MLA Involvement

George VanderBurg, Progressive Conservative MLA for the Whitecourt-St. Anne Constituency and Brian Mason, leader of the New Democratic Party, also tabled the petition during the spring 2008 sitting. By then, citizens from 92 Albertan communities had responded by signing the petition urging our elected officials to work toward eliminating child poverty.

Over the summer, the committee had a constructive meeting with Dr. Raj Sherman, Progressive Conservative MLA for the Edmonton-Meadowlark Constituency and parliamentary assistant to the Hon. Ron Liepert, Minister of Health and Wellness.

During the fall 2008 sitting of the Legislative Assembly, Laurie Blakeman, Liberal MLA for the Edmonton-Centre Constituency and Rachel Notley, New Democrat MLA for the Edmonton-Strathcona Constituency, tabled copies of the petition. Emails and faxes updating the CWBI were sent to all MLA’s of the new assembly. Responses from 13 MLA’s have been forwarded to the committee chair.

During the 2009 spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly, Heather Forsyth, Progressive Conservative MLA for the Calgary-Fish Creek Constituency, Moe Amery, Progressive Conservative MLA for the Calgary-East Constituency , Dr. Raj Sherman, Progressive Conservative MLA for the Edmonton-Meadowlark Constituency, and Greg Weadick, Progressive Conservative MLA for the Lethbridge-West Constituency are willing to table the CWBI petition in the house. To date there have been 1840 Albertans sign the CWBI petition.