Alberta Minute: AI Projects, Ankle Monitors, and Alberta Rejects Retaliation
Alberta Minute: AI Projects, Ankle Monitors, and Alberta Rejects Retaliation
Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.
This Week In Alberta:
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Alberta is beginning its electronic ankle monitoring program to track high-risk repeat offenders as part of its Safe Street Action Plan. Individuals posing public safety risks may now be required to wear GPS devices as part of court-ordered community supervision. The program aims to improve safety by restricting offenders from specific areas, such as victims’ residences or workplaces. Officials emphasize this initiative complements existing probation measures and addresses flaws in the federal bail system. Alberta Correctional Services will oversee the monitoring, with SCRAM Systems contracted to provide the technology until 2029.
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Gryphon Digital Mining plans to develop a high-performance AI and computing data centre near Pincher Creek, utilizing natural gas as a power source. The 344-hectare site offers unique features such as depleted gas reservoirs, water access, carbon sequestration potential, and grid connectivity for redundancy. The company highlighted the site as a "unicorn asset" due to its energy infrastructure and sustainability potential, and aims to bring its first megawatts of power online by 2026 and expand capacity quarterly.
- Speaking of major projects, the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is raising concerns over Kevin O’Leary’s proposed $70 billion AI data centre, Wonder Valley, planned for northern Alberta. The First Nation, whose traditional territory encompasses the project site, criticized the lack of consultation, citing constitutionally protected treaty rights under Treaty 8. Chief Sheldon Sunshine emphasized the potential environmental risks, including impacts on water sources and local ecosystems. The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation maintains it is open to development that respects treaty rights and ecological balance. The Alberta government has pledged to consult at later stages.
Last Week In Alberta:
- Premier Danielle Smith rejected the idea of halting energy shipments to the United States in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian products, citing the vital role Alberta's oil and gas play in North American trade. Speaking in Florida after visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Smith emphasized the importance of maintaining a tariff-free relationship, highlighting that Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states and supplies nearly a quarter of US daily oil consumption. While Canadian officials consider retaliatory tariffs on goods like orange juice and steel, Smith cautioned against empty threats, stressing the mutual benefits of cross-border trade. Smith is set to attend Trump’s inauguration today as part of her ongoing diplomatic efforts.
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Alberta saw a 32% surge in housing starts in 2024, led by Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Red Deer, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Lethbridge experienced the largest percentage increase, with new builds rising by 194% to 715 units compared to 243 in 2023. Red Deer followed with an 87% increase, while Edmonton and Calgary recorded jumps of 39% and 24%, respectively. Nationally, housing starts rose only 2%, weighed down by declines in major cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa. The CMHC estimates that Canada requires 3.5 million additional homes by 2030 to restore housing affordability.
- The Province announced that Alberta seniors will receive a 25% discount on camping fees at 142 provincial campgrounds starting May 1st. The initiative, aimed at enhancing accessibility and quality of life for those aged 65 and older, covers over 6,400 campsites for various camping experiences, excluding group, backcountry, and seasonal options. Bookings open January 31st for May arrivals. A list of participating campgrounds is available on the Alberta Parks website.
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