The Weekly Roundup- July 25, 2022
Much of the focus this week will be on the visit of Pope Francis to the province, who landed in Edmonton on Sunday. The focus of his trip is aimed at Indigenous reconciliation and apologizing for the abuse that occurred at the church’s residential schools. It’s the first visit of Pope Francis and the third papal visit to the country; you can view the full itinerary here.
Affordability continues to be top of mind in conversations across the province, in particular in light of the Bank of Canada hiking interest rates by the largest amount in more than 20 years to 2.5 per cent. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem stated that “we are increasing our policy interest rate quickly to prevent high inflation from becoming entrenched.” Minister of Finance Jason Nixon issued a statement regarding affordability and the steps the government is taking to address the higher cost of living including inflation rising above 8 per cent.
Additionally on the affordability file, Premier Kenney announced that his government is closely following the price of gas in the province and has met with the Canadian Fuels Association, is asking the Competition Bureau of Canada to investigate potential gasoline price fixing in Alberta and has directed Service Alberta to explore whether there are any tools under Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act to address the matter.
Below, you’ll find a recap of the UCP leadership race and government announcements made since our last edition.
UCP Leadership Race Tracker
We’ll be using this section to apprise you of any major platform announcements, endorsements or other items of note related to leadership contestants. You can click through to their websites using the hyperlinks below.
The UCP Leadership application deadline occurred last week and has determined the contenders who were able to meet the fiduciary and signatory requirements. This week will see the first official Leadership Debate in Medicine Hat on Wednesday that will also be livestreamed on the party’s website. You can hear New West’s Matt Solberg discuss the deadline and the crowded leadership field on CBC Radio here. Former PC Cabinet Minister and Liberal Party Leader Raj Sherman has yet to be confirmed as an official candidate, but did submit his $125,000 entry and required signatures before the deadline.
Leela Aheer: Aheer is an official leadership candidate. She issued a statement counteracting some of the COVID-denying or hesitant viewpoints of other leadership contestants.
Jon Horsman: Horsman withdrew from the leadership race, citing the crowded field of candidates.
Brian Jean: Jean is an official leadership candidate. He remained focused on gas prices for Albertans and accused the premier of not watching gas prices “like a hawk” as he promised. Jean spent the time before last Wednesday’s deadline working to get signatures for other campaigns as well, likely due to more candidates benefitting his campaign with the style of vote (one candidate dropping off in each round if no one achieves 50%).
Todd Loewen: Loewen is an official leadership candidate. He stated that he would take action to ensure vaccine passports can’t return in the future.
Bill Rock: Rock posted on Facebook saying with “great regret” that he hasn’t been able to fundraise the required $175,000 and will inform Elections Alberta of his intention to withdraw his name from the race.
Rajan Sawhney: Sawhney is an official leadership candidate. She has focused on affordability and fighting inflation, penning an article on the Hub, discussing re-indexing five programs, re-indexing the tax system and affordability cheques for Alberta households.
Danielle Smith: Smith is an official leadership candidate and is the perceived frontrunner. Smith has received her first caucus endorsements. She pledged to re-open nomination contests in constituencies where candidates were disqualified if elected as leader and a $300 health spending account for all Albertans. She held a Calgary rally with Theo Fleury who holds some fringe views.
Rebecca Schulz: Schulz is an official leadership candidate. Schulz revealed that her campaign is chaired by former interim Conservative leader and Alberta MP Rona Ambrose. She also promised to introduce fiscal responsibility legislation with time frames for debt repayment and a savings quota.
Travis Toews: Toews is an official leadership candidate. He also released his plan for strengthening Alberta that closely aligns with recommendations from the Fair Deal report.
Government of Alberta Announcements
Key decision makers from the Pacific Northwest will gather in Calgary July 24-28 to discuss shared interests in the region at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Annual Summit.
The Alberta Winter Games will return in February 2024 with Grande Prairie and area hosting.
