At a Glance - March 8
Alberta to Challenge Emergencies Act
Premier Jason Kenney has confirmed that Alberta will push forward with the planned legal challenge of the federal government’s implementation of the Emergencies Act. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on February 23 that it would lift the measures put in place by the act as the extraordinary powers were no longer required. Premier Kenney also tabled Motion 10, condemning the use of the act in the Legislature.
The Premier indicated that the end of the act’s powers does not warrant an end to legal pursuits. "That does not change the profound concerns of Canadians, of Albertans and this assembly with this unnecessary, unjustified and disproportionate use of arbitrary police power in our lifetime with no good reason.”
Major Investment in Red Deer Hospital
A central Alberta hospital has received significant investment from the province to conduct a major expansion. The provincial government has allocated $1.8 billion to Red Deer Regional Hospital to construct a major expansion. $193 million will be allocated over the next three years and will increase hospital capacity by 54 per cent.
Health Minister Jason Copping commented on the funding, saying “Red Deer and central Alberta’s growing populations mean that our ability to effectively provide health care with the current hospital is limited, resulting in all too frequent disruptions to patient care. This needed redevelopment will increase capacity and expand services to meet central Albertans’ needs into the future. “
Alberta Lifts Almost All COVID-19 Mandates
As of March 1st, nearly all the province’s COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. There are no longer any restrictions regarding indoor gatherings, outdoor gatherings, capacity limits, and masks. The province has also ended the popular mandatory work-from-home order as companies and employees are getting ready to return to the office.
Masks are only required in high-risk setting including public transit, airports, and Alberta Health operated facilities. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are still required to isolate. Alberta is not the first to lift almost all COVID-19 restrictions. Countries around the world have eliminated all restrictions, citing that COVID-19 is something that the world is now going to have to just live with.
Provincial Government to Limit Municipalities’ Abilities to Implement Health Regulations
The provincial government has announced its plan to introduce legislation to “limit the ability of municipalities to enact bylaws that are contrary to provincial public health policy and expertise.” The exact date of the changes is unclear, but Premier Kenney announced the changes will be made “very soon”. This comes after the City of Edmonton voted to keep their mask mandate in place after the provincial government lifted its provincial mask mandate.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi called the move by the provincial government an “overreach of authority”, adding that he found the premier’s decision “deeply disappointing”. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek also voiced her opposition to the provincial decision. Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw has previously said Albertans may still choose to wear face masks in public and that people should make choices based on their own comfort level. She also encouraged Albertans to be kind and respectful of other people’s individual choices.
Alberta Invests $390 Million into High-Speed Internet for Rural and Remote Communities
The government of Alberta has announced plans to invest $390 million in province-wide high-speed internet. The ambitious government plan hopes to connect every home and business in the province to high-speed internet by the end of the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This money is in addition to the $150 million from the province last July and matching funds from the federal government. The estimated total price tag for this project is $1 billion, a price worth paying according to Premier Kenney who argued that the investment will result in Alberta leading the country in economic growth, recovery, and job creation.
It is estimated that 489,000 Albertans don’t have access to high-speed internet including 80% of Indigenous communities and 67% of rural and remote communities. Alberta’s Broadband Strategy is expected to create roughly 1,500 jobs.