Alberta Minute: Emissions Data, Cancer Care, and a Candid Carney Conversation

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

This Week In Alberta:

• The province is disputing claims that it plans to "claw back" the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) from AISH recipients, asserting that Alberta’s AISH program provides the highest disability benefit rate in Canada. Critics argue that Alberta is the only province that has implemented this policy. The provincial government maintains that AISH recipients still receive more than other provinces, with AISH's core rate being significantly higher. While the CDB will be treated as non-exempt income, the government assures that AISH recipients will continue to receive the same overall support.
  
  
• Alberta is investing $800 million over eight years in a new partnership to advance cancer care through research, equipment upgrades, and artificial intelligence. The Cancer Innovation Value Partnership aims to enhance early detection, reduce wait times, and improve treatment outcomes. Key initiatives include two centers of excellence, AI-driven treatment units, and the replacement of aging equipment. The project also includes a $168 million investment in diagnostic imaging and a research fund to attract global talent.
  
  
• Alberta's 2025 budget includes a $10 million allocation to support the Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF), which helps community-owned Indigenous businesses improve infrastructure and create jobs. Since its launch in 2014, the program has provided over $58 million in capital grants to more than 105 businesses, generating nearly 1,000 jobs. ABIF funding was doubled between 2022 and 2024, resulting in a record number of grants. Successful projects include Bear Hills Casino, which expanded its facilities, and an eco-tourism venture by the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. The initiative aims to promote economic reconciliation and foster sustainable development within Indigenous communities.

Last Week In Alberta:

• Premier Danielle Smith met with Prime Minister Mark Carney for a candid discussion about improving the Province's relationship with the federal government. Smith outlined a series of demands, including full access to oil and gas corridors, the repeal of Bill C-69, lifting the BC tanker ban, and eliminating caps on emissions and production. She also called for changes to federal regulations on plastics, electric vehicles, and the industrial carbon tax, as well as greater provincial oversight. Smith expressed frustration with federal mismanagement of national parks and emphasized Alberta's position on energy exports. She also said she would form a second Fair Deal Panel to gauge Albertans' views on how to respond if her demands are ignored by the federal government. The first Fair Deal Panel, established in 2019 by her predecessor, Jason Kenney, proposed measures such as creating an Alberta pension plan and forming a provincial police force, but these were not adopted. Smith's new panel would consult with Albertans to determine their preferred course of action regarding federal relations.
  
  
• Danielle Smith is also demanding clarity from Carney regarding his position on the federal emissions cap. Smith expressed concern after hearing contradicting statements from Carney and Federal Environment Minister Terry Duiguid, with the latter indicating that the emissions cap would remain. She criticized the federal government for presenting one stance to Alberta while continuing to implement policies that undermine the energy sector. Smith emphasized that the emissions cap, which she argues functions as a production cap, harms investment and jobs. With a federal election imminent, Smith (and Albertans!) want Carney to clarify his position on the issue immediately.
  
  
• The Province introduced new amendments to the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act to limit federal involvement in Alberta's energy sector. The changes aim to prevent federal workers from accessing Alberta’s energy-related facilities and data, positioning the province as the sole authority on emissions data collection. Premier Danielle Smith argued that since Alberta owns the resources, it should control the emissions data rather than the federal government, which she criticized for inconsistent emission reporting.

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