Aug. 25, 2010 - Report from the Legislature: Budget Looks Good, Plans to End Homelessness & More

Alberta on track to meet budget forecast

On Aug. 25, 2010, the Alberta government released its 2010-11 First Quarter Fiscal Update. It confirmed that Alberta is on track to meet this year's budget forecast and to be back in the black by 2012-13.

There has been some improvement in our revenue forecast, with increases in corporate income tax revenue and land sales. Spending has increased by about the same amount as revenue, mainly for emergency and disaster assistance for forest fires and flooding. We remain the only province with no net debt, as we are drawing on the savings from the Sustainability Fund, the province’s rainy day fund.

First Quarter Fiscal Highlights:

·         revenue for 2010-11 is forecast at $34.6 billion, up $602 million from budget, due mainly to an increase in land sales and stronger corporate tax revenue;

·         expense for 2010-11 is forecast at $39.3 billion, an increase of $609 million from budget - mainly for disaster and emergency funding;

·         deficit for 2010-11 is forecast at $4.76 billion; and

·         Sustainability Fund assets forecast at $11.2 billion for year-end, an increase of $3 billion from budget.

The Alberta government will continue to take a balanced and cautious approach, keeping a close eye on spending while relying on the Sustainability Fund to off-set the deficit. We will continue to take steps to keep Alberta in a strong financial position, with advanced infrastructure, an innovative and competitive economy, and the best performing health care system in Canada.

For more information on the First Quarter Fiscal Update, you can go to http://www.finance.alberta.ca/.

 

Alberta receives national awards for plan to end homelessness and First Nations economic development

Alberta’s approach for helping people most in need received countrywide recognition at the 2010 Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) national awards ceremony. Alberta is a recognized leader in the nation when it comes to ending homelessness and promoting Aboriginal economic development. The two award-winning initiatives are the first of their kind in Canada and set new standards for collaboration among funders, community leaders and service providers.

A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 years won the Gold national award. Spearheaded by Alberta Housing and Urban Affairs, this initiative shifts the role of government from managing homelessness through emergency shelters to ending homelessness by providing permanent housing and the supports needed to break the cycle of homelessness. When fully implemented, the plan will ensure homeless Albertans are permanently housed with the supports they need within 21 days of entering a temporary emergency shelter. Fifteen Alberta government ministries are involved and all of Alberta’s major cities have multi-year strategies to end homelessness which align to the provincial plan.

The First Nations Economic Partnerships Initiative, led by Alberta Aboriginal Relations, received the Bronze level award. The innovative program is delivered in partnership with Alberta Employment and Immigration to develop sustainable partnerships between First Nations, industry and government. Its unique cross-sector approach with industry and government strengthens First Nations economic capacity.

The 2010 Innovative Management Awards recognize governmental/public sector organizations that have shown new and innovative ways of cutting across bureaucratic boundaries and silos to address the complex issues facing society. For more information on IPAC visit www.ipac.ca.

For more information on Alberta’s 10-year plan to end homelessness, visit www.housing.alberta.ca. For information on the First Nations Economic Partnerships Initiative, visit www.aboriginal.alberta.ca.

 

Aboriginal youth develop leadership skills through sport, recreation and art

Aboriginal youth in Peerless Lake and Trout Lake took advantage of the opportunity to develop leadership skills through sport, recreation and art through the Alberta’s Future Leaders program this summer.

ATCO Electric partnered with the Government of Alberta, committing financial and in-kind support for three years to support the program in these two communities.

Since 1996, the Alberta’s Future Leaders program has served as a community development initiative to address the needs of Alberta children and youth who live in First Nation and Métis communities. Program components include sporting activities like rock climbing, hiking and canoeing, performing and visual arts, as well as leadership initiatives to build interpersonal development skills such as teamwork, self-esteem and conflict resolution.

The Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and other program sponsors invested about $350,000 to deliver the program provincially to more than 11,900 young people in eight Alberta communities. In 2010, the program was available in Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Kikino Métis Settlement, Gift Lake Métis Settlement, Driftpile First Nation, Conklin, Heart Lake First Nation and Edmonton Boyle Street Community.

For more information, visit: www.tpr.alberta.ca/asrpwf/programs/sports/abfuture/index.asp.