The GPA will be the proactive, not reactive voice for Albertan communities by attacking crime at the source and protecting the necessities of wellbeing for our communities to thrive.
CRIME IS A POLICY FAILURE
Poverty, access to education, food insecurity, addiction, housing and the mental health crisis are the root causes of crime. The surge of these systemic causes stem from the policy choices of past governments that have failed Albertans throughout the province.
Priorities:
1) The Eradication of Poverty through Basic Income for all Albertans.
For those with children, Albertans are already receiving a form of Basic Income through the Universal Child Care Benefit. By implementing a basic income for all we eradicate poverty in the province and reduce the expensive bureaucracy of our current support systems through simple direct giving process.
This creates a higher standard of living for all Albertans and stimulates the economy without increasing inflation or tax. It is reported that poverty costs Albertans approximately $9.5 billion per year. This staggering figure does not include government funded social services or subsidies.
Specifically, poverty costs the government $1.2 billion in health care, between $636 million and $1 billion in tax revenue, and $96 million in law enforcement.
Although the recent government handout of CERB was not a basic income as it was designed to keep people from going to work instead of working toward their wellbeing, it was a good indicator for what a basic income can do to alleviate crime.
During CERB = Break-ins (-16%) Theft (-20%) Robbery (-18%) Shoplifting (-36%) Sexual Assault (-9%).
2) Properly Funding and Supporting a Province-Wide Housing First Program.
Government talks about housing first but doesn't follow through. The Green Party of Alberta will not rest until every unhoused Albertan is off the street. Our aim is to utilize the success of the Finnish Housing First Model that saves the equivalent of $21,000 per housed individual.
3) Affordable Housing utilizing Government Subsidized Non-Profit / Non-Market Housing
Housing is a right and no one should have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries. Co-ops, land trusts, non-profit housing corporations can ensure affordable resents or ownership in perpetuity.
4) Implement Universal Mental Health Care for Albertans to ensure services are provided by qualified health care professionals and community health workers as part of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)
5) Address the Opioid and Poison Drug Epidemic in Alberta
Expand mobile mental health outreach and a province wide harm reduction strategy utilizing supervised consumption services, syringe exchanges, and safe supply.
DISASTERS ARE A POLICY FAILURE
If we do the math on the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire - The total direct and indirect cost was $9.9 billion.
If $1 of prevention = $15 of recovery - An investment of $660 million would have seen a net savings of roughly $9.2 billion.
Healthy food, clean air and drinkable water are the building blocks of a thriving province and must be at the forefront of our political decision making. The GPA recognizes climate destabilization is increasing wildfire, flood and supply chain breakdowns for all Albertans and that we must prioritize our future.
Priorities:
1) Protection of drinking water sources from privatization, development, mining, and toxic runoff.
2)Province-Wide initiatives to Create Drought Resilience for Rural and Urban Communities
This must be done with a focus on the agriculture sector including emergency funding and support to rebuild soil health, aid farmers and ensure food security.
3) Immediately protect pollinators and keystone species to re-establish ecological security.
4) Create and protect local supply chain resilience for year-round food production.
5) Ensure GHG emissions in Alberta “peak before 2025 at the latest” (IPCC)
The global temperature will stabilize when carbon dioxide emissions reach net zero. For 1.5°C (2.7°F), this means achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions globally in the early 2050s; for 2°C (3.6°F), it is in the early 2070s.
This assessment shows that limiting warming to around 2°C (3.6°F) still requires global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 at the latest, and be reduced by a quarter by 2030.
6) Work with all Indigenous Nations, municipalities and communities to protect and preserve prime agricultural land, watersheds and natural landscapes.
