This Week
Improving Alberta’s grid: As part of a larger effort to modernize the electricity system, a new act was proclaimed aiming to help the electricity system adapt to new technologies. The act allows businesses to build more energy storage and more on-site power generation with the option to sell excess power to the grid. It is part of the government’s plan to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity, safeguarding against unexpected shortages like during the cold snap in early January.
February job numbers: Minister Jones released a statement following the release of last month’s job numbers by Statistics Canada. In February in Alberta, employment rose to 2.5 million, up 17,400 month-over-month, which is a 4.1% increase year-over-year. Full-time jobs also jumped to 2,070,699. Statistics Canada earlier today noted that while employment increased in Alberta, “there was little change in other provinces.”
Budget 2024 commitments: Alberta’s government this week highlighted several commitments made in Budget 2024 relating to government funding for a variety of programs across the province. These announcements include:
- $125 million for the Drought and Flood Protection Program to help municipalities and Indigenous communities develop long-term infrastructure to improve drought and flood resilience.
- $8 million for the Every Kid Can Play Program to remove barriers to kids’ sports and recreational activities.
- $900,000 to the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation to hire drone services for aerial assessments of crops.
- $1.2 billion for Alberta schools to fund the hiring of up to 3,100 additional teachers and classroom support staff over the next three years.
- $8.1 billion to expand and maintain Alberta’s provincial road and bridge network.
- $55 million toward a new Multidisciplinary Science Hub at the University of Calgary.
Expanding broadband: The governments of Alberta and Canada are investing over $112 million to expand rural broadband. Funding will help connect 22,500 homes in 166 rural and remote communities in Alberta. To date, $211 million has been invested as part of the Canada-Alberta Broadband Partnership Agreement. Alberta is aiming to provide full connectivity by 2027 so that every Albertan can access and connect to global opportunities.
What’s Next
Legislature: The Legislature will return on Monday, March 11. The legislative calendar for 2024 can be found here.
Announcements
- Protecting Albertans from drought and floods
- Providing hope for struggling youth
- Helping all kids pursue their passion in sports
- Payment levied for workplace injury
- High-speed connections for tens of thousands more homes
- Sky high technology to assess crop damage
- Hunting down cyber threats
- Supporting students and classrooms
- Red Deer Hospital Information Session
- Modernizing Alberta’s power grid
- Orders in Council
- Digital water licences speed up drought response
- Breaking ground on supportive housing in Lethbridge
- The ‘campdown’ is on for summer
- Celebrating Indigenous partnerships in oilsands development: Premier Smith, Ministers Jean and Wilson
- Expanding Alberta’s road and bridge network
- Bringing the best and brightest to Alberta
- Growing investment and technology jobs in Calgary
- International Women’s Day: Minister Fir
- Massive RCMP seizure of drugs originating from so-called “safe supply”: Premier Smith
- Investing in STEM at the University of Calgary
- Alberta generates even more jobs in February: Minister Jones
- The greatest games north of the 55th parallel
Key Resources