Measuring Up - Results by Goal - Table of Contents

Promotion and development of Alberta as a global energy leader continued in 2005-06. Four Ministerial Missions to the United States, plus attendance at the World Petroleum Congress in South Africa, solidified the recognition of Alberta as a global energy leader. Delegations were also received from many countries, including China, France, India, Kuwait, Mexico and the Netherlands. Industry investment in new development and expanded production of Alberta’s oil sands was encouraged. Annual investment in oil sands reached $10 billion in 2005 and cumulative total projected investment between 2005 and 2010 is forecast at $45 billion.

New energy sources continue to be developed in Alberta. In 2005, Alberta generated approximately 1,361 mega-watts (MW) of electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, biomass and hydro. A multi-stakeholder advisory committee provided recommendations to guide future coalbed methane development in Alberta. Coalbed methane is expected to make a substantial contribution to future Alberta natural gas production. The Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI), working with seven energy companies, has also undertaken studies to examine technologies with breakthrough potential for upgrading bitumen to high value crudes, refined products and chemicals.

Research plays a significant role in current and future industry development. Activities commenced in various fields. For example, through the Innovative Energy Technologies Program, 13 projects were initiated related to the increased recovery of oil, natural gas and oil sands resources. These projects, which might not otherwise occur using existing technology, will result in $340 million in spending by industry on innovative research.

The Government of Alberta, led by AERI, collaborated with stakeholders across Canada to create a new Energy Innovation Network to coordinate energy research and innovation in areas of strategic importance to Canada. In addition, the strong involvement of Alberta led to completion of Canadian technology roadmaps for clean coal and for carbon capture and storage. AERI supported ten multi-year projects leading to the development and adoption of clean coal technology. AERI provided technical leadership in areas of enhanced oil and gas recovery, heavy oil upgrading, alternate and renewable energy, and water management.

Mineral mapping of northern Alberta for stakeholders’ use continued in 2005. Field maps of Mount Watt and approximately 143 townships in northwestern Alberta were released.

Three Regional Economic Development Alliances received ongoing support in a project designed to assist eastern Alberta businesses and communities to take better advantage of the business opportunities associated with the substantial military presence at Cold Lake, Wainwright and Suffield.

The Rural Community Economic Development Project under the Western Economic Partnership Agreement was initiated. The project, a joint effort between the provincial government and Western Economic Diversification, consists of three elements: regional economic development alliance funding, a community economic development project fund and provision of community economic development expertise.

The government provided leadership in knowledge-based industries by establishing the Alberta Life Sciences Institute, which will help guide research and technology commercialization in the growing industries of health, agriculture, forestry, water and the environment. Support was also provided to the new “wet lab” Biotechnology Business Development Centre, which will help young, growing biotechnology companies in Alberta unleash their innovative and commercial potential. Product development for local biotechnology and national health product companies is supported through the Alberta Research Council’s Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Services.

To continue to position the agricultural industry for the future, the Federal/Provincial Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) invested $2.84 million in the Agri-Food Discovery Place – a world class, state-of-the-art innovation facility that gives Alberta a new capacity for research and innovation into value-added processing of crops and livestock products, new techniques for enhancing food safety, and novel technology for extracting or developing new high value health and wellness products and a range of bioindustrial products from agricultural feedstocks. APF funding was also provided for the adoption of environmental farm plans, and for financial assistance for delivery of food safety systems to the post-farm processing industry.

To advance innovation in Alberta’s strategic priority areas of human and animal health, agriculture and the environment, two research entities were established: Genome Alberta and the Alberta Prion Research Institute. The government was also a key resource in the completion of a new state-of-the-art facility for animal disease surveillance and testing as well as animal disease research and development.

To enhance Alberta’s capacity to develop, attract and retain the high quality people needed to support innovation, resources were committed to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, the Alberta Heritage Science and Engineering Research Endowment Fund and iCORE. In 2005-06, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research invested $53 million in health research initiatives at Alberta’s research institutions supporting 335 senior health researchers and about 600 young researchers in training. In 2005-06, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Science and Engineering Research invested $15.3 million in raising the quality of science and engineering research through support to 281 research leaders and associates, 283 top students and 64 researchers working in Alberta companies. iCORE supported a total of 24 Industry and Research Chair awards, and over 250 of Canada’s best graduate students in information and communications technology.

To maintain Alberta’s strong and vibrant economy, the government initiated the Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce strategy, which focuses on a broad range of initiatives to inform, attract, develop and retain a diverse and productive workforce for Alberta.

The Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta policy was established to coordinate immigration strategies such as international recruitment, recognition of foreign credentials and retention of skilled immigrants. It will help address skill shortages and support the successful transition of immigrants into Alberta’s economic, social and cultural life. The Provincial Nominee Program continued, allowing employers unable to fill skilled positions with Canadian residents to present their business case to the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program and apply for approval to recruit a specified number of foreign candidates to fill these positions.

Employment Rates of Albertans Aged 25-34 by Highest Level of Education – Employment rates for Albertans aged 25-34 by level of education are an indicator that young adults in Alberta are prepared for the workplace. Individuals with more education typically have higher employment rates than those with lower levels of educational attainment, suggesting that higher levels of education are related to enhanced employability. Survey results indicate that the employment rate of Albertans aged 25-34 whose highest level of education was high school completion only was 82% in 2005 and has remained stable over time, close to the target of 83%. Alberta’s rate continues to be higher than the Canadian rate.

Employment rates among those with post-secondary certificates or diplomas, or with a university degree, have also been consistently high. Survey results indicate that in 2005, 87% of Albertans with a certificate or diploma aged 25-34 were employed, almost meeting the target of 88%. As well, 85% of Albertans aged 25-34 with a university degree were employed, compared to a target of 87%. Alberta’s employment rate for those with post-secondary education is consistently higher in Alberta than in the rest of Canada.

Literacy and Numeracy Grade 9 – Part of helping Albertans become independent is ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills to participate in a changing economy and workforce. An essential component of this is having the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to function in society. Students who achieve the acceptable standard on Provincial Achievement Tests have the necessary skills to become literate and numerate adults. The province keeps curriculum and instructional resources in core subjects up-to-date to support student achievement in these areas. In 2004-05, 78% of students in Grade 9 achieved the acceptable standard in the language arts achievement test, short of the target of 81% set for 2005-06. Also, in 2004-05, 68% of students in Grade 9 achieved the acceptable standard in the mathematics achievement test, close to the target of 69% set for 2005-06. This result has increased over time, with some variability from year-to-year.

To improve success for Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) students and contribute to the development of students’ reading, writing and math skills, in 2005-06 the province:

• Provided $108 million to reduce class sizes in 2005-06, further reducing average class sizes in the K-12 system. In just two years, the majority of school boards have reduced average class sizes at all levels and have met or bettered the five-year guidelines for average class sizes recommended by Alberta’s Commission on Learning (ACOL), except for Kindergarten to Grade 3. This level is the focus of class size funding in 2006-07. Provincial average class sizes and ACOL guidelines are available online by clicking here.
• Provided $70.2 million to school authorities for innovative projects under the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) and supported innovation by sharing an additional 35 promising practices on the AISI online clearinghouse.
• Introduced an evaluation methodology to assess school jurisdictions on achievement and improvement on a common set of performance measures.
• Launched a bullying prevention public awareness campaign, targeting children 3-11 years, which includes an interactive website for children (click here) and an information and resources website for parents and professionals (click here) including a comic book, posters, fact sheets, and radio advertisements. Also, bully prevention “Starter Kits,” containing fact sheets and posters were provided to nearly 6,200 community partners.
• Identified screening tools that identify three-year old children who are at risk and in-depth screening tools for speech and language delays.

