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Alberta

New Catholic Middle School for Red Deer and new Public High School for Blackfalds may be part of Kenney’s 19 Billion Dollar infrastructure plan

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From The Province of Alberta

Infrastructure spending supports economy, jobs

Government’s 2020 Capital Plan spends 19.3-billion tax dollars over three years to deliver the infrastructure Alberta families and communities need.

Alberta’s 2020 Capital Plan provides for key infrastructure projects that will build a prosperous future and keep Albertans working. Over and above what was announced in the last budget, the 2020 Capital Plan will fund new projects worth an estimated $772 million over the next three years. These projects will support more than 3,000 new jobs by 2022.

“We are accelerating an already aggressive Capital Plan with a focus on infrastructure that creates jobs and economic growth. This Capital Plan will make life better for Albertans, improving access to health facilities, schools, roads, and other important infrastructure.”

Jason Kenney, Premier

“With these responsible investments, Alberta-based businesses and the skilled workers they employ will have opportunities to bid on significant provincial projects for the next three years.”

Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure

The Government of Alberta will also introduce legislation this fall outlining how it will prioritize and report on capital spending. This will implement a platform commitment to publish a 20-year strategic capital plan.

Quick facts

  • Alberta’s 2020 Capital Plan invests in new infrastructure projects, including:
    • expansion of the emergency department and mental health unit at Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre
    • expansion of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre
    • two new school modernization projects and construction funds for nine school projects which were previously approved in Budget 2019 for design only
    • funding for the Bow Reservoir Options Project
    • Glenbow Museum in Calgary modernization
  • The 2020 Capital Plan continues to support key infrastructure projects, including:
    • the new Gene Zwozdesky Centre at Norwood in Edmonton
    • Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital expansion
    • school capital projects in various phases of planning, design and construction throughout the province
    • Northern Lakes College High Prairie Consolidation
    • Edmonton and Calgary ring roads and light rail transit (LRT)

      Blackfalds — New high school (9 to 12) for Wolf Creek Public Schools

      Red Deer — New middle school (Grades 6 to 9) for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools

 

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Agriculture

Lacombe meat processor scores $1.2 million dollar provincial tax credit to help expansion

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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.”

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

“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.”

Jennifer Johnson, MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka

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.”

Thomas Beretta, plant manager, Beretta Farms

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.

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Alberta

Alberta Next: Alberta Pension Plan

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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

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