2023 Provincial and National Headlines…

December 29, 2023 Local News
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2023 Provincial and National Headlines

What was “Making Provincial and National Conversation” in 2023?

January

  • The Provincial Government sold the property once occupied by the old Hospital in High Prairie. Terms were not disclosed.
  • Alberta finally gets a shipment of children’s pain relief medicine, after shortages plague pharmacies, and hospitals.

February

  • The province announced expanded funding up to $27.3 million to help Ukrainian evacuees access settlement, language, housing and financial supports.
  • The Sagitawa Friendship Centre in Peace River is receiving part of $150,000 from the Provincial Government, that went to the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association, to aid the expansion of programming to help stop violence against Indigenous women, including money to units in Paddle Prairie and Woodland Cree First Nation.
  • Mackenzie House in High Level is getting $3.5 million from the province to get more affordable housing in the community.
  • $5 million dollars in Grant money is being earmarked by the Provincial Government for Indigenous business opportunities. This includes First Nations in Loon River, Woodland Cree, and Whitefish Lake.

March

  • $1.125 Million dollars is earmarked by the Provincial Government for the increase of efforts to support economic growth and diversification, which benefits the Peace Region Economic Development Alliance, which includes Peace River, Fairview, and Valleyview, and the Regional Economic Development Initiative of Northwest Alberta, which includes High Level, La Crete, Fort Vermilion, Mackenzie County, and Paddle Prairie.
  • $2.3 Billion Dollars over the next three years is set aside for the 58 School projects. This includes blueprints in Valleyview, Red Earth Creek and Donnelly.
  • The Provincial Government earmarks $161 million dollars to the La Crete Bridge Project.
  • The province is spending more than $211.3 million over three years for improving several parks, including Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park.

April

  • Alberta Health Services has ended front-door screening for COVID 19.
  • The Provincial Government earmarks an additional $10 million dollars to support a new Power Engineering and Instrumentation Lab at Northwestern Polytechnic. This is in addition to the over a million dollars for the Practical Nurse and Primary Care Paramedic courses.
  • $2.2 million is available from the Provincial Government for the paving of the road to Hilliard’s Bay Provincial Park near High Prairie. $193 Million dollars will create 8,000 new positions for high-demand programs.
  • Housing organizations in Alberta are getting renovation and upgrade funding from the Provincial Government, that includes $2.1 Million dollars is going to the outfits, which includes $64,000 to the Peace River Regional Women’s Shelter.

May

  • The writ drops for a Provincial Election.
  • The UCP wins another majority government in Alberta. Dan Williams in Peace River, Todd Loewen in Central Peace Notley, and Scott Sinclair in Lesser Slave Lake easily win their seats.

June

  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces Cabinet, which includes Central Peace Notley MLA Todd Loewen remaining as Forestry, Parks and Tourism Minister. Peace River MLA Dan Williams is the new minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair will be the Chair of the Public Safety and Wellness policy Committee.
  • The Provincial Gas Tax is frozen until at least the end of 2023.
  • The Federal Government has earmarked over $9 million dollars into 23 organizations across the Peace and Mackenzie Regions, for the supporting of tourism, community economic development, innovation and economic growth.
  • Alberta Health Services is now offering translation services. A total of 23 Indigenous languages can be interpreted in the service.  That includes Cree, Dene, and Michif in the Peace and Mackenzie regions.
  • The Provincial Government stops all masking requirements at AHS facilities.

July

  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith continues to issue mandate letters to her ministers, including to Todd Loewen and Dan Williams,
  • The East Prairie Metis Settlement is being provided $9 million from the province’s Indigenous Housing Capital Program to rebuild homes that were destroyed by the wildfires.

August

  • Officials in the Peace rush to aid efforts against a raging fire in Hay River in the NWT. Meanwhile residents flee to the area and remain for three weeks.
  • Bill C-18 comes into effect, thus blocking news content in Canada on social media.
  • The Alberta Dairy Farmers donates $100,000 to Food banks Alberta to purchase dairy products.
  • $335 million dollars is earmarked for 42 projects, which includes 14 in the Peace Region. The Provincial Government says that’s an increase of $80 million from the previous year.

September

  • The Metis Nation of Alberta elects its first National independent Government.
  • Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen has been re-appointed to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Viersen spent the last couple of years as the vice-chair of the subcommittee on International Human Rights.
  • An additional $3 million dollars is being provided by the provincial government for front-line workers supporting individuals with FASD. This is on top of the $25 million dollars given for operating costs to FASD networks.
  • The Traffic Safety Amendment rules came into effect, where motorist slow to 60 km/h when passing an emergency vehicle, tow truck, snowplow or road crew vehicle with its lights flashing.

October

  • Talks begin for a new Alberta Pension Plan, replacing the Canada Pension Plan.
  • The Peace River Library Board is awarded the Municipal Affairs Ministry Award for Public Library Excellence, by the Provincial Government.
  • Nearly $3 million dollars is being provided to Northern Lakes College by the Provincial Government for new seats for the Bachelor of Nursing Program, Apprenticeship support program funding, and College upgrades.
  • The Woodland Cree First Nation has been recognized… The Nation has received a prestigious Golden Eagle Award as recognition of the Land Code that was passed last October. The Woodland Cree First Nation is the first in Alberta to receive the honour.

November

  • The Provincial Government sets aside $16 million towards renovating and repairing affordable housing units. $400,000 is going to Heart River Housing in High Prairie, $250,000 to the North Peace Housing Foundation in Peace River and $150,000 to the Boreal Housing Foundation in High Level.
  • The Federal Government is earmarking $156 million dollars over three years for a new three-digit suicide prevention hotline. 988 is available in Canada in English and French, starting November 30th.
  • $1.1 million dollars has been forwarded to 5 rural jurisdictions in the province. That includes $287,000 to the MD of Smoky River, and $185,000 to Fox Creek.

December

  • The RCMP launches a service that allows residents to report crime on-line.
  • The Provincial Government has earmarked $5 Million dollars to the Community Fireguard program, thus enhancing preparedness for the upcoming wildfire season.

That’s what was “Making Provincial and National Conversation” in 2023!

For Trending 55, I’m Keith Hopper!