Alberta Minute: Issue 318

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

📅 This Week In Alberta: 📅

• Starting in July, Albertans will see a long-promised personal income tax cut take effect, with a new 8% tax bracket applied to the first $60,000 of income. The government estimates this will save individuals up to $750 in 2025, with the lower rate retroactively applying back to January 1st. Over two million Albertans are expected to benefit, and those earning under $60,000 will see a 20% tax reduction on their income. Despite a $5.2 billion deficit and the projected $1.2 billion cost of the cut, Finance Minister Nate Horner says that overall the cut will improve affordability for families and ease financial pressure without requiring spending cuts in the short term.
  
  
• The Alberta government has moved its Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) department from the Treasury Board and Finance to the Premier’s Office, increasing the size and budget of Executive Council. This change adds nearly 300 staff and a $38 million annual budget to Executive Council, but this is not new spending as the department has simply shifted from one part of government to another. Opposition MLA Rakhi Pancholi said the move formalizes what she sees as a growing trend of partisan communication using public resources. CPE had previously been moved out of the Premier’s Office by the NDP in 2017. Despite the changes, the government insists CPE remains a non-partisan public service body with staff reporting to a non-partisan deputy minister, as in all government departments.
  
  
• The Alberta government is investing $27.5 million to fund 16 new collegiate school programs aimed at helping high school students prepare for careers in fields like trades, technology, aviation, business, and emergency response. These programs will launch in September and focus on hands-on learning, industry connections, and opportunities to earn post-secondary credits or secure future employment. The initiative more than doubles the number of existing collegiate programs in the province, which currently sits at 12. The funding will also support facility upgrades at four existing sites. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the goal is to accelerate students’ paths into the workforce and address labour shortages in key sectors. Applications for these programs came from school divisions across Alberta, including Edmonton, Banff, northern Alberta, and Medicine Hat. An additional $8 million annually has been allocated for expanding the initiative over the next two years. Nicolaides emphasized that there’s no fixed target for the number of programs - growth will depend on community demand and proposals.
  
  
• Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says he's "cautiously optimistic" about a possible reversal of the federal oil tanker ban off BC’s northern coast after visiting Prince Rupert. Local residents criticized the ban’s inconsistency, noting that American tankers continue to travel nearby while Canadian shipments remain restricted. Dreeshen and Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney were in Prince Rupert to strengthen economic ties, with Alberta already moving $4 billion in goods annually through the port. Premier Danielle Smith has called for the port to become the endpoint for a new Alberta oil pipeline and urged Prime Minister Carney to repeal the tanker ban. Smith also proposed using revenue from such a pipeline to help fund the Pathways oilsands decarbonization project. Dreeshen says rail and pipeline development must work in tandem to strengthen Alberta’s access to international markets. BC Premier David Eby opposes lifting the ban, which was enacted in 2019 and effectively ended the Northern Gateway pipeline.
  
  
• Alberta’s tourism sector grew by 12% in 2024, reaching a record $14.4 billion in visitor spending, four times the national average. The surge follows the launch of the Province’s Higher Ground tourism strategy, which aims to grow the visitor economy to $25 billion annually by 2035. International spending rose by 16%, with notable increases in accommodation (34%), recreation (19%), and food and beverage (16%). More than 85,000 jobs were supported by tourism last year, making it Alberta’s top service export. Minister of Tourism and Sport Andrew Boitchenko called the results “proof that the world wants more Alberta.” Compared to other provinces, Alberta significantly outpaced British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec in year-over-year tourism growth.
  
  
• The Province is spending $1.2 million on the Forces@WORK program to help veterans and former public safety personnel transition into meaningful civilian careers. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by those leaving military or emergency service roles, the program offers tailored support such as career planning, job search assistance, peer support, and on-the-job training. Officials emphasize that the skills and leadership developed through service are valuable assets in the civilian workforce. The program is designed to address both practical and personal barriers, including psychological and physical challenges. Alberta’s Military Liaison says that the initiative honours the sacrifices of service members by supporting their success post-service. Former service members involved in the program say it has been life-changing, offering them hope and new opportunities.

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