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Alberta

Province separating Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism grant programs

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Empowering and supporting communities

Alberta’s government has launched two new grant programs to support community-driven diversity, inclusivity and anti-racism initiatives.

In December 2023, the government separated the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant program into two new programs, an Ethnocultural Grant program and an Anti-Racism Grant program. The separation follows advice from the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council and will better support diversity, inclusion and multicultural efforts. Both grant programs are currently open for applications.

“Our government is committed to building an inclusive province. These new grant programs will help support Alberta’s multicultural, Indigenous and Métis communities’ initiatives that celebrate their contributions to the province and our collective prosperity, as well as help address issues of racism and discrimination to foster a more tolerant and inclusive society.”

Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism

As Alberta’s population becomes increasingly diverse, it is vital for the government to promote the benefits and value of multiculturalism and intercultural connections within Alberta communities while addressing issues of racism and discrimination. The new grant programs help eligible organizations create programming specific to the issues and concerns of their communities.

  • The Ethnocultural Grant program supports community initiatives that promote Alberta’s multicultural diversity and foster inclusivity, including supporting Indigenous community organizations in celebrating and sharing their rich historical heritage.
  • The Anti-Racism Grant program is designed to increase awareness of racism, its impact and the challenges faced by racialized groups, and to support community-driven anti-racism initiatives.

“We are a non-profit organization, relying 100 per cent on volunteers. With the support of the grant, we were able to successfully organize the very successful Taste of Igboland event, featuring educational and cultural activities. The grant gave us the opportunity to have a voice, and showcasing our culture gave us a sense of identity.”

Uche Okereafor, president, Igbo Cultural Association of Edmonton in Canada

“The Culture Camp that we host each summer solstice provides us with the opportunities to share our culture through teachings and ceremony with our visitors. Regardless of the ethnicity of our visitors, these four days bring people together in the spirit of treaty. By stepping a foot into our world, we can start to move forward together in good relation with one another.”

Cheryl Whiskeyjack, executive director, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

“As a recipient of the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant, our RACE Inclusify Workshop in October 2023, in partnership with DiversityFirst, USA, was a monumental success. Our participants gained invaluable insights into cross-cultural connections and the challenges faced by Indigenous and racialized groups. This knowledge empowered our attendees with the tools to recognize and actively combat racism in their daily lives. This experience has been a milestone in our journey towards a more inclusive and understanding Alberta, and it’s a testament to the power of collaboration and shared commitment to social progress.”

Patrick Arthur, executive director, Centre for Intellectual Excellence

Quick facts

  • Budget 2023 allocated $8 million over three years for the Ethnocultural Grant program and $1.5 million over three years for the Anti-Racism Grant program.
  • The Ethnocultural Grant program has two streams:
    • Stream 1 is for projects that create opportunities for intercultural connections with ethnocultural and Indigenous groups (funding up to $50,000).
    • Stream 2 is for projects that create opportunities to celebrate diversity (funding up to $15,000).
  • The Anti-Racism Grant operates two streams with specific program objectives:
    • Stream 1 is for projects that promote awareness of racism and the impacts of racism faced by Indigenous and racialized groups. Projects aligning with at least one outcome in either program objective of educating Albertans on the impacts of racism or enabling community organizations to develop their ability to support anti-racism projects are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding.
    • Stream 2 supports community organization anti-racism projects. Projects aligning with at least one outcome in both program objectives of educating Albertans on the impacts of racism or enabling community organizations to develop their ability to support anti-racism projects are eligible for up to $10,000 in funding.
  • In 2022-23, the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant program provided $3.63 million to 130 community organizations to increase cross-cultural awareness and help prevent and address racism.

This is a news release from the Government of Alberta.

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Alberta

It’s On! Alberta Challenging Liberals Unconstitutional and Destructive Net-Zero Legislation

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“If Ottawa had it’s way Albertans would be left to freeze in the dark”

The ineffective federal net-zero electricity regulations will not reduce emissions or benefit Albertans but will increase costs and lead to supply shortages.

The risk of power outages during a hot summer or the depths of harsh winter cold snaps, are not unrealistic outcomes if these regulations are implemented. According to the Alberta Electric System Operator’s analysis, the regulations in question would make Alberta’s electricity system more than 100 times less reliable than the province’s supply adequacy standard. Albertans expect their electricity to remain affordable and reliable, but implementation of these regulations could increase costs by a staggering 35 per cent.

