Cabinet retreat in Pincher Creek

A message from Premier Ed Stelmach

Every year, all government ministers get together for a two-day Cabinet retreat. This year’s gathering was held last week in Pincher Creek. While we meet on a regular basis in Calgary and Edmonton, this annual retreat is not only a chance to discuss important provincial issues in depth, but also an opportunity for us to visit a smaller Alberta locale.

Pincher Creek allowed us to see that community’s people and innovations at work, visiting a wind farm and seeing green energy in action. This was also a timely reminder of the importance of new electricity transmission lines for Alberta. Work and development is happening in all areas of the province and we need to ensure that all have access to reliable power.

At the retreat, we also talked about Alberta’s fiscal situation, including the upcoming budget and how we can move forward on our plan for recovery. Our goal is to ensure that our province emerges from the recession the same way we went into it: as an economic leader.

It was a very useful two days of discussions. As we look forward to the upcoming Legislative Session beginning on October 26, we’ll continue to stay focused on our long-term goals –– growing the economy; showing leadership in responsible energy production; and making sure we’re providing the best possible services to Albertans, at a price we can afford.

Important flu vaccine information

In the coming fall season, Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza A is expected to be the predominant influenza strain circulating in Alberta, but other seasonal strains may also cause illness.

There will be two influenza vaccines available this season.

• Seasonal influenza vaccine offering protection against the three influenza strains which are expected to circulate this fall and winter.
• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccine offering protection against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, the virus which is predominantly circulating in Alberta at the moment.

Beginning October 13, the province will start to immunize Albertans against influenza through immunization clinics across the province. The immunization program will begin with the seasonal influenza vaccine, aimed at high-risk groups, and shift to the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza immunization for all Albertans as soon as that vaccine becomes available, likely in November.

More about high-risk groups and where to get further information

Continuing care update

The Alberta government's goal for continuing care is to ensure seniors have the appropriate accommodation to reflect their needs. With the province's growing senior population, proper accommodations must be in place. That means moving seniors out of hospitals, when acute care such as a knee operation or a hip replacement is complete.

Seniors have said time and again that they want to maintain their quality of life and independence, close to their families and friends. That’s government's goal – to make it as comfortable as possible and ensure that many seniors can retire in the communities that they helped build. This also allows for more flexible in the design of facilities. As seniors age, and lose mobility for example, necessary services can be added, rather than taking a senior from a lodge setting, then to a nursing home, and then an auxiliary hospital. That is not the quality of life seniors deserve.

Alberta's goal remains what's best for the province's seniors - proper accommodations that meet needs, home-like options, and independence, so they can remain in their own communities.

Alberta welcomes two new universities

Students can now attend two new universities in Alberta via the recently re-named Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton and Mount Royal University in Calgary.

Both institutions will continue to provide a broad array of programs, including certificates, diplomas, applied degrees, and baccalaureate degrees. Using the term ‘university’ recognizes the high level of baccalaureate degree programs that students receive at Mount Royal, and helps those students better transition to higher learning in graduate programming and the workforce.

Read more about Grant MacEwan and Mount Royal

Provincial conversation focuses on the future of education

On October 18-20, Albertans will have an opportunity to shape the future of education in Alberta through Inspiring Education: A Dialogue with Albertans fall forum in Edmonton.  Registrations for the event, which is a continuation of the spring public engagement initiative led by Alberta Education, are now open at www.inspiringeducation.alberta.ca.

The forum aims to bring together ideas from regional, online and personal conversations and help to form a new vision for education. Noted speakers include Dr. Indira Samarasekera, President of the University of Alberta and Daniel H. Pink, author of a trio of bestselling books on the changing world of work.

For more information and to register

Record medal count for Canada at 40th WorldSkills competition

The world’s largest demonstration of trade and technology talent was on display September 1-7 at Stampede Park in Calgary as Alberta hosted the 40^th WorldSkills competition. More than 150,000 spectators including students from across Alberta attended the important event.

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 represents Skills Canada’s 10^th participation in WorldSkills, an international competition which takes place every two years and brings together the world’s brightest in skilled trades and technology. This year’s competition featured 900 competitors from 50 countries/regions who participated in team and individual competitions. Team Canada, one of the largest delegations Canada has ever sent to WorldSkills, competed in 35 of the 45 skills categories.

Read more about this year's competition