The federal government has announced $21.5 million in funding for five carbon capture projects in Alberta under the Energy Innovation Program. Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson made the announcement in Cochrane, highlighting a $10-million investment in Bow Valley Carbon to store emissions from a gas plant underground. Enbridge Inc. and Enhance Energy Inc. will receive $4 million and $5 million, respectively, for carbon storage hubs, while other funds will support technology testing and analysis improvements. Meanwhile, a much larger $16.5-billion carbon capture project proposed by the Pathways Alliance remains stalled, with Ottawa offering few details on its progress or funding. The Pathways initiative would capture emissions from more than 20 oilsands sites and store them near Cold Lake. Premier Danielle Smith has proposed linking the project to a new crude oil pipeline to the West Coast.
Two former UCP MLAs, Peter Guthrie and Scott Sinclair, are working to revive Alberta’s Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, aiming to offer what they call a centrist conservative alternative. They argue that Premier Danielle Smith’s UCP has drifted too far toward separatism and controversy, while the NDP represents the political left, leaving moderate conservatives politically homeless. Guthrie and Sinclair must collect nearly 9,000 signatures by November to formally re-register the PC Party, which was dissolved in 2020 after merging with Wildrose to form the UCP. The pair plans to campaign at summer events across the province and hopes to officially launch in the fall. Their platform emphasizes fiscal responsibility and moderate social policies. Premier Smith dismissed the effort as a vote-splitting risk that could hand power back to the NDP, while questioning whether reviving the PC name is even legally permissible.
The Alberta government has created a new task force to address rising aggression and complexity in schools across the province. The “Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team” will consist of 20 members, including frontline educators, school trustees, and other education professionals. The team will study classroom challenges and submit a report with both short- and long-term recommendations by fall 2025. The task force was launched in response to increasing reports of disruptive behaviour, such as fighting, kicking, and throwing objects, which have made classrooms harder to manage. The final list of team members is expected to be announced soon, with input from major school boards and educational organizations. The group’s recommendations could be implemented as early as the 2025-2026 school year. In addition to examining incidents of aggression, the team will also explore ways to better support students with complex needs, including those requiring mental health services or specialized programs.
Alberta is rolling out new liquor and cannabis sales reforms aimed at cutting red tape and boosting small businesses. The changes will let liquor retailers set up separate stores within larger commercial spaces, provided they meet requirements like having a separate entrance and floor-to-ceiling walls. Bars with party bike services will also be allowed to serve their own craft brews during bike tours, helping local brewers promote their brands. For cannabis growers, a new retail licence will enable direct sales from their farms, giving consumers more access to homegrown products and aligning Alberta with other provinces. The Province says these moves will support a more competitive marketplace and provide small businesses with new growth opportunities.
Alberta has appointed Sat Parhar as the first Chief of the new Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS), marking a significant step toward giving municipalities an alternative to the RCMP. Premier Danielle Smith highlighted Parhar’s extensive policing experience and his ability to lead a modern police service that meets Alberta’s diverse needs, especially in rural areas. Parhar, former Deputy Chief of the Calgary Police Service, emphasized his commitment to professionalism, strong partnerships, and addressing community priorities. The IAPS will operate as an independent Crown corporation and eventually be renamed the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, headquartered in Calgary. The agency will complement existing police forces and help address gaps in law enforcement resources across the province.
