Alberta families and non-profit organizations can now apply for funding from the Every Kid Can Play program.
Sports play an important role in the early stages of a child’s life. They teach teamwork, build confidence and promote healthy lifestyles that can last well into adulthood. Unfortunately, registration fees can make participation in sports unaffordable for too many families.
Albertans can now apply for funding from the Every Kid Can Play program to access affordable sport, physical activity and recreation programs for children and teens. To support the program’s success, Alberta’s government is providing $3 million to KidSport Alberta to subsidize registration costs for families that are struggling financially.
“Sport and recreation opportunities should be affordable and accessible for all, especially young children and youth. We are committed to supporting initiatives that makes access easier for families, helping to build healthy and fit communities through sport and recreation.”
Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport
“Every child and youth deserves an opportunity to play and enjoy the fun activities they love. Through Every Kid Can Play, Alberta’s government is reducing the financial barriers to play and making sure kids can enjoy the full benefits of sports and recreation.”
Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services
Introduced in Budget 2023 with a commitment of $8 million, the Every Kid Can Play program is funded by the Government of Alberta and administered in part by KidSport Alberta. The program increases access and affordability for families across Alberta with kids and teens participating in sports and recreational activities. Through KidSport Alberta, families can apply for support to offset registration fees.
Provincial and community non-profit organizations can apply for grant funding to increase access to sports and recreation programs. Every Kid Can Play is expected to provide direct financial support to more than 8,500 children and youth and support up to 200 child and youth-focused community-level programs throughout Alberta. Applications are now open.
“The benefits of sport extend beyond the field and too many families miss out on the social, mental, emotional and physical health benefits of physical activity due to financial barriers. With the support of the Government of Alberta, KidSport is determined to give every child and youth the opportunity to find and reclaim the joy of sport. The Every Kid Can Play program will provide equal access to sports in our province and drive lasting change for kids, their families and communities.”
Kelly Oehlerking, Executive Director, KidSport Alberta
“Every day I see the physical, social and emotional benefits of sport participation and I applaud our government for launching this program. This program will not only support individual participation, by making programming more affordable and accessible, it will also strengthen the MNP Community & Sport Centre through increased use, thus extending the reach and benefit of the program.”
Jeff Booke, CEO, MNP Community and Sport Centre
Quick facts
Applications open on July 18 for both families applying for government support through KidSport, and communities and provincial non-profit organizations that provide sport and recreation programs, applying on the Government of Alberta’s website.
KidSport Alberta will administer grants of up to $350 per child registration to eligible families to assist with program costs for sport programs across the province. The family income eligibility is the federal low-income cut-off guideline plus 50 per cent.
The deadline for non-profit organization applications is Sept. 30.
The $8 million in funding is broken down as follows:
$3 million to help eligible families to offset registration fees.
$3 million for grants to provincial scope non-profit organizations.
$2 million for grants to community-level non-profit organizations.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or comments can reach out to the local constituency office. They can do so via the form on the contact page or by phoning (403) 342–2263.
Alberta is seeing an increase of nurses who are choosing to call Alberta home.
TheCollege and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA), which regulates and governs nurse and nurse practitioners under the Health Professions Act, has seen a significant increase in the number of registered nurse permits issued in Alberta.
This is a result of improved and streamlined licensing processes, which allow for expedited licensing for qualified nurses from outside the province to help address staffing needs and strengthen the healthcare system.
Over the past nine months, a total of 4,519 permits have been processed by the CRNA out of 5,501 applications. This is more than double the permits issues in the previous year and expands the Alberta workforce with over 2,300 nurses.
Since April 4, 2023 alone, the CRNA reports that 2,962 applicants have received permits from all application types. This includes 1,462 permits issued for internationally-educated nurses that applied via new substantial equivalence pathways, and another 633 applicants from other provinces or territories.
Many applicants with previous healthcare experience in Alberta are having their skills evaluated for registered nurse licensure.
Alberta’s government is committed to making our province the most desirable place to live and work for health care professionals.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or comments can reach out to the local constituency office. They can do so via the form on the contact page or by phoning (403) 342–2263.
Alberta’s government will provide more than $10 million to Indigenous partners through the new Bridging Classrooms to Communities pilot program.
Alberta Education is committed to improving education outcomes and creating opportunities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. Creating welcoming environments, demonstrating cultural awareness and providing system supports through the Bridging Classrooms to Communities program will help support Indigenous students’ success in and out of the classroom.
This new pilot program will help Indigenous partners such as the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA) build relationships with local school authorities to advance reconciliation and support the hiring of community connection workers to strengthen student relationships with Indigenous communities.
“This is an important step forward in advancing reconciliation. Alberta’s United Conservative government takes reconciliation seriously and this small but important step will help bring Indigenous communities and school authorities closer together. As Alberta’s minister of education, I firmly believe that the path to reconciliation starts with education, and I will work to ensure that happens.”
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education
The new Bridging Classrooms to Communities pilot program will provide $10.5 million over three years. ANFCA will receive $7.5 million to distribute to friendship centres within their network. The remaining $3 million is earmarked for eligible Indigenous organizations to support community connection projects in urban and rural areas across Alberta.
