Edmonton's Two-Tiered Transit

I love my city.

I could not imagine living anywhere else.

But in a very short time, my fellow disabled transit users and I may not be able to afford to get around in Edmonton.

And this is why.

As I have mentioned before, the city charges us $85.00 per month for a pass. Meanwhile, seniors pay about $30.00 for a pass they use all year.

A few years ago, Edmonton Transit appeared to solve the problem for disabled transit users, by offering us a $30 transit pass. But it comes with an important and disheartening stipulation:

It can only be used on the low-floor transit buses...and not on the disabled transit service, where it is needed most.

Mayor Stephen Mandel, that sounds like two-tiered transit to me.

Your Worship, I would like to compliment you on what you have done for the city of Edmonton. You have done much to revitalize this city with actionable plans, whereas your predesessor was full of big ideas, often without the plans to realize them.

But I also know that the two-price, restrictive pass scenario pits those who can`t pay the extra against those who can, and all because some users can`t get on the low-floor bus.

We are not asking for extra money, Mr. Mayor.

All we are asking is for one reasonable price for the passes. That way, any Edmontonian can enjoy our city, regardless of mobility issues.

Your Partner In Life

Wayde Is Homeless Tonight

Just in case you doubt me about Wildrose Alliance candidate for Highlands-Norwood Wayde Lever's ability to march to his own drum, tonight I have proof.

At the present moment, Lever is literally sleeping under the stars at Edmonton's Telus Field, as part of the Youth Emergency Shelter's Homeless For A Night fundraiser.

How do you sleep comfortably in a wheelchair, and in the middle of a baseball diamond no less?

I will have to ask him and get back to you on that. I do know that when I tried something similar in an overnight Garth Brooks ticket line, my back was killing me by 9AM.

And I know that such an undertaking as Wayde's tonight takes dedication.

Your Partner in Life

Wayde Lever: In On The Ground Floor

On May 5, Wayde Lever, Wildrose Alliance candidate for Highlands-Norwood, visited the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta Adult Support Group at our monthly meeting. It is a common complaint among the disabled community in Alberta that:

a) The government dosen't know or care about our issues.
b) They never listen to us anyway.
c) Is it even worth getting involved?

Wayde countered with three points of his own:

a) If you've ever complained to a citizen action center, or about a late DATS bus, you are involved.

b) If the government doesn't know or care about our issues, it is because they are unable to see them from our perspective. Wayde stressed that under a Wildrose government, an opportunity exists for us to be heard and understood.

c) The Wildrose policy as it currently stands is fluid and open to change for the better. So if we have a desire to get involved, we have a real opportunity to get in on the ground floor and help make social policy decisions in the coming decades.

It was a very informal and informative meeting, not a "vote for me and send money" pitch of any kind, and somewhat of a "coming home" for Wayde, who for many years served as the fundraising assistant for the CPAA. Thank you Wayde for your time and energy.

Your Partner In Life

A Blogger Trick

As you know, I have been having many problems blogging lately. But last night, after burning just a little midnight oil, I stumbled upon a solution for vanquishing Mr. javascriptvoid(0):

1) Uninstall and reinstall Google Toolbar. It will update to 7.
2) Type your post.
3) Title your post.
4) With your cursor still in the title bar, press Enter. (Who needs Publish Post anyway?)

Voila!

Happy blogging!

Your Partner in Life

Let's Take A Minute

Let us take a minute to remember and encourage the displaced in Slave Lake, a beautiful community of 7,000 where I once spent a weekend with my sister Jacquie, who lived there at the time. Her time there affected her so much that she and her husband Jason (the ones that got me blogging in the first place) have opened their home in Edmonton to several of their friends. Kudos to you guys! I am proud of you.

Your Partner in Life

AISH: There Is Hope On The Horizon

This past Monday night I attended a Wildrose Alliance Town Hall meeting at Edmonton's Norwood Legion, which was organized by Wayde Lever, Wildrose Alliance candidate for Highlands-Norwood.

The highlight of the evening was an appearance by Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, who was greeted by 350 devoted and enthusiastic supporters.

Smith expounded on her plans to bring accountability to government and end the party-line voting currently employed by the Progressive Conservatives. Under an Alliance government, the very draconian Bill 50 land use act, which allows Stelmach's PC's to potentially seize and control any land in the province as they see fit, would be instantly repealed.

But most importantly for Alberta's disabled community, the AISH benefit would be increased under an Alliance government. And significantly, Smith pledged to increase the amount of money that disabled Albertans can earn without losing their benefits, thereby increasing the incentive to work and feel valuable to society.

So hope is on the horizon, if we as the disabled community get out and vote for change. Change can be scary. But if we need inspiration, we need only follow the example of Wayde Lever, who was born 41 years ago with cerebral palsy. I speak from experience when I say that as a disabled person, it is easy to fall into a rut and get down on yourself and your abilities.

Wayde has never done that, and it is that determination which has carried him this far and will continue to do so in his mission to represent the constituents of Highlands-Norwood. As he recently told me, "For me, the letters c. and p. stand for courage and perseverance, not cerebral palsy. If the current MLA for Highlands Norwood wants to keep his seat, he is going to have to beat me, because I am focused. And when I am focused, I succeed".

Your Partner in Life

Some Reasons Why I Miss Ralph Klein

1. Ralph had a plan to take Alberta out of debt.

2. Ralph outlined his plan.

3. Against all kinds of opposition, Ralph stuck to his plan, giving Alberta almost a decade and a half of prosperity under the Alberta Advantage with the simple act of balancing our provincial budget.

4. When Ralph misstepped and wanted to cut the AISH benefit back for the disabled in 1997, hundreds of us gathered at Edmonton's Grant MacEwan College to voice our displeasure. And the plan was abandoned almost immediately. If I ever had the chance to meet Ralph Klein, I would shake his hand and thank him for that.

5. On those occasions when his personal missteps became public, he admitted and acknowledged them, got help, and dealt with them.

6. And let's face it, Ralph Klein had personality and confidence, two things important to any politician in communicating to the people, formulating long range plans, and sticking to them. When he won in 1992, he exuded confidence, not a look that said, "Oh shit, I thought Jim was gonna win", like Ed Stelmach did.

Your Partner In Life