PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2005

U of A Think Tank Receives Million Dollar Donation

The Parkland Institute, a province-wide public policy research institute situated in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta, has received an anonymous donation of a $1 million endowment. The donation will support the ongoing research and programming of the institute.

“This donation will help ensure that the Parkland Institute can continue to provide insightful and progressive research and analysis of the public policy issues that matter to Albertans and that affect them in their daily lives,” said Dr. Gordon Laxer, the institute’s director. “The work of Parkland contributes to and helps broaden the scope of political discourse in this province, and this generous gift will help us strengthen that work.”

The Parkland Institute, founded in 1996, has published books and reports on virtually all aspects of public policy in Alberta, including health care, energy deregulation, oil and gas royalties, privatization, poverty and youth crime. Two of the Institute’s books, Shredding the Public Interest: Ralph Klein and 25 Years of One-Party Government, and Clear Answers: The Economics and Politics of For-Profit Medicine, have become best-sellers. Parkland also holds an annual conference which has brought such speakers to Alberta as John Ralston Saul, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Maude Barlow, Naomi Klein, Linda McQuaig and many others.

Former Senator Douglas Roche, a long-time supporter of the Parkland Institute, is one of many Albertans who responded happily to news of the donation. “This shows that the leadership of Parkland is recognized, and it provides Parkland increased opportunity to continue moving forward the cause of social justice and peace both locally and internationally,” said Mr. Roche.

The $1,000,000 donation will be used to establish an endowment fund from which Parkland will receive an average $45,000 annual income in perpetuity. The goal of the Institute is to continue building that endowment fund for the future. “Although this tremendous gift helps our sustainability significantly, we must continue to solicit the support of Albertans to ensure our maximum effectiveness into the future,” said Dr. Laxer.

Dr. Daniel Woolf, dean of the Faculty of Arts, pointed out that “this gift certainly highlights that the important work of the Parkland Institute is highly respected and valued in the community. Parkland is an important part of the Faculty of Arts, and this gift lets us know that Albertans also see it as an important part of the province as a whole.”

Media Contact:
Ricardo Acuña (780) 492-0417