Just hours after she delivered her keynote speech at the UCP’s Annual General Meeting in Red Deer on Saturday, 6,085 members voted in favour of Smith in her leadership review, achieving 91.5 per cent approval at Westerner Park.

Back in 2022, Smith received only a 54 per cent approval from members and replaced former premier Jason Kenney who had only 51 per cent of the vote.

Speaking to the media following her speech earlier in the day, she said she was hoping for more votes than last time.

“You can’t get 100 per cent of support, 100 per cent of the time so I just hope I’ve managed to gain ground from the last time they had a chance to offer their opinion,” she said.

During the premier’s speech, she touched on multiple topics over her nearly 20-minute address.

“In this room is the very heartbeat of this strong, free, and independent west, the bedrock on which the Conservative movement in Canada is built,” she said to her supporters.

“When Alberta Conservatives are united, when we are unapologetically governing as freedom loving, free market, law and order Conservatives, the entire centre of political gravity in our country pulls in that direction.”

Among the topics touched on, how the Alberta government is restructuring and decentralizing hospital care, primary care, senior care, and mental health and addictions are delivered.

Smith said this means fewer “paper pushers” and more nurses and doctors.

“There’s still a lot more to do to complete these reforms but day by day we get closer to our goal to deliver an innovative, patient first, and decentralized health care system that’s there for you when you need it,” she said.

In terms of education she said they’ve recently announced construction of the largest amount of new schools in the history of the province. She also explained that parental choice in education will alway be a staple with her in power.

“The more choice we have and the more choice we give parents in how their children are educated, the more accountable, innovative, and effective our entire education system will become,” she added.

Smith’s government recently proposed three bills that focus on transgender people.

One bill introduced requires kids under 16 to have parental consent to change their pronouns or names at school. It also requires parents to opt-in for their children to be taught about sexual orientation and sexual and gender identity at school.

The second bill would prohibit doctors from treating kids under 16 looking for transgender treatments such as puberty blockers.

The final bill would ban transgender athletes from competing in female amateur sports and would require school and sport organizations to report eligibility complaints.

“Some on the left accuse us of doing this for political purposes but that’s not true,” she said.

“We’re doing this because permanently altering ones body and changing ones gender is a serious adult decision. Our children deserve the time and the freedom to mature and understand the consequences of such decisions before they make them. I won’t apologize for that.”

Her government also introduced this week the expansion of the Alberta bill of rights including the right to buy and own firearms and the right for an individual to refuse a vaccine.

“We learned a lot of hard lessons during the pandemic and one of the things learned is this – a person’s right to bodily autonomy is sacred,” she said.

“Governments around the world should never be allowed to circumvent that right and in Alberta they won’t be allowed to do so.”

Smith also touched on censorship in the province and reassured members that they will continue to fight the issue referencing Jordan Peterson’s legal battle against the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

Speaking of freedom, she also reported that her government helped create 100,000 new jobs and workers are earning more on average than any other province. She also explained how they plan to keep taxes low moving into the future.

Smith also promised to build more pipelines, oil and gas facilities, and more.

“Alberta is an energy super power and that’s another thing we won’t apologize for either,” she said.

“Let me be clear, we won’t be phasing out any of our oil and gas industry. In fact, we’re going to double our oil and gas production. We’ll lower the emissions the smart way through technology and sending more of our clean oil and natural gas to Asia and the U.S.”

In a letter responding to the Liberals’ budget, the premiers say they worry new federal programs are eventually going to be downloaded onto provinces and territories. 

They also say the housing crisis cannot be solved by the federal government working with municipalities alone. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would go directly to mayors to provide housing funding after Ontario Premier Doug Ford refused to accept the money with conditions. 

The premiers say they need to have a key role in developing federal housing programs and are calling for more flexibility.

The government’s new housing plan includes billions in spending aimed at building nearly 3.9 million homes by 2031.

In the letter, Council of the Federation president and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston touches on everything from defence spending and disaster assistance to housing. He says the premiers were expecting updated Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements this year to provide adequate support for emergencies.

The premiers want to see even more spending on Arctic security and investments to equip and staff the Canadian Armed Forces. 

