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Alberta

Watch: COVID-19 cases now across the province. Alberta reporting 18 new cases – totalling 74

Published

5 years ago

7 minute read

COVID-19 update from the Province of Alberta, March 16

Aggressive public health measures continue to be implemented provincewide to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect Albertans, as cases have now been identified in all zones across the province.

  • 18 additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Alberta, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 74. Cases have now been identified in all zones across the province.
    • 52 cases in the Calgary zone
    • 18 cases in the Edmonton zone
    • two cases in the Central zone
    • one case in the South zone
    • one case in the North zone
  • Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, is self-isolating at home with minor symptoms consistent with a common cold likely due to the long hours that she has been working in recent weeks. Her symptoms do not appear to be consistent with COVID-19. However, as Dr. Hinshaw plays an essential role in Alberta’s response to COVID-19, she has been tested today.
  • One Edmonton zone and one Calgary zone case have been confirmed to be the result of community transmission. These are the same two cases that were discussed yesterday.
  • Materials have been developed to assist travellers returning from outside Canada so they know what to do and how to self-isolate. These materials will be distributed at all airports in the province.
  • The Provincial Court of Alberta and Court of Queen’s Bench are limiting operations. Visits to all Alberta provincial correctional facilities and young offender centres are suspended until further notice.
  • Commercial carriers are essential to the supply chain and are not subject to the current 14-day self-isolation travel requirements. This is consistent with the air travel industry and other provinces, such as British Columbia.
  • All Alberta Parks recreation facilities, programs, events and bookings are closed to the public and/or cancelled.
  • Student attendance at schools is prohibited until further notice.
  • Post-secondary classes continue to be cancelled. Campuses remain open at this time.
  • All licensed child care facilities, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs are closed indefinitely.
  • All long-term care and other continuing care facilities are advised to limit visitation to essential visitors only.
  • Places of worship are no longer exempt from restrictions on mass gatherings.
  • Canadian Blood Services reminds Albertans that the need for blood donors remains strong, and it is safe to donate blood during COVID-19. To learn more, visit blood.ca.

Access to justice services

Family, professional and volunteer visits to all Alberta provincial correctional facilities and young offender centres are suspended until further notice. If defence counsel require an in-person meeting, they must contact the appropriate centre director. If families have questions about their loved ones, they should contact the centre director.

Current jury trials are proceeding; jurors are required to report to court. Any counsel or juror showing symptoms should contact the court to seek instructions from the presiding judge. Those who received a summons to attend jury selection between March 16 and May 31 are released and do not need to attend.

Legal Aid Alberta intake services at the Edmonton and Calgary courthouses are closed until further notice. To apply for Legal Aid services, call the Client Contact Centre at 1-866-845-3425, Monday to Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Traffic First-Appearance Centres are closed until further notice. Albertans can visit www.albertacourts.ca/pc/resources/pay-fines to pay traffic tickets.

Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench information: www.albertacourts.ca/qb/resources/announcements/covid-19-suspension-of-sittings.

Provincial Court of Alberta information: https://www.albertacourts.ca/pc/home.

Alberta law libraries information: https://lawlibrary.ab.ca/

Child care

All licensed child care, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs in Alberta are closed indefinitely. Approved day homes are exempt because they care for fewer than seven children at a time, including their own. Whether child care is being provided by day homes or by friends and family, enhanced sanitation practices are encouraged. This includes ensuring handwashing facilities or hand sanitizer are available and children and visitors are encouraged to wash their hands frequently.

Information for travellers

Travel outside of the country is not being recommended at this time. Given the rapid global spread of the virus, it is no longer possible to assess health risks for the duration of the trip.

Any traveller returning from outside of the country should self-isolate for 14 days, even if they are feeling well, and monitor for symptoms.

Any traveller who has returned before March 12 should closely monitor themselves for symptoms. If they experience symptoms, they should self-isolate immediately and call Health Link 811 for follow-up assessment and testing.

The Alberta government is working with Travel Alberta on a strategy to inform Canadians returning from the United States and Mexico about the need to self-isolate, and how to access medical care, if needed.

COVID-19-related information will be available for returning passengers at the international airports in both Edmonton and Calgary; tables with information sheets will be set up in the arrivals areas.