Canada’s constitution is clear. Provinces have exclusive jurisdiction over the development, conservation and management of sites and facilities in the province for the generation and production of electrical energy. That is why Alberta’s government is referring the constitutionality of the federal government’s recent net-zero electricity regulations to the Court of Appeal of Alberta.

“The federal government refused to work collaboratively or listen to Canadians while developing these regulations. The results are ineffective, unachievable and irresponsible, and place Albertans’ livelihoods – and more importantly, lives – at significant risk. Our government will not accept unconstitutional net-zero regulations that leave Albertans vulnerable to blackouts in the middle of summer and winter when they need electricity the most.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

“The introduction of the Clean Electricity Regulations in Alberta by the federal government is another example of dangerous federal overreach. These regulations will create unpredictable power outages in the months when Albertans need reliable energy the most. They will also cause power prices to soar in Alberta, which will hit our vulnerable the hardest.”

Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

Finalized in December 2024, the federal electricity regulations impose strict carbon limits on fossil fuel power, in an attempt to force a net-zero grid, an unachievable target given current technology and infrastructure. The reliance on unproven technologies makes it almost impossible to operate natural gas plants without costly upgrades, threatening investment, grid reliability, and Alberta’s energy security.

“Ottawa’s electricity regulations will leave Albertans in the dark. They aren’t about reducing emissions – they are unconstitutional, ideological activist policies based on standards that can’t be met and technology that doesn’t exist. It will drive away investment and punish businesses, provinces and families for using natural gas for reliable, dispatchable power. We will not put families at risk from safety and affordability impacts – rationing power during the coldest days of the year – and we will continue to stand up for Albertans.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

“Albertans depend on electricity to provide for their families, power their businesses and pursue their dreams. The federal government’s Clean Electricity Regulations threaten both the affordability and reliability of our power grid, and we will not stand by as these regulations put the well-being of Albertans at risk.”

Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities

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Alberta

Alberta’s future in Canada depends on Carney’s greatest fear: Trump or Climate Change

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Oh, Canada

We find it endlessly fascinating that most Canadians believe they live in a representative democracy, where aspiring candidates engage in authentic politicking to earn their place in office. So accustomed are Canada’s power brokers to getting their way, they rarely bother to cover their tracks. A careful reading of the notoriously pliant Canadian press makes anticipating future events in the country surprisingly straightforward.

Back in December, when Pierre Poilievre was given better than 90% odds of replacing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—and Mark Carney was still just an uncharismatic banker few had heard of—we engaged in some not-so-speculative dot-connecting and correctly predicted Carney’s rise to the top spot. Our interest was driven by the notoriously rocky relationship between Ottawa and the Province of Alberta, home to one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserves, and how Carney’s rise might be a catalyst for resetting Canada’s energy trajectory. In a follow-up article titled “The Fix Is In,” we laid out a few more predictions:

Here’s how the play is likely to unfold in the weeks and months ahead: Carney will be elected Prime Minister on April 28 by a comfortable margin; [Alberta Premier Danielle] Smith will trigger a constitutional crisis, providing cover for Carney to strike a grand bargain that finally resolves longstanding tensions between the provinces and Ottawa; and large infrastructure permitting reform will fall into place. Protests against these developments will be surprisingly muted, and those who do take to the streets will be largely ignored by the media. The entire effort will be wrapped in a thicket of patriotism, with Trump portrayed as a threat even greater than climate change itself. References to carbon emissions will slowly fade…

In parallel, we expect Trump and Carney to swiftly strike a favorable deal on tariffs, padding the latter’s bona fides just as his political capital will be most needed.

The votes have barely been counted, yet the next moves are already unfolding

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’ll make it easier for citizens to initiate a referendum on the province’s future in Canada, after warning that a Liberal win in Monday’s election could spur a groundswell of support for Alberta separatism. Smith said on Tuesday that a newly tabled elections bill will give everyday Albertans a bigger say in the province’s affairs.

‘(We’re giving) Albertans more ways to be directly involved in democracy, and to have their say on issues that matter to them,’ Smith told reporters in Edmonton.

If passed, the new law would dramatically lower the number of signatures needed to put a citizen-proposed constitutional referendum question on the ballot, setting a new threshold of 10 per cent of general election turnout — or just over 175,000, based on Alberta’s last provincial election in 2023.

exactly to plan:

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is looking to make a trade deal and will visit the White House within the next week. Trump said he congratulated Carney on his election victory when the Canadian leader called on Tuesday.

‘He called me up yesterday – he said let’s make a deal,’ Trump told reporters at the White House after a televised Cabinet meeting.

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