Alberta
Future of Energy is Here – Province of Alberta pitches Alberta and Albertans at 2022 Energy Council conference
Alberta’s Energy Minister Pete Guthrie is making a powerful presentation to state and provincial legislators from across the United States and Canada at the Energy Council’s Global Energy and Environmental Issues Conference in Banff.
It’s a convincing pitch on behalf of energy workers, and Alberta taxpayers who rely so heavily on the province’s most lucrative industry. The presentation is boosted by this video profiling Alberta’s stable, abundant and environmentally responsible energy supply.
Energy Minister Pete Guthrie issued the following statement on Alberta’s energy sector at the 2022 Energy Council conference:
“Energy matters now more than ever. This year, we’ve seen how geopolitical events and volatile energy markets can impact the lives of people throughout the world. It matters where the energy that powers our homes, our economies and our lives comes from.
“The world needs a solution for long-term energy security that is also responsible, reliable and affordable. That solution is Alberta.
“It’s in this spirit that Alberta is proud to host the Energy Council’s Global Energy and Environmental Issues Conference in Banff. We are promoting our energy sector to more than 160 participants – including state and provincial legislators from the United States and Canada.
“During the conference, we will focus discussions on the future of the energy industry, the strength and security of the North American energy system and the role Alberta has to play.
“Alberta is the global leader in responsible energy development that the world needs. We have the innovation, technology and expertise needed to produce responsible energy. We have the highest human rights, labour and environmental standards. We have Canada’s fastest-growing renewable energy sector. On top of all that, we are rapidly developing carbon capture and storage and lowering emissions, with the Pathways Alliance targeting net zero by 2050.
“Our government firmly believes Alberta is the key to energy security for North America and the world. Our track record speaks for itself. Last year, about 62 per cent of the crude oil imported to the United States came from Alberta – that is 10 times more than their oil imports from Saudi Arabia, and over four times more than all of OPEC. Every barrel that comes from Alberta helps replace one produced by countries that do not adhere to our high environmental and social standards. Our province has one of the largest oil reserves in the world, and we are ready to supply nations around the world with our reliable and responsibly produced resources.
“Alberta’s support of research and innovation excellence ensures that innovators can continue to make groundbreaking discoveries, commercialize game-changing emissions-reducing technologies and solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges.
“The future of energy is here. It’s Alberta.”
Alberta
Red Deer Hospital preliminary designs unveiled
Alberta’s government shared preliminary designs of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre redevelopment with residents from central Alberta.
On March 14, Alberta’s government held its first public information session since January 2023 with Albertans in Red Deer and area about the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre redevelopment. Albertans have long waited for the redevelopment and Alberta’s government made the first significant commitment and progress on the hospital by allocating $100 million in Budget 2020, followed by another $1.8-billion commitment in Budget 2022.
In addition to preliminary design drawings, residents were able to view a video simulating a flyover of the new patient tower and power plant. Project representatives were also on hand to speak about the project. The session was attended by about 150 residents, media and officials including Ken Johnston, mayor of Red Deer.
“We were excited to share preliminary designs for the Red Deer Hospital redevelopment yesterday. The number of people who attended the session validates the importance of this project to the central region. We are proud of the role Infrastructure is playing in delivering one of the most ambitious hospital redevelopment projects in Alberta’s history.”
“As the MLA for Red Deer-North and the Health Minister, I’m very proud of the progress we’ve achieved, and I remain dedicated to advocating for this project. Albertans should be able to access health care when and where they need it. This project will improve health outcomes for Albertans living in Red Deer and across central Alberta by increasing the facility’s capacity and providing much-needed services and resources, including new cardiac catheterization labs, close to home.”
Design work began in June 2023. With schematic design now complete, the hospital redevelopment is on schedule and on budget. The next stage of the project, design development, is now underway. Once complete, the new expansion will add up to 200 beds to the existing facility, bringing the total number of beds to up to 570.
“With an investment of $810 million over three years in the Budget 2024 Capital Plan, the expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital is Alberta’s biggest infrastructure project. Last night’s information session keeps Central Albertans informed about this exciting, transformative investment in our hospital, supporting principles of transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars.”
Quick facts
- There are two major components of this redevelopment:
- Project 1: construction of a new patient tower and expansion and renovation of the existing hospital’s main building
- Project 2: construction of an ambulatory building
- The project will upgrade several services throughout the hospital site including:
- an additional patient tower
- six new operating rooms
- new Medical Device Reprocessing department
- new cardiac catheterization labs
- renovations to various areas within the main building
- newly renovated and expanded emergency department, and
- a new ambulatory clinic building to be located adjacent to the surface parkade
Related information
Alberta
Premier Smith urges PM Trudeau not to raise carbon tax on April 1
Premier Danielle Smith met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Calgary to discuss areas of priority for the province.
The meeting was constructive, but there are still several issues on which there is some distance between both the federal and provincial governments. These include the impact of the federal carbon tax, and its cascading effects on inflation, affordability and sustained higher interest rates, as well as the timeline to reach carbon neutrality.
Premier Smith reiterated the growing opposition to the federal carbon tax, which includes seven Premiers, federal members of Parliament, and everyday Albertans and Canadians. The Premier suggested that the Prime Minister could achieve a win if he listened to the many voices raised against the carbon tax and reversed his decision to increase the tax by 23 per cent on April 1.
Alberta remains focused on achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and is a willing partner in responsible, manageable efforts to see that goal through. The province and the federal government have worked together to see several projects start and progress from companies including Air Products, Dow Chemical and Heidelberg. The Premier highlighted the importance of projects that will move the province and country forward on carbon neutrality, including the Pathways Alliance project. Premier Smith is awaiting the federal budget to see if Ottawa will give more clarity to support it.
Premier Smith also relayed to the Prime Minister the massive opportunity Alberta has to export ammonia to South Korea and Japan, in co-operation with British Columbia, and expressed hope that the federal government would be a partner in this work.
Premier Smith expressed gratitude for the progress on the TransMountain pipeline and was encouraged by federal conversations aimed at replicating the highly successful Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC). Indigenous leaders across the country have praised Alberta for leading the way on economic reconciliation and being an example that should be followed. There are opportunities for greater Indigenous partnership in energy projects, including the TransMountain pipeline, and in other industries. Premier Smith also highlighted Alberta’s plans to collaborate with First Nations on issues such as mental health and addiction, infrastructure and housing.
Alberta will remain a willing partner when given the opportunity to do so. There are many ways that the province can co-operate with Ottawa that do not involve the federal government overstepping its constitutional authority, and Alberta will continue to advocate for solutions that will benefit Albertans and all Canadians.
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