Alberta Minute: Transferring Authority, Popular Premier, and a Big Education Investment

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

This Week In Alberta:

• The Alberta government is allocating up to $149 million to assist Jasper, which suffered significant losses in July's wildfire, with a third of its buildings destroyed. This funding will help cover various expenses, including staff overtime, firefighter wages, and emergency shelter costs, as well as structural protection and infrastructure repairs. Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis emphasized the government's commitment to supporting recovery efforts in wildfire-affected communities. Jasper's Mayor Richard Ireland expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting its importance for the town's rebuilding efforts. The funding comes through Alberta's Disaster Recovery Program, which previously aided communities like Fort McMurray after major disasters.
  
  
• Speaking of Jasper, new federal legislation aims to grant the town full authority over local land planning and development, shifting control from Parks Canada. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault stated that this change would expedite rebuilding efforts following the wildfire. Currently, Parks Canada manages land use in Jasper, but the new Bill seeks to allow the community to have more input in shaping its future.
  
  
• The Government of Alberta is providing a $900,000 grant to Elevate Aviation to support the entry of new workers into the aviation industry. This funding will be used to develop a Virtual Reality Aviation Maintenance Training System, enabling aspiring aviators to safely practice essential skills on the ground. Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, Matt Jones, said that this investment will help address a projected shortage of 42,000 to 55,000 workers in the sector from 2025 to 2035.

Last Week In Alberta:

• The Province announced plans to invest $8.6 billion to address the growing need for school facilities by constructing new schools, modernizing older schools, and funding charter school projects over the next three years. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides emphasized that this initiative aims to keep pace with the province's significant student enrollment growth, which has surged by nearly 9% since 2019. Premier Danielle Smith announced a review of the current school funding formula, acknowledging that it needs to be more responsive to this rapid growth. The initiative also includes plans to add modular classrooms and increase the number of charter school spaces.
  
  
• A recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute showed that Premier Danielle Smith ranks among Canada's most popular provincial leaders, with an approval rating of 46%. This ties her with Andrew Furey from Newfoundland and Labrador and David Eby from British Columbia, while Manitoba’s Wab Kinew leads with a 66% approval rating. Smith's approval has remained relatively stable since her swearing-in in October 2022, fluctuating between 42% and 47%. The latest poll shows a slight increase of one percentage point since June.
  
  
• Energy Minister Brian Jean has pledged significant action by next fall to address the province's backlog of unreclaimed oil and gas sites, noting that less than a quarter of nearly half a million energy wells have been reclaimed. He emphasized the need for public financial support to assist industry in meeting its cleanup obligations, advocating for a shift toward more favourable tax and regulatory conditions. The government is exploring changes to municipal taxes and the regulatory framework to help industry live up to its legal obligations.

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