Cambridge Briefings

Each report is available at no cost. Click on each graphic or accompanying link to download.

The Oil Sands Survey: Albertans' Values Regarding Oil Sands Development - Cambridge Strategies Inc.

In late 2007, CSI conducted the Alberta Oil Sands Survey, to better understand the values Albertan's hold when it comes to managing and developing the oil sands resource. More than 3400 Albertans took part in the discrete choice modeling survey. The results show that, when it comes to responsible, sustainable development and management of the oil sands, Albertans believe environmental issues and concerns must take precedence over economic considerations. "Ultimately, this survey shows that Albertans want a green approach applied to the on-going development of their oil sands, much more than they want an economic approach [applied]. Ecologically responsible and sustainable development is more important to the majority of Albertans than is expanded growth through more projects or through accelerated production levels."

Volunteer Alberta - Submission on the Alberta Lobbyist Act Volunteer Alberta

The creation of a lobbyists and contractor registry is a fulfillment of a promise made by Premier Ed Stelmach. However, the current proposal contains serious flaws and raises unintended outcomes where the nonprofit/voluntary sector is concerned. This response to the proposed bill outlines the concerns of the Volunteer sector, relating to Alberta's proposed Lobbyist Act.

Read the Executive Summary here.

Community Supports for Adults with Disabilities: The Challenges and Policy Options: Policy Briefing Alberta Council of Disability Services

The Community Disability Services (CDS) sector is facing significant issues regarding its long-term ability to be an effective resource for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. They are faced with critical staffing shortages and concerns over governance and the governing philosophy that is guiding the Government of Alberta in creating policy for the sector. For the CDS and the individuals who rely on their services, delays in dealing with these issues could become a matter of life and death. Assertive and aggressive action is needed to solve these problems. This business case outline the challenges facing the CDS and a number of recommendations to solve them.

The Grande Alberta Economic Region (GAER) Mountain Pine Beetle Intiative Cambridge Strategies Inc.

The Mountain Pine Beetle has invaded Alberta and with it comes the potential for devastating impacts upon the economies, the environment and the social infrastructures of our forest-dependant communities. GAER is an economic development partnership of 14 municipalities in west-central Alberta, including the towns of Edson, Hinton, Whitecourt and Jasper. This Initiative is focused upon developing community resilience, economic diversity and sustainable, vibrant futures in the face of beetle infestation. CSI has completed two reports for GAER. The first focused on the lessons Alberta communities could learn from the British Columbia experience. The second report presents a social business case and calls for increased resources, collaboration and partnerships with government and industry to help GAER communities meet the challenges presented by the spread of the beetle.

Phase One Report: The BC Experience and Lessons for GAER

Phase Two Report: Towards Transformation

The Cost of Alberta's Economic Wealth to Citizens with Developmental Disabilities Cambridge Strategies Inc.

Alberta’s economic wealth has come with a cost, and our most vulnerable citizens are being asked to pay the price. The booming economy means many in our social service sector can no longer compete in a competitive labour market. For the province’s community disability service providers, this situation has reached a crisis stage which has economic, social and legal consequences for both Alberta’s government and its citizens. Our provincial government has a primary role and responsibility to fund and support Alberta’s social infrastructure and must therefore provide the necessary resources that will ensure the current needs and growth demands in the Community Disability Services sector are met.

Literacy - For A Life of Learning!

This policy proposal to the Government of Alberta puts forward goals and strategies to help the province deal with its looming literacy crisis. The proposal states that Alberta must boost provincial literacy if it hopes to remain globally competitive and profitable. Click here to review the news release announcing the proposal. Click here to visit the Literacy Alberta website and read the proposal in its entirety.

Volunteer Screening Initiative Survey Results and Analysis
Cambridge Strategies Inc.

Working with Volunteer Alberta (VA), CSI conducted a survey of volunteer organizations across Alberta, in order to gain insight into the costs (and associated issues regarding service delivery) of doing Police Information Checks to screen potential volunteers. This report summarizes survey findings and details the concerns of Alberta's voluntary sector, in relation to risk management practices.

Click HERE for a summary on survey findings and for CSI's recommendations for Alberta's volunteer sector.

The Role of Education for a Democratic Citizenship - Summary Report; from the 3rd International Summer Academy on Human Rights and Human Security; prepared by The European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC)

Cambridge Strategies Inc. has worked in close collaboration with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights on the second phase of the Human Rights City Edmonton Project. In July 2005, CSI Associate Stacey Sankey attended a 10-day symposium at the ETC, which focused upon the need for human rights learning, education and awareness in order to foster global human security. This summary report was produced by the ETC; for further information on their work, please click here.

The Wood Buffalo Business Case 2005
Prepared by Cambridge Strategies Inc, the Athabasca Regional Issues Working Group (RIWG) and Nicholls Applied Management, in conjunction with a number of community partners:

In the coming years, continued investment into the Athabasca Oil Sands will sky-rocket the already booming population in Fort McMurray, and infrastructure which is already strained will no longer be able to meet community needs. The municipality needs provincial funding in order to meet the special demands being placed upon it. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the urgent public infrastructure needs in the Wood Buffalo region which must be met in order to capitalize on the enormous potential of the Athabasca oilsands.

Northern Powerhouse: The untapped energy of the Northwest Territories’ rivers
K.J.(Ken) Chapman & Satya Das

The demand upon traditional energy supplies continues to skyrocket—demand the NWT has the ability to feed through development of its vast hydropower potential. This paper explores that potential and the solutions NWT hydro development can provide to the issues of the continental integrated energy supply and sustainable development.

The Golden Quadrangle: Alberta’s Emergence in National Leadership
Satya Das and K.J. (Ken) Chapman

The traditional power centre of Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa (the Golden Triangle) has been challenged by Alberta’s emergence as a national economic and political power. Can this translate into a new vision of Canada? Will Alberta become part of the power structure of Canada?

The Third Solitude: Perspectives on the West’s Discontent
K.J. (Ken) Chapman & Satya Das

We are told Canada is a country of two ‘founding nations’ — the British and the French. But in Western Canada, the majority of the population belongs to “non-founding” cultures. Does this disparity contribute to claims of Western alienation? (Disponible en francais)
    English   |   French

Teachers and Public Education: At the Heart of Alberta’s Advantage
Satya Das & K.J. (Ken) Chapman

Investing in Alberta’s Knowledge Economy and enhancing public education are essential infrastructure investments. This paper explores the advantages of better enabling, supporting and respecting our teachers and the vital role they play in our social and economic well-being.

Coverage of Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from the Alberta Risk Management Fund; Cambridge Strategies Inc.

CSI conducted a Review of Risk Management Coverage for Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta. On the instructions of the Speaker and the Minister of Justice of Alberta CSI was engaged to examine risk management coverage for MLAs, in light of the costs incurred in settling a defamation suit brought against former Provincial Treasurer the Hon. Stockwell Day, by a private citizen. This report makes recommendations on appropriate risk-management coverage for MLAs.

Interim Report to Alberta Justice: Stakeholder Input on the Single Trial Court Initiative
Cambridge Strategies Inc.

This Phase One report documents the outcomes of and insights from consultations held with a variety of justice system stakeholders, regarding possible justice system reforms in Alberta.