Alberta
“The River” water feature chosen by Albertans for the Legislature Grounds
Albertans choose water feature at legislature grounds
Work is underway at the legislature grounds to restore the existing pools and install a new water feature.
Input from nearly 4,000 Albertans in a recent Government of Alberta survey has determined the design of a new water feature for the legislature grounds.
Albertans overwhelmingly supported the design concept “River,” which received more than 65 per cent of the vote.
Here is the announcement from Deputy Premier Nathan Neudorf and Speaker Nathan Cooper:
The survey ran Jan. 12-27 and gave Albertans the chance to choose their favourite of three proposed designs for a new water feature that will be installed at the north plaza of the legislature grounds, replacing the deteriorated terraced wading pools.
Of the other two designs, “Aurora” received 17.1 per cent of the votes followed closely by “Strata” with 17 per cent.
“Thank you to everyone who helped us choose the River design. Nearly 4,000 Albertans responded to the project survey. The feedback and suggestions provided have been crucial in determining the look, feel and future use of this part of our legislature grounds. Your input helps ensure that Alberta’s legislature and grounds will continue to be a destination for Albertans and visitors alike.”
“Alberta’s legislature and grounds are a gathering place for Albertans and visitors from all walks of life. Thanks to this project, the north plaza will have a great new gathering place to enjoy in the summer months. Thank you so much to everyone who took time to submit their feedback. I cannot wait until the new features open in 2024!”
Removing the terraced wading pools and installing the new River area will be part of a larger project to refurbish the water features and improve the north plaza.
Project work at the north plaza is underway and is expected to be completed in 2024.
Quick facts
- The dome fountain and reflecting and wading pools have been closed to the public since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and mechanical system and public safety issues.
- $20 million is being invested into renewing or replacing the water features and walkways on the Alberta legislature grounds:
- $10 million through the Alberta government’s Budget 2022 Capital Plan
- $10 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), with $8 million from the Government of Canada and $2 million from the Alberta government
- The Jan. 12- 27 survey posted to alberta.ca received 3,663 responses to the question: Do you have a preferred North Plaza design concept?
- River – 2,413 votes
- Aurora – 628 votes
- Strata – 622 votes
- Reasons Albertans chose the River concept include:
- tranquility
- natural materials
- use of planting/landscape for colour
- more green space, less concrete
- shade provided by trees
- continuous flowing water
- maintained site lines of legislature building
- accessible water animation
- Repairs will be made to the reflecting pool and ornamental dome fountain, replacing piping, updating mechanical and filtration systems, and fixing leaks. The cracked and weathered concrete decking and walkways around all the water features will be replaced. The water barrier on top of the 97 Avenue underpass will also be replaced with a new membrane.
Alberta
Alberta mother accuses health agency of trying to vaccinate son against her wishes
From LifeSiteNews
Alberta Health Services has been accused of attempting to vaccinate a child in school against his parent’s wishes.
On November 6, Alberta Health Services staffers visited Edmonton Hardisty School where they reportedly attempted to vaccinate a grade 6 student despite his parents signing a form stating that they did not wish for him to receive the vaccines.
“It is clear they do not prioritize parental rights, and in not doing so, they traumatize students,” the boy’s mother Kerri Findling told the Counter Signal.
During the school visit, AHS planned to vaccinate sixth graders with the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines. Notably, both HPV and hepatitis B are vaccines given to prevent diseases normally transmitted sexually.
Among the chief concerns about the HPV vaccine has been the high number of adverse reactions reported after taking it, including a case where a 16 year-old Australian girl was made infertile due to the vaccine.
Additionally, in 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received reports of 28 deaths associated with the HPV vaccine. Among the 6,723 adverse reactions reported that year, 142 were deemed life-threatening and 1,061 were considered serious.
Children whose parents had written “refused” on their forms were supposed to return to the classroom when the rest of the class was called into the vaccination area.
