. Suddenly they have to go to court regarding an incident that they have no prior record of. Making schools document all incidents which compromise safety, including bullying, drugs, and weapons, will give our justice system the tools to deal with cases early and effectively.
I urge all of my colleagues to support Bill 206 and take an important step to make our schools safe for our youth.
Heather asking questions of the Solicitor General, the Honourable Fred Lindsay, in Question Period on Monday, April 27th:
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently there are approximately 19,000 registered sex offenders in Canada. Each and every one of them has committed horrific crimes that are devastating to their victims. Cory Bitternose is a repeat sex offender so violent that his sneaker imprints stayed on the face of a woman he viciously attacked. Today Bitternose is facing 46 separate charges in connection with recent attacks plus, ironically, one charge for failing to comply with the national sex offender registry. My questions are all to the Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. How many registered sex offenders live in Alberta, and how many are featured on Alberta’s high-risk offender website?
Mr. Lindsay:
Mr. Speaker, according to the statistics from the national registry there are currently more than 1,600 registered sex offenders living in this province. Alberta’s high-risk offender website contains a list of approximately 70 offenders who have been released into the community and are considered a high risk to reoffend. Our website is a repository of all high-risk offender public notification news releases that have been issued by police agencies in Alberta. Albertans can access the website if they want to know if a high-risk offender has been released into their community.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Was Mr. Bitternose on Alberta’s high-risk offender website? If not, why not?
Mr. Lindsay:
Mr. Speaker, the individual the hon. member is referring was not on our high-risk offender website. For an individual to be put on our website, they have had to have been the subject of a media notification by police alerting the public to their release into a community. Our website has never intended to be an active list of all known registered sex offenders or high-risk offenders in Alberta. As for the national registry it is not a publicly accessible site. It is used as a tool by law enforcement to keep tabs on registered sex offenders.
Mrs. Forsyth:
Given that the national sex offender website is broken, with ineffective legislation and faulty technology, would the minister consider adopting Ontario’s national sex offender website, which is considered the best in the country?
Mr. Lindsay:
Mr. Speaker, the question is very timely. Just this week a parliamentary review began on the Sex Offender Information Registration Act. This is the legislation that covers how sex offenders are registered in a national program. We anticipate some consultation by the federal government with the provinces and territories on expected recommendations from the review that will lead to amendments and improvements on a national system. A more effective national system will allow us to look at what all provinces could and should be doing within their own jurisdictions.
Heather speaking on Bill 6, the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Amendment Act, on Tuesday, April 14th 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to provide the committee with information on Bill 6, the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Amendment Act, 2009. The amendments to the PCHAD legislation build on the program’s positive performance over the past two and a half years and are based on input from stakeholders. These stakeholders range from children who have been through the program to their parents and guardians, AADAC staff, protective safe house staff, police forces, court services staff, and children’s services.
The amendments address six key areas: lengthening the maximum confinement period from five to 10 days with authority for the court to further extend the confinement period for an additional five days when warranted; addressing discharge issues, including discharge for the purpose of transferring a child from PCHAD into a voluntary program where appropriate; clarifying the role of parents and guardians in better supporting families; easing police transportation pressures; broadening the process for reviewing PCHAD court orders; and providing for the expiry of PCHAD orders.
The PCHAD legislation came into effect on July 1, 2006. Since its introduction more than 1,500 children have been through the program. The amendments seek to better support children and their families, which is why an information process is being introduced.
Over the course of this program’s operation it has become apparent that some parents and guardians are accessing PCHAD court orders as a first step in addressing a child’s drug use problems. These parents and guardians are not always aware of the other programs and supports available to assist their child and their family. In response, the amendments require that before an application can be made for a PCHAD order, the applicant must attend an information session that will explain what PCHAD does and what it does not do, help parents and guardians determine whether this is the right program for their child, and provide parents and guardians with information on other programs and services that may be better suited to their needs or that may provide additional support.
