Your Alberta Blog

People around the world are shocked by what's happened in Haiti in recent days. The devastating earthquake has brought unimaginable damage and destruction.

At a time like this, we all want to help in whatever way we can. For many, that means donating money. However, it's important to donate carefully, only to legitimate charitable organizations.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people see tragedies like the Haiti earthquake as a chance to set up scams that appear to be raising money for disaster relief, but actually funnel money into their own pockets. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure your money actually goes to help those in need.

If you're asked for a donation (whether it's over the phone, through an email request, or in person) ensure the organization is a legitimate charity. You can do this by:
• asking door-to-door canvassers for identification or printed information about the charity;
• doing an internet search for the charity's name and background;
• asking telephone solicitors to provide a website address or to mail information; and,
• contacting Service Alberta to find out if a charity or fundraising organization is properly registered. Alberta's Charitable Fundraising Act lays out specific rules that must be followed when charities ask Albertans for donations.

You should also ensure the charity is in a position to provide the kind of assistance that's needed in the country where the disaster occurred.

More information, including a tipsheet, is available on the Service Alberta website at www.servicealberta.ca or by calling 1-877-427-4088.

Albertans are known for their generosity and their willingness to help others in need. I would encourage us all to do what we can to help the recovery in Haiti, but to do so wisely and carefully.

- Hon. Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta

In the last few years, some landlords of large apartment buildings have started to use heat sub-meters to bill tenants. These sub-meters are connected directly to the hot water radiators in a tenant's suite and are intended to measure the heat from the hot water being used to heat the apartment.

However, there have been a lot of questions about the accuracy of these heat sub-meters and how they're used to bill tenants.

So, I've introduced a specific regulation that prevents landlords from using a heat sub-meter to bill their tenants unless the sub-meter is certified by Measurement Canada. Currently, no heat sub-meters are certified.

The new rules start Nov. 18 and apply both to existing heat sub-meters and new heat sub-meters. If a heat sub-meter does becomes certified in the future, landlords can only use it to bill tenants if they clearly disclose the sub-meter readings, the amount being charged for the energy, any extra fees, and the calculation methods.

This is good news for tenants. I certainly support the principle of a tenant paying for the actual energy he or she uses and being rewarded for conserving energy. But this only works if renters are confident that the devices used to measure their energy use are accurate and the amount they're being charged is clear and understandable.

That's exactly what this new regulation achieves.

More information on the new regulation is available here.

- Hon. Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta

I believe strongly that one of the best ways to protect consumers is ensuring that they know and understand their rights. Service Alberta investigates and enforces a number of consumer protection laws, but knowledge can be a very powerful tool against businesses that try to mislead or take advantage of people.

Service Alberta's website is packed with helpful information, including consumer tips and descriptions of Alberta's laws on a variety of topics, ranging from renting an apartment to shopping on the Internet. It's not enough, though, for us to post the information on our website; people need to know it's there. Our staff are always looking at new and better ways we can inform Albertans about their rights as consumers.

You might have noticed the Alberta government is starting to use social media more widely. This blog is only one example. I am excited to announce that Service Alberta just launched the Alberta Youth Consumer Champions page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/youthconsumerchampions.

The page is a place for young Albertans to find information about consumer issues they might encounter, such as using a credit card, buying their first car, renting an apartment and managing money. The page will highlight rotating topics, but people are encouraged to ask questions and discuss consumer matters. Service Alberta staff will answer their concerns and direct them to resources where they can find out more.

The nature of social media means that we can adapt the page to meet your needs. If a certain topic keeps arising, it lets us know we need to provide more information about it. We are also looking at how we can improve the way we alert consumers, for instance when a scam artist is known to be operating in a community. Social media might help us do that.

I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on how we can use services such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and other social media to do a better job educating consumers. I also encourage you to join our Facebook page or tell a young Albertan about it.

- Hon. Heather Klimchuk

There has been some discussion today about whether the Government of Alberta should bring back front licence plates for vehicles. This week, the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police recommended that the government bring them back.

I appreciate the association's advice and I consider the association a partner in public safety. However, we have no plans to reintroduce front plates. Albertans were clear on this matter during consultations in the past two years. Eighty per cent of respondents to an online survey and 60 per cent of respondents in a public opinion poll were opposed to front plates.

We are planning to introduce a new reflective Alberta plate in the years ahead when funding becomes available, but we are not reconsidering our decision about front plates.

- Hon. Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Strathcona County Mayor Cathy Olesen and Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Jim Sheasgreen to launch BizPaL, a joint federal-provincial-municipal program, in their communities.

BizPaL is an online tool that lets aspiring business owners search for all the licences and permits they need from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. The federal government designed BizPaL, the Alberta government pays the annual licensing cost for the program, and municipal governments sign onto it. It's an excellent example of the different levels of government working across jurisdictions to provide better service. And it got me to thinking about how government delivers services to people.

When you're inside government, jurisdiction is important: which government is responsible for what areas? It sounds like a simple enough question, but governments have battled over the answer in court.

I'm not suggesting we don't need well-defined roles for the different levels of government. But I'm willing to bet the average person is more concerned that services are delivered effectively.

BizPaL is not the only example of governments working together to improve services.

Alberta recently announced a joint-initiative with B.C. that lets corporations register in both provinces by dealing only with their home province. And last December, we unveiled a form that allows new parents to register their child's birth with the Alberta government and at the same time apply to the federal government for a Social Insurance Number.

These might seem like small steps, but they take a lot of political and bureaucratic will behind the scenes. Changes like that can sometimes require rewriting legislation and regulations, as well as the willingness to work across jurisdictions.

I would like to hear what areas you think we can improve upon by working together. I believe there are more opportunities for our governments, as long as we focus on what matters most - improving services to people.

- Hon. Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta