Program plants seeds for long-term growth of northern Alberta forest industry

The Government of Alberta recently announced a new program to educate youth about the forest industry, the careers it offers and ways to preserve and sustain Alberta’s forests. The Fostering Forest Stewardship Program is a two-year program which will bring educational programs, materials and resources to primary and secondary schools and community groups in northern Alberta to promote the importance of the province’s forests and attract more youth into forest related careers.

The forest industry is changing because of current economic markets, industry restructuring, an aging workforce and emerging technologies. Alberta Employment and Immigration and Sustainable Resource Development expect to spend more than $8 million this year in Community Development Trust Funds on forestry related programs and initiatives.

Alberta renews research partnership with IBM

Alberta and IBM have renewed a three-year commitment that will help train highly-valued information technology professionals and give Alberta businesses an advantage.

In addition to continuing collaboration at the University of Alberta, the agreement also expands to include another Campus Alberta partner, the University of Calgary. Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, announced the project from Palo Alto, California, while meeting with senior IBM research partners.

The research at both universities will take place in conjunction with the IBM Alberta Centre for Advanced Studies (IBM CAS). The projects focus on Alberta’s priority areas of health, energy and the environment, and technology. It is estimated that the total value of the collaborative research projects could be $10 million, of which the Alberta government will contribute $750,000 of new funding. The remaining funding, both cash and in kind, will come from IBM and other institutional and industry sponsors. 

Window opens to Alberta's Innovation Voucher Pilot Program

Companies have another opportunity to apply to the Alberta Innovation Voucher Pilot Program. These vouchers will help Alberta entrepreneurs develop their technology-based ideas into marketable products or services.

This is the second time applications will be accepted under this popular program. In April, 179 companies from across Alberta were awarded vouchers totaling more than $5 million.

Companies may qualify for innovation vouchers of up to $10,000 or up to $50,000 to cover up to 75 per cent of eligible project costs including specialized technical and professional services. The voucher must be used within nine months of issue at approved service providers including at labs, fabrication centres, business development centres and other organizations supporting innovation.

Grant programs help rural Albertans connect and diversify

Two programs offered by the Alberta government will help rural communities promote economic activity and improve access to high-speed broadband services.

The three-year $15-million Rural Community Adaptation Grant Program (RCAP) is intended to increase the ability of rural communities and regions to address economic, environmental and social challenges by creating diverse economic opportunities. To date, $3.5 million has been distributed to 15 communities and organizations to help them adapt to changing economic circumstances.

Under the three-year $9-million Rural Connections: Community Broadband Infrastructure Pilot Program, priority is given to community-led broadband infrastructure projects where rural Albertans have limited or no access to broadband connectivity. Producers, entrepreneurs and other rural Albertans from 11 communities have benefited from $4 million in funding.

Tri-Region to host the 2012 Alberta Winter Games

In 2012, Alberta’s best young athletes will gather in the Tri-Region west of Edmonton for the 19th Alberta Winter Games. The City of Spruce Grove, the Town of Stony Plain and Parkland County will jointly host Alberta’s largest multi-sport competition.

Athletes ranging in age from 11 to 17 will compete in traditional winter sports, as well as in various indoor sports such as volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics and wrestling. The number of participants is similar to an Olympic Winter Games, with more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials taking part in the event.

Premier and cabinet take immediate pay cuts
Premier Ed Stelmach announced that he and his senior executive team are taking pay cuts effective immediately.

Premier Stelmach has taken a 15 per cent pay cut to his Premier’s allowance (a cut of $12,196), while Ministers are reducing their cabinet pay by 10 per cent (a cut of $6,391 per Minister).

In addition, Premier Stelmach’s Chief of Staff Ron Glen, and Brian Manning, the head of the provincial civil service are also taking a 10 per cent pay cut.

Premier presents a plan to return Alberta to surpluses in three years

In a province-wide televised address, Premier Stelmach said Alberta will be back into a surplus position and saving again for the future in three years.

He also announced the return of Alberta Capital Bonds, so Albertans can invest directly in the province’s future. A list of public projects to be financed by capital bonds will be announced this fall.

In the address, aired October 14, the Premier outlined his government’s plan to weather the recession and position the province for a strong economic recovery. 

The plan includes:

·   trimming spending, including a two-year wage freeze for civil service managers - an effort in which the entire public sector will be asked to share;

·    using cash reserves - the $17-billion Sustainability Fund - to cover three-quarters of the revenue shortfall and protect key programs during the downturn;

·    continuing to invest in public infrastructure; and

·    ensuring that Alberta’s energy sector and other industries are globally competitive and continue to attract investment.

He also underlined the need for improvements to the health care system based on the Vision 2020 plan for health care.

