Alberta Speaker travels to the people to talk democracy

By Windspeaker.com Staff

With files from Jeremy Harpe of CFWE-FM

The Speaker of the Alberta Legislature, Robert E. Wanner, is touring the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo today and tomorrow, visiting communities, including First Nations and schools, to talk about democratic principles.

And he’s bringing with him the official Mace of his office, a connection back to the traditions of Westminster’s House of Commons in the United Kingdom, and symbolic weapon of the Crown.

The idea is to talk about participation in democracy and giving folks in the region the opportunity to connect and ask questions about the institution, said Speaker Wanner.

“The Mace is a very important symbol of the Assembly with a specific purpose and a colourful history,” he said.

Wanner will travel to Fort McMurray, Fort McKay and Anzac to talk with residents about active citizenship, parliamentary democracy and the role of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Wanner has been in his positon for about two years, he told Jeremy Harpe of CFWE-FM.

“These kinds of event for me are really kind of the gemstones that you look for when you can connect with Albertans of all ages and talk about the… aspirations that people have for our province.

“To me, it’s just a privilege and honor to be able to do this, and meet and talk with folks who all share many of the same values as the 87 members of the legislature.”

He said the Mace is of particular interest to the young students he meets.

His schedule includes a stop today, April 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo at 230 Powder Drive, and tomorrow April 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Words in Motion, MacDonald Island Park, 1 C.A. Knight Way.

The speaker has previously visited southeastern Alberta, including a stop at Siksika, saying the visit was very cordial. He visited the grave of Chief Crowfoot and also received the hospitality of Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman there.

The outreach is meant to create some conduit of communications and “I’m going out to First Nations rather than always meeting in Edmonton and Calgary.”