More than $58.7 million from the Water for Life and the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership grant programs will support 33 water infrastructure projects across the province.
The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is seeking project proposals for $20 million of funding over the next two years for projects focused on hydrogen production, storage, transmission, end use, increased competitiveness and economic diversification.
A new victim assistance program will begin September 1 and reverts back to the Victims of Crime and Public Safety Fund only being used for services and supports for victims of crime.
Albertans 18 years of age and older can now book appointments for a second booster dose of mRNA vaccine.
Alberta’s government has signed an agreement with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations that includes quarterly meetings with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, annual meetings with the Premier and development of an annual report.
Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer issued a statement on the opening of McKesson Canada’s new pharmaceutical distribution centre in Edmonton.
A five-year plan to address and prevent elder abuse was released by the provincial government.
The government released their Anti-Racism Action Plan that builds on recommendations received from the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council and feedback from community groups.
Minister of Environment and Parks Whitney Issik and Minister of Energy Sonya Savage issued a terse statement on the federal discussion paper released last week regarding capping oil and gas emissions
Alberta’s government and the Siksika Nation have signed an agreement to work toward establishing a self-administered police service for their community.
The Premier held his final Stampede pancake breakfast where he announced that September 1 would be known as Alberta Day.
Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf and Banff-Kananaskis MLA Miranda Rosin traveled to Boise, Idaho, July 18-23 for the Council of State Governments West Annual Meeting.
TIER funding of $40 million is being delivered to fund 11 carbon capture projects through the Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Carbon Capture Kickstart program.
Alberta Transportation has cancelled a public-private partnership (P3) approach to upgrade Deerfoot Trail, opting to procure the improvements in smaller pieces
All sectors and sizes of organizations can now apply for grants up to $500,000 through the third round of the Civil Society Fund.
Minister of Energy Sonya Savage issued a statement at the 2022 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference, taking aim at the federal government and saying that the era of energy security amnesia is over.
Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer issued a statement about the June 2022 Labour Force Survey that saw unemployment drop to 4.9 per cent and 2,000 new jobs added.
The Premier joined the Council of the Federation, or the annual meeting of the Premiers. Top issues raised were health care affordability and federal funding and priorities for a post-pandemic recovery. Premier Kenney also touted the buy-in from other provinces in challenging Bill C-69 in the courts, accelerating mutual recognition of regulations under the Canada Free Trade Agreement and supporting Canada’s energy sector amid global turmoil.
Premier Kenney issued a statement on the pending Supreme Court of Canada appeal of the Alberta Court of Appeal decision on the federal government’s Bill C-69 and nine other provinces filing notices of intervention.
Alberta has reached key investment milestones, attracting almost $1.5 billion in new agri-food investment and creating about 3,000 jobs for Albertans since 2019.
A new Career Education task force will recommend ways to build stronger connections between schools and jobs while helping students enter their chosen field sooner.
Applications are open for $50 million in funding in 2022-23 for non-profit groups interested in creating new child-care spaces and providing child care in a licensed child-care program in Alberta.
Alberta’s government is investing $3.2 million to train more Albertans for good-paying jobs in the construction industry.
The province’s electricity rebate program with $50 monthly credits has been extended until December.
The Community Revitalization Levy program has been relaunched and will give municipalities an alternate way of funding infrastructure projects to redevelop an area.
Eligible Ukrainians arriving in Alberta will have access to new social supports.
Upcoming Events Calendar
July 27, 2022: Official UCP Leadership Debate (Medicine Hat)
August 6, 2022: Lethbridge Leadership Candidate Forum
August 30, 2022: Official UCP Leadership Debate (Edmonton)
September 10, 2022: New CPC Leader announced
September 25, 2022: New Alberta Liberal Leader announced
October 6, 2022: New UCP Leader announced
October 21-23, 2022: UCP AGM at River Cree Resort
October 31, 2022: Alberta Legislature Session resumes