Quick facts

  • The most important measures that Albertans can take to prevent respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, is to practise good hygiene.
    • This includes cleaning your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve, disposing of tissues appropriately, and staying home and away from others if you are sick.
  • Anyone who has health concerns or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should complete an online COVID-19 self-assessment.
  • For recommendations on protecting yourself and your community, visit alberta.ca/COVID19.
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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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Big win for Alberta and Canada: Statement from Premier Smith

Published on April 2, 2025

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Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement on the April 2, 2025 U.S. tariff announcement:

“Today was an important win for Canada and Alberta, as it appears the United States has decided to uphold the majority of the free trade agreement (CUSMA) between our two nations. It also appears this will continue to be the case until after the Canadian federal election has concluded and the newly elected Canadian government is able to renegotiate CUSMA with the U.S. administration.

“This is precisely what I have been advocating for from the U.S. administration for months.

“It means that the majority of goods sold into the United States from Canada will have no tariffs applied to them, including zero per cent tariffs on energy, minerals, agricultural products, uranium, seafood, potash and host of other Canadian goods.

“There is still work to be done, of course. Unfortunately, tariffs previously announced by the United States on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum have not been removed. The efforts of premiers and the federal government should therefore shift towards removing or significantly reducing these remaining tariffs as we go forward and ensuring affected workers across Canada are generously supported until the situation is resolved.

“I again call on all involved in our national advocacy efforts to focus on diplomacy and persuasion while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Clearly, this strategy has been the most effective to this point.

“As it appears the worst of this tariff dispute is behind us (though there is still work to be done), it is my sincere hope that we, as Canadians, can abandon the disastrous policies that have made Canada vulnerable to and overly dependent on the United States, fast-track national resource corridors, get out of the way of provincial resource development and turn our country into an independent economic juggernaut and energy superpower.”

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Alberta

Energy sector will fuel Alberta economy and Canada’s exports for many years to come

Published on April 2, 2025

By

From the Fraser Institute

By Jock Finlayson

By any measure, Alberta is an energy powerhouse—within Canada, but also on a global scale. In 2023, it produced 85 per cent of Canada’s oil and three-fifths of the country’s natural gas. Most of Canada’s oil reserves are in Alberta, along with a majority of natural gas reserves. Alberta is the beating heart of the Canadian energy economy. And energy, in turn, accounts for one-quarter of Canada’s international exports.

Consider some key facts about the province’s energy landscape, as noted in the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) 2023 annual report. Oil and natural gas production continued to rise (on a volume basis) in 2023, on the heels of steady increases over the preceding half decade. However, the dollar value of Alberta’s oil and gas production fell in 2023, as the surging prices recorded in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine retreated. Capital spending in the province’s energy sector reached $30 billion in 2023, making it the leading driver of private-sector investment. And completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project has opened new offshore export avenues for Canada’s oil industry and should boost Alberta’s energy production and exports going forward.

In a world striving to address climate change, Alberta’s hydrocarbon-heavy energy sector faces challenges. At some point, the world may start to consume less oil and, later, less natural gas (in absolute terms). But such “peak” consumption hasn’t arrived yet, nor does it appear imminent. While the demand for certain refined petroleum products is trending down in some advanced economies, particularly in Europe, we should take a broader global perspective when assessing energy demand and supply trends.

Looking at the worldwide picture, Goldman Sachs’ 2024 global energy forecast predicts that “oil usage will increase through 2034” thanks to strong demand in emerging markets and growing production of petrochemicals that depend on oil as the principal feedstock. Global demand for natural gas (including LNG) will also continue to increase, particularly since natural gas is the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel and more of it is being traded in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Against this backdrop, there are reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for Alberta’s energy sector, particularly if the federal government dials back some of the economically destructive energy and climate policies adopted by the last government. According to the AER’s “base case” forecast, overall energy output will expand over the next 10 years. Oilsands output is projected to grow modestly; natural gas production will also rise, in part due to greater demand for Alberta’s upstream gas from LNG operators in British Columbia.

The AER’s forecast also points to a positive trajectory for capital spending across the province’s energy sector. The agency sees annual investment rising from almost $30 billion to $40 billion by 2033. Most of this takes place in the oil and gas industry, but “emerging” energy resources and projects aimed at climate mitigation are expected to represent a bigger slice of energy-related capital spending going forward.

Like many other oil and gas producing jurisdictions, Alberta must navigate the bumpy journey to a lower-carbon future. But the world is set to remain dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come. This suggests the energy sector will continue to underpin not only the Alberta economy but also Canada’s export portfolio for the foreseeable future.

Jock Finlayson

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
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