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As we gear up for another Alberta summer, Cabinet Ministers have been hard at work, travelling to all corners of our province in order to hear your concerns and answer your questions first hand. Moving forward, this government will continue its work in promoting Alberta industry in the global marketplace while maintaining the programs and services that Albertans value most, like health care, education and supports for the vulnerable. |
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Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. launch New West Partnership
Recently, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan launched the New West Partnership, creating an economic powerhouse of nine million people with a combined GDP of more than $550 billion.
The New West Partnership is an ambitious agreement that will create Canada's largest interprovincial barrier-free trade and investment market and see the three westernmost provinces work together in unprecedented ways to the benefit of workers, businesses and investors.
The three provinces signed the New West Partnership at the third joint British Columbia-Alberta-Saskatchewan Cabinet meeting in Regina. Building on shared strengths, the New West Partnership contains four components:
- a comprehensive economic agreement, which will remove remaining barriers to trade, investment and labour mobility, further enhancing the competitiveness of Canada's Western Provinces;
- an international co-operation agreement that will see the three provinces co-operate on trade and investment missions to international markets, and share foreign market intelligence to advance joint interests and increase business competitiveness;
- an innovation agreement, which will enable provincial innovation efforts to be co-ordinated to better attract investment and talent, helping build critical mass of innovation activities in the West; and
- a procurement agreement that will enable the provinces to capitalize on their combined buying power through the joint procurement of goods and services.
The first major undertaking of the New West Partnership was a joint mission to China and Japan in May. Together, the three provinces promoted trade and commerce opportunities with Canada's newest free trade region and drew attention to the New West's global leadership in clean technology, natural resources, agri-food and agriculture.
The Premiers also highlighted Western Canada's many geographic and infrastructure advantages, including the region's multi-modal Pacific Gateway and Corridor transportation system, and their unwavering support for open skies and open trade with the Asia Pacific region.
In addition, the Premiers opened a new Shanghai-based trade and investment office, which will serve to promote the West and bolster economic ties with one of the strongest and most dynamic economic regions in Greater China.
The Western Canada Trade and Investment Office will represent the three provinces in a number of priority sectors, including education, tourism and investment attraction. Shanghai was selected as it is China's trade and financial hub, is the world's second busiest port, and has a population of more than 20-million people.
The New West Partnership Agreement can be viewed at www.gov.sk.ca/nwp. |
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Consultation begins on Alberta Health Act
Consultation on new Alberta health legislation is underway and Albertans are urged to provide their ideas on recommendations for the forthcoming Alberta Health Act.
Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness, appointed Fred Horne, MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford to lead the consultation process on behalf of government. He will submit a final report to the Minister this fall.
An advisory committee has been formed to assist MLA Horne over the next five months. The committee will identify policy issues that government needs to address, provide advice on the new legislation, and assist with the development of the report.
Albertans are invited to visit www.yourhealthact.alberta.ca throughout the spring and summer for updated information on the consultation process and to provide input. MLA Horne and the advisory committee will also consult directly with health-care providers and other key stakeholders. In June, the 12 local Health Advisory Councils will host a series of community-based consultations across Alberta to seek input about the forthcoming health legislation.
MLA Horne will present a report to Minister Zwozdesky by Sept. 30, 2010, that reflects what was heard from Albertans, as well as a detailed plan on how to move forward.
In its report last January, the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health recommended that a new law, the Alberta Health Act, be built around core principles. The committee also recommended a patient charter, the affirmation of Canada Health Act principles, consolidation of core legislation, stronger support for evidence-based decision making and ongoing citizen engagement. The Minister accepted all four recommendations on behalf of the government in January. |
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Firefighters to receive enhanced WCB coverage for cancer
Firefighters will now automatically be eligible for Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage if they develop esophageal or testicular cancer. These two cancers are being added to the list of cancers with automatic WCB coverage for qualifying firefighters, bringing the list to ten.
WCB Alberta provides compensation to all workers it covers if they are injured or develop an illness as a result of work. Although there are many factors that can contribute to the risk of contracting cancer, firefighters are at greater risk than the general public of being exposed to a variety of toxic or cancer-causing agents when they approach burning buildings. Ten cancers are now considered to be "presumptive" or presumed to be work related without requiring proof.
The Alberta Fire Fighters Association (AFFA) supported the change, noting that cancer rates among firefighters are between three and five times the rates among the general population and they contract these diseases much earlier in life. |
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Province adds extra strength to Albertans' non-profit donations
In its second year, the Community Spirit Program will help 1,741 Alberta-based non-profit and charitable organizations by building on Albertans' private donations. Organizations across the province will put the extra dollars to work in the delivery of all types of community programs and services.
The Community Spirit Program donation grant received 1,812 applications in 2009, a 14-per-cent increase over 2008. Of these, 1,741 were approved and will share $19 million. The remaining $1 million of the 2009 budget was used for program operating costs, including an education and awareness campaign and community information sessions.
The program's goal is to help increase individual private donations to Alberta's non-profit and charitable organizations. Organizations apply for a proportional grant based on the value of individual donations received. The program is donor-driven, meaning it recognizes and encourages Albertans to make cash donations.
The approved 2009 applicants' donations will be leveraged by having the first $10,000 of their eligible cash donations matched at a level of 90 per cent. Individual cash donations that bring the total from $10,001 to $25,000 are matched at a rate of 40 per cent; and donations that bring the total over $25,000 are matched at a rate of 15.97 per cent. When an organization raises donations totaling $88,000 (or more), it receives the maximum grant amount of $25,000.
For more information on the program, including a list of 2009 grant recipients and grant amounts, visit www.communityspiritprogram.ca. |
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If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact me at:
Jack Hayden
Stettler
Box 2022, 4820 50 Street
Stettler, AB
T0C 2L0
Phone: (403) 742-4284 |
Drumheller
Box 1929, 22 170 Centre Street
Drumheller, AB
T0J 0Y0
Phone: (403) 823-8181 |
Hanna
Box 1386, 119 - 2nd Avenue West
Hanna, AB
T0J 1P0
Phone: (403) 854-4333
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