The proposed amendments are also designed to make the court process more accessible. For example, a child, the parent or guardian of the child, or the PCHAD co-ordinator will be able to apply to the court for a review of the order. The review may be about the appropriateness of the order or the need to further extend the program for up to five additional days. The court will be authorized to permit evidence to be heard by telephone, audiovisually, or by means satisfactory to the court. Greater flexibility in hearing evidence will enable the participation of all interested persons. It improves access to the court and enables the court to hear from all sides before reaching a decision. It is a practical step in improving access and guarding the rights of the child.
Another practical measure is the amendment addressing police assistance with transportation of a child. In some cases undue pressure was being placed on some police services to apprehend and convey a child to a protective safe house. While police involvement may be required in some cases, it is not always necessary. To alleviate pressure on police forces and still properly support families, provision is made for police to assist the family, which will not always require full apprehension and conveyance. This is important on a number of fronts. It is necessary to ensure police services are available when required, but it also tailors police assistance to what is actually required. Providing for police support when necessary and tailoring the support to specific circumstances maintains important and appropriate support for families. The moderate use of police services is also important in providing a measured response to children who enter PCHAD.
During second reading there was a concern raised regarding the confinement period only being extended to 10 days or possibly 15 days. There was a suggestion that the confinement period should be much longer. In response, I can advise that the 10- to 15-day time period aligns the PCHAD program with other youth treatment programs offered by AADAC. The amendments propose a five- to 10-day extension to the confinement period so that children in the program can be provided with more stabilized services. Experiences with other addiction programs for youth indicate that the proposed time period is appropriate. Furthermore, PCHAD is a specialized program, and it is important to balance program objectives with the rights and interests of the children involved. The confinement period must be kept to a reasonable period.
There was also concern about whether children in the PCHAD program are or will be referred to treatment programs that are not accredited or that are operated by untrained staff. The bill does not contemplate that approach, nor has that approach been part of the program. Under PCHAD assessment, detoxification, and stabilization services are provided by trained AADAC staff. Residential services are specifically contracted through AADAC to youth facilities that are accredited to provide custodial care and supervision. The program is regulated under the PCHAD legislation, which specifically obliges the PCHAD co-ordinator to provide these services.
With regard to comments claiming that there are insufficient programs for PCHAD youth to access, PCHAD youth and their family members are accessing AADAC treatment services post- PCHAD at a higher rate than children and families who attend voluntary youth programs. Youth can continue with voluntary detoxification and residential treatment programs that best suit their needs. These programs may include therapeutic wilderness programs, residential addiction and mental health care programs, intensive day treatment programs, or outpatient services. Some suggestions were made in second reading that the number of youth services beds has been reduced. However, there were 68 beds for youth in July 2006, and there are 69 today. Further, the integration of AADAC into Alberta Health Services will provide stronger addiction and mental health programming. The move will make more facilities and a larger pool of qualified health professionals available to support youth addiction and overall mental health programming.
I am confident that these amendments coupled with Alberta Health Services’ province-wide health services mandate and this government’s commitment to addiction and mental health programming as outlined in the children’s mental health plan will result in improved youth addiction services. As I noted during second reading, this is a specialized initiative that is designed to improve the safety, security, and well-being of children and families in Alberta. It speaks to the responsibility of families, communities, and this Assembly to help children in need overcome significant alcohol and drug abuse. These amendments reinforce this initiative and will better support children and their families in the program, ease undue pressure on police forces, and better facilitate the court process.
I ask all members to support this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
(to read Bill 6, please click HERE)
Heather speaking on Motion 503, related to Provincial Achievement Tests, in the Legislative Assembly on March 18th (the motion, brought by Mrs. Leskiw, reads as thus: "Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly urge the Government to eliminate provincial achievement tests for grade three students and consider alternative assessments for learning."):
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise and join the debate on Motion 503. Since the last election I’ve had the pleasure of sitting beside the hon. Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake in this Assembly. This means that we are often able to share ideas on debates that are taking place. It doesn’t, however, mean that we always agree. We sometimes find ourselves supporting the same goal but differing on how to get there, or we just don’t agree, period, but we respect each other’s opinion.