Alberta's education system reports high achievement and significant improvement

Alberta’s education system is performing well, according to a new provincial accountability report that shows significant improvement in satisfaction with the overall quality of education, improved student achievement and more students moving on to post-secondary education.

The provincial Accountability Pillar report contains performance results for key areas of success in the K-12 education system. The measures include surveys of parents, students and teachers on various aspects of quality; results of provincial assessments of student learning in Grades 3, 6, 9 and 12; and key student outcomes, such as dropout rates, high school completion and post-secondary transition.  The most recent results are compared with province-wide standards and with the previous three-year average to assess improvement.

The report shows the overall satisfaction of parents and school stakeholders on students having access to a broad program of study, safe and caring schools, and having adequate preparation for work and citizenship; as well as opportunities for parental involvement and school improvement. It also captures that overall results on Provincial Achievement Tests, which have improved significantly at both the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence, an especially important change given that results at the acceptable level had been declining in recent years.

Forum participants see education as key to future success

Approximately 1,000 Albertans wrapped up the Inspiring Education fall forum with a commitment to preparing now for students of the future and a renewed vision for education to support a diversified knowledge economy in 2029.

Outcomes from the forum and spring community engagement activities will help to inform development of a policy and governance framework and revisions to the School Act. The framework, being developed by the Steering Committee, is scheduled to be presented to Hancock early in the New Year.

Construction of four new high schools cost-effective, efficient

The Alberta government has signed an agreement with Clark Builders to design and build four new high schools in four Alberta communities.

Design and construction work is set to begin simultaneously on each of the Calgary, Edmonton, Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove high schools. The four high schools, which will be completed for a total design and construction cost of less than $100 million, are part of the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement II (ASAP II) project. When the doors open in 2013, the schools will add almost 5,000 new student spaces.

Alberta students benefit from WorldSkills equipment

Thousands of Alberta trades and technology students will benefit from state-of-the-art equipment purchased by the Alberta government for WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

As a legacy from the international competition, the government has distributed the equipment to schools and post-secondary training providers across the province. Computers, water saws, cooking equipment and molding machines are among the many items used during the four-day Worldskills competition held this September.

All high schools offering career and technology studies courses and all post-secondary training providers offering apprenticeship technical training that submitted proposals are receiving equipment or tools. When awarding the equipment, the government considered the need to replace old equipment and the value added to the overall community.

Alberta libraries benefit from broadband boost

The Alberta government has improved broadband coverage for Alberta’s public libraries. This will allow more Albertans access to high-speed internet service than ever before.

This expanded service will allow libraries to link together through the Alberta library network, resulting in better collaboration and sharing of programs, expertise and resources. For example, someone living in Grande Prairie can now borrow a book from a library in Lethbridge through the inter-library loan program. The improved broadband will allow increased access to electronic databases and licensed materials such as e-books, world newspapers and car repair manuals.

Enhanced broadband is part of the government’s new vision for public libraries; creating seamless access for all Albertans through collaboration, innovation and advances in technology. In the spring, the province increased funding to Alberta libraries by 39 per cent, including this $500,000 investment to expand broadband coverage for Alberta’s libraries.

Premier broadens stakeholder involvement in Alberta Hospital Edmonton transition

In keeping with his commitment that no patient will be moved from Alberta Hospital until appropriate community-based care is available, Premier Ed Stelmach has asked Health Minister Ron Liepert and Alberta Health Services President and CEO Dr. Stephen Duckett to assemble an implementation team, that includes representation from the mental health profession and patient advocates, to guide the transition to community-based care.

The committee will be co-chaired by Don Sieben, a member of the Alberta Health Services board, and Dennis Anderson, founder of the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. Premier Stelmach has also asked Edmonton-Rutherford MLA Fred Horne to serve as his designate on the committee.

Alberta to reduce drug costs and increase access to new drugs

Albertans will save money on their generic prescription drugs and receive more advice about their medications from their local pharmacist under phase two of the government’s pharmaceutical strategy.

Phase two of the pharmaceutical strategy will see the Alberta government:

·         reduce generic drug prices — Starting immediately, prices for new generic drugs will be reduced from 75 per cent of a brand name drug price to 45 per cent - a reduction of as much as 30 per cent. Prices for existing generic drugs will also be reduced significantly, beginning in April 2010. Over the coming month, government will continue its discussions with pharmacists and pharmacies about this price reduction; more details are expected in December. Reduced prices for generic drugs will be available to all Albertans.  

·         provide faster access to new drugs and reduce costs  — Like other provinces, Alberta will negotiate contracts, known as product listing agreements, with brand name drug manufacturers. These contracts reduce costs through volume discounts, provide faster access to new, innovative drugs and help fund health research. Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Manitoba currently use product listing agreements.

