This Week
- Improving responses to health emergencies: Premier Smith is launching an expert panel to review the Government of Alberta’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The panel will be chaired by Preston Manning and will report its findings to the government by November 15. The panel will invite experts and the public to provide input to determine how the government can improve its response to future public health crises.
- Children’s medication arrives in Alberta: Last December, Alberta’s government secured 5 million bottles of children’s pain and fever medication to combat shortages. This week, the first shipment of 250,000 bottles arrived for use in hospitals. The remaining 4.75 million bottles will be available for retail sale when the final requirement is met, namely child-proof caps.
- Reducing EMS response times: The government announced it will accept all the Alberta Emergency Medical Services Provincial Advisory Committee’s recommendations to reduce EMS response times. These recommendations include:
- Adding 20 ambulances during peak hours
- Fast-tracking ambulance transfers at emergency departments
- Freeing up paramedics by contracting appropriate resources for non-emergency transfers
- Empower paramedics to decide whether patients need to be taken to ER by ambulance.
- Changes to AAIP: The government will be making changes to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) to help grow the economy and address labour shortages in key sectors. Express Entry will increase opportunities for international, high-demand workers with close relatives in Alberta to fill job vacancies. Currently, Alberta has 100,000 job openings across all sectors. Affordability payment portal opened: On January 18, the online application portal for affordability payments opened. More than 92,000 applications were made on the first day.
What’s Next
- Legislature: The Legislature is scheduled to return on February 28. The Budget will likely be introduced on the same day.
Announcements
- HCAP: Direct action to lower EMS response times
- Affordability payment portal opens January 18
- Alberta ends agreement to hold immigration detainees
- Attracting global talent to solve job market gaps
- First shipment of children’s medication arrives
- Cutting red tape for food trade in Lloydminster
- Improving Alberta’s response to public health emergencies
- Nominate outstanding efforts in community justice· Protect yourself from scammers
Key Resources