Houston and his fellow premiers also say they expected the federal budget to include flexible and predictable infrastructure funding, “but this did not happen.” 

“Budget 2024 may lead to positive impacts for Canadians if actioned properly and collaboratively with provincial and territorial partners,” Houston wrote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2024. 

The Canadian Press

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Canada’s premiers say they want a return to a co-operative approach with the federal government that respects their jurisdiction. Canada’s provincial and territorial leaders look on during a press conference at the meeting of the Council of the Federation, in Halifax, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Clark

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British Columbia and Quebec are both capping capacity at bars and restaurants at 50 per cent as of today, while Newfoundland and Labrador has limited bars to 50 per cent and restaurants to 75 per cent with physical distancing in effect.

B.C. is also limiting indoor social gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.

Ontario and Saskatchewan are expanding COVID-19 vaccine booster eligibility to all adults, provided it’s been at least three months since they received their second dose.

Ontario also introduced public health restrictions Sunday, with capacity limits and reduced hours at restaurants and bars.

Canada reported thousands of new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend as the Omicron variant continued its rapid spread.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press

British Columbia and Quebec are both capping capacity at bars and restaurants at 50 per cent as of today, while Newfoundland and Labrador has limited bars to 50 per cent and restaurants to 75 per cent with physical distancing in effect.

B.C. is also limiting indoor social gatherings to a maximum of 10 people.

Ontario and Saskatchewan are expanding COVID-19 vaccine booster eligibility to all adults, provided it’s been at least three months since they received their second dose.

Ontario also introduced public health restrictions Sunday, with capacity limits and reduced hours at restaurants and bars.

Canada reported thousands of new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend as the Omicron variant continued its rapid spread.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press

The money went toward continuing care, hospitals, testing, vaccine distribution, personal protective equipment, and grants and aid for businesses and workers.

The numbers are part of the final report on 2020-21 finances delivered by Finance Minister Travis Toews.

The year ended with a $17-billion deficit on $60 billion in spending.

Taxpayer-supported debt sat at $93 billion.

The report says the pandemic bludgeoned Alberta’s resource-based economy; real G-D-P fell by 8.2 per cent and unemployment rose to 11.4 per cent.

The province says better times appear to be on the horizon.

Oil prices are rising in the short term and multiple economic forecasts predict Alberta will lead the nation in economic growth in the coming months.

(The Canadian Press)

Last Thursday, June 24, Janelle Melenchuk sent an email to the office of Premier Jason Kenney, Education Minister and Red Deer-North MLA Adriana LaGrange, Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan, whose riding she lives in, and NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman.

The email addressed the recent discovery of 751 unmarked graves at a former residential school site in Saskatchewan, and noted the role of Chris Champion in the drafting of Alberta’s new K-6 curriculum.

Champion, who served on the curriculum review panel until last fall, has been widely criticized for his comments casting doubt on the seriousness of residential schools.

“Racism has no place in our curriculum. Racists have no place in our schools. Do your job. Stand up to white supremacy and racism in Alberta,” she wrote.

Less than an hour later, Melenchuk received an email reply from the Red Deer-South constituency office, signed by Brian Barritt.

“Hi Janelle: Thank you for your concern with regards to what happened in the government sanctioned schools for natives. As a matter of record, the unmarked graves have always been known about. It is my understanding that the fact that the graves were always there was not a secret and was known. It has just now however, became (sic) a topic of discussion in the press,” Barritt wrote in the email.

An email from Brian Barritt, an apparent constituency staffer, replied to a constituent referring to residential schools as, “schools for natives,” and blamed the media for only now making them an issue. (Supplied)

“It is my opinion,” Barritt continued, “that the individuals that were in power in the government of the time, and those that were in power in the schools / churches, if they are still alive, should be the ones held accountable for these atrocities.”

rdnewsNOW has called and emailed Stephan’s offices in both Red Deer and Edmonton asking about the matter and Barritt’s affiliation with Stephan. We have yet to receive a reply.

Chad Krahn, Stephan’s constituency office manager, is currently on leave while he runs for Red Deer city council, according to an automatic reply email.

