Members of the public will have opportunities to make their voices heard and provide input informing Budget 2020.

An online survey with questions on Albertans’ spending and saving priorities, as well as ideas for job creation and growing Alberta’s economy, is open until Feb. 7.

Please take a moment to go online and have your say. https://www.alberta.ca/budget-consultation.aspx

The recommendations address four key areas: people, clinical services, non-clinical services and governance and contains 57 recommendations and 72 savings opportunities, ranging from $1.5 - $1.9 billion.  There will be no reduction in dollars spent.  This report will allow us to find a modest 2-3 per cent in savings each year.

Every dollar we save will stay in the health system to help deliver on our promise to improve access and make the system work better for patients.

We accept the report, with two important exceptions:  there will be NO hospital closures or consolidation of urban trauma centres.  

Stakeholder input into the review process far exceeded any similar projects that EY has conducted across Canada. Staff engagement included feedback from about 1,200 physicians, 27,000 front-line staff and 4,200 AHS leaders.  

Over the next 100 days, AHS will engage staff and clinical leaders as it develops a long-term implementation plan.

You can see the full report at https://open.alberta.ca/publications/alberta-health-services-performance-review-summary-report

An advisory panel appointed by government has provided recommendations for curriculum and drafted a new vision for student learning. Our government is seeking feedback on the draft vision via an online survey, which will be available until February 24. Feedback collected on the draft vision will also help guide government’s work moving forward with updating the curriculum. The panel’s recommendations will be considered along with Albertans’ feedback on the draft vision to inform next steps in updating the curriculum.

Our government takes the need to reduce methane emissions very seriously.  Alberta has a strong regulatory framework to reduce methane emissions from our oil and gas sector, and we are confident that these regulations will meet incoming standards imposed by the federal government.  Minister of Environment and Parks, Jason Nixon, is working with federal Environment Minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, to streamline regulations such that industry is not overburdened.  Our government will continue to stand up for Alberta's jurisdiction over energy policy remains committed to a regulatory framework that helps the environment and the economy.  

For more information go to https://www.alberta.ca/climate-methane-emissions.aspx

Up to 10 individuals will be inducted into the Order this year in recognition of remarkable contributions to their community, the province and beyond. I encourage you to consider nominating someone who has made valuable contributions to our province by February 15.

Nominees must be Canadians citizens currently residing in Alberta. People cannot nominate themselves, their spouse or a member of their immediate family. Information about the Order, including nomination guidelines, nomination forms and biographies of previous inductees, is available on the Alberta Order of Excellence website at www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/aoe or by calling 780-449-0517.