• energy evaluations for homeowners to assess the current energy efficiency of their home and to measure its efficiency after improvements are made;
• efficient home heating systems, hot water heating systems, clothes washers and insulation upgrades; and
• new homes achieving a high level of energy efficiency.

'The tremendous response to the energy efficiency rebate program in just under a year speaks to the commitment of Albertans to reduce their environmental footprints,' says Environment Minister Rob Renner. 'Consumers have the power to make a positive environmental impact through their day-to-day energy decisions. Clearly, the people of our province want to do their share.'

Delivering on commitments laid out in its 2008 Climate Change Strategy, the Government of Alberta invested $36 million over three years to help Albertans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the rebates are tied to the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, enabling consumers to recoup costs from both programs. The program is administered by Climate Change Central, a non-profit organization empowering Albertans to take action on climate change.

Rebates are available on purchases retroactive to January 1, 2009. To apply for a rebate, visit http://www.climatechangecentral.com/ or phone 1-888-537-7202.

Last month I had the pleasure of attending the official Opening of the Calgary Co Op Quarry Park Centre in southeast Calgary. Over the past few years I have watched this constituency grow at an astonish rate. The Co-Op Centre has provided Albertans with countless business opportunities. This store will no doubt become a pillar here in Quarry Park, providing residents with all the ingredients they need to live happy and healthy lives.

I was pleased to present a cheque in the amount of $100,000.00 to the Shepard Community Association.

There organization is to be commended on their hard work in connection with this project. It will have a positive effect on the quality of life in our community. Congratulations

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month and I urge all Albertans to do what they can to help raise awareness about this disease. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Parkinson's societies of southern and northern Alberta and what they do for individuals and families who live with Parkinson's.

Congratulations to Century Hall at Cranston.

The Calgary South Health Campus is the new hospital being built in my Calgary Hays riding. When completed the new South Health Campus will be a 155,000 sq. metre facility that serves Calgary and will serve as a referral point for parts of southern Alberta. It will contain traditional hospital resources, but it will combine leading-edge health care with the latest in technology. When Phase One is complete in December 2011, it will house 11 operating rooms, 30 emergency exam rooms, 65 short-stay beds, 12 intensive care beds, 216 additional in-patient care beds and space for 2000,000 out-patient visits a year.

The Calgary South Health Campus will have a tremendous impact on my constituency, allowing for better access to health facilities. It will also bring jobs and an economic benefit to my riding. In fact, when the fully operational, the South Health Campus will employ approximately 2,000 people. I look forward to the opening and what this hospital will bring to my constituency and Calgary.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Alberta Health and Wellness recently announced a six-week plan to immediately increase the number of surgeries in high-priority areas. Surgeries will be further increased during April, May and June as more surgical capacity becomes available, including more operating-room time and increased availability of surgeons and surgical teams. Our Alberta government has a clean plan for a strong economic recovery. An important part of The Way Forward is maintaining support for programs and services Albertans need mo9st, such as health care.

I thank you all who supported the sale of the capital bonds last month. Our goal was to raise up to $100 million though bond sales, with proceeds raised going to accommodations for Alberta seniors.

High school students from around the province will gather at the Alberta Legislature from April 12^th to 13^th to find out first hand what it would be like to be an MLA. Do you know a student who would be interested in participating? Please contact my assistant Donna Elms regarding more information on this program.

Our office has been working with a parent group interested in supporting more schools in Calgary Hays. They have also met with the School Trustees and we continue to support them in any way we can.

An interchange at Hwy 22X and 52^nd street SE in Calgary is part of the SE Stoney Trail Project. The Department is in the process of finalizing the contract for this part of the Calgary Ring Road. It is anticipated the contract will be signed by the end of March 2010. The SE Stoney Trail project will see construction begin this year and is to be fully completed by Sept. 30^th 2013. We do not have details at this time or when individual interchanges will be constructed. Information about the SE Stoney Trail Project can be found at the following web link on the AT Website http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/eastgp.htm

It is that time of year again. Starting March 8^th Albertans and visitors can book more than 5,800 campsites at 50 provincial campgrounds on line or through a new toll-free phone reservation service. On line reservations at the 50 provincial campgrounds are available up to 90 days in advance at www.Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca.

Best Wishes

Calgary's Bruno Yizek at the Paralympic Winter Games being held in Vancouver March 13 - 20^th

Calgary's 2010 Alberta Provincial Wheelchair Curlers Gold Medal winners

Jack Smart, Anne Hibberd, Martin Purvis, Bridget Wilson and Team Coach Tony Zummack from the Province at their Nationals in Kelowna.

I am the laison MLA Buddy for Calgary Glenmore (P.C.). I am certainly available to help at any time.

Thank you for the privilege of representing you. Please contact my office at Calgary.hays@assembly.ab.ca or 403 - 215-4380 for any advice or questions. You may also check in at http:Johnston.mypcmla.ca

On April 1, a single health board took charge to reduce administration and costly duplication of effort. The new Alberta Health Services Board's mandate is to serve the entire province equitably, directing the maximum effort and dollars to health care.

Since making the move to one region, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) became part of the provincial health care system. Fully integrating EMS into the health care system will not only improve efficiency, it will improve patient care. Highly trained paramedics, in consultation with a physician, will be able to diagnose and in some cases even treat on site.

Alberta also introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program to protect teens and young women from cervical cancer; introduced patient navigators to help Albertans with heart disease access tests, treatments and follow-up care; and introduced plans for phase I of our Pharmaceutical Strategy - improving drug coverage for the majority of Alberta seniors who rely on it.

Alberta now covers midwifery services and has expanded addictions treatment beds. New drugs have been added to our benefit plans to treat cancer patients and certain rare diseases. The number of primary care networks continues to expand across the province, providing more than two million Albertans with better access to primary health services.

So some of the heavy lifting has begun to change our public health care system for the better, but more needs to be done.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has already identified $650 million in potential annualized cost savings in an effort toward trimming a projected deficit of $1.3 billion. AHS is also consulting with staff to identify a further three per cent in annualized cost savings, including an early retirement/buyout option for employees. In addition, a new province-wide strategy to purchase hospital and medical supplies is expected to generate even greater savings.

Above all, AHS is working to refocus health care on the patient and improve access to much needed services. The most significant changes within AHS centre on the balance of hospital and community-based care - providing the right care in the right place.

Over the next three years, AHS aims to cut the waiting times for surgery as well as in the emergency department. Targets include dropping the wait time for elective knee replacements from one year to six, to nine months, and decreasing wait times for 90 per cent of patients in urban emergency rooms with minor conditions to decrease from 5.6 hours to four hours.

Alberta's health care legislation also needs an overhaul in order to improve access. To begin this work, a 16-member committee was appointed to inform government on what legislative changes are needed to improve patient care and the performance of our publicly funded health care system.

By mid-November, the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health will provide advice on a number of areas related to health legislation, including ways to expand patient access to health services, promote wellness and ensure the health system can respond to emerging issues such as advances in medical technology.

Albertans will be able to submit their ideas and suggestions next month online by visiting the Alberta Health and Wellness website at www.health.alberta.ca.

While the challenges are complex and difficult, all these efforts will move us closer to a better, more efficient health care system that will always put the needs of the patient first.