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Alberta

In his own words: Why Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro is rejecting the federal government’s firearm confiscation

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OP/ED submitted to Todayville by Alberta Justice Minister Shandro

Challenging the federal firearms ban

Last month, the federal minister responsible for the RCMP wrote to me to request that Alberta provide resources starting this fall to begin confiscating an estimated 30,000 legally acquired firearms from Albertans. We have rejected their request and will not offer any resources.

The firearms that they are seeking to confiscate were part of a list of over 1500 models that were banned by the federal Liberals in 2020. An amnesty is currently in effect until October 2023, after which time they will be prohibited to possess.

The list of banned models were all previously non-restricted and restricted firearms, including hunting rifles and shotguns as well as historical artifacts almost a hundred years old. Why ban these firearms? A committee of federal bureaucrats decided that these firearms look scary – which is why they describe them as “assault-style.” In reality, we know these firearms, no matter how they may be styled, are in no way materially different from more familiar looking rifles and shotguns.

To challenge this ban, Alberta will apply to intervene in six ongoing lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the prohibition.

I have also been advised that the Commanding Officer of K Division does not support using provincial police resources to administer the federal government’s confiscation program. Despite this, we have been told that the Federal Liberals intend to conscript provincial RCMP officers into acting as confiscation agents.

Alberta taxpayers pay over $750 million per-year for the RCMP and we will not tolerate taking officers off the streets in order to confiscate the property of law-abiding firearms owners.

To take action, I have used the authorities that we have as a province to identify the confiscation program as an activity that is not appropriate for the RCMP to be used for. Should the federal government proceed with their plan, I will launch a formal dispute under the Provincial Police Service Agreement.

However, because the RCMP is a federal entity, we believe that the Federal Liberals will again interfere in police operations – just as they did when they politicized the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in order to bolster their case for the same pending firearms ban – and order that the RCMP act as confiscation agents.

If this happens, we will consider all options at our disposal to protect Albertans and the property rights that they are entitled to.

 

Tyler Shandro

Minister of Justice and Solicitor General

Alberta

Red Deer Hospital preliminary designs unveiled

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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.”

Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure

“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.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

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.”

Jason Stephan, MLA for Red Deer-South

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

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Alberta

Premier Smith urges PM Trudeau not to raise carbon tax on April 1

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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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