Alberta Minute: Trade Barriers, Combatting Antisemitism , and Involuntary Addiction Treatment

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

This Week In Alberta:

• Alberta is searching for a new Chief Medical Officer of Health following the end of Dr. Mark Joffe’s contract. Joffe, who served since November 2022, stepped down amid a measles outbreak in Calgary, Canmore, and Banff. The Province has named Dr. Sunil Sookram as its Interim Chief Medical Officer of Health. Sookram brings significant front-line and leadership experience, currently serving as a hospital medical director and emergency physician, as well as a clinical professor. His appointment is intended to provide stability while the Province searches for a permanent replacement.
  
  
• Premier Danielle Smith is on a week-long trade mission to Japan and South Korea, aiming to strengthen Alberta’s economic ties in Asia. The trip focuses on promoting Alberta’s energy, agriculture, and other key sectors to Asian markets. In Japan, Smith plans to meet with officials and industry leaders to position Alberta as a reliable trade partner for energy and food. She will then travel to Gangwon State, South Korea, a region with long-standing ties to Alberta and a history of major investments in the province.
  
  
• Alberta is inviting input from industry leaders, business owners, and other provinces to help identify and remove barriers to interprovincial trade. A new portal launching soon will allow stakeholders to flag obstacles that hinder the free flow of goods, services, and investment. Trade Minister Matt Jones says the initiative supports Alberta’s ongoing efforts to reduce red tape and boost economic growth. The province is positioning itself as a national leader in internal free trade, aligning with Premier Danielle Smith’s pledge to counteract US tariffs by enhancing domestic trade.

Last Week In Alberta:

• The Province has introduced legislation that would allow individuals to be involuntarily placed in addiction treatment. The proposed law permits family members, police, or healthcare professionals to request a treatment order for someone considered a danger to themselves or others. If approved, individuals could be placed in secure treatment for up to three months or in community-based care for up to six months. Premier Danielle Smith says the bill targets only severe cases where voluntary help has failed. Plans include opening temporary beds next year and building two new facilities by 2029 at a cost of $180 million.
  
  
• The Alberta government has committed $200,000 to the Jewish Federations of Edmonton and Calgary to address the growing issue of antisemitism. The funding will support educational initiatives, including an Alberta conference on antisemitism, scholarships, and collaboration with government and law enforcement. This move comes ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day and amid a national spike in antisemitic incidents, which reached record levels in 2024. The funding aligns with Alberta’s broader efforts, including the recent mandate for Holocaust education in schools.
  
  
• Alberta has paused parts of its retaliatory trade measures against the US after President Trump halted further tariffs, opting for diplomacy over escalation. While the province is holding off on a broad procurement ban on American goods, it will maintain restrictions on US liquor and video lottery terminals. The broader Canada-US trade dispute continues to affect key industries like steel, energy, and manufacturing.

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