This Week
New Deputy Ministers: Premier Smith announced a small shuffle in the public service this week. Sherri Wilson was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Katarzyna (Kasha) Piquette was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Relations, and David Skene was appointed Deputy Chief, Policy Coordination. Malcolm Lavoie was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General.
Expanding pharmacy services: Shoppers Drug Mart announced a major expansion in pharmacy care clinics in the province, opening 44 additional clinics in 2024, part of a minimum $77 million capital investment in Alberta. The announcement will bring the total number of Shoppers Drug Mart clinics to 103 by the end of the year. The clinics will offer Albertans convenient and easily accessible basic primary care. The announcement was made by Shoppers Drug Mart alongside Premier Danielle Smith, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, and Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones. You can watch the announcement here and read more details here. The first pharmacy care clinic opened in June 2022 in Lethbridge.
Tobacco and Vaping Reduction Strategy: Alberta introduced an updated strategy to reduce smoking and tobacco use. Between 2013 and 2020, the rate of use of vaping products among Alberta youth rose 16%, while many of the long-term effects are not fully known. The new strategy will employ several strategies aimed at youth including a public education campaign. The strategy builds on the 2012 Creating Tobacco-Free Futures strategy. The complete strategy can be found here.
Minister Jones in Japan: Minister Jones is travelling to Japan to advance Alberta as a trade partner and promote Alberta’s investment environment. The Minister will be meeting with businesses and government officials to discuss opportunities in technology, energy, agriculture, and hospitality.
What’s Next
Legislature: The Legislature will return on February 28. The legislative calendar for 2024 can be found here.
Budget 2024: Alberta will release its next provincial budget on February 29.
Announcements
- Good vibrations for Calgary’s South Health Campus
- Sheriffs boost highway safety in 2023
- Benefiting from captive insurance: Minister Horner
- Clearing the air: Reducing tobacco and vaping use
- Minor Hockey Week scores big with Albertans
- Albertans can help shape health care online
- Federal Emergencies Act court challenges: Joint statement
- Supporting new adventures in Alberta
- Orders in Council
- Promoting Alberta investment and trade in Japan
- Orders in Council
- Growing Alberta’s provincial parks
- Expanding access to pharmacy services: Joint statement
- Expanding 2023 livestock drought recovery support
- Lending Alberta’s non-profits a helping hand
- Earlier benefit payment dates
- Alberta wildlife is ready for its close-up
Key Resources