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2006-07 Quarterly Budget Report:
Second
Quarter Activity Report
Released:
November 15,
2006
Table
of Contents
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In Budget 2006, the government reinforced
its 20-year strategic plan to build on the province's strong
fiscal and economic environment and, create more opportunities
for Albertans and Alberta businesses to succeed. Today's
Opportunities, Tomorrow's Promise is the action plan
that will help the government achieve its vision of: "A vibrant
and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a superior quality
of life and are confident about the future for themselves
and their children." The strategic plan is based on four pillars: |
- Unleashing
innovation focuses on becoming a world leader
in innovation, research, development, and commercialization of
new ideas.
- Leading
in learning requires making sure Albertans have
the opportunities they need to learn, adapt, and develop new knowledge
and new skills.
- Competing
in a global marketplace is about creating a business
and investment environment that is recognized around the world
as an excellent place to do business.
- Making
Alberta the best place to live, work, and visit
means providing services and opportunities to people in an environment
in which they can contribute their talents and create a quality
of life that meets their dreams.
The purpose of this quarterly activity
report is to show Albertans what activities the government undertook
over the past three months in support of this vision. The following
pages include some of those activities from each of the government
departments.
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Albertans are pioneers - known for innovative thinking and a
"can do" attitude. It's this spirit that makes Alberta a leader
on so many fronts. Focusing on research, technology, and innovation
allows Albertans to develop and produce new knowledge-based
products, maximize traditional industries, and broaden Alberta's
economy. In the second quarter, the government: |
- Sponsored
The Banff Venture Forum. More than 300 local and international
investors and government officials attended and learned about
the hottest hi-tech companies in western Canada. The Forum provided
insight into key industry issues, premium networking opportunities,
as well as the chance to learn from world-class investment professionals.
(Innovation and Science)
- Established
cross-sector IP videoconferencing service standards for the Alberta
SuperNet, which will allow integrated videoconferencing for the
Alberta government. As of the end of quarter, six ministries,
seven regional health authorities, three libraries, and over 40
education facilities are connected to videoconferencing services
over Alberta SuperNet.
(Restructuring and Government Efficiency;
Education; Health and Wellness)
- Showcased
nine of Alberta's biotechnology and medical device investment
opportunities to 90 local and international venture capital and
angel investors, government officials, and executives from Alberta
life science companies at the second Alberta Life Technologies
Investor Forum.
(Innovation and Science)
- Introduced
new state-of-the-art technology to link 53 Provincial Court locations
with correctional facilities around the province, reducing the
number of prisoner transfers and increasing the efficiency of
court processes. Videoconferencing technology uses video cameras
and television screens to provide two-way communication between
correctional facilities and courtrooms.
(Solicitor General and Public Security;
Justice)
- Announced
$100 million to implement a new Information Technology strategy
to better support law enforcement. The development of a new central
crime database will improve the ability of law enforcement agencies
to share important criminal intelligence information. The project
will develop comprehensive computer systems for police, sheriffs,
corrections and other law enforcement partners.
(Solicitor General and Public Security)
- Completed
the installation of the Regional Shared Health Information Program
(RSHIP). RSHIP will contain the electronic health records of 1.2
million Albertans living in seven of the nine health regions and
is a significant step forward in the development of Alberta Netcare,
our provincial electronic health record.
(Health and Wellness)
- Worked
with local stakeholders, community partners and Alberta's Innovation
program to support the development of alternative energy sources
at a West Central Airshed monitoring site and to consider options
for alternative energy at a Buffalo Lake (pumphouse) water management
facility.
(Environment; Innovation and Science)
- Awarded
to the EUB (Energy Utilities Board) the Institute of Public Administration
of Canada's (IPAC) prestigious Award for Innovative Management,
which acknowledges Innovative Managerial Initiatives in the Public
Administration of Canada. IPAC recognized the EUB for its role
in developing Synergy Alberta, a concept arising out of the need
for a centralized resource for synergy groups in the province.
(AEUB - Energy)
- Assisted
in hosting the 2006 Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER)
Annual Summit in Edmonton, July 16-20, 2006. Private sector representatives
and governments from eight states, provinces, and territories
came together to share best practices and discuss issues of mutual
concern. The summit featured high profile political speakers from
both countries and recorded the largest turnout of delegates in
the history of PNWER.