The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, conducted in 2003, found that 58% of Canadian adults (aged 16-65) possessed literacy skills in the top three (of five) levels of the prose scale, indicating that they could meet most everyday reading requirements. This result is consistent with the findings of the International Adult Literacy Survey conducted in 1994. At the same time, the percentage of Canadians scoring at the lowest level decreased from 17% to 15%, a slight improvement.

Alberta, along with British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the Yukon, had proficiency scores that were significantly above the national average in all four domains (prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy and problem solving).

Educational Attainment of Albertans – High school completion provides young people with entry-level knowledge and skills for employment and further study. Education programs in Alberta have demanding learning expectations for students. Completion of these programs is an indication that students are prepared for their next step, whether the world of work or further study.

Increases in high completion rates in recent years may reflect growing awareness among Alberta youth of the relationship between their educational attainment and their employability in the labour market, where jobs increasingly require higher-level knowledge and skills. Survey results indicate that in 2005, 91% of Albertans aged 25-34 completed high school. Results have improved slightly over time and the target for 2005-06 of 90% or higher was met.

In response to ACOL, a Task Force explored ways of improving high school completion rates in the K-12 system (which are lower than the completion rates for the 25-34 year-old population) and included a province-wide consultation. A series of roundtables will be held with youth across the province in 2006-07 to increase the government’s understanding of why students leave school before completing. Following these, a high school completion symposium, which will include youth, parents and educators, will help to develop a provincial strategy to increase high school completion rates.

Completing post-secondary programs indicates readiness to start a career. People who attain higher levels of education demonstrate higher labour market participation, experience lower unemployment, and typically earn higher wages.

Government recognizes the importance of completing post-secondary programs. A substantial portion of provincial spending is directed to the post-secondary system each year. At the post-secondary level, government supports and implements initiatives directed at increasing accessibility by increasing the number of available seats at post-secondary institutions, by providing greater amounts of financial assistance to more students, by capping the maximum relative contribution of tuition to the total of post-secondary institution revenues, and by promoting distance learning.

The percentage of Albertans aged 25-64 with post-secondary completion has been improving since 2001 and is similar to that for Canada as a whole. Alberta’s result for 2005 (58%) was higher than the target of 57%. Alberta’s strong economy, which provides ample employment opportunities for young adults, may negatively affect completion rates. As such, it is noteworthy that both high school and post-secondary completion rates are improving gradually even when jobs are plentiful.

Lifelong Learning – Albertans are encouraged to keep learning and realizing their goals. The Access to the Future Act was proclaimed in October 2005. The Act focuses on key areas of accessibility, affordability and quality in the advanced education system. In 2005-06, 79% of the public surveyed were satisfied that most adults have access to the education or training they want, which is significantly higher than the target of 73%. The improved survey result may have been affected by the implementation of the Centennial Tuition Fee Rebate. This rebate effectively froze tuition for students at the 2004-05 levels.

Approximately 18,000 new apprentices registered in 2005. The previous five year average was 13,086. Increased access to training in the trades was provided by recognizing prior learning and work experience, and by providing more flexible delivery of apprenticeship technical training, including mobile delivery, distance delivery, delivery via the Alberta SuperNet, on-site delivery, weekly (one-day-a-week) and competency-based apprenticeship technical training.

The Canadian Council on Learning published the 2006 Composite Learning Index in May 2006 (see details by clicking here). This index is based on 15 indicators used to measure the state of lifelong learning in Canada. Alberta’s score of 80 was the highest of all provinces and significantly higher than the average for Canada as a whole (73).

Adult Participation in Learning – Adult participation in learning helps Albertans realize their potential. Adult Albertans were surveyed to determine if they have taken some education or training in the past 12 months. In 2005-06, 31% of Albertans aged 25+ reported that they had participated in credit and non-credit courses, above the target of 30%. Some of the initiatives undertaken to further improve this rate include the policy framework emerging from the A Learning Alberta review that supports improving access for all traditionally under-represented groups including Aboriginal, immigrant and rural Albertans. As part of the review, government established the Aboriginal Education Sub-committee to develop recommendations for policy actions to increase participation in learning opportunities by Aboriginal groups. As well, the government and the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board worked with employers, Aboriginal communities, and Aboriginal youth to encourage participation in trades-related careers.

Skill Development – To remain competitive in the global economy, Alberta businesses and industries require a highly skilled and productive workforce. The Campus Alberta Quality Council established criteria for reviewing graduate and undergraduate programs to ensure that graduates have high quality skills and abilities. In 2005-06, survey results indicate that 90% of Alberta employers were satisfied with the skills and quality of work of recent high school and post-secondary graduates from the Alberta learning system. These results are similar to results in previous years. The target of 90% was met. When post-secondary graduates are considered alone, satisfaction levels are slightly higher (94%).

Employer satisfaction with recent graduates indicates that Alberta’s learning system is meeting industry’s need for skilled workers, which supports the government’s overall policy of sustaining economic progress and competitiveness in the province. Alberta’s learning system responds to employer needs by providing up-to-date programs and expanding programs in high demand fields. Economic conditions in Alberta may influence employers’ perceptions.

The province reviews curriculum standards on a regular basis, and maintains rigorous high school completion requirements, to ensure that students acquire strong foundational skills and employability skills in the K-12 system. Learner Career Pathways is being implemented to improve opportunities for learners to explore career options. As well, the province is working to improve success for learners by enhancing transitions between educational programs and work.

The Alberta government established the Leading in Learning and Skilled Workforce Initiative to address the increased demand for skilled labour in light of sustained economic growth in Alberta. Strategies were adopted to encourage increased industry participation and investment in the apprenticeship and industry training system and to ensure the apprenticeship and industry training system is responsive to the needs of industry. The new Post-secondary Learning Act now allows colleges and technical institutions to participate in applied research, providing another avenue to increase skill levels of all graduates.

The provincial government also provided programs and services to assist persons with disabilities, youth, immigrants, Aboriginal people and older workers to develop skills to increase their labour force participation. For example, Youth Connections initiatives, career fairs and school presentations were provided to increase youth attachment to the workforce; the First Nations Training to Employment Program; and the Advantage 50 Plus program to provide older workers with a wide variety of employment preparation services.

Visitors accessed information on career choices and planning, post-secondary education and training, educational funding and planning, job search and employment, and labour market trends. The ALIS website also included new and enhanced features for immigrants and international students, as well as updated wage and salary information for 2005.

As part of the long-term planning process for the provincial highway network, a Provincial Freeway Corridor Management Plan was developed, and construction continued on the Alberta North-South Trade Corridor. Also, work with stakeholders and various jurisdictions continued for harmonized motor carrier regulations across Canada, such as ongoing efforts to monitor, enforce and manage truck weight; dimensions and safety limits on provincial highways; and negotiations with Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia to address inconsistencies in vehicle weights and dimensions policies.

An external advisory committee, with representatives from transportation-related organizations and stakeholders, including municipalities, was established to review and provide advice on a broad range of provincial transportation issues. Feedback was provided on: the government’s long-range infrastructure plan, which covered all modes of transportation; areas where funding should be targeted; and advice on legislative, policy and regulatory issues related to transportation. Through the Council of the Federation, Alberta supported the development of a national transportation strategy called Looking to the Future – A Plan for Investing in Canada’s Transportation System. This document identifies the strategic transportation networks in Canada and proposes a new federal policy to help support future infrastructure investments.