Mr. Speaker, I do agree with my colleague on Motion 503, and I want to thank her for representing the interests of eight- and nine year-olds. As a former teacher she brings a great deal of perspective and expertise to this issue, and I greatly respect her opinion.
Recently, Mr. Speaker, I got a letter from a constituent of mine who is also a teacher. The writer argues that the tests place a lot of stress on an eight- or nine-year-old child. She has seen children lose sleep worrying about their performance and being unable to perform to the best of their abilities. At such a young age even good students can be derailed by their anxiety surrounding these tests. I hear stories from my constituents about their own children. One constituent told me that her child said: “When my teacher told me to take out my pencil, I started to sweat. I got cramps in my tummy, and I thought I was going to throw up.” I have to ask myself: what’s the point of this test? Is it going to make our children smarter?
When I’m old, is my doctor going to be better qualified to care for me because they took an achievement test when they were eight or nine years old?
I’m all for accountability in our education system, Mr. Speaker, but I think that our resources might be better spent developing new diagnostic tools. An achievement test is a snapshot of how that student is doing on a given day. It may have some value, but is it worth the expense both financially and in terms of stress on our students? Maybe we should do away with the expense of snapshot and continue working to create a scrapbook, one that takes into account a wide variety of factors and allows students to develop over a period of time, an approach that recognizes that children have different learning styles and they have different skills. Some children have skills that measure up well on an achievement test, and others have different skills. This type of tool would really allow us to evaluate how our education system is doing and establish a way to improve it.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Member for Bonnyville-Cold Lake for bringing this motion forward and lending her considerable expertise to this Assembly. I also want to urge my colleagues to support Motion 503.
(motion 503 passed, 29 votes to 18)
Heather asks questions of the Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security (the Honourable Fred Lindsay) on the issue of Online Exploitation of Children, during Question Period on March 10th, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was recently reported that 1 in 50 Canadians access child pornography on the Internet, a shocking and disturbing figure. Child pornography is a multibillion-dollar industry and one of the fastest growing criminal segments on the Internet. We must ensure that our children are safe from online predators who use the Internet to anonymously fulfill their twisted fantasies. My questions are all to the Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. Mr. Minister, what are you doing to ensure that here in Alberta we can track down and find those who try to sexually exploit our children using the Internet?
Mr. Lindsay:
Mr. Speaker, that’s an excellent question. I can tell the hon. member that this government funds an integrated police unit whose sole purpose is to track down and arrest online predators. The 22-member integrated child exploitation unit is made up of investigators from the RCMP and Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge regional police services. These dedicated men and women work closely with local, national, and international police and law enforcement agencies to investigate complaints that range from the making and distribution of child pornography to the luring of children on the Internet.
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What evidence does the minister have that will assure this House and all Albertans that the integrated child exploitation unit is making a difference?
Mr. Lindsay:
Mr. Speaker, our integrated child exploitation unit investigates complaints anywhere in this province. Since the unit was established in 2006, ICE members have investigated over a thousand complaints, and they’ve laid over 500 charges here in Alberta. The ICE unit members have also been involved in a number of high-profile international cases that have resulted in the dismantling of child pornography rings and the apprehension of children who were being sexually exploited.
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve heard police say that you can’t arrest your way out of this problem. What else is the ICE unit doing to combat online child exploitation?
Mr. Lindsay:
Mr. Speaker, finding and arresting those who try to exploit our children is the ICE unit’s mandate, but the unit also serves another very important function. ICE investigators have made presentations to school and community groups to raise awareness about the potential dangers of lurking online. As the hon. member has mentioned, we might not be able to arrest our way out of this problem, but we can provide our children and parents with information that will protect them from Internet predators.
