Alberta Minute: Crop Damage, Parks Policy, and Job Program Suspended

Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.

This Week In Alberta:

• The rapid growth in rooftop solar installations in Alberta is leading to an increase in questionable sales tactics, as some companies exploit the surge in demand. The number of solar installations has increased significantly, driven by high electricity rates and federal incentives. However, some consumers are experiencing issues with aggressive sales tactics and misleading claims. Complaints include pressure to sign contracts quickly and false promises about savings. While most solar customers report positive experiences, industry experts want stricter regulations or oversight to address the growing problem of bad actors.
  
  
• After a promising start with spring rains, southern Alberta farmers are now grappling with severe crop damage due to a recent hailstorm. The storm, which struck Monday night, devastated areas east of Calgary, including Vulcan County, where many farmers lost their entire harvest. This storm followed another hailstorm just days prior, compounding the damage. Reports indicate that over 200 clients of the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation have already reported losses, with more expected as the reporting period continues.
  
  
• Alberta’s Ministers of Affordability and Utilities, Nathan Neudorf, and Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish, are visiting California's Silicon Valley to attract investors to Alberta. The trip’s goal is to promote Alberta's investment-friendly environment, highlighting its deregulated market, rich natural resources, and favourable tax system. The Ministers plan to meet with AI and data center companies, energy firms, and utility providers to foster connections and discuss policies. Neudorf’s itinerary includes meetings with various California agencies and officials, while Glubish will focus on meetings with Hitachi and Bloom Energy before returning to Edmonton.

Last Week In Alberta:

• Alberta Parks has updated its policy to allow pedal-assist e-bikes in provincial parks, on all designated pathways and trails where cycling is permitted already. This change follows a two-year pilot program in Kananaskis Country that assessed the impact and safety of e-bikes. The new rules exclude non-pedal-assist e-bikes, such as those with throttles or excessive power output.
  
  
• The Alberta government has approved grants for 14 municipalities, two First Nations, and one Metis settlement to support drought and flood mitigation projects. This is part of a $125-million grant program, announced in March, which will distribute $25 million annually until 2029. Projects funded include those in Calgary, Brooks, Fort McKay, Canmore, and the Municipal District of Pincher Creek.
  
  
• Due to a lack of additional federal top-up funding, Alberta has had to suspend the Canada-Alberta job grant program indefinitely. This program helped employers cover two-thirds of training costs, and the Province is warning that the suspension will result in a $10-million shortfall for skills training in 2024-25. The federal government said that the expiration of the top-up funding was expected, and only ever supposed to be for one year.

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