(Economic Development)
- Launched
an enhanced Materials Resource Unit Online catalogue with new
searching and online ordering for alternate format (braille, large
print, audio) learning resources and specialized student equipment.
The catalogue can be accessed at the Learning Resources Centre
website: www.lrc.education.gov.ab.ca.
(Education)
- Established
a cross-ministry Energy Innovation Fund to support energy development
and environmental protection by dedicating $200 million over the
next three years towards research, advanced technologies, market
development and innovative projects focusing on energy supply
and protection of the environment.
(Energy)
- Launched
the new Alberta School Council Resource Manual with Alberta
Home and School Councils' Association. The manual is a resource
that will help parents and schools develop school councils.
(Education)
- Launched
the "myAFSC" website
that allows Alberta producers day-and-night access to their Canadian
Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program account information.
The program, developed by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
(AFSC), makes the CAIS program more accessible for Alberta producers.
(AFSC - Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)
- Initiated
a new strategy to enhance support to Aboriginal arts and build
relationships with Aboriginal communities in the province. The
strategy includes information sessions for Aboriginal artists,
grant writing workshops and $100,000 in grants for Aboriginal
organizations.
(Community Development)
- Implemented
the revised Home
Education Regulation to support parents who choose to
home educate their children.
(Education)
- Implemented
changes
to Employment Pension Plans Act regulations, allowing Albertans
greater flexibility in managing their retirement savings. Effective
November 1st, 2006, eligible Albertans will have a one-time option
to unlock up to 50 per cent of their locked-in pension contributions
after exiting an eligible pension plan.
(Finance)
- Completed
construction of the external structure of Calgary's new courthouse
complex, scheduled to open in summer 2007. The $340-million, one-millionsquare-
foot facility will house both the Court of Queen's Bench and the
Provincial Court of Alberta in 73 courtrooms under one roof. The
Calgary Court Centre will be an environmentally friendly facility,
designed to meet or exceed the internationally recognized Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design Silver standard.
(Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Initiated
a study together with the Alberta Forest Products Association
to examine competitiveness challenges facing the province's forest
industry. In the meantime, several immediate measures were announced
to help the forest industry deal with competitiveness pressures
over the short term, including attention to trucking and transportation
issues.
(Sustainable Resource Development)
- Introduced
electronic driver knowledge tests to replace written tests for
new drivers and people applying for other licence classes. The
Driver Knowledge Test System effectively uses technology to randomly
select test questions from a large pool. This eliminates the potential
for cheating and, as a result, increases safety on our roads.
Government covered the full $650,000 cost of implementing the
new system, including cabling and workstations at each registry.
(Infrastructure and Transportation)
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Albertans know a solid education builds the foundation for
a strong and prosperous society. Alberta's education system
continues to be among the best in the world and staying at
the forefront means providing students with the tools they
need to achieve their potential. Investments in universities,
colleges, and technical institutes are increasing, so they
can provide high quality, affordable post-secondary education.
This, in turn, creates opportunities for life-long learners
to adapt their skills and develop new ones. A well-educated
workforce is key to Alberta's continued economic success.
In the second quarter, the government: |
- Funded
$1.5 million for NAIT's Shell Manufacturing Centre, which will
provide high-tech manufacturing services, and train technical
operators and a wide variety of trades in areas that support Alberta's
petroleum and other manufacturing industries, such as plant design
and layout and project simulation.
(Innovation and Science)
- Received
a Canada Award for Excellence from the National Quality Institute
for wildfire education and preparedness training at the Hinton
Training Centre. This award from Canada's leading authority on
workplace excellence recognizes commitments to innovation, productivity,
healthy workplaces and ethics.
(Sustainable Resource Development)
- Provided
$1 million to the Aero Space Museum Association of Calgary from
the Alberta Lottery Fund to assist with construction cost of a
new museum facility.
(Gaming)
- Developed
and delivered the Southern Watersheds Workshop, which was attended
by partners engaged in watershed planning in Red Deer and Southern
Alberta.