Alberta continued to participate in efforts to find a durable long-term solution to the softwood lumber trade dispute. In 2005, discussions took place between provinces aimed at developing a common approach to negotiating with the United States on this issue. The changes occurring in the global business environment have impacted the competitiveness of the Alberta forest products sector. A clear understanding of the drivers of change is an important step to addressing this competitiveness issue, so the government initiated a project in partnership with the Alberta Forest Products Association to explore potential new business models to maintain a vibrant and competitive forest sector.

Food safety is a vital factor for export trade, and the government continued to work with national partners to complete national technical reviews for On Farm Food Safety programs. In 2005, reviews were conducted for these programs in the product areas of bison, turkey, potato producers and packers, and grains, oilseed, pulses and special crops. The government also reviewed and revised food safety standards for provincial food processors and meat facilities.

As international markets reopened, following years of closure due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), several programs and events were designed and implemented with the beef industry in key international markets to regain market share and successfully position Alberta beef for the future.

The government invested nearly $14 million to increase Alberta’s meat processing capacity. This spending included funding to establish research capacity and initiatives for growing value-added meat processing, and support for capital equipment purchases to increase slaughter capacity for cattle, bison and elk. Funding was also allocated to help the processing industry deal with environmental issues such as noise, waste, emissions and other industrial needs associated with developing new beef processing capacity.

Alberta’s International Marketing Strategy (AIMS 2005) recognizes that Alberta’s prosperity depends on attracting new investment and diversifying export markets. AIMS 2005 identifies key industry sectors and matches them with international markets where value-added trade and investment opportunities exist for Alberta. Many incoming and outgoing missions were organized in countries such as China, Japan, Egypt, Spain, France, Kuwait, the United States, France, Mexico, Peru and Taiwan. Furthermore, the Premier participated in the World Petroleum Congress in South Africa, which provided an opportunity for Alberta’s energy sector to showcase its expertise to the world.

In 2005, the provincial government converted Alberta’s 5% hotel room tax to the new 4% tourism levy, which allowed Travel Alberta to substantially expand its marketing initiatives. As well, the government worked with more than 60 communities in southeastern Alberta to develop and market Canadian Badlands as the province’s must-see destination. Two new charter flights from Japan were launched bringing additional international tourists to the province. Internationally, work has been initiated to grant approved destination status to Canada by China, paving the way for increased visitation.

Total Goods Exports – Exports are a crucial factor for sustaining Alberta’s economic performance and its global competitiveness. Total goods exports grew by 17.2% to $66.8 billion in 2004 and by 18.5% to an estimated $79.2 billion in 2005. Overall high global economic growth resulted from higher commodity prices and higher volumes of Alberta’s commodities being exported to destinations around the world, including China and the United States. Resumption of beef exports and a strong United States housing market also positively contributed to an increase in the value of total goods exports.

Labour Productivity – Labour productivity is a measure of the efficiency and competitiveness of an economy. Economic theory suggests that, in the long run, higher productivity growth is necessary for improving the overall standard of living and, at the same time, maintaining or enhancing the competitiveness of an economy. In 2005, Alberta continued to meet its target of maintaining the highest level of real labour productivity among the provinces, and was well above the national average. As part of the Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce strategy, the government ensures Alberta is able to compete with an increasingly global and knowledge-based economy. Specific initiatives include the Lean Enterprise Assessment Program, which assists the manufacturing sector to enhance business processes and productivity.

Value-Added Exports – Exports are a vital part of Alberta’s economy, and expanding the province’s international value-added exports is important for sustaining Alberta’s economic growth in a globally competitive marketplace. In 2005, value-added exports were an estimated $26.4 billion, exceeding the target of $24.5 billion. This substantial growth not only resulted from advantageous global economic conditions such as high global commodity prices, but also from a number of provincial strategies focused on expanding value-added exports.

Tourism Industry Revenue – In 2005, tourism industry revenue in Alberta was an estimated $5.3 billion, exceeding the target of $5.0 billion. In 2004, tourism visitation increased after a decline in visitors in 2003 resulting from BSE, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), significant forest fires in British Columbia and the war in Iraq. Preliminary data from Statistics Canada for 2005 indicate 4% growth in visitation from other parts of Canada, a 2.5% decline in travel by United States residents and 6.4% growth in overseas visitation.

Increased number of visitors and tourism revenues are attributed to a number of factors: the Alberta centennial year, which saw increased travel by Albertans and other Canadians, recovery of confidence and a willingness by Japanese visitors to travel after the SARS outbreak was brought under control. In addition, in 2005, the Alberta government facilitated the development of emerging travel destinations in the province, such as the Canadian Badlands.

Well-Being of Children – To promote children reaching their potential, the Alberta government has programs and services that are designed to support Albertans in meeting their children’s needs. Children living in low-income families may qualify for various government programs and services such as the premium-free health, dental and optical services, income support for families, child support services, childcare subsidies and recreational opportunities.

The Market Basket Measure (MBM) determines the cost of a "market basket" of specified goods and services. In 2000, 85% of Alberta’s children were living at or above the MBM low-income thresholds. Alberta ranked second in the percentage of children living at or above the low-income thresholds compared to other provinces.

Social and Emotional Development – Children’s development of appropriate behaviour is linked to their emotional-social wellness. This measure is expressed in two parts: percentage of children exhibiting age-appropriate personal-social behaviours; and percentage of children not displaying attributes associated with emotional problems or anxiety (i.e., children free of significant behavioural impediments for healthy emotional development).

Measuring children’s social development provides an indication of their level of emotional-social wellness as a determinant of ability to reach their potential as individuals and citizens. Survey results indicate that in 2002-03, 85.9% of Alberta children, aged zero to three, exhibited age appropriate personal-social behaviours. The comparable national result was 84.3%. The target for this measure was to maintain or improve Alberta’s result relative to the national average. The target was met. Alberta’s result was 1.6 percentage points higher than the national average. The difference between Alberta and Canada for 2000-01 was 2.5 percentage points.

Measuring children’s emotional development also provides an indication of the level of their emotional-social wellness as a determinant of ability to reach their potential as individuals and citizens. In 2002-03, 83.8% of Alberta children, aged two to five, did not display attributes associated with emotional problems or anxiety. Although this result is less than the previous survey year, it continues to be higher than the national results. The target for this measure was to maintain or improve Alberta’s result relative to the national average. The target was met. For the 2002-03 survey year, Alberta’s result was 0.5 percentage points higher than the national result. The difference between Alberta and Canada for 1998-99 and 2000-01 was 1.6 and 2.6 percentage points respectively.

Parenting Skills – Parenting style is one of the primary factors affecting children’s outcomes, contributing more to the well-being of children than the socio-economic status of the family or the community in which the family lives.

To support parents in this important role, 14 new Parent Link Centres, which are community-based resources, have been established to assist parents with the information and skills to give children the best possible start in life.

This measure, therefore, provides an indication of children’s behavioural disposition toward achieving their full potential. In 2002-03, 94.3% of Alberta children, from birth to age five, were receiving positive interaction from their parents. This result continues to be higher than the national average. The target for this measure was to maintain or improve Alberta’s result relative to the national average. The target was met. For the 2002-03 survey year, Alberta’s result was one percentage point higher than the national result. The difference between Alberta and Canada for 1998-99 and 2000-01 was 1.3 and 3.5 percentage points respectively.

The International Symposium on Health was conducted on May 3-5, 2005 in Calgary. The event featured over 400 participants and 28 experts from around the world. Its goal was to identify innovations that drive excellent health systems and healthier populations.

Life Expectancy at Birth – Life expectancy at birth is a universally recognized indicator of the general health and well-being of a population. In 2004, the life expectancy at birth for males and females were 77.8 years and 82.6 years, almost meeting the target of 78 years and 83 years respectively.

