Latest news with #GovernmentofAlberta
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Media Statement: Grande Prairie Policing Transition Costs Climb Again: All Albertans Footing the Bill for a Politically Driven Agenda
EDMONTON, Alberta, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following is a statement from Brian Sauvé, President and CEO of the National Police Federation, in response to Government of Alberta's announcement of an additional $7 million contribution toward Grande Prairie's municipal police transition: "The Province's announcement of an additional $7 million in provincial taxpayer funding to support the creation of a local police service in Grande Prairie brings the total provincial contributions to nearly $17 million. This almost fully covers the City's estimated $19 million transition costs. These funds come not from the City's budget, but from the pockets of Alberta taxpayers. This decision underscores the provincial government's ongoing and politically driven push to dismantle RCMP policing in Alberta at any cost, despite earlier failed attempts to convince the public. When that failed, they turned to incentivizing individual municipalities to make the switch, using provincial money to do it. This preferential and political approach is in sharp contrast to how the Province has treated hundreds of other communities under the Police Funding Model. In 2020, the Province started requiring rural municipalities and small towns to pay more of their frontline policing costs, now up to 30%, and slated to rise to 39% in 2025. That increase has been temporarily paused for one year while the Province renegotiates the funding model, but these communities still face rising costs with no guarantees of improved policing, no local input, and no clear accounting for where their dollars go. Many community leaders have rightly asked where this money is being spent, as little to no reinvestment has occurred in their communities. Instead, Police Funding Model-collected funds appear to be diverted into provincial political pet projects: feasibility studies, municipal transitions, and the expansion of the Alberta Sheriffs. All this at a time when the Province of Alberta is already facing a multi-billion-dollar deficit. With the emergence of another new policing initiative with no consultation — the Independent Alberta Police Service — Albertans are left asking: 'Is Police Funding Model money also being used to fund this?' There has been no transparency, no consultation, and no evidence that these decisions are in the best interest of public safety or fiscal responsibility. Instead of dividing and duplicating police services, the Government of Alberta should be focused on investing equitably in proven frontline capacity, including in the Alberta RCMP which continues to serve all Albertans with professionalism, dedication, and deep community roots. Albertans deserve a policing system based on evidence, fairness, and accountability, not backroom deals and political motives.' About the National Police Federation: The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. It is the largest police union in Canada. We are focused on improving public safety in Canada for our Members and all Canadians by advocating for investment in policing and other related supports and services. This includes calling for required resourcing, equipment, and supports to enhance community safety and livability in the communities we serve, large and small, across Canada. For more information: and Follow us:NPF: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and InstagramKeepAlbertaRCMP: Facebook, Twitter Media Contact: Sarah KavanaghAdvisor, Media RelationsMedia@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Global News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Alberta policies have dampened investor confidence in renewables: report
A report from clean energy think tank Pembina Institute suggests investor confidence in Alberta's renewables sector has been dampened by provincial policy moves. Authors of the report released Wednesday looked at the provincial electrical system operator's queue of projects waiting to connect to the grid between 2021 and 2024. That data gave them a sense of investor interest in Alberta renewables before and after the province imposed a surprise seven-month moratorium on new wind and solar projects in 2023. 2:04 Strict regulations introduced for Alberta renewable energy development With the threat of U.S. tariffs continuing to loom, Alberta should be actively seeking out every investment dollar it can, said Scott MacDougall, director of the Pembina Institute's electricity program. Story continues below advertisement 'There is strong evidence that Alberta has weakened renewable energy investments through its actions to date,' he said in a news release. 'The good news is the growth in low-cost renewable electricity is continuing elsewhere in Canada and the world, so those dollars are still there for the taking, if the Government of Alberta works to restore market confidence quickly.' View image in full screen The Pembina Institute says the Alberta government has work to do to restore investors confidence in renewable energy in the province. File Photo Pembina recommends Alberta create regulations that support a vision for a 'clean, resilient and affordable' electrical system and fast-track developments in areas where utility-scale renewable projects would be particularly well suited. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It is also calling for ways to boost the system's independence and resilience by enabling electricity exports and imports with neighbouring grids, energy storage and other measures. The renewables moratorium is over, but the institute said continuing sources of uncertainty include a broad restructuring of the electricity market, Alberta's legal challenge to federal clean electricity regulations, barring wind developments near 'pristine viewscapes' and new reclamation requirements. Story continues below advertisement 'No other industry sectors have been subjected to such onerous rules,' Pembina said in the report. Based on data from the Alberta Electric System Operator, the think tank said the number of proposed new projects in the queue last year were on par with two years earlier, before the moratorium. But more projects were cancelled than proposed last year — 9.5 gigawatts versus 8.3 GW. Meanwhile, other jurisdictions like Australia and Texas are seeing their numbers of new projects climb, as other provinces chase renewables growth. 'Restoring investor confidence in the renewables sector has to be a priority item for this government, to ensure Albertans aren't left out while Canadians in other provinces experience the benefits of low-cost, abundant, reliable energy to power their lives for years to come.' The new project queue surged to 20 GW in 2023, in part due to a change that saw project proposals assessed in batches instead of individually, as well as developers rushing to get up and running ahead of the moratorium kicking in. 1:45 Alberta to introduce renewable energy recycling fee A spokesman for Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean said the province continues to lead Canada in renewable investment. Story continues below advertisement 'Our government has set a clear, responsible path forward for a balanced approach on renewable energy development, ensuring our grid is reliable, affordable and sustainable for generations to come,' Josh Aldrich said in an email. 'Over the past year, we have driven down the cost of electricity in Alberta, improved grid stability with (three GW) of baseload power generation from natural gas and have passed legislation that will restructure the market, providing long-term stability for industry and Albertans.' The Alberta Utilities Commission has approved 44 new generation projects in the past year totalling 3.6 GW, and 2.8 GW of that is from renewables, surpassing the previous two years.
