Related Icon Related Info

Meet the Liberal leadership candidates

The Alberta Liberal Party will select its next leader by direct vote on April 18. As a service to our readers, The ATA News invited each candidate to submit a photograph, a biography and a 100-word synopsis of his or her platform on education.

Editor's Note—The ATA News features the leadership campaigns of parties that have seats in the Alberta legislature. The feature on the last leadership campaign of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta appeared in the November 17, 1992, issue of The ATA News.

Karen Leibovici

Karen LeiboviciBiography—MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark (1993– ) • social worker • BSW, MSW, postgraduate diploma (management), McGill University • social worker, Montreal Catholic School System; industrial relations consultant, Ville Marie Social Service Workers; labor relations officer, equal opportunity officer, City of Edmonton; human resource consultant • former president, Ville Marie Social Service Workers; former chair, Edmonton Taxi Cab Commission; founding board member, West End Transportation Advisory Committee; former board member, Chrysalis Business Advisory Council; former block parent coordinator

Platform—Every teacher, parent and politician knows the keys to providing quality education in Alberta, smaller classrooms, full and stable funding and resources for teachers. As an Alberta Liberal for over 13 years, I have been and continue to be dedicated to a publicly funded public education system. I believe we must take the following steps immediately to building a stronger foundation for education. We must

  • restore full and stable educational funding.
  • reduce class sizes and ensure that teachers, students and parents have the resources necessary to ensure success.
  • provide students and teachers with a healthy and safe work environment.

Nancy MacBeth 

Nancy MacBethBiography—MLA for Edmonton-Glenora (1986–93) • ministerial assistant • BA (French and Russian), University of Alberta; special studies (translation and French-Canadian literature), Université Laval • executive assistant to minister of municipal affairs, minister of federal and intergovernmental affairs, provincial treasurer • minister of education (1986–88), minister of health (1988–92) • member, board of governors, Alberta College • Executive of the Year, Certified Management Consultants Association of Alberta (1992); Woman of Achievement, Edmonton YWCA (1993), Prix Amie de la Francophonie (1993)

Platform—Government's first priority must be the improvement of public education. Instead, we have a government that drastically underfunds education, promotes privatization and dismisses teachers' concerns. I re-entered public life because I could no longer stand silently while government continued to undermine public education. In discussions with teachers, ATA leaders, trustees and parents, I have learned about the impact of funding cuts, related morale issues and anti-teacher attitudes of this government. I understand the complexities of a well-functioning public system and the vital roles teachers play. If elected leader, I will ensure that "PUBLIC EDUCATION WORKS" now more than ever!

Ken Nicol 

Ken NicolBiography—MLA for Lethbridge-East (1993– ) • business consultant, farmer, professor B.Sc. (agriculture), M.Sc. (agricultural economics), University of Alberta; Ph.D. (economics), Iowa State University • advisor, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Thai Government; consultant, US Department of Agriculture; associate professor, agricultural management, University of Lethbridge; director, Centre for Aboriginal Management Education and Training, University of Lethbridge; president, Nicol Management Services former member, City of Lethbridge Agriculture Committee, Lethbridge Big Brothers Association, Southern Alberta Water Management Committee

Platform—Funding must be restored for education, health care and social services, but there must be measurement criteria and a plan in place. We can't just throw money back into the system with no standards or plans. We need to ask ourselves what kind of health system do we want? what kind of education do our children deserve? what kind of society are we capable of? Only after we have these answers should we reinvest. A Liberal government would establish plans for reinvestment and target specific areas that will give us long-term benefit, not just short-term gain from fast-tracked debt reduction.

Linda Sloan

Linda SloanBiography—MLA for Edmonton-Riverview (1997– ) • nurse • registered nursing diploma, Foothills Hospital School of Nursing • nurse; president, Staff Nurses Associations of Alberta; Alberta national officer, National Federation of Nurses Unions Executive Board; provincial counselor, Alberta Association of Registered Nurses • Edmonton coordinator, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure (1994); participant, vice-chair, Nova Scotia tour, Governor General's 1995 Study Conference on Employer Employee Relationships • Bread and Roses Award, National Federation of Nurses Unions (1997)

Platform—Education is viewed by some as a means of getting a job. I believe it must be viewed and incorporated in government policy and budgets as serving a greater societal purpose. If government destroys public education by underfunding, or by the increased funding of private schools, the well off will be educated, the less well off will be trained. This in the long term will create a society that is less astute and able to assess the facts, debate the issues and make informed decisions. It will also lead to a society that is less tolerant, compassionate and free.