Self-Reported Health Status – Self-reported health status is a good indicator of the health and well-being of Albertans. It is accepted across Canada as a means of reporting on population health. It measures the degree to which Albertans feel healthy compared to others their own age. Survey results indicate that in 2006, 88% of Albertans aged 18-64 years rated their health as “good”, “very good” or “excellent”. This is within two percentage points of the target of 90%.

Healthy U is a provincial initiative to promote the benefits of healthy eating and active living; and important lifestyle factors that contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The initiative includes the website www.healthyalberta.com, Healthy U Crew, Community Choosewell Challenge, Healthy U @ Work, the Premier’s Award for Healthy Workplaces, the Snacktivity Box, and recipe cards. The three-year Keep Your Body in Check program used public awareness and community education to heighten awareness and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, by helping at-risk Albertans to take positive actions in their health.

Participation in Healthy Behaviour – Living a healthy lifestyle greatly contributes to an improved quality and length of life. Results from the Canadian Community Health Survey indicate that in 2005, more than half of the respondents were exercising regularly (55%), below the target of 58%; almost half were at acceptable weight levels (46%), below the target of 50%; and the percentage of Albertans that consumed 5-10 daily servings of vegetables (39%), was just below the target of 40%.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) launched the Alberta Drug Strategy: Stronger Together – A Provincial Framework for Action on Alcohol and Other Drug Use. The Alberta Drug Strategy (ADS) is a comprehensive, collaborative and community-based approach to prevent and reduce problems related to alcohol and other drug use in Alberta. In support of the ADS, AADAC released the Coordinated Alberta Response to Methamphetamine. Efforts to reduce production, use and harm from this drug included support for community drug coalitions, education and public awareness, enforcement activities, legislation and treatment initiatives across the province.

AADAC developed and implemented a communications plan to inform Albertans about the introduction of the Smoke Free Places Act. This legislation sets minimum provincial standards for protecting minors from second-hand smoke in public places. The communications plan included print and radio ads, a dedicated website and call centre, and province-wide public information sessions for municipalities and businesses.

Reflecting the province’s commitment to Albertans and the recommendation of the MLA Task Force on Continuing Care, the Government of Alberta is implementing new and updated standards for health and accommodation services in continuing care immediately. The new standards lay the groundwork for a higher quality of life and health care for all Albertans receiving continuing care services in home, community and facility-based settings. The standards were developed after months of feedback to the task force from continuing care residents and their families, industry stakeholders, facility operators and regional health authorities.

Ease of Access to Physician and Hospital Services – Access to publicly funded health services is a fundamental principle of the health care system and for health prevention and maintenance services. In a 2006 health survey, 78% of Albertans reported “very easy” or “easy” access to physician services, seven percentage points below the target of 85%. 67% of Albertans reported “very easy” or “easy” access to hospital services, six percentage points below the target of 73%.

A $54 million provincial investment over two years will support projects designed to improve province-wide access to health services and enhance the quality of patient care. Of these funds, $12 million will be used to sustain the hip and knee replacement project, currently being piloted by three health regions. The bulk of the funds, $42 million, will support the development of innovative models of care for health services such as cardiac care, breast and prostate cancer care, as well as the provincial rollout of the learnings from the new hip and knee model of care.

Twenty-one telehealth initiatives across Alberta will benefit from over $2.6 million in funding over the next two years through the Telehealth Clinical Services Grant Fund. The fund supports new telehealth programs that allow Albertans, regardless of location, to have access to needed medical professionals and specialists.

Public Rating of Health System Overall – Albertans’ perception of the health system is reflected in survey ratings. Survey results include perception about the quality of care, service accessibility, the manner in which the service was provided, and the patient-provider relationship. In a 2006 health survey, 65% of Albertans rated our health system as “excellent” or “good”. This meets the target of 65%.

An additional $116 million provincial investment in the electronic health record system will support province-wide technology enhancements and connect more health professionals to the patient information they need to make the best care decisions. More than 300 health professionals will pilot an enhanced Alberta Netcare Electronic Health Record, which will provide users with a more intuitive and easy-to-access system. The upgrades will also give physicians across the province access to text reports of diagnostic imaging results for the first time. Diagnostic images will be accessible early in 2007, but for now, health professionals will be able to access the detailed analysis of results.

The provincial government and Canada Health Infoway will contribute a total of $143 million and $46 million respectively to invest in sophisticated new diagnostic imaging systems that will allow hospitals and clinics throughout Alberta to electronically share patient X-rays and CT and MRI scans through Alberta Netcare.

This year also marks a milestone for the availability of lab test results on Alberta Netcare. More than 55% of lab test results conducted in the province are now available electronically with 85% expected to be available this summer. Lab test results will be available electronically to health care professionals. Recent studies in Canada found that for every 1,000 laboratory and radiology tests performed, up to 150 are unnecessary and for every 1,000 patient visits with a specialist, specialists received no patient information for 680 of those visits. Alberta Netcare helps bridge the information gaps that compromise the quality and productivity of Alberta’s health care system.

Alberta’s first Primary Care Network launched on May 1, 2005. Primary Care Networks provide a wide range of value-added services. Fourteen Primary Care Networks now operate in seven health regions involving 550 family physicians providing services to more than 700,000 patients. In a Primary Care Network, family physicians work with health regions, specialists and other providers to offer comprehensive access to primary care services.

Alberta will invest $3 million for up to 14 additional residency seats for foreign-trained doctors now living in the province. Additional residency seats for foreign-trained doctors will increase the number of practicing physicians in Alberta. The additional seats mean a potential 42 foreign-trained doctors will be licensed in the province annually. Because they have already had some medical training, foreign-trained doctors can often be trained more quickly and at less cost. This program is one of a number of strategies the province has in place to increase the number of physicians practicing in Alberta. This includes increasing the number of residency seats for medical students from 824 to 955, or 16%, since 2003, and a clinical program helping foreign-trained graduates to be physician assistants working under a physician.

Alberta actively contributed to the National Pharmaceutical Strategy as part of an integrated, comprehensive and collaborative approach to pharmaceuticals in Canada, including working with federal, provincial and territorial governments to develop options for national catastrophic pharmaceutical coverage.

The Government of Alberta supported the self-reliance and independence of Albertans using a variety of approaches. Specifically, this was aided by: providing training to farm families through the Canadian Agricultural Skills Services program on behalf of the federal government; monitoring existing housing operations and facilitating access to provincially-owned land for building new affordable housing; and working with the City of Edmonton and the University of Alberta on the Families First Edmonton research project in order to better coordinate support programs and lead to better outcomes for low-income families.

The government aided youth with addictions through the successful Bridges pilot project, which has now become a permanent program for male offenders. Of the 29 youth that participated in Bridges, 18 completed the program and six are still in the process of completing the program. .

The government continued to renew the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. This included several financial support improvements, such as: an increase in the monthly living allowance; the introduction of personal income support benefits to meet the extra needs of clients, such as costs associated with emergency transportation, special diets, or caring for a guide animal; and an increase in the employment income exemptions, allowing clients to earn more income without affecting their AISH living allowance. Other program improvements that were implemented include: an expansion of the program that assists vulnerable clients in administering their AISH benefits and the introduction of the renewed Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act, which will allow the AISH program to be more flexible and responsive to client needs.

Through the Alberta Brain Injury Initiative, the government supported more than 3,000 people with acquired brain injuries and more than 200 other adults with disabilities that often fall outside existing department and program mandates. Three pilot projects aimed at providing continued support for adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder were also funded by the government through the Program Development for Persons with Disabilities Initiative.

