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Alberta’s Energy “War Room” becomes the Canadian Energy Centre, long-time journalist Tom Olsen appointed Managing Director

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From the Province of Alberta

Canadian Energy Centre: Minister Savage Statement

Minister of Energy Sonya Savage issued the following statement on taking initial steps towards establishing the Canadian Energy Centre.

ā€œFor too long, the reputation of Alberta’s energy sector has been damaged by a deceitful campaign to landlock the oilsands.

ā€œThat’s why our government has started the process of creating the Canadian Energy Centre to fight for the oil and gas sector – and the Albertans it employs. Once operational, the centre will take a fact-based approach to counteracting the misinformation about our industry. It will collaborate with industry, academia, Indigenous peoples and others to tell the truth: that Alberta energy is responsibly produced and indispensable – to Canada and the world.

ā€œThe Canadian Energy Centre will focus on improving perceptions about the oil and gas industry. Once fully functional, it will be a leading and authoritative voice on Alberta’s energy resources. The centre will accomplish this objective by establishing three business units, each assigned a core function.

ā€œThe rapid response unit will be responsible for issuing swift responses to misinformation spread through social and traditional media. The energy literacy unit will create original content to elevate the general understanding of Alberta’s energy sector, and help the province take control of its energy story. Finally, the data and research unit will be in charge of centralizing and analyzing data to reinforce this story with factual evidence for investors, researchers and policy makers.

ā€œTom Olsen, long-time Alberta journalist and former legislature bureau chief, has been appointed as the managing director of the Canadian Energy Centre. He will begin to operationalize the corporation immediately, including establishing priority action items for each of these three units.

ā€œI look forward to the official launch of the Canadian Energy Centre before the end of the year. The economic future of our province – and our country – is at stake, and our government will not let Albertans down.ā€

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Alberta

Made in Alberta! Province makes it easier to support local products with Buy Local program

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Show your Alberta side. Buy Local.

When the going gets tough, Albertans stick together. That’s why Alberta’s government is launching a new campaign to benefit hard-working Albertans.

Global uncertainty is threatening the livelihoods of hard-working Alberta farmers, ranchers, processors and their families. The ā€˜Buy Local’ campaign, recently launched by Alberta’s government, encourages consumers to eat, drink and buy local to show our unified support for the province’s agriculture and food industry.

The government’s ā€˜Buy Local’ campaign encourages consumers to buy products from Alberta’s hard-working farmers, ranchers and food processors that produce safe, nutritious food for Albertans, Canadians and the world.

ā€œIt’s time to let these hard-working Albertans know we have their back. Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products. The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride. We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.ā€

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

Alberta’s government supports consumer choice. We are providing tools to help folks easily identify Alberta- and Canadian-made foods and products. Choosing local products keeps Albertans’ hard-earned dollars in our province. Whether it is farm-fresh vegetables, potatoes, honey, craft beer, frozen food or our world-renowned beef, Alberta has an abundance of fresh foods produced right on our doorstep.

Quick facts

  • This summer, Albertans can support local at more than 150 farmers’ markets across the province and meet the folks who make, bake and grow our food.
  • In March 2023, the Alberta government launched theĀ ā€˜Made in Alberta’ voluntary food and beverage labelling program to support local agriculture and food sectors.
  • Through direct connections with processors, the program has created the momentum to continue expanding consumer awareness about the ā€˜Made in Alberta’ label to help shoppers quickly identify foods and beverages produced in our province.
  • Made in Alberta product catalogue website

 

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Alberta

Province to expand services provided by Alberta Sheriffs: New policing option for municipalities

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Expanding municipal police service options

Proposed amendments would help ensure Alberta’s evolving public safety needs are met while also giving municipalities more options for local policing.

As first announced with the introduction of theĀ Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, Alberta’s government is considering creating a new independent agency police service to assume the police-like duties currently performed by Alberta Sheriffs. If passed, Bill 49 would lay additional groundwork for the new police service.

Proposed amendments to theĀ Police ActĀ recognize the unique challenges faced by different communities and seek to empower local governments to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing overall public safety across the province.

If passed, Bill 49 would specify that the new agency would be a Crown corporation with an independent board of directors to oversee its day-to-day operations. The new agency would be operationally independent from the government, consistent with all police services in Alberta. Unlike the Alberta Sheriffs, officers in the new police service would be directly employed by the police service rather than by the government.

ā€œWith this bill, we are taking the necessary steps to address the unique public safety concerns in communities across Alberta. As we work towards creating an independent agency police service, we are providing an essential component of Alberta’s police framework for years to come. Our aim is for the new agency is to ensure that Albertans are safe in their communities and receive the best possible service when they need it most.ā€

MikeĀ Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

Additional amendments would allow municipalities to select the new agency as their local police service once it becomes fully operational and the necessary standards, capacity and frameworks are in place. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring the new agency works collaboratively with all police services to meet the province’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities. While the RCMP would remain the official provincial police service, municipalities would have a new option for their local policing needs.

Once established, the agency would strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which include the RCMP, Indigenous police services and municipal police. It would help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently across the province.

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