A message from the Honourable Heather Forsyth

It is an honour to be appointed Alberta's Solicitor General.

Albertans' overwhelming support in the recent provincial election is a strong vote of confidence in this government's policies. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

The goal of this government, and my goal as Solicitor General of Alberta, is to ensure that Alberta communities remain safe places to live, work and raise a family.

Our correctional system must continue to be effective and efficiently run, and police must have the resources they need to do their job. However, we cannot lose sight of our government's commitment to the very strong message we hear from Albertans that we must maintain a balanced budget and pay down the debt.

As an MLA, I took an active role in developing the Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act. I had the privilege of working directly with police and correctional service workers at many levels.

As a long-time volunteer in my community, I know that none of us has all the answers to the challenges we face in our daily work lives. I will remain open to new ideas.

I look forward to working in partnership with our colleagues at Alberta Justice. We share responsibility for ensuring safe communities. Alberta Solicitor General's focus remains Public Security and Corrections. We will also work in partnership with other ministries as we continue to provide programs that assist children, victims of crime and other Albertans.

Alberta Solicitor General stakeholders are a crucial part of our efforts. We must build even stronger relationships with our stakeholders to ensure they remain an essential part of our team.

We are embarking upon an exciting journey. Currently, the MLA Policing Review Committee is closely examining comments and ideas from stakeholders and other Albertans about the future direction of policing in Alberta. The committee's report is expected by the fall. The new Victims of Crime Amendment Act strengthens our commitment to helping innocent victims of crime. The increasing reliance by the courts on community sentencing continues to provide challenges to our corrections system.

The future has many more challenges. But I believe strongly that they all can be overcome with diligence and perseverance. I look forward to facing these challenges along with you.

Heather Forsyth
Solicitor General of Alberta