Educational Attainment of Aboriginal Albertans Aged 25-34 – The high school completion rate of Aboriginals living off-reserve (aged 25-34) has remained fairly stable over the last three years, with 2005 survey results indicating a completion rate of 76%. Post-secondary completion of off-reserve Aboriginals (aged 25-34) declined slightly for a second year in a row, with survey results indicating a 39% completion rate. In order to provide better data on the educational outcomes of Aboriginal students, the government has undertaken a data collection initiative to identify Aboriginal students in Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 and post-secondary education systems.

The Alberta government encouraged Aboriginal education attainment by developing and implementing training programs for Aboriginal home school liaison workers. In partnership with the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board, employers, and Aboriginal communities, the province also encouraged Aboriginal youth to participate in trades-related careers.

Aboriginal Affairs – In 2005, the Alberta government approval rating on Aboriginal relations was six percentage points higher than the average rating of the four nearest provinces. This exceeded the performance target, which was to be higher than the average of the four nearest provinces. The decline from last year (from nine to six percentage points) was mainly a result of improved ratings in the other provinces, as the rating for Alberta has remained constant over the last few years (52% in 2003, 51% in 2004, and 51% in 2005).

The province continues to work at improving the well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal people by further building relationships between the provincial government, Aboriginal governments and communities, industry, and other partners. This is reflected by Alberta’s Aboriginal Policy Framework, and was supported by the Aboriginal Policy Initiative.

The government of Alberta, the federal government, and First Nations worked together to remove jurisdictional and regulatory barriers to major developments on First Nations reserves. This included assistance with the passage of federal legislation necessary to implement approaches to remove barriers. An Alberta team was also established to work with industry, the federal government, and the Fort Mackay First Nation to design a project-specific implementation of the policy in the oil sands.

The government also worked on resource management strategies, and in May 2005, Cabinet approved the First Nations Consultation Policy on Land Management and Resource Development, which addresses the manner in which Alberta will consult with First Nations and defines the roles and responsibilities of all parties. This was supported by the implementation of initiatives that seek to build the capacity of First Nation communities to effectively engage in consultation processes.

The Government of Alberta continues to work on improving both government efficiencies and Albertans’ access to government services. The government has undertaken shared corporate administration systems, used strategic sourcing for office supplies and computer hardware, and expanded e-business services, such as electronic payment processing and electronic form management to automate traditional government business practices. Service Alberta, a source where Albertans can access government information and services, was reviewed to develop new business and service delivery models that are focused on issues such as governance, accountability, sustainability and functionality.

To further ensure that Albertans’ information and privacy is protected, amendments were made to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that included provisions to protect personal information held by third party service providers from the application of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Alberta’s non-renewable resource royalty system is designed to capture a fair share of resource revenue for Albertans from energy and mineral development, while leaving industry with sufficient return to cover costs, receive a fair profit and encourage further investment in the development of non-renewable resources. Albertans also benefit directly in other ways (e.g., jobs) from increased investment. Preliminary industry data for 2005 indicate $21 billion was invested in conventional oil and natural gas development and $10 billion in oil sands development.

Provincial Credit Rating – Alberta’s credit rating is a broad measure of the province’s financial stability. Alberta has maintained a blended credit rating for domestic debt of Triple A from all three major credit rating agencies – Standard and Poor’s Rating Service, Moody’s Investor Service Limited and Dominion Bond Rating Service, thereby achieving the target for this measure. Compared to British Columbia and Ontario, Alberta had the highest possible rating from all three major credit rating agencies. The high credit rating reflects the rating agencies’ positive assessment of the province’s fiscal, economic and political environment. The rating agencies cite Alberta’s strong financial position, the government’s commitment to debt repayment, and its record of balancing budgets and meeting forecasts as the key reasons for the top rating.

Accumulated Debt – The level of accumulated debt is an indicator of the financial strength and long-term stability of the province. Debt undertaken for operating spending burdens future generations with debt servicing costs and debt repayment obligations. Alberta’s prudent fiscal management is reflected in the government’s accelerated repayment of the province’s accumulated debt. The province has set aside funds in the Debt Retirement Account to repay the remaining accumulated debt as it matures. The funds, which are locked in by legislation, eliminate the province's accumulated debt 20 years ahead of schedule.

Tax Load – The government believes that the tax system must be fair, globally competitive and promote self-reliance. Alberta has a low single rate income tax. It is the only province without a capital tax or retail sales tax, and has the lowest tax on gasoline among the provinces. In 2005-06, Alberta had the lowest tax load (total provincial and municipal) among the provinces at 78.7% of the provincial average, the lowest in the country.

Government Financial Accountability – The provincial government reports quarterly to Albertans on progress made in achieving the current year’s fiscal plan. The Government Accountability Act sets out the reporting requirements that provide government accountability. In 2006, Albertans were surveyed and asked the following question: “How satisfied are you with the information you receive from the Alberta government on the government’s financial performance?” The 2005-06 survey results show that 59% of Albertans were satisfied with the information they received from the province on the government’s financial performance. This is up from 55% in 2004-05 and below the target of 70%.

As the 2005 chair of both the Premiers’ Council of the Federation and the Western Premiers’ Conference, Alberta was in a strong position to influence the intergovernmental agenda and to ensure that the main priorities for the Council identified by Premiers are consistent with Alberta’s intergovernmental priorities. A meeting of First Ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders was held in November 2005 to discuss Aboriginal issues. The meeting focused on closing the socio-economic and living standards gap between Aboriginal and other Canadians over the next ten years.

Also, in May 2005 the Council of the Federation established an expert panel to examine the fiscal imbalance. Alberta Ministers and officials met with the expert panel to provide Alberta’s position on the fiscal imbalance and reforming federal/provincial relations.

Alberta also engaged the federal government in discussions on changes to the immigration selection process, streamlining the application approval process for permanent applicants and temporary foreign workers to address Alberta’s labour shortages.

In December 2005, Alberta attended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, as part of the Canadian delegation and promoted Alberta priority issues (agriculture, trade remedy rules and market access for services and industrial products) with federal ministers, negotiators and delegations from other WTO members. Alberta successfully concluded more than two years of negotiations with British Columbia on a comprehensive bilateral trade, investment and labour mobility agreement.

Alberta played an active role within Canada and with United States partners in responding to the United States government’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would impose additional documentation requirements on both Canadians and Americans seeking to cross the border into the United States.

Through its office in Washington, D.C., Alberta substantively raised the province’s profile as a secure and increasingly important supplier of energy to the United States, as well as highlight the importance of addressing regulatory impediments to the efficient trade in energy products.

Alberta provided recommendations on the activities of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Commission, and participated with the federal government in discussions on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, which deals with practical steps to improve the economic relationship in North America to complement and enhance what has been achieved in the NAFTA.

Provincial/municipal relationships have recently received attention through a reinvigorated Minister’s Council on Municipal Sustainability. Four working committees were established to explore roles and responsibilities, new municipal revenue sources, municipal growth and inter-municipal relationships, and how any proposed changes would affect servicing differences between large and small, urban and rural municipalities.

The government encouraged and facilitated partnerships between municipalities in joint planning, innovation and shared delivery of services and programs through, for example, the Regional Partnerships Initiative. This initiative provided $2.4 million in grants to 14 partnerships, comprised of 110 partner municipalities, to explore shared-services and related partnership opportunities in their respective regions.

