Shining Mountains have been repeatedly asked for advice on who to vote for.  We can not in good conscience provide those answers, as voting is an individual decision, however we can assist with providing some comparisons.

Okay everyone, this is a VERY simplified overview of all the party’s stances on some of the key platform issues. If you want a more in-depth analysis, I strongly recommend you go review each party’s platform and make the most informed decision you can. That said, not everyone has the time or ability to go through all the party’s platforms I will summarize each party’s platform and try to minimize my personal opinion on them, but bear in mind, I like everyone have my own political biases. So that in mind, here is a simplified overview.
 
Stance on indigenous peoples:
As an Indigenous group, this is the first area we will look at. I will note that the ONLY party without a specific platform is the conservative party.
 
Liberals:

• A slight update to past liberal platforms acknowledging First Nations and Metis as well as incrementally increasing their living conditions, recognition, and political involvement.

 
Conservatives:

• No platform.
• Historically the conservative party has a rather negative view and interactions with the Indigenous peoples of Canada

 
NDP:

• The most comprehensive and in-depth plan for improving relations and living conditions of all indigenous groups as well as increasing Indigenous involvement in government.
• While the NDP have without a doubt the most involved and thought out platform on this issue, one should bear in mind that the NDP often talk the best game on progressive issues because they do not expect to form government, but rather use their standing to force a minority government to shift it’s policies into a more progressive direction.

 
Green:

• A more aggressive and progressive version of the liberal platform.
• While the platform holds similarities to the NDP platform on this issue, it is notably less detailed and composed of broader sweeping strokes.

 
Taxes:
Fair warning, taxes are complex, they impact the economy in many ways, neither lowering nor raising taxes is a solution in and of itself, this is going to be one of the most divisive areas of the party’s and of your own political opinions.
 
Liberals:

• Basically their current tax plan with slight tweaks and modifications.
• This might sound simplistic compared to the others, but the liberals already instituted a complex tax change after the last election and as the incumbent party they view this as merely an update to a multi-term solution, not a single term fix.
• Every other party will have a more complex tax plan because they want to replace large swaths of the current tax plan.

 
Conservatives:

• The conservative approach has always been that lower taxes overall stimulate the economy; however, they have a strong preference for lowering corporate and high-income taxes first and prioritizing those above lower- and middle-class incomes. This is not to say that low- and middle-class individuals will not see benefits but that they are not the primary beneficiaries of a conservative tax plan.
• One should note that tax cuts mean cuts to programs and services offered by the government, so while you might save money personally you could also be reducing your government-based benefits, notably the conservatives historically like to cut funding in health care, education and infrastructure.
• While the conservative tax plan has definite merits, it is my personal opinion that, given the parties history, they will be slow to implement the reforms that impact those in the middle and lower income brackets, likely only putting those reforms in place just prior to the next election, a tactic the party has done before under Steven Harper.

 
NDP:

• The NDP platform can be summed up simply as tax companies the 1% more, lower the taxes on the lower and middle class, expand social service programs and services.
• This has always been the NDP’s stance, and their focus has always been on taxing those with the most money more and taxing those with less money the least.
• Historically this tax plan has worked to boost national economies when fully implemented and was the economic model of choice following the great depression and war time economic boom that followed WWII.

 
Greens:

• The green party tax plan is similar to the NDP one in many regards; however, it has a more environmental and health-based focus, increasing taxes on classic combustion engine vehicles while offering tax reliefs and incentives to hybrid and electric vehicles, providing more medical tax exemptions, etc.
• Because of the focus on clean and renewable energy the green tax plan is a bit more of a scatter shot than the NDP one and does take certain ques from the conservative plan as well with incentives for green based technological development

 
Economy:
Okay, so this is another complex issue and a summary doesn’t do the complexities justice, the big topic of the economy this time however is adorability. And each of the parties has a different way of trying to manage the rising costs of living and the decrease in our spending power
 
Liberals:

• The key points on the liberal plan are an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 and improved price regulation on cell phone providers to force lower prices.
• It should be noted ALL the parties except the conservatives plan on moving for a $15 an hour minimum wage
• The liberals also plan on updating the federal labor code to combat employers pressuring employees into overtime

 
Conservatives:

• This one is simple. The conservatives want to cut business subsidy programs to eliminate 1.5 billion from the budget.
• While this is a single line item, one should remember that the conservative party doesn’t like advertising where it will cut funding to, but, of all the places to cut funding available to them, this is the least harmful to the general public and pairs well with their tax policy.