Edmonton Journal
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Changing lanes: Delton group invites Smith government to intervene in city bike lane project
Article content Rawling's day job is capital planning and procurement specialist for the Government of Alberta's ministry of forestry and parks and the wildfire division. Three weeks ago, he had no notion of being a spokesperson for fellow Delton residents. 'I decided that someone needed to give a voice to the voiceless, and although I hoped it wouldn't be me, it turned out to be me,' he said. Rawling likes bike lanes — in principle. 'I think they sound great, but the reality is that from what I see, most people who use bike lanes are like me — able-bodied, military age males,' Rawling said. 'I think sometimes bike lanes make sense,' he said, pointing to the ground-up Blatchford development where an east-west bike lane might be laid down without too much disruption. He's lobbying for something he admits is unprecedented — that the province's minister of municipal affairs will 'launch an investigation under the Municipal Government Act,' specifically Section 572.
Calgary Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Changing lanes: Delton group invites Smith government to intervene in city bike lane project
In Edmonton's tiny Delton neighbourhood, what started as a clash between Edmonton's automobile and bicycle cultures is shaping up to be a head-on battle between provincial and municipal powers — and a burgeoning issue in the upcoming municipal election. Article content Article content At the centre of the controversy is the long-planned construction of bike lanes that saw jackhammers powered up two years ago. Article content Article content The multi-year 'bike plan' project involves repaving the roadway and replacing sidewalks, curbs and street lights, rolled into street renewal — coming with a price tag of $100 million of city funds to carve out 30 blocks of bike lanes on the north side, allowing cyclists, wheelchair users and scooter riders to travel in their own lane between 118 Avenue and Jasper Avenue. Article content Article content Additionally, some 50 individuals opposed to the plan showed up last Thursday for a community hall meeting, giving the opposition a mandate, said Rawling, who is critical of the city's claim of city-wide consultation before the project was underway. Article content 'They say that they consulted 11,000 people in 2019. How big is Edmonton? Almost a million. And they justify this with 11,000 people,' he said. Article content Article content Rawling's day job is capital planning and procurement specialist for the Government of Alberta's ministry of forestry and parks and the wildfire division. Article content Article content Three weeks ago, he had no notion of being a spokesperson for fellow Delton residents. Article content 'I decided that someone needed to give a voice to the voiceless, and although I hoped it wouldn't be me, it turned out to be me,' he said. Article content Rawling likes bike lanes — in principle. Article content 'I think they sound great, but the reality is that from what I see, most people who use bike lanes are like me — able-bodied, military age males,' Rawling said. Article content 'I think sometimes bike lanes make sense,' he said, pointing to the ground-up Blatchford development where an east-west bike lane might be laid down without too much disruption. Article content He's lobbying for something he admits is unprecedented — that the province's minister of municipal affairs will 'launch an investigation under the Municipal Government Act,' specifically Section 572.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta employees vote 90 per cent in favour of strike in historic vote
Government of Alberta employees have voted to strike. Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) reported on Tuesday that members voted 90 per cent in favour of strike action. More than 80 per cent of members in eight locals voted. AUPE said the results have been delivered to the Alberta Labour Relations Board to verify and confirm. The union has not set a strike date, saying the vote is valid for 120 days but that the bargaining committee remains focused on reaching a deal. 'Historically, strong strike mandates are a powerful tool to bring most employers back to the bargaining table,' AUPE wrote in a press release. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to good faith negotiations and will continue to push for an equitable agreement.' The impacted AUPE locals include: Local 001, which has almost 6,000 members provincewide in most Government of Alberta (GOA) worksites; Local 002, which represents administrative and program service workers; Local 003, which represents GOA employees in law enforcement roles; Local 004, which represents GOA employees in trades; Local 005, which represents 1,200 employees who work in natural resources and conservation; Local 006, which represents employees in social services fields; Local 009, which represents members in health, therapy, institutional and patient support services; and Local 012, which represents members in technical services. This is the first time Alberta public sector workers have had the legal right to strike, after legislation was changed in 2017. CTV News Edmonton has reached out to the Minister of Finance and is awaiting a response.