(Environment)
- Launched
the High School Completion Initiative and Symposium. The September
2006 province-wide Symposium brought together approximately 600
youth, parents, educators, business leaders and community organizations
to discuss issues associated with high school completion and allowed
for discussion on community actions to address this issue. A provincial
action plan will be developed in followup to help encourage community
involvement in improving high school completion.
(Education)
- Launched
the new Careers in Motion mobile career centre. The high-tech
RV gives Albertans, especially those in rural areas, the latest
technology to help them investigate jobs, contact a career counselor,
or get resumé writing help. Free services include laptops, internet,
a printer, fax, phones and resource materials.
(Human Resources and Employment)
- Invested
another $250 million into the Access to the Future endowment,
bringing the total value to $1 billion. Also announced the creation
of a ninemember council to oversee the fund. Income from the endowment
will provide seed money for innovative and collaborative post-secondary
projects as well as matching grants for donations to universities,
colleges, technical institutes and other post-secondary providers
to improve access and quality.
(Advanced Education)
- Awarded
62 Aboriginal post-secondary students with the Aboriginal Health
Careers Bursary. The bursaries provide financial assistance for
students in health-related career fields and also work towards
ensuring that Aboriginal communities will have greater access
to Aboriginal health care practitioners and culturally-sensitive
health services.
(Advanced Education)
- Launched
the Royal Tyrrell Museum's distance learning program suite by
offering schools the opportunity to select from three videoconferencing
programs.
(Community Development)
- Supported
Leading Change: A Conference on Aboriginal Economic and Community
Development, held in Fort McMurray. Aboriginal, industry,
and government stakeholders came together to examine the challenges
and opportunities associated with grassroots Aboriginal community
and economic development.
(Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development)
- Launched
The Youth in Transition program, a new pilot program through NorQuest
College that will assist immigrant youth in strengthening their
literacy skills. The 10-month pilot project will accommodate up
to 25 students and help strengthen each student's reading, writing,
numeracy, oral language and computer skills. This program will
increase their chance of success both in the post secondary system
and in Alberta's growing workforce.
(Advanced Education)
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Alberta has made great strides in encouraging a broader economic
base. Low taxes and the availability of untapped markets to
export and promote our goods, services, knowledge, and technology,
play a vital role in achieving recognition as an excellent place
to do business. Making Alberta's infrastructure the best in
the world is also important, so citizens and businesses have
the foundation they need to compete in a global marketplace.
In the second quarter, the government: |
- Worked
in consultation with the forest industry to protect Alberta's
interests in the softwood lumber trade agreement negotiations
between Canada and the United States. The agreement was signed
on September 26, 2006.
(International and Intergovernmental Relations;
Sustainable Resource Development)
- Set
a new direction for Alberta's energy sector through release of
Alberta's new Integrated Energy Vision, which identifies
the potential long-term benefits of Alberta-based energy resource
product upgrading and refining by transforming hydrocarbons into
a vast array of value-added end-products.
(Energy)
- Enhanced
the province's dividend tax credit and boosted the small business
income threshold. Eliminating the double taxation of corporate
dividends and increasing the income threshold for small business
helps encourage investment and business growth in the province,
and helps ensure that Alberta remains the place to do business.
(Finance)
- Announced
the elimination of the Alberta Royalty Tax Credit Program as of
January 1, 2007 following a review and consultation with industry
and stakeholders. This change better reflects today's business
climate, market and prices, and will provide additional royalty
revenue to the province.
(Energy)
- Increased
marketing efforts for the Alberta film industry by collaborating
with a broad range of industry stakeholders in hosting and sponsoring
activities at major events, including the Toronto Film Festival
and the Atlantic Film Festival.
(Economic Development)
- Initiated
public oil sands consultations, with a series of seven open information
meetings held throughout the province to give Albertans an opportunity
to add their voice into the development of the province's oil
sands.
(Energy)
- Co-hosted
more than 200 industry, education, labour and government representatives
at a one-day Ministers' symposium in September to share tactics
and approaches to resolving labour and skills shortages. The symposium
was a follow-up commitment to the government's July announcement
of its 10-year labour strategy, Building and Educating Tomorrow's
Workforce, and included the release of a strategy to address
labour shortages within the retail sector, created in partnership
with key stakeholders in the retail sector.
