Alberta
Climate Change is a tragedy of the Commons issue

Harrie Vredenburg: “…The role of the United Nations in Climate Change goes back to how we think about Climate Change.
Climate Change is a tragedy of the “commons” issue and our thinking about Climate Change goes way back to the early 1800’s when in England there was a concern about over-grazing of commons pasture land.
People would graze their sheep on the pastureland and there was concern that the pasture would disappear altogether. So somebody said I’m not going to graze my sheep there, but the problem was that if their neighbour increased the amount of grazing on their land, the problem wasn’t solved, but only the first farmer who didn’t graze their sheep there was hurt.
Same thing with Climate Change. It’s a global “commons” problem. And that’s why it needs the United Nations and why the UN has made several efforts to do so.
The first effort was the Kyoto Protocol and it was an effort to regulate globally climate issues. It was essentially a failure. It was agreed in the 1990’s and then upon that agreement first of all, the United States opted not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Canada did ratify it but then opted not to execute on it, and then other countries dragged their heels and nothing was done about it … so the Kyoto Protocol was essentially a failure…”
Harrie Vredenburg, Professor University of Calgary Suncor Energy Chair
Producer’s Note:
Thoughtful and intuitive metaphor here by Harrie with the tragedy of the commons using sheep as a metaphor to describe climate change. I often ask myself, wouldn’t it make sense if the world is going to use the oil anyways – does it make sense to use Canada’s oil?
Click here to for more of Harrie Vredenburg’s stories and videos on Todayville.
Click here to connect with Harrie on LinkedIn.
Agriculture
Lacombe meat processor scores $1.2 million dollar provincial tax credit to help expansion

Alberta’s government continues to attract investment and grow the provincial economy.
The province’s inviting and tax-friendly business environment, and abundant agricultural resources, make it one of North America’s best places to do business. In addition, the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit helps attract investment that will further diversify Alberta’s agriculture industry.
Beretta Farms is the most recent company to qualify for the tax credit by expanding its existing facility with the potential to significantly increase production capacity. It invested more than $10.9 million in the project that is expected to increase the plant’s processing capacity from 29,583 to 44,688 head of cattle per year. Eleven new employees were hired after the expansion and the company plans to hire ten more. Through the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit, Alberta’s government has issued Beretta Farms a tax credit of $1,228,735.
“The Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit is building on Alberta’s existing competitive advantages for agri-food companies and the primary producers that supply them. This facility expansion will allow Beretta Farms to increase production capacity, which means more Alberta beef across the country, and around the world.”
“This expansion by Beretta Farms is great news for Lacombe and central Alberta. It not only supports local job creation and economic growth but also strengthens Alberta’s global reputation for producing high-quality meat products. I’m proud to see our government supporting agricultural innovation and investment right here in our community.”
The tax credit provides a 12 per cent non-refundable, non-transferable tax credit when businesses invest $10 million or more in a project to build or expand a value-added agri-processing facility in Alberta. The program is open to any food manufacturers and bio processors that add value to commodities like grains or meat or turn agricultural byproducts into new consumer or industrial goods.
Beretta Farms’ facility in Lacombe is a federally registered, European Union-approved harvesting and meat processing facility specializing in the slaughter, processing, packaging and distribution of Canadian and United States cattle and bison meat products to 87 countries worldwide.
“Our recent plant expansion project at our facility in Lacombe has allowed us to increase our processing capacities and add more job opportunities in the central Alberta area. With the support and recognition from the Government of Alberta’s tax credit program, we feel we are in a better position to continue our success and have the confidence to grow our meat brands into the future.”
Alberta’s agri-processing sector is the second-largest manufacturing industry in the province and meat processing plays an important role in the sector, generating millions in annual economic impact and creating thousands of jobs. Alberta continues to be an attractive place for agricultural investment due to its agricultural resources, one of the lowest tax rates in North America, a business-friendly environment and a robust transportation network to connect with international markets.
Quick facts
- Since 2023, there are 16 applicants to the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit for projects worth about $1.6 billion total in new investment in Alberta’s agri-processing sector.
- To date, 13 projects have received conditional approval under the program.
- Each applicant must submit progress reports, then apply for a tax credit certificate when the project is complete.
- Beretta Farms has expanded the Lacombe facility by 10,000 square feet to include new warehousing, cooler space and an office building.
- This project has the potential to increase production capacity by 50 per cent, thereby facilitating entry into more European markets.
Related information
Alberta
Alberta Next: Alberta Pension Plan

From Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta.ca/Next
Let’s talk about an Alberta Pension Plan for a minute.
With our young Alberta workforce paying billions more into the CPP each year than our seniors get back in benefits, it’s time to ask whether we stay with the status quo or create our own Alberta Pension Plan that would guarantee as good or better benefits for seniors and lower premiums for workers.
I want to hear your perspective on this idea and please check out the video. Get the facts. Join the conversation.
Visit Alberta.ca/next
-
Agriculture2 days ago
Canada’s supply management system is failing consumers
-
Economy2 days ago
Trump opens door to Iranian oil exports
-
Alberta1 day ago
COVID mandates protester in Canada released on bail after over 2 years in jail
-
Crime1 day ago
Project Sleeping Giant: Inside the Chinese Mercantile Machine Linking Beijing’s Underground Banks and the Sinaloa Cartel
-
Alberta1 day ago
Alberta uncorks new rules for liquor and cannabis
-
Business24 hours ago
Canada’s loyalty to globalism is bleeding our economy dry
-
armed forces23 hours ago
Canada’s Military Can’t Be Fixed With Cash Alone
-
International1 day ago
Trump transportation secretary tells governors to remove ‘rainbow crosswalks’