·         expand the role of pharmacists to better meet the needs of patients — Government will work closely with Alberta pharmacists and pharmacies to have pharmacists spend more time using their professional knowledge and skills to counsel and advise patients so they get the best results from their medications.  To support this expanded role, government will introduce a new payment model for pharmacies. A comprehensive transition plan has been developed to support pharmacies as they shift their focus from dispensing prescription drugs to providing more professional services.

Alberta gets global nod for CO2 projects

An Alberta project that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) to enhance coalbed methane extraction received an international award from the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) October 13 in London, England. 

Alberta advances clean coal technology through carbon capture

The Alberta government and TransAlta Corporation are working together to kick-start a leading-edge coal-fired electricity generation plant that will capture and store up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

The province has signed a Letter of Intent with TransAlta Corporation on Project Pioneer at the Keephills 3 plant west of Edmonton. The project will utilize leading-edge technology to capture CO2. The CO2 will be used for enhanced oil recovery in nearby conventional fields, or stored almost three kilometers underground. Alberta’s investment, through its $2-billion Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Fund, will total $431 million over the next 15 years. An additional $5 million will be provided to the project to support front end engineering and design. The private partners are TransAlta, Capital Power and Alstom.

Alberta moves to forefront in carbon capture and storage

The Alberta government has moved onto the global stage with the signing of a Letter of Intent with Shell Canada to implement large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

This CCS project supports the Provincial Energy Strategy to enhance clean energy production through energy technology leadership. Once all of the projects supported through Alberta’s CCS funding are fully developed, they are expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between four and five million tonnes per year beginning in 2015.

Albertans embrace recycling of beverage containers

One year after enhancing Alberta’s deposit-refund system - and just five months after milk containers were added - Albertans are returning more beverage containers than ever.

Changes to Alberta’s container recycling system also saw return rates for milk containers rise steadily each month since they were added to the deposit-based system on June 1. This increase is expected to continue as more Albertans become familiar with returning empty milk containers to bottle depots.

Alberta's forestry waste becomes a bright light for clean energy

Scrap treetops and branches from forestry operations in Alberta will soon help power consumers’ daily lives with clean energy. The Government of Alberta is providing $25 million to develop a first-of-its-kind waste-to-energy production facility in the Town of Drayton Valley.

The Otoka Energy Corporation is receiving a $20 million grant from Alberta’s share of the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change. The project also received $5 million in July 2009 through Alberta’s Biorefining Commercialization and Market Development Program, a program administered by Alberta Energy.

Otoka’s Drayton Valley Energy Campus will convert 380,000 tonnes of wood waste into electricity each year. By using a renewable source to produce energy, the project will reduce Alberta’s greenhouse gases by about 400,000 tonnes each year.

Alberta Land Stewardship Act authorizes regional planning under Land-use Framework

A bold, new approach to guide the way Alberta manages its lands and natural resources is on track with the proclamation of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act.

The Act creates the legal authority to implement the Land-use Framework, which will help Alberta achieve a better balance between the economic growth that creates prosperity and Albertans’ environmental and social values.

The Act enables the establishment of seven planning regions congruent with Alberta’s major watersheds and rural municipal boundaries, and requires a plan for each region. Regional plans will consider the combined impact of all activities on the land, air, water and biodiversity, and will be developed with advice from Albertans. Regional plans will integrate provincial energy, environment, water and other policies at the regional level. The regional planning process is underway in the Lower Athabasca and South Saskatchewan regions. See a map of the seven planning regions at http://www.landuse.alberta.ca/.

Premiers call on Senate to adopt Bill C-25 as passed by the House of Commons

The premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia called upon the Senate of Canada to restore and quickly pass the House of Commons’ legislation (Bill C-25) that would limit the credit for time served by offenders while awaiting trial. 

The premiers are concerned that the amendments to Bill C-25 suggested by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs would not improve public safety or enhance accountability of the sentencing process.  The Standing Committee is considering amendments that would allow for a two-for-one credit for time served, rather than limiting credit to one-for-one in most circumstances, as proposed in C-25 and passed unanimously by the House of Commons

The legislation passed by the House of Commons reflects calls by western ministers of justice to eliminate the two-for-one credit.  These ministers had raised concerns that excessive credit for time served could distort the sentencing process, create inefficiencies in the justice system, and would not be transparent.

ALERT takes down marijuana grow operation with ties to organized crime

Eight people have been arrested and over 1,900 marijuana plants have been seized in a major marijuana grow operation bust in the Medicine Hat area that is believed to have ties to organized crime. The arrests stem from an investigation by the ALERT Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) and Integrated Intelligence Unit in Medicine Hat.

Drug-impaired drivers to be charged under new legislation

Law enforcement will have an additional tool to increase traffic safety and keep impaired drivers off Alberta’s roads. Individuals who are impaired by drugs while driving could have their driver’s licence suspended as a result of the expansion of the Alberta Administrative Licence Suspension (AALS) program to include drug-impaired driving-related offences.