(Human Resources and Employment; Advanced
Education)
- Hosted
delegates from across Canada, Mexico and the United States at
the 2006 Tri-National Agricultural Accord in Banff, Alberta. The
event provided the opportunity to meet and work with our North
American partners to solidify and enhance our international agricultural
relationships.
(Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)
- Announced
further premium reductions for mandatory auto insurance. Effective
November 1st, 2006, the latest reduction comes as part of the
annual review of compulsory auto insurance by the Automobile Insurance
Rate Board (AIRB) and brings total reductions since reforms were
introduced to 18 per cent.
(AIRB - Finance)
- Facilitated
high-level visits to Alberta's oilsands, including U.S. energy
secretary Samuel Bodman, a Congressional delegation, the Chairman
of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and a group
of 28 foreign Ambassadors.
(International and Intergovernmental Relations)
- Promoted
the groundbreaking B.C.-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour
Mobility Agreement as the "gold standard" in breaking down
internal trade barriers and increasing Canada's international
competitiveness.
(International and Intergovernmental Relations)
- Launched
the Bioindustrial loan program, aimed at encouraging growth of
a biofuels industry in the province that will use feedstock from
Alberta-based processing facilities.
(AFSC - Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)
- Concluded
Alberta's participation in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in
Washington, D.C that attracted over 900,000 visitors. Survey results
show that 73 per cent of festival attendees said they knew something
or a lot after visiting the Alberta displays, and 86 per cent
answered yes or maybe when asked whether they plan to visit Alberta
in the future. The festival took place from June 30 to July 11.
(Community Development; Economic Development)
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Albertans' vision is one in which the province remains debt-free,
with accessible quality health care and education, safe and
caring communities, and an environment that is preserved and
protected. Alberta is a place that has something for everyone.
The province is known for its spectacular scenery, rich cultural
heritage, and exciting history. Those attractions draw visitors
from around the world and keep them coming back year after year.
In the second quarter, the government: |
PROMOTING
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
- Implemented
a three-year pilot project - through the Alberta Aids to Daily
Living program - to provide Speech Generating Communication Devices
(SGCD). Funding is available to residents of Alberta with severe
communication impairments that results in them unable to speak.
(Seniors and Community Supports)
- Provided
an additional $262 million to health authorities to address operating
cost pressures and purchase diagnostic and other medical equipment.
(Health and Wellness)
- Hosted
the "TryHealthy Forum" in Banff to promote the business of natural
and organic products across North America. The event featured
more than 90 Canadian, American, and Mexican producers, processors,
and distributors of organic and wellnessrelated products, which
is representative of an agricultural market that is predicted
to see doubledigit growth by 2010.
(Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)
- Reviewed
20 lodges to determine if the facilities are meeting the Supportive
Living Accommodation Standards. These standards, developed in
response to the MLA Task Force on Continuing Care Health Service
and Accommodation Standards, promote a safe and comfortable environment
for lodge residents.
(Seniors and Community Supports)
- Provided
over $400,000 to support the 2006 Alberta Summer Games in Red
Deer, which attracted approximately 3,000 young Alberta athletes,
coaches and officials.
(Community Development)
- Announced
$24 million for the third round of the Rural Affordable Supportive
Living program, which promotes the development of supportive living
facilities for low- to moderate-income seniors and those with
high health and personal care needs in rural communities.
(Seniors and Community Supports)
SUPPORTING
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
- Removed
the income eligibility cap and eligibility restriction of the
Supports for Permanency program to help more children in government
care find permanent homes. The program assists with some of the
financial costs for families who adopt or obtain private guardianship
of children in care.
(Children's Services)
- Granted
$2.3 million to programs that assist victims of crime. The money
is used for programs that help support victims of crime throughout
the criminal justice process and for other initiatives that benefit
victims of crime, such as crisis intervention and referrals to
support agencies.
(Solicitor General and Public Security)
- Announced
$2 million for the province's rent supplement program, which will
provide an additional 600 low-income households with much needed
assistance in covering their monthly rent. The increase brings
total spending on the rent supplement program to $19 million this
year, an increase of $4 million or 27 per cent over last year.