We also reached out the premier’s office and Ministry of Indigenous Relations regarding Barritt’s comments and whether the government has given any further thought to throwing out parts of the draft curriculum influenced by Champion.

Tim Gerwing, the United Conservative Party’s Director of Communications, replied saying, “The individual in question no longer works for MLA Stephan. We won’t be commenting further on HR matters.

Gerwing noted, “Alberta’s government is working in partnership with First Nations on reconciliation, including providing $8 million to support Indigenous-led research into unmarked graves in Alberta.”

Jerrica Goodwin, Kenney’s press secretary, referred us to recent comments about residential schools made by Premier Jason Kenney and Wilson.

“As for the individual in question, he is not a Government employee,” Goodwin stated.

Melenchuk says it’s not the first time she’s received a lacklustre response from Stephan’s office and isn’t impressed with his lack of accountability.

“I wasn’t expecting much, but I wasn’t expecting that. It didn’t respond to what I was saying, I felt it was extremely condescending, inappropriate, dismissive and racist. Many people are having an awakening right now to what’s gone on in Canada. This can’t be the response when we’re talking about the curriculum, which by the way is total garbage,” says Melenchuk.

Growing up in Rimbey, Melenchuk says talking down about Indigenous folks was the norm, but she avoided it.

“I didn’t learn about residential schools myself until I was at the University of Lethbridge from 1999 to 2004. Like Murray Sinclair (Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission) has said, education is what got us into this mess, and it has to be the thing that gets us out,” she stressed.

“I teach in the Catholic school system and I am struggling with that. The struggle isn’t new in regards to this history, but I think it’s exacerbated by the fact the church has taken next to no responsibility for residential schools in Canada.

“The Truth and Reconciliation journey belongs to all of us. It is time to listen,” she added. “I am speaking out because the response I received from my MLA’s office continues to perpetuate what we’re trying to reconcile as a nation. We can’t have this kind of rhetoric and blatant ignorance coming from a government official’s office, period.”

The new name previously received unanimous support from the college’s Board of Governors.

“We are thrilled to take another important step in the historic progression of our post-secondary institution with the confirmation of our new name,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, Red Deer Polytechnic President.

“Consulting a variety of stakeholders during the past few years, it was evident by the feedback that we recognize and celebrate our roots in Red Deer and central Alberta. Red Deer Polytechnic emerged as the most compelling choice to represent our bright future and connections to the city and community.”

It was on May 4 that Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced would become a polytechnic.

As Red Deer Polytechnic, officials say the range of programming and credentials will expand, recognizing the needs of learners and industry. There will continue to be a range of program options in apprenticeships, certificates, diplomas, micro-credentials, collaborative degrees and other programs with partner post-secondary institutions, along with more of Red Deer Polytechnic’s own degrees. This will allow more central Alberta students to complete their post-secondary education at home and remain in the region after graduation.

“With noteworthy developments of our post-secondary institution during the past several months, the excitement for the 2021/2022 academic year has been building. We look forward to welcoming our learners back in September, and until then, we still have important work to do,” says Nunoda. “We have been collaborating internally, and with industry experts, on our new visual identity as Red Deer Polytechnic. This includes a refreshed logo and other brand elements that we are excited to reveal in the fall.”

In September, the institution welcomes its first cohort of students to begin their academic journey at Red Deer Polytechnic. This cohort includes Red Deer Polytechnic’s own Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Four other degree proposals have been submitted to Alberta’s Ministry of Advanced Education, including Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Education.

Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Tyler Shandro are scheduled to update Albertans this afternoon on the Open for Summer Plan and then next steps in the province’s vaccine rollout.

A news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. You’ll be able to watch it live here once it begins.

Seventy per cent of eligible Albertans need to have received their first dose of COVID vaccine in order for the province to proceed to Stage 3 of reopening where most COVID-19 public health restrictions would be lifted.

That number stood at 69.9 per cent on Thursday, meaning Alberta has very likely crossed the 70 per cent milestone by today.

The reopening plan states that it would be two weeks after reaching 70 per cent that Stage 3 would commence. However, it’s possible that the province may decide to lift them a day early in time for Canada Day.

