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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 are 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/. I also invite you to contact me with any questions you have about government or what we are doing for Albertans.
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.
Dinosaur bones found in
Edmonton tunnel excavation
A sharp-eyed City of Edmonton worker halted the construction of a sewage tunnel earlier this week when he spotted what he thought might be a dinosaur bone. The city contacted Jack Brink, Curator of Archaeology at the Royal Alberta Museum, who brought Mike Burns, a Ph.D. student in palaeontology from the University of Alberta, to investigate the find. Burns determined that the bones, located in west Edmonton, are a very well-preserved tooth of a tyrannosaurid (likely Albertosaurus) and large limb bone elements possibly from the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus. Venturing 30 metres underground to the source, Burns and Brink discovered more dinosaur bones, including a vertebra and a femur.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum confirmed that the find is significant. “We will work with the U of A palaeontologists to ensure there is someone on site as the material is uncovered so the fossils are preserved without causing any project delays for the city,” says Andrew Neuman, Executive Director of the Royal Tyrrell Museum. “The City of Edmonton should be commended for doing the right thing - this is a great example of how we can all work together to preserve Alberta’s heritage.”
The bones will be excavated over the next few days and then will be transported to the Royal Tyrrell Museum for further study. The museum, operated by the Government of Alberta, is located six kilometres northwest of Drumheller on Highway 838. For more information visit www.tyrrellmuseum.com or call 403-823-7707 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access in Alberta. For photos of the tyrannosaurid tooth found in the Edmonton tunnel, along with photos of an Albertosaurus and drawings of an Edmontosaurus, visit: www.culture.alberta.ca/newsroom/default.aspx.
As the MLA for Edmonton Mill Woods, I am always available to assist constituents. If you have any questions or concerns about the second quarterly fiscal update, Alberta’s 10-year plan to end homelessness, the First Nations Economic Partnership Initiative, the Royal Tyrrell Museum or any other matter, I can be reached in my constituency office at #218; 4128 A – 97 Street, or in my Legislature office at 780-422-9299 or through email @ edmonton.millwoods@assembly.ab.ca.