Heather's Member Statement in the House on February 12th, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m a very proud Canadian and a very proud Albertan, and I’m very proud to sing O Canada in this Assembly every Monday. To me our national anthem stands for many of the great things about Canada: the beauty of our country, our principles of justice and democracy, the bravery of Canadian troops, who are willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve freedom. I was very dismayed to learn that a principal in New Brunswick has discontinued the singing of O Canada prior to classes in his school. Some people claim that the lyrics to our national anthem are unfitting, are unsuitable, and they can contravene the rights of some. Nothing could be further from the truth. Canadian children should be encouraged to celebrate our country’s values and pay tribute to the strength and vitality of our democracy. To ban O Canada, in my mind, is not only poor judgment; it’s also disrespectful to those who have fought and worked so hard to make our great country what it> is today.
I’m looking forward to joining my colleagues in celebration of our Canadian spirit in the Assembly again by singing O Canada. Our national anthem is a reminder of what Canada is, what it stands for, what it means to be a proud Canadian, and what it means to be free.
Heather introducing Bill 6, The "Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Amendment Act, 2009" in the Legislative Assembly on February 11th, 2009:
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise and introduce first reading of Bill 6, the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Amendment Act, 2009.
A number of amendments to this legislation are proposed to address issues identified during the program’s implementation and subsequent operation. Feedback from parents, guardians, treatment program staff, police, and others indicates that the proposed amendments will enable the program to better support children and families. The amendments include increasing the length of the confinement period from five days to 10 days for the purpose of expanding support services, enhancing the involvement of parents and guardians, addressing pressure on police transportation services, strengthening the review process, and allowing for the extension of a court order by an additional five days.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
(to read Bill 6, please click HERE)
Excerpt of Heather speaking in support of Motion 515, on the promotion of Energy Efficiency, in the Legislative Assembly on December 1st, 2008 (the motion, brought by Mrs. McQueen, reads as thus: "Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to pursue initiatives which would eliminate the sale of energy intense appliances, lights, and electronics when an energy efficient alternative is available.")
Mrs. Forsyth:
Good evening and thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise and join debate on Motion 515. I want to commend the hon. Member for Drayton Valley-Calmar for bringing this motion forward. Motion 515 is a positive step because it will raise awareness about the importance of energy efficiency. The issues surrounding greenhouse gas emissions are very complex and very meaningful. We need to take steps, where possible, to limit our energy use.
This motion promotes a solution which is environmentally friendly but still allows for economic growth. It is important to allow Alberta’s vital industries to grow while at the same time encouraging responsible energy use. In order to maintain this delicate balance between the economy and our environment, we need to seek out cutting-edge technology. This motion will not only encourage an end to inefficient technologies but also encourage the development of new technologies. This could be a boon for Alberta’s economy. We’re always a leader in so many areas. It would be great if we could also be a leader in energy efficiency.
The branding of our province is also important for Alberta’s tourist industry. We have so much natural beauty here, Mr. Speaker: the Rocky Mountains, clear lakes, Calgary’s Fish Creek park, and endless blue skies. Alberta is truly a nature lover’s paradise. In order to further develop this type of tourism, it is important to market Alberta as a green destination. Encouraging energy efficiency would certainly help achieve this.
Government can’t do everything, Mr. Speaker. There is a sizable element of personal responsibility in energy use. It is important for Albertans to think about the impact of their actions on the environment and to take steps to minimize it. Buying energy efficient appliances to replace older, worn-out ones is a practical step. I support this motion, and I encourage all my colleagues to consider supporting it as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
(full transcript available here)
Excerpt of Heather speaking in support of Bill 209, the "Traffic Safety (Driver Disqualification and Seizure of Vehicles Arising From Drug Offences) Amendment Act, 2008", in the Legislative Assembly on November 24th, 2008:
Mrs. Forsyth:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise before this Assembly and contribute to debate on Bill 209. A little over a year ago our Premier gave me the honour of chairing the Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force. It was really an interesting experience. I had the opportunity to travel the province to meet with some of our foremost experts, work with our dedicated police forces, talk to people everywhere about the impact of crime on their communities. It was also a very difficult experience. I saw the damage that crime does to communities.
