The Way Forward

A message from Premier Ed Stelmach

As part of our plan to increase investment in the province, I met with the new U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson when he was here in late October. This was a great opportunity to build the relationship with our largest trading partner as he continues to take our message to the U.S.

Over the past two years, our government has taken unprecedented action on projects Albertans told us were important to them. From the oil sands and provincial energy strategies, to health care and Alberta’s first Cultural Policy, we’ve been working at full speed. We accomplished many things—during a period of exceptional growth and then one of global economic downturn— and we are keeping to our plan to improve quality of life, protect the environment and create opportunity for Albertans.

Following a four-point plan, we are focusing on a strong recovery for our economy, long-term prosperity and quality of life for Albertans. We will bring Alberta back to surplus in three years and be ready when growth returns.

Highlights of what we've achieved and the plan for the future

Alberta moves to global stage with carbon capture and storage projects

With $2 billion committed to carbon capture and storage (CCS), the Alberta government has announced its support for two projects that will move Alberta to the forefront in developing cleaner energy technology.

The first large-scale project – Shell’s Quest oil sands upgrader project in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland near Fort Saskatchewan – will capture and store up to 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The CO2 will be injected 2,300 metres below the earth’s surface underneath cap rock.

The second project is Project Pioneer, a $436-million initiative at TransAlta’s Keephills facility. It will be the first major CCS project to involve coal-fired power generation. Greening coal-fired power generation at Keephills will do much more than prevent one million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering Alberta’s atmosphere each year. It will also offer lessons on how other plants might be retrofitted to see similar benefits, here in Alberta and around the world.

While Alberta is a small contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for less than one-tenth of one percent of global emissions, projects like these will help the province be at the forefront of developing clean energy technology. They support the Provincial Energy Strategy.

Once all of the projects supported through Alberta’s CCS funding are fully developed, they are expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately five million tonnes per year beginning in 2015.

Read more about carbon capture and storage

Alberta Capital Bonds available in February 2010

Albertans will soon have an opportunity to invest in their province through a retail bond program that will assist in building needed infrastructure.

Alberta Capital Bonds will be offered for sale in February 2010. Members of the Legislative Assembly are providing input for the development of the program. More details will be announced closer to the selling date, such as the type of bond and the interest rate.

The bonds will be available across the province at financial institutions such as banks and credit unions, and also through investment dealers. The bonds will be a way for Albertans to invest directly in their community. Backed by the province, the bonds will be one of the safest investments in today’s economic climate.

A list of public projects to be financed by capital bonds will be released later this fall, meaning Albertans will know which hospitals, schools and other public projects they are helping to build.

Second phase of pharmaceutical strategy announced

Albertans will save money on their generic prescription drugs and receive more advice about their medications from their local pharmacist under phase two of the government’s pharmaceutical strategy.

Phase two of the pharmaceutical strategy will see the Alberta government:

• reduce generic drug prices;
• provide faster access to new drugs and reduce costs; and,
• expand the role of pharmacists to better meet the needs of patients.

Phase one of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy was announced in December 2008. It included a drug program for Albertans with rare diseases, improvements to the drug approval process, a new drug plan for seniors, revised premiums for non-group coverage and a consolidated government-sponsored drug program.

Learn more about Alberta’s health system

WorldSkills 2009 leaves a legacy

Thousands of Alberta trades and technology students will benefit from state-of-the-art equipment funded by the Alberta government for WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

As a legacy from the international competition, the government has distributed $16 million of nearly new equipment to high schools and post-secondary training providers across the province. Computers, water saws, cooking equipment and moulding machines are among the many items used during the four-day Worldskills competition held this September. This gives Alberta learners the opportunity to gain hand-on experience with industry-specific equipment while learning new skills.

Read more about the WorldSkills legacy