Alberta Minute: Curriculum Consultations, Agriculture Programming, and an Energy Security Coalition

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

This Week In Alberta:

• Alberta’s government is beginning consultations to draft new curriculums for junior high subjects, including math, social studies, physical education, and Career and Life Management (CALM). Feedback will focus on integrating career education, financial literacy, life skills, and home maintenance to prepare students for life beyond school. The drafts will align with the newly implemented elementary curriculum and are set to be introduced in the 2026-27 school year. Education partners, subject experts, and teachers will review and provide input on the content, with opportunities for schools to pilot the curriculum in the 2025-26 school year. Our friends at the Alberta Parents’ Union will have plenty more to say about this, so be sure to subscribe to their newsletter if you want to follow the discussion!
  
  
• The Alberta government is considering adding citizenship status to driver’s licences as part of an effort to enhance election security. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said it would help ensure voters are Canadian citizens. Premier Danielle Smith highlighted concerns over potential foreign interference, emphasizing the need to strengthen trust in elections. Although the proposal is still in the early stages, Nally’s office noted it is part of a broader plan to modernize registries.
  
  
• The Province says that its voluntary water-sharing agreements were a major success, bringing together municipalities, industries, and irrigation districts to reduce water usage during a challenging drought season. Covering the Red Deer, Bow, and Oldman river sub-basins, these agreements led municipalities like Lethbridge and Medicine Hat to surpass water reduction goals. The agreements will remain in place until the end of 2024.

Last Week In Alberta:

• Alberta has joined the US-based Governors’ Coalition for Energy Security, becoming the first non-US member of the group focused on energy reliability, affordability, and sustainable development. The Coalition, formed in September 2024, includes 12 US states and aims to strengthen energy trade and management across borders. Premier Danielle Smith highlighted Alberta’s role in advancing North American energy security.
  
  
• Alberta Innovates, a provincial Crown corporation, was the target of a recent cyberattack that caused network issues. The attack involved unauthorized access to the organization's network, though the exact timing and impact remain unclear. The corporation, which supports technological innovation through grants and programs, has resolved the network problems and is working with cybersecurity experts to assess the situation. It has not yet confirmed whether personal or proprietary information was compromised. The investigation is ongoing.
  
  
• The governments of Alberta and Canada have announced that they are jointly investing $731,162 over five years into 4-H Alberta’s youth agriculture programs. The funding aims to enhance experience-based learning opportunities for rural and urban youth, as well as address farm safety and mental health. Three key programs will benefit from this investment: the Intro to 4-H program, the Agriculture Safety and Mental Health Workshop, and the Senior Spring Symposium.

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