At a Glance - Week of March 25, 2025
Premier Appoints Parliamentary Secretaries
On March 20, 2025, Premier Danielle Smith appointed three UCP MLAs as parliamentary secretaries underneath their respective ministers. Both reporting to the Minister of Health, Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, was named Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health (South) and Ron Wiebe, MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti, was named Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health (North).
Additionally, Nolan Dyck, MLA for Grande Prairie, was named Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous and Rural Policing. Dyck will report to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.
Alberta Issues Ultimatum to New Prime Minister
After a meeting with newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Danielle Smith issued a 10-point list of demands.
The list included that Canada must guarantee Alberta full access to unrestricted oil and gas corridors in all directions, repeal Bill C-69 to enable new pipeline development, lift the B.C. tanker ban, eliminate the de facto production cap imposed by the oil and gas emissions cap, scrap the Clean Electricity Regulations, end the ban on single-use plastics, abandon the net-zero car mandate, restore provincial control over the industrial carbon tax, and halt federal censorship of energy companies. Smith prefaced this list stating that all points must be addressed “within the first six months of their term to avoid an unprecedented national unity crisis.”
Green Line Receives Federal Approval
The controversial Calgary Green Line LRT project has passed another hurdle, receiving approval for its new business case from the Government of Canada. “The new Green Line alignment saves more than a billion dollars in tunnelling costs with an elevated alignment through downtown and enables the city to add five more stations, increase the length by 76 percent, and serve 60 percent more commuters,” stated Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen.
The approval will secure $1.53 billion in federal funding for the project, allowing the City of Calgary to begin planning and developing the province’s newly required downtown track realignment.
Federal Funding for Jasper Reconstruction
While in Edmonton, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced $187 million in additional funding to rebuild critical infrastructure in Jasper National Park. The funds are to be distributed directly to Parks Canada over two years, and will be spent on “roads, campgrounds, trails, and permanent staff housing, and help provide interim housing options for staff and residents during rebuilding.”
Tax Exemption Coverage Increased for Municipalities
The Government of Alberta is increasing the total Grants in Place of Taxes (GIPOT) allocated to municipalities by $17 million.
“We heard clearly from municipalities that they need more stable funding to deliver local services effectively while avoiding property tax increases. Boosting GIPOT shows how our government is doing its part to help our municipal partners fund the municipal services their residents rely on,” stated Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver. The GIPOT was awarded across 167 different municipalities in place of property taxes on provincially owned properties.