 
NDP:

• The NDP plan incorporates the liberal policy of increasing wages and placing caps on cellphone service costs
• The NDP most notably differ from the other parties in that they have a suite of policies they would like to implement, ranging from massive and overdue updates to workers legislation to targeted programs that seek to alleviate cost of living burdens form lower and middle income families as well as create a luxury tax for those with wealthy exceeding $20 million in personal holdings

 
Greens:

• While the Green’s do have updates planed for workers legislation, and a $15 minimum wage, what truly sets them apart from the other parties is that they would like to create a universal livable income program.
• While a universal income program might sound like a single line item it’s honestly one of the most progressive moves any part has stated they would make and would entail a massive restructuring of government services. For those who have not done research on these programs, I will say, their implementation is rarely easy, the results however are worth it.
• When done correctly they reduce government costs by eliminating and condensing many programs into a single program accessed by literally everyone to ensure a decent standard of living.
• Making this program as a liveable income also connotates that this will be more then the bare minimum to survive and one could expect that with proper budgeting and saving, even a minimum wage job would ensure a middle class life style.

 

We at SMLCS would like to offer a special thanks and acknowledgment to our funders by doing a dedicated post to inform you all of the programs and who is finding them. more detailed information about the programs is available in the programing tab.


Lohn Foundation-  Night out Survival at Risk Youth
The Night Out Survival kits are a personal favorite of mine, these little kits have everything you need to ensure a randomly safe night out


We're Funny that Way- Two Spirits Renewal Project
The Two Spirits Renewal project is somthing i feel is very special for the services it offers. as we all know LGBTQS2 Youth are at increased risk of depression, Isolation, suicide, and similar mental health issues. This program provides a safe place for these youth to learn Wise Practices in dealing with these issues, as well as provide additional education on safe sex practices, and information on LGBTQS2 issues and terms.

Audrey S. Hellyer Foundation - LGBTQ Supports
as you know, Shining Mountains offers a lot of support to the LGBTQ community, it is thanks to the Audrey S. Hellyer Foundation that we are able to offer as many of the supports as we offer

Pride and Remembrance Foundation

Hello everyone, Shining Mountains will be providing Naloxone training to those interested in it on the 15th of April at 10:00AM

Naloxone is the overdose prevention drug administered to a person experiencing a drug overdose, it is designed to lower overdose fatalities

if you are interested in attending and receiving this training please contact our program manager at programmanager@smlcs.ca

SHINING MOUNTAINS LIVING COMMUNITY SERVICES
 
23rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
 
DATE:            December 21, 2018
 
PLACE:          Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, Calgary Alberta
 
TIME:             7 pm
 
 
SMLCS Board Members, Staff and guests   Please confirm attendance prior to December 7th, 2018 by calling 403-346-9794

Hello everyone, currently the 46st access to our office is closed as the city of Red Deer is doing construction work along that street. We would like to advise everyone we are still open our regular business hours, please park at the safe way along 45th street and use the alleyway access to reach us, we apologize profusely for this inconvenience, we have been told that work should be done by November 5.

