Repaving work on Highway 633 in St. Albert between Denison Drive and west of Range Road 260 will begin Monday July 6. Motorists can expect periodic lane closures and possible detours. Construction work is scheduled to be completed by July 17, weather permitting.
Motorists should use caution in the area and obey all signs, message boards, and flag people. Motorists are reminded that fines for speeding are doubled through construction zones when workers are present.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/26412422FC9E0-D6C5-E8E0-8B574DC0C53D7903.html
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Motorists are advised that Yankee Valley Boulevard in Airdrie will temporarily close to accommodate construction of the new Queen Elizabeth II Highway interchange.
Starting at 10 p.m. on July 10, Yankee Valley Boulevard will close between Main Street and the interchange’s northbound ramps. The road will re-open by 5 a.m. on July 13, weather permitting. The section between Main Street and Sierra Springs Drive will re-open by 6 p.m. on July 11, weather permitting. The closure accommodates demolition of the existing southbound highway bridge over Yankee Valley Boulevard.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/2641042173996-F48E-C7DE-48A923C9DD5D2928.html
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Motorists are advised that construction of the Highway 4 bypass at Milk River will temporarily reduce access options to the town and tourist information centre from the highway.
The only access to Milk River from Highway 4 will be via the highway’s intersection with 10 Avenue at the north end of the town. The access limits are required to complete the highway’s new southbound lanes and the new south access to the town. The work will be completed and the south access open to traffic by July 20, weather permitting. Speed limit will be reduced to 80 km/h through the construction area.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/2640941A4ECD2-CE01-1A7B-B161A745FCA93D89.html
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More than 4101 commercial vehicles, including 150 buses, were checked for safety during the month of June. The surprise inspections conducted by Alberta Transportation and law enforcement agencies throughout the province resulted in 1202 charges.
These inspections also included 466 out-of-service charges, which remove dangerous vehicles from our roads and help prevent collisions and breakdowns. No motor carrier or person can operate a vehicle designated as out-of-service until it has been repaired.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/2640341339062-D7C8-A937-4562772CE306FBD2.html
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A new web-based tool lets cereal, flax and pulse growers collect and compare data on adapted crop varieties that are best suited to their areas and production conditions.
The website, www.abbcvarinfo.com , is interactive and utilizes current and historical crop, climate and geographic information across the province. It also includes information about the Peace River region of northeastern B.C., which has similar growing conditions to a large part of northwestern Alberta.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/26406416C6EF8-B767-71A7-8F7A1773C814691B.html
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Approximately 6,000 more low-income seniors are now eligible for benefits thanks to higher qualifying income thresholds for some of Alberta’s seniors financial assistance programs. The threshold increase applies to the Alberta Seniors Benefit program, the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors Program, and the Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors programs.
“We are committed to assisting low-income seniors who are most in need, which is why the qualifying income thresholds have been increased for these programs,” said Mary Anne Jablonski, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports. “This ensures benefits are not reduced as a result of increases to federal government programs such as Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and Canada Pension Plan.”
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/2640441384DCB-ED7F-0511-6CE09815F36DBB48.html
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Albertans are encouraged to take part in various events on Saturday, July 18, as Alberta celebrates the 20th anniversary of Canada’s Parks Day. For the past two decades, Canada's Parks Day events have been staged in national, provincial and territorial parks and historic sites across the country. From campfires to lumberjack demonstrations, sandcastle competitions to wildflower walks and bug safaris, the events are as diverse as the parks where they take place, and the people who celebrate.
Big Knife Provincial Park, 146 kilometres east of Red Deer, will celebrate Parks Day from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a scavenger hunt, horseshoe and volleyball tournaments and a barbeque.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/26402412EDC7F-B8B1-FFBE-CE8E329354469D7B.html
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Seven new outreach programs launching in September 2009 will enable more Alberta youth to stay in school. The new programs will be offered by school boards in Athabasca, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lloydminster, Taber and two in Calgary, for a total of 134 approved outreach programs now operating in the province.
“Outreach programs give options and supports to students who otherwise may not stay in school,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Education. “These innovative programs make it possible for every student to finish high school and reach their potential.”
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/264003D0B3BED-D70F-2C35-DFD4683F282719B6.html
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Alberta youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system will have a real opportunity to turn their lives around with the support of Alberta’s youth justice committees.
The Government of Alberta is providing $350,000 in grants to youth justice committees across the province to continue their work in keeping young people away from a life of crime. The committees work in their communities to show young people the impact their crimes have on the community, often involving victims themselves, and help them accept responsibility for their offenses. The committees also assist with sentencing and engage in crime reduction activities.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/263983C522D04-ECA7-C469-18A571AE09C59355.html
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The 12 members of the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy will consider long-term goals for Alberta and provide advice on actions the Alberta government can take to best position the province for the future. The council will be chaired by noted business executive and experienced cabinet minister, the Honourable David Emerson.
“We’ve put together an impressive range of experts from around the globe to advise on how we can best position Alberta for the future - and reach our full potential as a province,” said Premier Ed Stelmach. “I want them to think big and provide an external perspective on our efforts to boost innovation, diversify the economy, enhance our quality of life, and sustain prosperity over the long-term.”
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/263963C2FA082-064D-0D3A-8492F491CE95F9D3.html
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The Alberta government has asked three groups to submit proposals to deliver 10 new elementary-junior and middle schools for the Edmonton Capital and Calgary regions through a public-private partnership (P3). The 10 schools represent one of two school bundles under the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement phase two (ASAP II) project.
“Although we are in difficult economic times, government is leveraging the strengths of our local industry to invest in our economy, meet the needs of our citizens, and foster job creation while building the schools we need to support growth and renewal,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Education. “This Request for Proposals assists us in delivering almost *8, 000* new student-spaces to growing communities in need of supportive and nurturing learning environments.”
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200907/263973BD00D3E-901E-D4FA-C10F0E22F1D69B68.html
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According to a new report released by the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), of the 14,877 million cubic metres of solution gas produced in 2008, 723 million were flared and vented compared to 672 million in 2007, a 7.6 per cent increase. The increase is primarily attributed to higher bitumen well drilling in 2008.
Nonetheless, solution gas flaring in Alberta has been reduced by 77 per cent since 1996, and solution gas venting has been reduced by 41 per cent since 2000. Flaring is the burning of natural gas that cannot be conserved. Venting is the release of natural gas into the atmosphere. Solution gas is natural gas produced in association with crude oil and bitumen production.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200906/2639133000063-F29E-7359-A91B716EF91CB403.html
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Gathering for Success, a historic three-day international symposium on Aboriginal economic development strategies that ended June 30 in Banff, will have an immediate and lasting impact on Aboriginal communities in Alberta and around the world, organizers say.
The sold-out conference, hosted by the Government of Alberta in partnership with Treaty 7 Management Corporation, attracted more than 600 delegates including several internationally recognized speakers and experts who shared their insights and successful strategies for Aboriginal economic development.
http://WWW.GOV.AB.CA/acn/200906/26386323533B4-F9CE-D41F-93CB276E373A80DD.html
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