Significant new provincial funding was provided to help municipal infrastructure debt. The Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program was announced as part of Budget 2005 and will provide $3 billion in provincial funding over five years for local infrastructure projects in Alberta. The government negotiated the Canada-Alberta Agreement on the New Deal for Cities and Communities in 2005, and $57.2 million was distributed in 2005-06.

Contributions to the financial sustainability of local governments continued. The Municipal Sponsorship Program provided $14.5 million to municipalities to help fund projects promoting innovation, cooperation and excellence in local government. The government also provided $24.8 million to 302 municipalities through the Unconditional Municipal Grant Program, which included a targeted assistance payment of $10 million to 123 municipalities, and $30.9 million to 170 municipalities as grants in place of taxes.

The government completed detailed assessment audits for 67 municipalities during the fiscal year. This concluded the first five-year cycle of the detailed audit program, which involved a comprehensive review of each municipality’s assessment practices and procedures.

The government provides an independent system that administers appeals received by the Municipal Government Board (MGB), on matters as established by the Municipal Government Act and to issue timely and impartial decisions of high quality. In 2005-06, over 80% of the parties that were participants in the appeal process and directly affected by MGB decisions stated that they were satisfied with the fairness and efficiencies achieved in the hearing processes and the quality and timely delivery of MGB decisions.

To encourage the federal government to reform criminal law, Alberta took the lead on the issue of conditional sentences of imprisonment making our position very clear to the federal government that in order to maintain public confidence in the justice system those convicted of serious offences must face real jail time. Alberta also endorsed Parliament’s action to pass Bill C-2 (Child Protection), which came into force in 2005. Significant elements of the Bill relate to mandatory minimum jail sentences for almost all child sexual exploitation offences, including all child pornography offences.

Several initiatives were implemented by the province to improve access to the justice system. These included: the expansion of videoconferencing to additional court sites to enhance courtroom safety and reduce the movement of the accused between remand facilities and courts; increased use of effective dispute resolution forums within Family Justice Services; and pilot projects in Edmonton and Calgary that are aimed at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of docket courts and docket appearances.

Efforts were also made to help ensure high quality policing and police services. This included amendments to the Police Act to increase police accountability; and the implementation of provincial policing standards along with a system to track police compliance. Programs and services for victims of crimes also continued to be improved upon, as 13 of the 37 government-accepted recommendations (from the Victims of Crime Report) have been implemented with progress being made on an additional six.

The Government of Alberta continued to work toward improving road safety. In October 2005, the Traffic Safety Amendment Act was enacted. The new Act includes a law requiring drivers to slow down when passing emergency vehicles and tow trucks with their lights flashing. The new law, which doubles existing fines when drivers are speeding in these zones, will make it safer for police officers, firefighters, ambulance personnel, tow truck operators and construction workers, as well as motorists. The Act also included changes that deal with driving without insurance, seizure of vehicles involved in racing, use of evidence from a vehicle’s “black box” in legal proceedings, and reporting unsafe drivers. In support of the new Alberta Traffic Safety Plan, a six-month pilot project was started that involves ten provincial Sheriffs working with RCMP officers to perform traffic safety enforcement on high-risk roadways.

Other efforts made by the government to improve safety and emergency response include: a series of workshops conducted throughout the province by the Alberta Fire Services Advisory Committee to help develop a unifying framework for the fire service in Alberta; the establishment of a Ministerial Steering Committee to address the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Commission Report; and the public provision of safety awareness information regarding school bus safety, playground zones, child safety seats, seatbelts, bicycle helmets, and impaired driving. Cross-government Pandemic Influenza planning has begun, including planning for continuity of provincial and municipal essential services and Regional Health Authorities’ medical treatment efforts. In response to the extensive flooding experienced throughout Alberta in 2005, the Government of Alberta committed $164 million in disaster recovery funding to municipalities, businesses, and homeowners for non-insurable damages.

Perceived Seriousness of Crime in the Neighbourhood – In 2005-06, the majority of Albertans (60%) felt that crime was not a serious problem in their neighbourhood (those who felt crime was a problem included victims of crime and those with lower income and less education). In addition, 72% of Albertans felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood at night and 93% felt safe in their own home.

Violent and Property Crime Rates – Alberta’s violent crime and property crime rates (2004) continued to meet the target, as they were the lowest of the four western provinces. In comparison to the previous year’s results, violent and property crime rates improved as both rates decreased. Violent crime decreased to 1,087 per 100,000 population (from 1,101), and property crime decreased to 5,064 per 100,000 population (from 5,130). Although Alberta experienced a slight decrease in violent crime, there were 86 homicides in Alberta in 2004, an increase of 23 from the year before.

In order to address serious, violent, and organized crime, as well as the problems associated with the highly addictive drug crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth), the province implemented and supported several strategies. The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was established to enhance the safety and security of Albertans. Under one umbrella, ALERT brings together the Integrated Response to Organized Crime unit, which targets key players in crime networks throughout the province; and the Integrated Child Exploitation unit, which was formed to bring together officers and computer technology analysts from several Alberta police services in order to catch those who use the Internet to prey on children. To help address the problems associated with crystal meth, the government initiated a Crystal Meth Task Force and passed Bill 204 in order to limit the availability of medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are components used to produce the drug. Other actions taken by the province to reduce crime and build safer communities included the restoration of the Crime Prevention grants program and the establishment of the Alberta Community Restorative Justice grants program.

The government has undertaken several initiatives to help prevent fraud and ensure the protection and security of personal information. These initiatives include: the distribution of educational materials aimed at increasing public awareness of fraud and identity theft; public seminars on identity theft; working with financial institutions, police, and prosecution services in other provinces to stem the tide of credit/debit card skimming gangs; working with Justice Canada to create new offences under the Criminal Code to address identity theft; the March 2006 fraud awareness campaign; and the establishment of a pilot project that will help to ensure that identity and driving-ability documents are legitimate.

Work Stoppages – An indicator of labour stability in Alberta is the percentage of collective bargaining agreements successfully negotiated and ratified by the parties involved. In 2005-06, the percentage of expired collective agreements that were settled without a legal work stoppage was 98%, which met the 98% target. The resolution of collective bargaining disputes and differences in the interpretation of collective agreements was aided by the 113 mediators and 281 arbitrators appointed by the government.

Workplace Lost-Time Claim Rate – The provincial lost-time claim rate decreased slightly from 2.5 in 2004 to 2.4 in 2005, but still did not meet the target of 2.0. This is down considerably from 2.9 in 2002, and is the lowest rate recorded since 1991. A lost-time claim rate of 2.4 represents about 14,000 fewer lost-time injuries each year and over $220 million dollars in direct annual savings to the Workers’ Compensation Board as compared to the 2000 rate of 3.4. The government continues to work towards lowering the lost-time claim rate through the Work Safe Alberta initiative.

Effectiveness of Human Rights Protection – According to 2005-06 survey results, the percentage of adult Albertans who felt human rights were “very well” or “fairly well” protected in Alberta decreased slightly from 87.6% to 86.7%. These results were still above the target of 86%.

The Alberta government remained committed to building respectful and inclusive communities by fostering equality, supporting Albertans in reducing discrimination, and helping Albertans resolve human rights complaints. To help increase awareness of human rights and prevent discrimination in the workplace, approximately 90 workshops were held with employees and employers across Alberta. Educational resources were also developed in order to provide clarity in areas such as the rights and responsibilities of Albertans and the human rights complaint process. In addition, stakeholder consultations were held in seven communities across Alberta to help guide future directions for human rights and diversity initiatives.

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Implementation of Alberta’s water strategy, Water For Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability, continued with the intent to achieve safe, secure drinking water for Albertans, healthy aquatic ecosystems and reliable water supplies for a sustainable economy. Work in 2005-06 included a new Oilfield Injection Policy and Guideline for implementation in 2006 to support the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Water Use Practice and Policy.

