Alberta Minute: Supporting Jasper, Cannabis Delivery, and Agricultural Society Supports

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

This Week In Alberta:

• Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the wildland firefighter who was tragically killed fighting a fire northeast of Jasper. Out of respect, the Province postponed some supervised bus tours allowing wildfire evacuees to view their homes in Jasper and assess any damage.
  
  
• Premier Danielle Smith says that Alberta will work with the federal government and the Town of Jasper to expedite the rebuild of the wildfire-damaged community. A committee of senior civil servants will be formed to streamline permit approvals and collaborate with Parks Canada and Jasper leaders.
  
  
• Some Albertans can now order legal cannabis for delivery through a new partnership between UberEats and Leafly. The service, which involves local licensed retailers, will see deliveries handled by cannabis store employees who verify age and sobriety. This follows similar cannabis delivery services launched in BC in 2023. The service is currently only available in Calgary and Edmonton.

Last Week In Alberta:

• Albertans rallied to support wildfire victims in Jasper during the Alberta Day of Caring fundraiser. Residents contributed directly to the Canadian Red Cross or donated proceeds from bottle depots, raising $518,482. With matching donations from the Alberta and Canadian governments, the total amount increased to $1,555,466.
  
  
• The Alberta government has allocated funds to support its seven regional agricultural societies located in Camrose, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Olds, and Red Deer. A study, funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s Resiliency and Public Trust program, will offer recommendations on how to better support these regional societies. Alberta, with 291 agricultural societies, has the highest number in Canada.
  
  
• The Province said it will work to implement recommendations aimed at improving food safety in childcare facilities following an E. Coli outbreak in August 2023, which affected 11 licensed facilities in Calgary and resulted in 359 confirmed cases and 39 hospitalizations. The Food Safety and Licensed Facility-Based Child Care Review Panel has proposed 12 primary and 27 sub-recommendations focusing on enhancing food safety culture, policy, legislation, and inspection systems. Immediate actions include increasing inspection frequency and improving response times, while longer-term changes may involve legislative updates and further consultations. The Panel’s final report is available online.

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