Like the two goats, many rural landowners in the region aren’t budging from their opposition to the province’s plan to allow open-pit coal mines.About 30 landowners wearing cowboy hats, boots and on horseback rode onto a private property for what was billed as a “Tribute to the Mountains Concert” with musicians, including country star Corb Lund.

Lund, a sixth-generation southern Albertan, has been an outspoken opponent of the Alberta government’s plan to allow open-pit coal mines in the region and the concert took on more of the feel of a rally.

“We’re a couple of hours south of here in the foothills, but it’s the same story … many generations on the land,” he said.

“I don’t speak out publicly about a lot of issues, but this is so big and so egregious that I just didn’t think it could be left alone.”

Lund turned and pointed to a flat mountaintop behind him.

“That ridge up there is called Cabin Ridge and that’s where the coal mine’s going to be if it goes through. They’re going to take that top off the whole ridge and probably ruin these rivers. This whole area will be a disaster,” he said.

Lund choked back tears as he recalled the emotion he feels every time he drives home after being on tour.

“Everything changes for me and it gets real magical,” he said.

“This is sacred country and that’s why I’m doing it … I don’t like doing it, but the government and the coal companies have forced me to.”

Peggy Lund, who still lives on the family ranch, shares her son’s concerns about the proposed mines.

“I just think what’s proposed and what’s going on here is just a decimation and just a horrible thing,” she said. “This will make a huge footprint, a negative footprint on the area. It comes with a lot of baggage.”

Mac Blades’s family has owned the property where the Wednesday event was held for 100 years. He remains hopeful that public pressure will put an end to any plan of coal mines on the eastern slopes.

Blades said it’s already painful imagining how the view would change.

“I don’t think I could come back and look at it. It would be devastating. I can’t imagine it really. It would just destroy everything.”

Coal mining in Alberta’s foothills and mountains has been controversial ever since the United Conservative government revoked a policy in May 2020 that had protected the land since 1976.

Tens of thousands of hectares have been leased for exploration, drawing protests from First Nations, municipalities and many thousands of Albertans.

That outcry caused the government to restore the policy, pause new sales and suspend exploration work on the most sensitive land — although work continues elsewhere.

It also struck a panel to gather input on how Albertans feel about coal mining in the postcard-perfect landscape. It is expected to report in November.

The federal government on Wednesday announced it will step in to do an environmental review of any new coal project that could possibly release the contaminant selenium. The decision will affect any proposals that emerge from eight steelmaking coal exploration projects in the foothills.

Lund had been waiting for the announcement.

“It sounds like excellent news. It feels like the tide’s turning a little bit, which is good because it’s been a battle,” he said.

“If it makes it harder and more stringent for the mines to get started … that’s a great thing.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2021.

— Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter

Jason Stephan delivered a member’s statement in the Alberta legislature this week to share his opinion that fiscal federalism a “rigged partnership.”

Stephan suggests his feelings reflect those of many Albertans.

“It is apparent that fiscal federalism is a rigged partnership, resulting in perpetual, structural welfare payments from Alberta businesses and families, primarily to Quebec, a partner whose actions unfortunately, regularly undermine the interests of Alberta, the rainmaker partner, and the partnership as a whole,” Stephan said in an email statement on Tuesday.

“The unfortunate truth is, in real world, Quebec would be kicked out the partnership.”

In his statement in the legislature on Monday, Stephan took aim at Quebec Premier François Legault saying equalization is one of his favorite things about Canada.

“Ponder that, Quebec’s loyalty to Canada is founded upon what it takes from other provinces?” Stephan suggested. “What happens when the welfare ends? “

Stephan also said Quebec gets a “de facto veto” on changes to Canada’s constitution, a constitution it never signed, in order to protect the status quo.

“How will a referendum to remove equalization from the constitution be received, if Quebec’s transactional loyalty to Canada is founded upon it?” he pondered.

“It is not right to require Alberta businesses and families to have unconditional loyalty to a fiscally and morally bankrupt partnership that plunders and oppresses them.”

Stephan concluded his member’s statement by saying, “Unconditional, blind loyalty to imperfect individuals and partnerships will ultimately fail. Loyalty to the truth and to its principles will, in the end, always prevail. Security is found in a shared loyalty to truth, trusting in the peace of its principles.”