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Government of Alberta

Province investing to meet labour market demands by increasing access to “trades” education

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From Government of AB

The province is providing more funding for scholarship programs for apprentices to meet labour market demands and increase access to trades education.

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Lord Beaverbrook Grade 12 pipefitting student, Quinn Tubrett demonstrates welding skills to MLA R.J. Sigurdson from the Skilled Trades Task Force, Minister Nicolaides, Ray Massey, board chair of Skills Canada-Alberta and David LeMay, board member of CAREERS: The Next Generation.

Alberta is supporting high school students pursuing trades education by improving and increasing the scholarship program. The $1.5-million High School Apprenticeship Scholarship, which consolidates previous programs, will help more high school students access the education and training needed to get jobs in the trades.

“This investment will allow more young Albertans to access post-secondary education, through apprenticeship learning. We believe that a trades certificate has as much value, merit and worth as a university degree. When looking at post-secondary educational opportunities, I encourage young Albertans to give due consideration to the skilled trades. The trades provide a strong pathway to employment and to high-paying careers.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education

“Our government has been working hard to strengthen the education system and support academic excellence and choice for our students as they prepare for their futures. These expanded scholarships will provide additional opportunities for Alberta high school students to pursue a career in the trades.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education

“The High School Apprenticeship Scholarship will go a long way to recognize excellence and encourage our finest asset, Alberta’s youth, to continue their apprenticeship education and support them in their journey to reach their full potential as the future industry leaders on the world stage.”

Ray Massey, president, Skills Canada – Alberta

“We are confident that the High School Apprenticeship Scholarship will be a valuable investment in the future of young Albertans, and ensure that they are able to pursue rewarding careers in the trades.”

Jim Carter, chair, CAREERS: The Next Generation

“The High School Apprenticeship Scholarship is an important tool that recognizes that an apprenticeship is a valuable post-secondary education option and a career pathway that allows our young Albertans to achieve their own future career success as well as to become contributors to Alberta’s long-term economic prosperity.”

j’Amey Bevan, chair, Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

The province has injected an additional $1 million into the expanded program that recognizes the achievements of high school graduates who have chosen an apprenticeship pathway.

Qualified high school graduates in either the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) or Career and Technology Studies (CTS) apprenticeship programs will receive a $1,000 scholarship. In addition, qualified graduates who have completed both a RAP and a CTS programs will receive a $2,000 Bright Future, High School Apprenticeship Scholarship.

Quick facts

  • Over the past four years, an annual average of about 10,000 Alberta high school students in approximately 300 schools across the province participated in RAP and CTS classes.
  • Over the last five years, an average of 344 recipients per year received the RAP/CTS Scholarship.
  • More than 1,400 scholarships worth a total of nearly $1.5 million are being awarded for the 2019-20 school year:
    • 1,387 High School Apprenticeship Scholarship awards valued at $1,000 each
    • 35 High School Apprenticeship Scholarship –  Bright Future awards valued at $2,000
  • Over the next five years, nearly 20,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire, with that number hitting more than 45,000 in 10 years. That’s equivalent to half the population of the City of Lethbridge leaving town.

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Alberta

Alberta Provincial Police – New chief of Independent Agency Police Service

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Sat Parhar has been appointed as the first chief of the Independent Agency Police Service, marking the next step toward a new municipal policing option.

The appointment of a new chief for the Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS) marks the next step in giving municipalities a new option for local policing and builds on the work already underway for the agency to assume the police-like duties currently carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs. The IAPS will empower municipalities to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing public safety across the province.

Chief Parhar brings more than 25 years of policing experience, including senior roles with the Calgary Police Service, most recently as deputy chief. His frontline policing experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s complex and diverse public safety landscape positions him to lead the agency as it takes shape and begins its work as a new municipal policing option, keeping communities safe.

Once operational, the agency will strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which includes the RCMP, Indigenous policing services and municipal police. It will help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently to meet Alberta’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities.

“Appointing Chief Sat Parhar is a key milestone in Alberta’s plan to give municipalities a real choice in how their communities are kept safe. This is about building a modern police service that reflects the priorities of Albertans, strengthens local decision-making, and ensures every corner of our province, especially rural areas, can count on responsive, effective law enforcement. With his decades of experience and deep understanding of Alberta’s policing landscape, he is the right leader to bring this vision to life.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

“This appointment signifies a significant step forward in our efforts to establish a more robust, community-focused policing model that is better equipped to meet the unique needs of our local residents. Under Chief Parhar’s visionary leadership, we are confident that we will develop a modern, efficient police service that not only enhances public safety but also aligns closely with the priorities and values of Albertans. His experience and commitment are vital in shaping an IAPS that is responsive, transparent, and dedicated to fostering trust and collaboration within the community, ultimately ensuring a safer and more connected society for all.”

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency ServicesMike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

Chief Parhar’s immediate priorities will be to hire an executive team and commence organizational planning such as developing key recruitment, training and other operational policies. Chief Parhar’s appointment is the first step of many to establishing the IAPS.

“It’s an honour to take on this role and help shape a modern police service built for Alberta. My focus from day one will be on setting high standards for professionalism, building strong relationships with our partners and ensuring this service reflects the needs and priorities of the communities we serve.”

Sat Parhar, chief, Independent Agency Police Service

The Independent Agency Police Service was formally created through regulation following the passing of Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. The agency will operate as an independent Crown corporation, and will be renamed the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, with its head office located in Calgary. The IAPS will be operationally independent from the provincial government with civilian oversight, consistent with all police services in Alberta.

“When it comes to policing, municipalities like ours deserve a choice – especially when the current system leaves us disadvantaged simply because of our size. We look forward to learning more about what that alternative will look like once an Alberta police agency is fully established and the options are clear. For us, this is about fairness, sustainability, and ensuring municipalities have access to policing solutions that reflect both their needs and their realities.”

Jack Van Rijn, Mayor of the Town of Coaldale

Quick facts

  • The regulation establishes the IAPS Provincial Corporation and its governance structure including board of directors, board of director powers, financial responsibilities and accountabilities.

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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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