(Seniors and Community Supports)
- Announced
over $11.7 million in funding under the Canada/Alberta Affordable
Housing Program to help construct four housing projects that will
provide 150 affordable housing units.
(Seniors and Community Supports)
- Announced
$39 million in children's mental health initiatives to be implemented
over the next three years, including suicide prevention and building
mental health capacity for children, youth and families at the
local level.
(Health and Wellness)
- Provided
mediation for 610 Albertans on issues such as energy contracts
and billing and information to an additional 3,800 Albertans on
various utility matters.
(Utilities Consumer Advocate - Government
Services)
- Launched
the www.UCAhelps.gov.ab.ca
website to help Albertans make competent decisions on the use
and purchase of energy. Page requests climbed from an average
of 8,000 per month in the first quarter to an average of over
55,000 per month in the second quarter.
(Utilities Consumer Advocate - Government
Services)
- Pledged
$261 million to assist Alberta agriculture producers whose operations
have been impacted by rising input costs and falling commodity
prices.
(Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)
- Completed
the Alberta's Future Leaders summer sport, recreation, arts and
leadership programs in 11 aboriginal communities. Participants
took part in activities to build confidence, self-esteem and social
skills.
(Community Development)
- Released
the findings of an ethnographic study for the Aboriginal Mentoring
Pilot Project, a provincial strategy designed to increase
the number of Aboriginal mentors in the province and learn more
about how mentoring works in Aboriginal communities.
(Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development)
- Consulted
with more than 600 employers, child care operators and parents
to find out where more child care spaces are needed in Alberta
and how they could be created. The consultation, prompted by the
federal government's plan to work with businesses to create child
care spaces, indicated that qualified staff, affordable child
care and facility space must all be in place to create more child
care spaces, and that Alberta's Five-Point Child Care Investment
Plan responds to the needs of Albertans.
(Children's Services)
BUILDING
STRONGER AND SAFER COMMUNITIES
- Awarded
$3.6 million in Community Incentive Fund grants for projects aimed
at preventing, and raising awareness of, family violence and bullying.
The fund supported 95 community projects throughout the province.
These projects help communities take a collaborative, coordinated
response to end family violence and bullying.
(Children's Services)
- Launched
the Stand Up and Stop Bullying contest, as part of the
government's provincewide bullying prevention campaign. Youth
were invited to create two-minute videos expressing their personal
experiences and positive solutions to bullying prevention and
intervention.
(Children's Services; Education)
- Approved
construction of a new, larger remand facility to replace the existing
27-year-old Edmonton Remand Centre. The new building will house
up to 2,000 inmates and will cost an estimated $308 million. Construction
of the new facility could begin in 2007 and take five years to
build.
(Solicitor General and Public Security;
Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Launched
the Alberta Sheriff Traffic Enforcement program. Twenty-one Sheriffs
took to the road as part of a new program to target speeders and
aggressive drivers. Sheriffs work out of seven offices provincewide
and patrol roadways identified by law enforcement as problem areas.
This includes highways 8, 11, 21, 22, 43, 63 and others.
(Solicitor General and Public Security)
- Introduced
the Work Safe Passport for students. High school students can
complete health and safety training on topics such as emergency
response plans and hazard identification. Their training passports
are recognized by employers and make them more marketable when
looking for jobs.
(Human Resources and Employment)
- Implemented
the $2.5 million 2006 Southern Alberta Disaster Recovery Program
and the $1 million 2006 City of Edmonton Disaster Recovery Program
to assist residents, small businesses and municipal governments
in the City of Edmonton, the Town of Taber, the Town of Bow Island,
the Village of Longview, the Bragg Creek area of the Municipal
District of Rockyview, and the community of Redwood Meadows with
the cost of uninsurable overland flood damage caused by storms
in June 2006.
(Municipal Affairs)
- Provided
$1.3 million in interest-free loans to nine municipalities through
the Municipal Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (MEfirst!).
The MEfirst! Program supports initiatives that incorporate
energy efficiencies into municipal operations and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
(Municipal Affairs)
- Announced
the continuation of the Municipal Sponsorship Program for 2006
with a budget of $13.7 million and the introduction of significant
changes to improve program delivery. This program provides support
to municipalities for projects designed to improve the delivery
of municipal governance or services and to enhance intermunicipal
cooperation.
