By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The government is throwing fuel on the firefighting in Alberta communities this year to bolster public safety. More support for training and response is being combined with enhanced collaboration to “help keep Albertans and their communities safe,” said Tany Yao, the UCP member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo. The government is providing $585,000 to support … Read more…
By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta is financially sound enough to fully restore municipal grants based on the value of local taxation on eligible provincial properties, the government said today. The budget tabled last month paves the way for putting $17 million more into the hands of municipalities in 2025 through the grants-in-place-of-taxes system. Another $20 million is projected … Read more…
By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Paving the only access route to a trio of remote Alberta Indigenous communities found a home in the province’s first deficit budget since 2021. Capital spending in the budget tabled Thursday includes work on Highway 58, serving John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River. “The paved highway will improve mobility for more than … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta’s 2025 Budget is planning for the impacts of U.S. tariffs to be far-reaching and to slow overall economic growth. But the economic outlook incorporated in the budget assumes tariffs on goods will be 15 per cent in the year ahead rather than the 25 per cent tariff threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta’s unemployment rate is expected to rise and stay high over the next two years. With Alberta adding nearly 63,000 new jobs in the closing months of 2024, the province’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 per cent in January. But the economic forecast contained in Alberta’s 2025 Budget anticipates unemployment will peak at 7.4 … Read more…
By Mickey Dumont Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Like many municipal facilities, arenas are not designed as profit centres or to break even financially. One Alberta energy solutions company wants to work with Claresholm town council to change that.While critical, quality of life elements in a community such as arenas, swimming pools, parks and other municipal recreation facilities, are taxpayer-funded and … Read more…
By Rob Vogt The provincial government has announced it is developing new rules to govern the exploration and development of coal.The province recently announced the Alberta Coal Industry Modernization Initiative, that will prohibit mountaintop removal mining and ban new open-pit mines in the foothills, while increasing coal royalties.It was stated this initiative will guide coal mining practices with a goal … Read more…