In response to the train derailment at Lake Wabamun and its impact on water quality, the Environmental Protection Commission was established to review and make recommendations on Alberta’s ability to respond to environmental incidents.

The Commission released its final report in December 2005, listing ten recommendations to strengthen Alberta’s disaster response system. The Commission’s recommendations will help Alberta achieve a world-class system for managing risks and responding to emergencies including environmental disasters.

During the year, Alberta supported Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils in the Bow, North Saskatchewan, Oldman, and Red Deer river basins. Along with Watershed Stewardship Groups, these will make recommendations to government, stakeholders, and the public on improving water management throughout Alberta’s watersheds.

As part of Albertans & Climate Change: Taking Action, the government implemented Canada’s first greenhouse gas reporting program for large emitters, working closely with other provinces and the federal government to ensure this program complements a national greenhouse gas-reporting program. Carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies, which are critical to Alberta’s climate change strategy, were also broadly endorsed by the United Nations Conference of the Parties as important compliance options for international commitments.

In 2005-06, the government established the Sustainable Resource and Environmental Management initiative to improve integration of sustainable resource development and environmental policies, develop new, or streamline existing, regulatory and non-regulatory processes, and provide reliable and accessible natural resource and environmental information to stakeholders and the public. Under this initiative, a draft oil sands strategy was released, and an MLA-led Stakeholder Consultation Advisory Group provided recommendations to government on a public consultation process for future oil sands development. Furthermore, in 2005, a stakeholder consultation was held to identify issues, solutions and opportunities for integrating and streamlining upstream oil and gas regulation.

In 2005, an initiative was established to develop a provincial Land Use Framework. This framework will provide an over-arching vision and outcomes for land use on public and private land in the province. Development of the framework will engage Albertans in a discussion of current and future land use needs, issues, and opportunities.

To assist government in managing its natural resources in a sustainable manner, a biodiversity monitoring system was designed and tested. It was advanced on several fronts including joint funding of a prototype program in central Alberta and leading discussions on the development and implementation of an operational, province-wide program intended for implementation in 2007. The program will provide an objective, scientifically sound source of information that the government and stakeholders can use to assess status and trends in the province’s biological diversity.

Visitor Satisfaction with Provincial Historic Sites, Museums and Interpretive Centres – In 2005-06, 98.5% of visitors reported overall satisfaction with their visit to a provincial historic site, museum or interpretive centre. These results remained high, and essentially met the target of 99%. Considerable opportunities for Albertans and visitors to experience the province’s rich cultural diversity and heritage were generated through the government’s support for cultural events and through the operation of 18 provincial historic sites, museums and interpretive centres. This included centennial celebrations, which were held at all facilities across the province. In addition to the $116.7 million previously awarded through the Centennial Legacies Program, $59 million was awarded to support the development of the Calgary Zoo’s Project Discovery, the expansion of the Art Gallery of Alberta, and the construction of a historical square and grand entrance at Calgary Heritage Park. The government also hosted the Royal Visit and a ceremony to commemorate the naming of the Royal Alberta Museum.

To increase access to Alberta’s historical and cultural resources, the province has been working on providing Internet access to its collections. For example, the Royal Alberta Museum’s Creature Collection has had over 58,000 views and the Royal Tyrrell Museum collections database was upgraded to allow for public searches.

The government continued to develop the Municipal Heritage Partnership Program, providing financial support to six municipalities to develop municipal heritage resource management programs. This cooperation with municipalities has contributed to a 41% increase in the number of municipally protected historic places since January 2004 (total of 99 at end of 2005-06).

Visitor Satisfaction with Provincial Parks and Recreation Areas – The 2005-06 Camper Satisfaction Survey results indicated that the targeted 91% satisfaction level was met, as 91.1% of visitors were satisfied with the overall services and facilities at Alberta’s provincial parks and recreation areas. This satisfaction is apparent, as Alberta’s provincial parks and recreation areas continue to attract over 8 million visits a year. To increase Albertans’ appreciation for parks and protected areas, the province developed family-oriented interpretive programs and curriculum based on enviromental education programs. Major revisions and improvements to the Parks and Protected Areas Gateway website were completed to improve customer service and to make publications available to the public online.

Participation in Sport and Recreation – The percentage of adult Albertans who participated in sport and recreational activities decreased by one percentage point to 82.4% in 2005-06, remaining slightly below the targeted participation rate of 84%.

In 2005-06, the government promoted active lifestyles and supported sport and recreational opportunities by directing significant funding to these areas. Additional funding was also provided to provincial sport and recreation associations for programs involving under-represented groups (e.g., girls, women, Aboriginal people and persons with disabilities).

The government also encouraged Aboriginal youth to be active through the Alberta’s Future Leaders Program, which provided sport and recreation programs to more than 12,700 participants. To further promote active living, the government partnered with community organizations to coordinate an event in which 79,280 Albertans simultaneously walked one kilometre to successfully set a new Guinness Book world record for walking.

Participation in Arts and Cultural Activities – The percentage of adult Albertans who attended or participated in arts and cultural activities increased from 87.2% in 2004-05 to 88.8% in 2005-06, essentially meeting the target of 89%. Alberta’s centennial celebrations, as well as other events supporting Alberta’s artists (e.g., Alberta Scene and Alberta Tracks: A Centennial Music Celebration), likely contributed to the increased participation.

In support of Alberta’s arts and cultural activities, the provincial government awarded approximately $32 million in grants to the development of literary, performing and visual arts, and film. In 2005-06, the unique talents and skills of more than 600 Alberta actors, musicians, writers, dancers and chefs were shared with national and international audiences during the Alberta Scene festival in Ottawa.

In collaboration with health authorities, other ministries and housing providers, a draft Seniors Supportive Living Framework was developed and communicated to the public.

The Alberta Seniors Benefit funded people in Designated Assisted Living (DAL) at the same level as if they were in Long-term Care. Anyone who was assessed and placed in an identified facility by the health authority will be eligible for this enhanced funding retroactive to January 2006. Increased benefits are intended to help off-set higher accommodation costs that DAL residents incur from increased personal care services.

Long-term care residents also received additional financial support through the Alberta Seniors Benefit program to assist with the cost of accommodation fees. As of January 2006, approximately 8,900 seniors in long-term care and designated assisted living facilities received an average of $354 per month to assist with their accommodation fees.

The Government of Alberta recognizes the importance of good dental and optical health as a key component of healthy aging. The new dental and optical coverage, which took effect April 1, 2005, is an investment in the good health of Alberta’s seniors. The coverage is a progressive, co-pay benefit, which means that benefits are based on income with maximum assistance targeted to lower-income seniors.Seniors who had previously applied for the Alberta Seniors Benefit program were automatically enrolled in this program and did not need to apply. Approximately 14,000 seniors per month are receiving benefits from these programs.

The Education Property Tax Assistance for Seniors program was introduced in January 2005 in recognition of concerns raised by senior homeowners about year-to-year increases in the education portion of their property taxes. The government provides an annual rebate to assist senior homeowners facing an increase in the education tax portion of their property taxes. Approximately 53,000 senior households received rebates for the 2005 property tax year.

Seniors’ Average Total Income – Seniors’ Average Total Income in Alberta decreased slightly from 2002 to 2003. The source of income remained the same with 76.2% from non-government sources and 23.8% from government transfers in both years. Government transfers include Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, GST rebates and Alberta Seniors Benefit. Non-Government Funded Sources of Income include Canada/Quebec Pension Plan, private pension, investment, RRSP, and employment.