(Municipal Affairs)
- Released
the Municipal Financial Assistance Handbook, which contains basic
information on approximately 70 municipal grant and cost sharing
programs.
(Municipal Affairs)
- Announced
a provincewide gun amnesty for the month of October. This voluntary
program gave Albertans the opportunity to safely turn over unwanted
or illegal weapons without facing charges.
(Justice; Solicitor General and Public Security)
- Reduced
the number of residential tenancy cases in Edmonton's provincial
court, from twice a week to once per month, through the Residential
Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service pilot project, affording judges
and staff more time to deal with other and more serious matters.
(Government Services)
- Released
a report summarizing discussions at the Alberta Roundtables
on Violence In and Around Licensed Premises. The report provides
numerous suggestions and recommendations, including the fact that
further research and consultation is needed to identify best practices
and determine impacts of any change on the industry and the public.
(Gaming; Solicitor General and Public Security)
- Completed
the sixth Under 25 awareness campaign and audit to help keep alcohol
out of the hands of minors. In 2006, 1,502 premises were visited
and over 87 per cent of licensees complied with the Under 25 policy.
This initiative reinforces the need for liquor licensees to ask
for proof of age from anyone who appears under the age of 25 and
attempts to purchase liquor.
(Gaming)
- Issued
over 400 Community Facility Enhancement Program and Community
Initiatives Program grants through the Alberta Lottery Fund. These
grants support various projects throughout the province, including
funding for a facility upgrade to the Canadian National Institute
for the Blind - Edmonton Chapter ($25,444); a centre relocation
and update for the Children's Centre Non Profit Society of Fort
McMurray ($50,000) and a new program for the Alberta Water Polo
Association in Calgary ($38,500).
(Gaming)
- Continued
implementation of Alberta's enhanced emergency management system
under the leadership of the Alberta Environment Support and Emergency
Response Team. Situations related to drinking water safety and
oil spill management are among the first incidents to be addressed
by the new team.
(Environment)
- Established
an independent panel of scientists to evaluate standards for testing
water wells near coalbed methane development areas. Under the
standard, which came into effect May 1, 2006, companies wanting
to drill shallow coalbed methane wells must offer and complete
tests and collect baseline information on any active water well
within a minimum 600-metre radius of new or recompleted coalbed
methane wells.
(Environment)
- Supported
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in establishing
the Rural Alberta Development Fund Board of Directors. The new
board will develop a comprehensive business plan that will guide
the distribution of $100 million to support projects benefiting
rural communities across the province.
(Economic Development; Agriculture, Food
and Rural Development)
- Launched
a summer public awareness campaign to promote Alberta's employment
standards at a time when Alberta's workforce grew by 65,000. Albertans
were informed of their rights as workers and business owners were
made aware of the importance of following employment standards.
(Human Resources and Employment)
- Recognized
420 Alberta employers for their exceptional workplace safety records
and innovative practices with Best Safety Performer Awards and
Innovation in Health and Safety Awards.
(Human Resources and Employment)
- Started
construction to twin eight kilometres of Highway 2 in the Sexsmith
area, from its junction with Highway 672 north to its junction
with Highway 59. The total cost of this project is $28 million.
The newly divided road will open to traffic in October 2007. Between
7,500 and 10,500 vehicles use Highway 2 in this area each day,
depending on location.
(Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Announced
the twinning of Highway 21 near Sherwood Park. The initial 9.5
kilometres of grading will be completed from Highway 628 to south
of Highway 16 at a cost of more than $9 million. The twinning
of Highway 21 will significantly improve the traffic flow in the
area and relieve the growing congestion. The twinning project
will take a minimum of three years to complete.
(Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Consulted
with approximately 260 municipal representatives from various
communities on the development of a Land Use Framework for the
province.
(Municipal Affairs)
- Responded
to the needs of Albertans in Lebanon during renewed violence in
the Middle East. Alberta helped coordinate the return of more
than 700 Canadian citizens to Alberta, working with the Government
of Quebec, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the
Red Cross, the Cities of Edmonton and Calgary, and the Lebanese
communities of the two cities.