Shining Mountains Living Community Services
 
 
Title: DRUM 2 Métis Community Coordinator
Status: Part-Time 20 hours/week
Deadline: Please submit cover letter and resume or CV by: August 18, 2018
 
Overview:
DRUM 2 will provide an opportunity for First Nation and Métis communities in Alberta to collaborate with and support each other as they work to provide improved HIV, Hep C and other STBBI prevention and care services within a shared care model approach. Under the guidance of an Elders Council and with the support of Community Research Assistants from the DRUM 1 project, we will study how programs are developed, adapted, implemented, and whether they meet their implementation goals (e.g., do they reach who they are supposed to? Are they delivered in the way that was planned? Do they continue?). DRUM 2 also provides the opportunity to learn by comparing different community approaches for shared care, including communities who follow the DRUM process, and also other communities who have developed their own shared care models. Working together, we will develop online “toolkits” for Indigenous communities to enable them to develop or enhance and assess their provision of STBBI services using a shared care model. We have received approval for five years of funding from CIHR through an HIV Implementation Science Component 2 (Implementation) grant to do this work. The grant will run from January 2018 to December 2022.
 
DRUM is a partnership between the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), First Nations Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), the Mental Health Commission of Canada, participating communities that include Sucker Creek First Nation, Driftpile Cree Nation, Tallcree First Nation, Stoney Nation, Blood Tribe and the Métis Nation of Alberta through Shining Mountains Living Community Services, people with lived experience, Elders, clinicians, researchers and service providers. The research is administered by the University of Victoria.
 
Responsibilities: The DRUM 2 Métis Coordinator will report directly to the Executive Director, Raye St. Denys. The overall project guidance will come from the DRUM 2 Coordinator, Carrielynn Lund.
 
The DRUM 2 Métis Community Coordinator will be responsible for:

• Building and maintaining relationships with partnering MNA regions/communities
• Building and maintaining partnerships with Alberta Health Services, specifically with the Partner Notification Nurses and Primary Care Networks.
• Assisting with capacity building opportunities in the regions/communities
• Supporting the implementation assessment and evaluation of DRUM activities
• Engaging in DRUM 2-related communication between Shining Mountains living community services and the MNA regions/communities
• Writing regular reports

 
This DRUM 2 Metis Coordinator position is designated for a candidate who identifies as Métis, with preference given to a Métis person living with HIV/HepC.
Qualifications

• Proven experience in and knowledge of conducting health-related coordination in Métis communities

• A university degree is an asset but not required.
• Applicants can have a combination of life experience as well as coordinator experience
• Knowledge of Métis Culture

 
Skills

• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent communication and computer skills (MS Office, email)
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Self-directed with an ability to work in a collaborative team environment
• Knowledge of the Indigenous HIV/AIDS epidemic, Hepatitis C and STBBI high rates in Canada and related social and health concerns

 

• Experience and/or knowledge of HIV/AIDS, HepC, STBBI research, prevention, care, treatment and support
• Knowledge of basic assessment and evaluation approaches
• Good problem-solving skills
• Ability to speak Michif and/or another Indigenous language of the Alberta First Nations is an asset

 
Abilities

•  Perform public speaking at related conferences and meetings
•  Ability to teach and provide community support
•  Excellent verbal and written communication including the ability to apply open-minded attitudes and communication toward all individuals
•  Excellent relationship building and conflict resolution skills with an ability to interact and work effectively with community, political bodies and service organizations
•  Demonstrated ability to work as a team and independently
•  Demonstrate an ability to learn and be self-directed
• Apply open-minded attitudes/respect toward individuals from varying walks of life (Injecting Drug Users, 2-Spirited people (Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Trans-gender), Sex Trade Workers, Street-Involved people, etc.

 
Working Conditions
The Community Research Assistants will work in an office environment in Red Deer.
Applicants must be ready, willing and able to travel evenings and weekends, as required.
 
Interested applicants should send a current resume/CV with a cover letter detailing their relevant educational and work skills and experiences for this position.
 
Please forward applications to the Executive Director no later than August 18th, 2018
 
Raye St. Denys – rayestdenys@gmail.com
 
https://calendly.com/carriel-1

our partners in the fight against HIV have released an important video, please watch at your leisure
http://bit.ly/HIVstigma102_Contexts