Self-Reported Health Status – Self-reported health status is a good indicator of the health and well-being of Albertans. It is accepted across Canada as a means of reporting on population health. It measures the degree to which Albertans feel healthy compared to others their own age. Survey results indicate that 86% of Albertans aged 65 years and over rated their health as “good,” “very good” or “excellent.” This is above the target of 80%.

This goal includes Capital Plan spending which is the total value of capital being acquired or directly supported by the provincial government. It includes grants to local authorities for capital purposes, which are also included in Goals 1 to 13, spending on provincial government-owned capital, and the value of projects being alternatively financed. It does not include capital amortization and financing costs.

In 2005-06, the government provided more than $53 million in centennial legacy funding to Alberta communities for improvements to recreational and cultural facilities. The Alberta government also invested over $31 million to repair and replace deteriorating park infrastructure and to ensure a safe and secure drinking water supply. In addition, $8.1 million was provided to complete the construction of visitor centres in Writing-on-Stone, Dinosaur and Cypress Hills Provincial Parks as well as the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park. The Northern and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditoria were also renovated to improve accessibility, patron sightlines and acoustics. The Auditoria renewal projects were achieved under extraordinary time constraints and opened on time for the centennial celebrations on September 1, 2005.

The province implemented the Rural Affordable Supportive Living capital program to provide supportive housing options in rural areas. A total of 41 projects were approved for capital funding assistance in 2005-06 through this program.

There were 18 redevelopment projects focused on facility conversions (e.g., from acute to long-term care), consolidating services, integrating mental health clinics and introducing new service delivery models.

Through affordable housing initiatives delivered by the province, 1,165 new units were supported to address Alberta’s affordable housing shortage in high-growth, high-need communities.

The government invested $15 million to provide much needed maintenance and upgrades to some of the province’s oldest seniors’ lodges. Upgrades will include new roofs, new windows and boiler replacements.

An agreement was signed to transfer federal gas tax funding to municipalities, which also signals a new relationship between all levels of government based on trust, cooperation and respect. The New Deal for Cities and Communities grant provides long-term stable funding to municipalities to support environmentally sustainable infrastructure to ensure cleaner air and water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The new Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program was launched providing $3 billion over five years to cities and municipalities for capital projects. The funds are provided for roads and repaving, bridge repairs, transit vehicles and facilities, sewer upgrades, water treatment facility expansions and recreational facilities. These grants provided $600 million in 2005-06 to some 360 municipalities and also provided approximately $17 million for the Resource Road Program.

There were 129 projects with a contribution of $10.2 million under the Infrastructure Canada-Alberta Program. Three separate announcements were made in 2005 for projects to improve municipal water/wastewater, storm water systems, and firefighting systems or to improve energy efficiency in municipal buildings. This program is a working partnership between all three levels of government to direct funds toward municipal infrastructure needs in urban and rural communities across the province.

In Edmonton, a six kilometre section of the southwest portion of Anthony Henday Drive was opened between Lessard Road and Terwillegar Drive a year ahead of schedule. The section includes new twin bridges over the North Saskatchewan River and an illuminated pedestrian walkway underneath the bridge deck. The bridges have two lanes and are designed to accommodate four lanes in the future. The road features a concrete surface, which requires less maintenance and will last twice as long before resurfacing is needed compared to traditional asphalt. The new section is part of the Edmonton ring road system and represents an investment of $100 million.

Construction of the Alberta SuperNet was completed in September 2005 to 429 rural and urban communities across the province. The network is now operational, enabling high speed internet access and network services through Internet Service Providers. Many of the province’s 4,200 learning and health facilities and government offices are now using the Alberta SuperNet, and the number of active Internet Service Providers across the province continues to expand as communities and organizations explore the possibilities the network has to offer.

Physical Condition of Health Facilities – The government’s long-term goal is to preserve the physical condition of government-owned and supported infrastructure. The government has made a significant commitment to capital investment in health facilities to preserve and expand our infrastructure to improve access to services. For example, the provincial Capital Plan will provide for nearly 2,000 additional acute care beds at various hospitals throughout the province over the next several years. An unprecedented $1.4 billion provincial investment in health infrastructure announced in October 2005 will provide targeted acute care treatment capacity in areas such as surgical, diagnostic, ambulatory and emergency care.

In 2004-05, 96% of health facilities were reported in either “good” or “fair” physical condition, exceeding the target of 95%. Health facilities continue to have high ratings in physical condition. 71% of health facilities were rated in “good” condition. The percentage in “fair” condition increased from 11% in 2003-04 to 25% in 2004-05, due to a number of facilities previously rated “good” shifting into the “fair” category.

The new Edmonton Clinic (Health Sciences Ambulatory Learning Centre) and Alberta Cardiovascular and Stroke Research Centre project (a component of the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute) in Edmonton will advance priority research and innovation initiatives for Capital Health and the Health Sciences Faculties at the University of Alberta.

The government recognizes the benefits and importance of taking a leadership role in the area of medical research. The new Health Research Innovation Centres at the Universities of Calgary and Alberta will leverage significant federal and other research grants, support economic commercialization and diversification and help retain and attract health care professionals and University faculty.

Physical Condition of Learning Facilities – Measuring the physical condition of schools and post-secondary facilities provides assurance to Albertans that students are provided with safe, effective learning environments. This set of data also assists school boards with prioritizing their capital planning. A new process for the identification of priority school facility projects was designed and implemented, including health and safety concerns and areas where there is high space utilization. The province is also developing a long-term capital plan to increase access for students and enhance the research capabilities at Alberta’s public post-secondary institutions. To address program need for increased student access, the province is developing and reviewing business cases for expansion projects.

In 2005-06, 95% of schools were rated in acceptable (“good” or “fair”) physical condition, meeting the target of 95%. If sufficient investments continue to be made in revitalizing and/or replacing existing infrastructure, the overall condition of school facilities will continue to increase. The proportion of schools rated as “good” remained the same in 2004-05 and 2005-06. 34% of schools were rated in “fair” condition, down eight percentage points from the 2003-04 result and down two percentage points from the 2004-05 result.

In 2005-06, 90% of post-secondary institutions were rated in acceptable condition, exceeding the target of 86%. This is an improvement over the previous result of 88% in 2004-05. A significant portion of the improvement can be attributed to a change in institutions re-classifying recommended remedial events from maintenance items to functional upgrades, which are not included in the measure.

Physical Condition of Provincial Highways – Highway improvements worth $41 million were initiated within the Wood Buffalo Region on Highways 63 and 881. Construction began on a ten-year program of upgrades. In 2005, work on Highway 63 included four-lane grading, intersection improvements and development of a rest area/commercial vehicle staging area. On Highway 881, 46 km were paved, 70 km of full stage paving commenced and 105 km of second stage paving got underway. The grading of the truck bypass and staging area at Lac La Biche is nearly complete. In 2005-06, 87.1% of highways under provincial jurisdiction were in acceptable physical condition. These results exceeded the target of 86%. Of the 87.1% in acceptable condition, 63% were considered to be in “good” condition and 24.1% in “fair” condition.

Effective Water Management Infrastructure – Government continues to rehabilitate and maintain provincially-owned water management infrastructure, which includes physical assets such as dams, canals, and control structures. The province has commenced a cooperative venture with health officials and the Metis Nation of Alberta to develop a long-term plan for monitoring water wells in the hamlet of Marlboro. In 2005, the percentage of the province’s water management infrastructure in “fair” or “good” physical condition was 99.1%, slightly below the target of maintaining the 2004 result.