|
New web portal helps increase businesses’ productivity
Hector Goudreau
MLA, Dunvegan – Central Peace
The Alberta government has launched www.productivityalberta.ca to help Alberta businesses assess and improve their overall productivity.
The Productivity Alberta web portal will connect Alberta companies to tools and resources to help them tackle productivity challenges and improve their competitive position in international and domestic markets.
The website provides links to a wide variety of government and industry information and resources. It contains the most up-to-date information on best practices and productivity strategies, and there are assessment tools to help companies compare their processes with industry benchmarks.
The website is just one action government is taking to help increase provincial productivity. Government also provides on-site productivity assessments and training for firms wishing to improve their productivity, efficiency and overall competitiveness.
Improving productivity and competitiveness is part of the Government of Alberta’s plan for a strong economic recovery.
Stimulus funding will create jobs, stimulate regional economy
Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), and Luke Ouellette, Minister of Alberta Transportation, announced funding for 33 new infrastructure projects across Alberta. These projects will benefit from over $144 million in joint federal-provincial funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
Projects receiving funding will improve local roads, highways and bridges across Alberta. As a result of these joint federal-provincial infrastructure initiatives, residents and travellers will enjoy better traffic flow and benefit from improvements to road safety for years to come.
This announcement represents a contribution of over $72 million from the Government of Canada through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, and over $72 million from the Government of Alberta.
The federal contribution to the projects comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects that can be completed by March 31, 2011.
Continuing to invest in public infrastructure is a key part of the Government of Alberta’s plan for a strong economic recovery. The Way Forward will bring Alberta back into a surplus position in three years by trimming government spending; using cash reserves to protect key programs; and ensuring that Alberta’s industries are competitive and continue to attract investment to provide jobs and prosperity.
Albertans get opportunity to invest in province on Feb. 16
Alberta Capital Bonds will go on sale Feb. 16, providing Albertans the opportunity to invest and support seniors’ accommodations in the province.
The funds raised through the bond offering will help build accommodations for Alberta seniors and will include long-term care and supportive living facilities, lodges or group homes.
The sales target for the bonds is $100 million, with sales ending March 1, or sooner if the sales target is achieved.
The bonds will be available for purchase at participating banks, credit unions, investment dealers and ATB Financial branches in Alberta, and will only be available to Alberta residents, and Alberta-based corporations and trusts.
The minimum purchase is $1,000 with a maximum of $25,000 per purchaser. The bonds are non-renewable and non-transferrable, with a five-year term at a fixed rate to be announced closer to the selling date. Interest payments on the bonds will be made annually on March 15.
More information on the bonds is available online at www.finance.alberta.ca.
Albertans to benefit from reduced prices for existing generic drugs
The Government of Alberta has taken another step to reduce generic drug costs. Effective April 1, the price of currently available or existing generic drugs will be reduced from 75 per cent to 56 per cent of the price of comparable brand name drugs. Existing generic drugs are generic drugs already included on our Alberta Drug Benefit List as of Oct.1, 2009.
Reducing generic drug prices is part of phase two of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy, which was announced in October 2009. At that time, the price of new generic drugs was reduced from 75 per cent to 45 per cent of the price of comparable brand name drugs. A new generic drug is any generic drug added to the Alberta Drug Benefit List after Oct.1, 2009.
Phase two of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy also includes additional compensation for pharmacists to perform expanded services such as patient consultations, medication reviews and immunizations. This will allow pharmacists to better meet the needs of their patients.
In addition, phase two enables Alberta to negotiate contracts with brand name drug manufacturers to reduce costs through volume discounts, provide faster access to new, innovative drugs and help fund health research.
The Alberta government has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. An important part of The Way Forward is maintaining support for programs and services Albertans need most, such as health care and education that support safe and vibrant communities. For more information on the plan, visit http://www.health.alberta.ca/.
Minister Jablonski reinforces government support for adults with developmental disabilities
Seniors and Community Supports Minister Mary Anne Jablonski made the following statement in response to a media conference in Calgary regarding the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program.
“I want to reassure Albertans with developmental disabilities and their families that they are and will remain a high priority for me and this government. I am saddened that some are making these individuals and others across the province worried about possible changes to the supports provided by the PDD program.
The health and safety of those supported by the PDD program has remained paramount—even while we looked for savings. It is important to find savings and efficiencies where we can, including to help sustain programs like PDD over the longer term, but it won’t be done at the cost of health and safety.
The PDD Community Boards will continue to work with agencies to find savings where feasible. The health and safety of individuals will not be put at risk. If a family feels this is the case, I strongly encourage them to contact their local PDD region to find a solution.
I also want to alleviate fears by stressing the size of this government’s commitment to adults with developmental disabilities. Even with in-year savings, the budget for the PDD program for this year is almost $600 million, an increase of more than $20 million over the previous year.
This works out to more than $60,000 on average for each of the 9,200 Albertans supported by the program.
My government colleagues and I remain committed to supporting these Albertans going forward.”
‘Explore Local’ targets the home field advantage for agriculture
The Alberta government’s new Explore Local initiative helps local farmers and industry in “capturing Alberta’s home field advantage.”
Explore Local pulls together existing efforts in areas such as farmers’ markets, farm direct marketing, regional cuisine and Ag-tourism under one umbrella.
In the province, as in many other jurisdictions across Canada and internationally, local market channels for agri-food products and services are seeing record sales and unprecedented growth. Farmers’ market direct sales in Alberta alone have jumped 30 per cent in just a few years - helping push total sales across Canada to over $1 billion.
The Explore Local initiative is in its early stages, with specific strategies taking shape that will evolve by working with industry. But, clear target areas for progress are already emerging, such as supporting new and expanded operations, building awareness and partnerships, and working with industry to address barriers to growth and expansion.
Explore Local: “Capturing Alberta’s home field advantage” is part of Growing Forward, a federal-provincial initiative.
For more information about Explore Local visit www.explorelocal.ca.
Previous
Home
Next
|