Drugs are a big problem in Alberta. They addict our youth. They promote crime. They compromise the safety of Albertans, whether they’re young or whether they’re old. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the Member for Strathcona for bringing this legislation forward. I believe that it will improve safety for all Albertans. Drugs are insidious because they take away from our safety in so many ways. Kids get high on meth and break into homes. Partygoers take ecstacy and start fights at a club. Organized crime sets up a drug lab and fills a house with enough chemicals to level the Legislature Annex.
It’s a tough problem to tackle, Mr. Speaker. The bad guys have lots of resources, and they sometimes are one step ahead of us. We need to get creative. We need to take back our communities. Bill 209 is a step in the right direction. It’s going to prevent those who have been convicted under section 5 of the Controlled Drug and Substances Act from compromising safety on our roads.
Roads are an important part of our life in our province. We drive to get groceries. We take our kids to school. We go to work. I drive the QE II every week. Now, Mr. Speaker, how many cars have I passed that were driven by someone carrying out a drug business and endangering others? Roads are a big part of our communities, and Bill 209 will help us take back our roads. Having unsafe drivers
We know that drugs impair our functions much like alcohol does. We also know that the criminal mindset is inherently antisocial and reckless. It seeks to put personal gain ahead of the well-being of others. We see beatings. We see drive-by shootings and all sorts of violence associated with the drug trade. If these people are going to engage in this type of violent activity and they’re going to continue to traffic despite all the evidence of how harmful drugs can be, then they’re probably not going to care about others on the road either.
I read a story in the newspaper the other day about a dial-a-doper in a small town in Alberta. Two men with connections to organized crime were running a dial-a-doper service out of a hotel. People would just phone them up, and they would deliver cocaine and marijuana right to the door, probably quicker than our pizza delivery, Mr. Speaker. I read in the
I saw a lot of pretty unsettling things in my travels around this province. One thing that never ceases to amaze me, though, is people’s ignorance to the danger of drugs. Sometimes I hear people say: “This doesn’t affect me. I live in a nice neighbourhood in a province with a great economy, and there are no drugs where I live.” That simply isn’t true, Mr. Speaker. Drugs affect everyone.
I use my own constituency as an example. Calgary-Fish Creek is an upper-middle-class area. It has an average income well above the provincial norm. Levels of education are high, over two-thirds of my constituency have postsecondary qualifications, and nearly 10 per cent of them are bilingual. Calgary-Fish Creek really is the ideal place to live, work, and raise a family. Still, there are drugs in my constituency. I’ve spoken with constituents who call about drug deals going on in their own neighbourhoods. I’ve seen houses that have shown signs of drug activity. They’re houses where, when you knock on the door and discover they’re just a tangle of cords, lights, and watering system, someone is clearly cultivating something. Sometimes from the outside you can even see areas where the mould is growing. I’ve personally seen these houses in my constituency, and I know that we have drug labs in our beautiful city also.
In those houses that seem to have nobody living in them, there is not a scratch of food in the place, but there is enough pseudoephedrine to permanently eliminate the common cold. Somebody is cooking something. We know that they’re not making the product for nothing, and they’re not making it here just to export it to some distant jurisdiction. These drugs are being made to sell to people in our communities, and we’ve got to realize that this does compromise our safety. Knowing that drugs are being made and consumed in my constituency makes me wonder what that guy who cut me off has been doing. I seriously doubt that all drug users lock themselves in a bubble where they can’t hurt anyone. They go into our communities and onto our roads, and they endanger Albertans.
I know that this bill isn’t going to solve all the problems associated with drugs. I’m glad that our government has taken other steps to deal with the problem. We’ve allocated funding to law enforcement and established the Safe Communities Secretariat. We’ve given the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods legislation to our law enforcement as a tool to improve safety in our communities. Bill 209 would build on the progress that we’ve already made. It would be a positive development for community safety and an innovative tool in the hands of the good guys, our dedicated law enforcement people. I want to urge my colleagues to consider supporting Bill 209.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
(full transcript available here)