Doug's Blog

I promise that there will rarely ever be partisian party politics in this spot.  This website is an MLA - Constituency site and will remain so.  However, it doesn't matter what party you belong to -  it became official.  The Premier submitted his letter, the race is officially on, the dates for debates are set, and the voting dates are set.  December 2nd there will be a new Premier of this province.  This is important to all because regardless of the party you support or align with, everyone will take this opportunity in the coffee shops, water coolers and hallways to discuss the future of this province.    We sit on the cusp of opportunity in the Province, and if we don't grab hold, it means failure.  We all need to enter into the discussion to be part of the debate.  Maybe you don't want to entere the debate about who should be Premier, but everyone should entere the one about how our Alberta should look in the future. 

If you are interested in the debates or in voting in the race I post the information below:

 All Candidate Forums:

 Medicine Hat

October 30, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Medicine Hat Lodge
1051 Ross Glen Drive S.E.

Red Deer

November 1, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
­Red Deer Lodge
4311 49 Avenue

Fort McMurray

November 2, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Quality Hotel
424 Gregoire Drive

Vermilion

November 7, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Lakeland College-Vermilion Campus
Alumni Hall Theatre
5707 47 Avenue West

Grande Prairie

November 9, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Grande Prairie Inn
11633 Clairmont Road

Edmonton

November 13, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Mayfield Inn & Suites
16615 109 Avenue

Calgary

November 15, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Details TBA

 Lethbridge

November 16, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
Lethbridge Lodge
320 Scenic Drive

Election Days:

Polls are to be held between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

1st Ballot :  Saturday, 25 November 2006                               

2nd Ballot :  Saturday, 2 December 2006 (if required)              

Advance Polls:

Advance Polls are to be held between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

1st Ballot :  Wednesday, 20 November 2006                               

2nd Ballot :  Wednesday, 29 November 2006 (if required) 

It has been a lot of work getting this website up and running, but it has been worth it!  This site is still in the evolutionary phase, and I suspect that it always will be since technology, and what you can do with a website, evolves faster everyday.  We will already be improving this website over the next few weeks with . . .

My speech and presentation called, "'Thirteen Ways to Kill Your Community," will be up on a full streaming video format soon on this site. I can't seem to keep up to all of the requests to do the presentation, and many people who have heard it want to be able to refer directly to my presentation or want to 'pass it on' to others.  When the presentation is on this site you will be able to watch it, or any part of it, at any time.  When that is completed, the presentation should be available to download and burn on DVD.  I have spoke often of the ability of high speed internet to revolutionize the way we do business in this province, and so it is critical to demonstrate what I claim to be possible.

As well we will soon have the ability to send out webcasts and text messages alerting you of new information on the site, press releases, and other changes.  There will be regular video updates from me put up on this website so that you are all updated on current issues, current events, what I'm working on, and other important information.  There are 34 communities in the constituency of Battle River - Wainwright, with 34 thousand people spread across them.  It is over 2 hours from one corner of the constituency to another, and though I try to be in all places as often as possible, it is not always possible to make every event or see every person.  With all of the committee work I have, including being Chair of Rural Development which takes me around the province often, it is critical that I, and all rural MLA's, supplement the on the ground work, with the ability to reach out using technology. 

This site already contains a lot of new features over the previous one.  There is a regular blog (weblog) that I will use often to keep you immediately posted of my daily activities and probably some random thoughts on current events.  As well there is a forum where I have posted general topics of discussion with some thought provoking comments that I hope will spur on a debate within the constituency, and the province.  There will also be, on the forum, some very contraversial ideas that will be marked 'Food for Thought' that are meant to insight an especially spirited debate.  The rules for the forum are posted, but the amount to one adage, 'be respectful of one another by debating the issues thoughtfully'. 

If you have suggestions on what else we can do to improve the site, improve our technology, or improve our communication I look forward to hearing them.  Stay tuned.  This is just the beginning . . .