(International and Intergovernmental Relations;
Municipal Affairs)
- Opened
a $23-million interchange to give quicker and safer access to
the Foothills Medical Centre and new Alberta Children's Hospital
on 16th Avenue NW in Calgary. The new interchange provides safe,
effective access to these two important health care facilities.
(Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Announced
Fort Macleod as the preferred community to become home to the
proposed Alberta Police and Peace Officer Training Centre. The
community was chosen following an exhaustive selection process.
Twenty-nine other Alberta communities had also been in the running
to host the training centre. The next step in the process will
be to explore a public-private partnership (P3) funding option.
(Solicitor General and Public Security)
PROTECTING
ALBERTA'S NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE:
- Finalized
a new policy and manual for integrating grazing and timber activities
in forests. The manual outlines integration requirements, including
planning and communications, and dispute resolution processes
between grazing and timber operators.
(Sustainable Resource Development)
- Established
a Mountain Pine Beetle advisory committee that includes representatives
from federal, provincial, and municipal governments, members of
the public, First Nations, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
and environmental groups.
(Sustainable Resource Development)
- Released
the approved South Saskatchewan River Basin Water Management Plan
to the public. The plan provides a long-term vision for the water
supply for Southern Alberta, and seeks a balance between the needs
of the environment and the economy.
(Environment)
- Awarded
$180,000 over three years to support a joint initiative between
the Association Canadienne française de l'Alberta and Canadian
Parents for French. The initiative supports French cultural activities
intended to promote a better understanding of francophone communities
in Alberta, their rich history, their contributions to the province's
development, their traditions and their community services.
(Education)
- Acquired
more than 1,300 hectares of ranch land from the Harvie family
to be designated as the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. As part
of the designation, the Harvie family will establish the Harvie
Conservancy Fund to provide for enhancement of Glenbow Ranch Provincial
Park and Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
(Community Development)
- Completed
several major capital projects, including the refurbishment of
the Mt. Lorrette, Elbow Falls and Heart Creek day-use areas, campsites
at Saskatoon Island Provincial Park; water treatment system upgrades
at Rochon Sands, Gooseberry, Dillberry, Writing-on-Stone, Police
Lake and Thunder Lake provincial parks; a new sewer system at
Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park; a water reservoir at Cypress
Hills Provincial Park; and paving of the access road at Long Lake
Provincial Park.
(Community Development)
- Initiated
construction of the containment and groundwater treatment systems
at the Turner Valley Gas Plant to prevent hydrocarbons from entering
the Sheep River and groundwater.
(Community Development)
- Reviewed
approximately 200 Historical Resources Impact Assessments regarding
development activity to help ensure that the proposed actions
will not result in the alteration, damage or destruction of an
historic resource.
(Community Development)
- Opened
the Lois Hole Memorial Garden on the grounds of the Alberta Legislature.
Government announced its intention to create the garden in the
2005 Throne Speech as a tribute to Mrs. Hole, the late Lieutenant
Governor who passed away in January 2005 while still in office.
In addition to serving as Lieutenant Governor, Mrs. Hole was a
successful businesswoman, author, university chancellor and champion
of many community projects.
(Infrastructure and Transportation)
- Completed
the First Nation Consultation Guidelines on Land Management
and Resource Development, a collaborative work between First
Nations, industry, and government.
(Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development)
- Initiated
a public consultation process for revising and renewing the Fish
Conservation Strategy for 2006-2010 that will help Albertans secure
recreational, commercial and domestic (Aboriginal) uses and ensure
the sustainability of the province's fish resources.
(Sustainable Resource Development)
- Partnered
with CrimeStoppers and Global television to encourage
Albertans to report actions in forested areas that may have led
to a wildfire. These public service announcements also help educate
the public that these actions are offences under the Forest
and Prairie Protection Act.
(Sustainable Resource Development)
- Brought
Western Canadian Aboriginal artifacts home to Alberta. The items
purchased from the 9th Earl of Southesk's collection in a Sotheby's
auction earlier in the year will be on display at the Royal Alberta
Museum. The artifacts help fill in significant gaps in the museum's
Western Canadian History and Ethnology collections.
(Community Development)
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to Second Quarter Fiscal Update
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