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Alberta

Canadian born Hollywood Superstar donates $4,000 to #Yeg Food Bank

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“I happen to love Edmonton. This ($4,000 ) donation is in memory of Connor McGrath,” Ryan Reynolds sent in a note to Britt Jones, radio host 104.9 Virgin Radio about his Edmonton Make a Wish friend.  Reynolds first met McGrath at the Stollery Children’s Hospital on Jan. 8, 2016, for a very special screening of Deadpool 2 for the 13-year-old, who was fighting cancer. McGrath passed away, just months later on April 26, 2016.

Reynolds at the Japan premiere of Deadpool 2 in 2018 Photo Courtesy/Dick Thomas Johnson

What started as a small 10-thousand dollar ‘Feed Your Friends fundraiser’ by Edmonton’s 104.9 Virgin Radio, got a huge boost from actor, comedian, film producer, entrepreneur and Canadian nice guy, Ryan Reynolds, after he donated $4,000 to the Edmonton Food Bank.

Reynolds is already known as one of the nicest people in Hollywood, his legend of niceness just keeps growing. On top of this $4,000 donation, Reynolds and his wife, American actress Blake Lively’s made a huge donation of $1 million to food banks in Canada and in the US. Reynolds is very active on social media, he posted on his Twitter account in March, “Blake and I are donating $1 million to be split between FEEDING AMERICA and FOOD BANKS CANADA.” he wrote, adding, “Covid-19 has brutally impacted older adults and low income families,” continuing,  “If you can give, these orgs need our help.” This new $4,000 is on top of the early donation to Canada’s Food banks.

Blake Lively is a scene from here movie, A Simple Favor. Photo Courtesy/Peter Lovino,/SMPSP/Lionsgate/Feigco Entertainment/Bron Studios

Connor McGrath and his buddy and star from Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in January 2016. Family photos

In a statement, Edmonton’s Food Bank spokeswoman Carly Kincaid Williams said, “It’s wonderful to have someone, like him, stand up for our cause. Because he has such a broad reach, we are hopeful that his donation will encourage others to give,”  Continuing, “We would like to thank Ryan and everyone who has donated to Edmonton’s Food Bank. Your donations will go a long way to making sure everyone in Edmonton has food on the table.”

Not to leave anyone out, the superstar also admires Edmonton medical staff, adding on Twitter, “And a big shout-out to the doctors, nurses and support staff at Stollery Children’s Hospital. #ConnorMcGrath

Britt Jones, one of the 104.9 Virgin Radio morning show hosts told CTV Edmonton, that he had been trying to personally thank Reynolds for his donation. Jones was able to connect with him via direct message on Friday. “I just wanted to get you guys to your goal,” Reynolds wrote. “So happy to see more and more people have since chipped in. That’s a testament to the bottomless kindness Edmontonians possess. I’m not surprised.”

Local Edmonton small business, DLAS Machine, matched Reynolds’ donation on Thursday, donating another $4,000. As of Friday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $22,000, well over the original goal of $10,000. The campaign will continue to really blow their original goal out of the water.  To donate until April 24th, click here..

Ryan Reynolds, who also owns, Aviation American Gin , has a toast on a April 2nd YouTube segment of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Stay at Home.

List of “non-essential businesses” – Alberta COVID-19 update

Alberta

CPP another example of Albertans’ outsized contribution to Canada

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From the Fraser Institute

By Tegan Hill

Amid the economic uncertainty fuelled by Trump’s trade war, its perhaps more important than ever to understand Alberta’s crucial role in the federation and its outsized contribution to programs such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

From 1981 to 2022, Albertan’s net contribution to the CPP—meaning the amount Albertans paid into the program over and above what retirees in Alberta received in CPP payments—was $53.6 billion. In 2022 (the latest year of available data), Albertans’ net contribution to the CPP was $3.0 billion.

During that same period (1981 to 2022), British Columbia was the only other province where residents paid more into the CPP than retirees received in benefits—and Alberta’s contribution was six times greater than B.C.’s contribution. Put differently, residents in seven out of the nine provinces that participate in the CPP (Quebec has its own plan) receive more back in benefits than they contribute to the program.

Albertans pay an outsized contribution to federal and national programs, including the CPP because of the province’s relatively high rates of employment, higher average incomes and younger population (i.e. more workers pay into the CPP and less retirees take from it).

Put simply, Albertan workers have been helping fund the retirement of Canadians from coast to coast for decades, and without Alberta, the CPP would look much different.

How different?

If Alberta withdrew from the CPP and established its own standalone provincial pension plan, Alberta workers would receive the same retirement benefits but at a lower cost (i.e. lower CPP contribution rate deducted from our paycheques) than other Canadians, while the contribution rate—essentially the CPP tax rate—to fund the program would likely need to increase for the rest of the country to maintain the same benefits.

And given current demographic projections, immigration patterns and Alberta’s long history of leading the provinces in economic growth, Albertan workers will likely continue to pay more into the CPP than Albertan retirees get back from it.

Therefore, considering Alberta’s crucial role in national programs, the next federal government—whoever that may be—should undo and prevent policies that negatively impact the province and Albertans ability to contribute to Canada. Think of Bill C-69 (which imposes complex, uncertain and onerous review requirements on major energy projects), Bill C-48 (which bans large oil tankers off B.C.’s northern coast and limits access to Asian markets), an arbitrary cap on oil and gas emissions, numerous other “net-zero” targets, and so on.

Canada faces serious economic challenges, including a trade war with the United States. In times like this, it’s important to remember Alberta’s crucial role in the federation and the outsized contributions of Alberta workers to the wellbeing of Canadians across the country.

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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 ‘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 ‘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.

“It’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.”

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 the ‘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 ‘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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