Alberta Minute: Childcare Funding, Assisted Living, and Tariffs On Energy
Alberta Minute: Childcare Funding, Assisted Living, and Tariffs On Energy
Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.
This Week In Alberta:
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The Alberta government is rolling out a new childcare funding formula aiming to establish $15-per-day as the standard rate for children of kindergarten age and younger. Starting April 1st, 85% of providers will receive a funding increase of at least 2% to offset rising costs. Additionally, Alberta child-care providers can now apply for grants through a new $53-million program to expand or upgrade child-care spaces. The province has already created 31,000 new spaces and is increasing its yearly contribution to child care from $250 million to $720 million.
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Premier Danielle Smith is advocating for the creation of a joint Canada-US NORAD military base in northern Canada to enhance Arctic security. She presented the proposal during a recent meeting with fellow premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Smith suggests the base could mirror the Canadian NORAD Region headquarters in Winnipeg. She is also advocating for Canada to appoint a "border czar" to enhance collaboration with the US on border security. She proposed that a retired military general, such as Alberta's interim top bureaucrat Paul Wynnyk, could be ideal for the role due to their expertise in military operations and deployment.
- The Government of Alberta is incorporating antisemitism teachings into the new Grades 7 to 9 social studies curriculum. The curriculum development involved extensive consultations with education partners and Jewish organizations throughout 2023-24. Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides emphasized the importance of educating students about antisemitism to combat hate and build stronger communities. This move builds on previous efforts, such as making Holocaust education mandatory and including antisemitism content in the Kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum.
Last Week In Alberta:
- Premier Danielle Smith expressed disappointment over the US decision to impose a 10% tariff on Canadian energy and a 25% tariff on other Canadian goods, emphasizing that such measures harm both countries' economies. Smith vowed to work with federal and provincial leaders to push for the reversal of the tariffs, highlighting Canada's significant trade relationship with the US. Smith advocated for strategic responses, including targeted import tariffs and fast-tracking energy infrastructure projects. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs, and has all but ruled out using Alberta energy as a pawn - a massive win for Smith and Alberta!
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Premier Danielle Smith has announced the creation of the Heritage Fund Opportunities Corporation, a new Crown corporation that will oversee Alberta's rainy day fund. While the Alberta Investment Management Corp. (AIMCo) will continue to manage the fund, the new corporation will independently direct investments of new deposits. The goal is to grow the fund to at least $250 billion by 2050, preparing for a future when resource revenues may decline. The fund's assets were valued at $23.4 billion in September, with an additional $2 billion now allocated for investments.
- The Alberta government has introduced Assisted Living Alberta as the fourth and final public agency to take over responsibilities from Alberta Health Services. This new agency will handle a range of services, including assisted care, home care, housing, and social services, with a focus on addressing complex care needs rather than just medical diagnoses. Given the projected 80% increase in demand for continuing care services over the next decade, the government aims to ensure older adults and vulnerable populations have the support they need. The new agency will begin operations in April, supported by a transition committee and a public survey to guide improvements.
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