However, in this case, Findling alleged that AHS staffers told her son to proceed to the vaccination area, despite seeing that she had written “refused” on his form.
When the boy asked if he could return to the classroom, as he was certain his parents did not intend for him to receive the shots, the staff reportedly said “no.” However, he chose to return to the classroom anyway.
Shortly after, he was called into the office and taken back to the vaccination area. Findling said that her son then left the school building and braved the sub-zero temperatures to call his parents.
Following his parents’ arrival at the school, AHS claimed the incident was a misunderstanding due to a “new hire,” attesting that the mistake would have been caught before their son was vaccinated.
“If a student leaves the vaccination center without receiving the vaccine, it should be up to the parents to get the vaccine at a different time, if they so desire, not the school to enforce vaccination on behalf of AHS,” Findling declared.
Findling’s story comes just a few months after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith promised a new Bill of Rights affirming “God-given” parental authority over children.
A draft version of a forthcoming Alberta Bill of Rights provided to LifeSiteNews includes a provision beefing up parental rights, declaring the “freedom of parents to make informed decisions concerning the health, education, welfare and upbringing of their children.”
Alberta
Alberta’s fiscal update projects budget surplus, but fiscal fortunes could quickly turn
From the Fraser Institute
By Tegan Hill
According to the recent mid-year update tabled Thursday, the Smith government projects a $4.6 billion surplus in 2024/25, up from the $2.9 billion surplus projected just a few months ago. Despite the good news, Premier Smith must reduce spending to avoid budget deficits.
The fiscal update projects resource revenue of $20.3 billion in 2024/25. Today’s relatively high—but very volatile—resource revenue (including oil and gas royalties) is helping finance today’s spending and maintain a balanced budget. But it will not last forever.
For perspective, in just the last decade the Alberta government’s annual resource revenue has been as low as $2.8 billion (2015/16) and as high as $25.2 billion (2022/23).
And while the resource revenue rollercoaster is currently in Alberta’s favor, Finance Minister Nate Horner acknowledges that “risks are on the rise” as oil prices have dropped considerably and forecasters are projecting downward pressure on prices—all of which impacts resource revenue.
In fact, the government’s own estimates show a $1 change in oil prices results in an estimated $630 million revenue swing. So while the Smith government plans to maintain a surplus in 2024/25, a small change in oil prices could quickly plunge Alberta back into deficit. Premier Smith has warned that her government may fall into a budget deficit this fiscal year.
This should come as no surprise. Alberta’s been on the resource revenue rollercoaster for decades. Successive governments have increased spending during the good times of high resource revenue, but failed to rein in spending when resource revenues fell.
Previous research has shown that, in Alberta, a $1 increase in resource revenue is associated with an estimated 56-cent increase in program spending the following fiscal year (on a per-person, inflation-adjusted basis). However, a decline in resource revenue is not similarly associated with a reduction in program spending. This pattern has led to historically high levels of government spending—and budget deficits—even in more recent years.
Consider this: If this fiscal year the Smith government received an average level of resource revenue (based on levels over the last 10 years), it would receive approximately $13,000 per Albertan. Yet the government plans to spend nearly $15,000 per Albertan this fiscal year (after adjusting for inflation). That’s a huge gap of roughly $2,000—and it means the government is continuing to take big risks with the provincial budget.
Of course, if the government falls back into deficit there are implications for everyday Albertans.
When the government runs a deficit, it accumulates debt, which Albertans must pay to service. In 2024/25, the government’s debt interest payments will cost each Albertan nearly $650. That’s largely because, despite running surpluses over the last few years, Albertans are still paying for debt accumulated during the most recent string of deficits from 2008/09 to 2020/21 (excluding 2014/15), which only ended when the government enjoyed an unexpected windfall in resource revenue in 2021/22.
According to Thursday’s mid-year fiscal update, Alberta’s finances continue to be at risk. To avoid deficits, the Smith government should meaningfully reduce spending so that it’s aligned with more reliable, stable levels of revenue.
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