By creating meaningful connections, this pilot program will help Indigenous students and their families feel heard, respected and involved in Alberta schools.
Recipients will receive up to $100,000 per year to hire community connection workers who will work with school authorities to:
Develop Indigenous-centered school events, programs and supports.
Provide guidance to teachers and school leaders to strengthen communication with Indigenous students, families and communities.
Make timely referrals to external support systems and services.
Improve access to transportation, technology, tutoring, social activities, sports and other supports and services.
“Alberta’s government is pleased to fund this pilot program that will help build relationships between community partners and create new opportunities in education for Indigenous students. These meaningful connections will help provide excellent opportunities for Indigenous students to feel heard and receive support to excel at school and in life now and in the future.”
Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations
“With this support from Alberta Education, friendship centres are able to weave Indigenous knowledge and culturally responsive educational supports to increase positive learning environments and urban Indigenous students’ academic and future success.”
Len Morissette, president, Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association
Grant applications will open later this summer and successful applicants will receive funding in the fall.
Alberta’s government is committed to reconciliation and Indigenous-led solutions that result in meaningful change and a better future for all.
Quick facts
Friendship centres provide cultural programs and services to respond to the unique needs of Indigenous people in urban and rural communities across Canada.
Alberta is investing more than $60 million into cutting-edge technologies that will reduce emissions and increase economic performance for industries across the province.
Alberta’s Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan sets the province’s course for cutting emissions, supporting jobs and strengthening the economy. As part of this plan, Alberta’s government is supporting clean technology and innovation to help reduce global emissions.
Through Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Industrial Transformation Challenge, Alberta will support 14 new projects using the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund. If all funded projects are successfully deployed, they will reduce a combined 700,000 tonnes of emissions by 2030 and create about 1,700 new jobs.
“This investment of over $60 million into 14 projects will reduce emissions and create almost 2,000 new jobs. When it comes to protecting the environment and growing the economy, Alberta leads the way through action, not talk.”
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
The TIER program helps industrial facilities, which account for more than half of Alberta’s total emissions, find innovative ways to reduce emissions and invest in clean technology to save money and stay competitive. This funding will support innovation across a wide range of industrial sectors including heavy freight, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and energy.
The investment will help facilities with projects at various stages of development advance technologies to the next level. All 14 projects involve piloting, demonstration or deployment of technology within Alberta, which will help ensure Alberta is on the forefront of emerging technologies.
“This investment will help several of our industries demonstrate transformative technologies to get them to market faster. Funding innovation like this will continue to position Alberta at the forefront of clean tech innovation and as an industrial leader.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
“We value the Alberta government’s support through TIER, bitumen beyond combustion and Emissions Reduction Alberta programs. Together we can turn Alberta’s bitumen resources into feedstock for manufacturing the next generation of energy storage devices and achieve another made-in-Alberta success.”
Dr. Yanguang Yuan “YY”, CEO and director, AdvEn Inc.
“Emissions Reduction Alberta’s support for our carbon capture and storage project is an important example of how TIER funding is helping scale emissions-reducing technology from design to deployment. The Government of Alberta is helping move us all closer to achieving shared emissions-reduction goals.”
Connie De Ciancio, vice-president, corporate, Strathcona Resources Ltd.
“Government of Alberta funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta is critical to fulfilling our objective of addressing soil health to meet consumer demand for healthy, nutritional crops that are produced in a sustainable way. This project creates the opportunity to add value to Alberta’s agricultural sector, diversify our economy and directly impact global food security risks.”
Using Alberta’s bitumen to produce battery materials for electric vehicles, capturing carbon from natural gas-fired turbines used in oil sands facilities, and constructing a zero-waste, low-emissions fertilizer facility that improves soil health and creates agriculture jobs are some of the ways companies will use the funding.
Quick facts
Emissions Reduction Alberta has committed $910 million to 260 projects worth more than $7.3 billion that are estimated to cut 40 million tonnes of emissions by 2030.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or comments can reach out to the local constituency office. They can do so via the form on the contact page or by phoning (403) 342–2263.
The governments of Alberta and Canada are partnering to invest more than $96 million to connect over 10,000 homes across the province to high-speed internet.
High-speed internet has become a daily necessity, yet Albertans in rural and remote parts of the province still have issues receiving reliable internet access. From education to health care and agriculture to small business, connectivity will help Albertans interact with the global marketplace, innovate for location solutions and help diversify Alberta’s economy.
The combined federal and provincial funding will deliver high-speed internet to more than 2,000 Indigenous households and more than 40 rural communities across Alberta. Construction work has started in 26 communities, with others to follow.
“Improving access to high-speed internet is the key to unlocking the potential in these communities across Alberta. I’m happy to note that construction work has begun in some communities. I look forward to continued work with the federal government to connect more communities until we achieve our goal of connecting every single Albertan to high-speed internet by 2027.”
Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation
This latest funding allocation is part of Alberta’s historic joint commitment of $780 million with the federal government to improve access to high-speed internet in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. In September 2022, Alberta’s government joined the federal government in announcing $70.6 million to connect 10,000 Alberta households, bringing Alberta families and communities closer to being able to rely on stable internet connectivity.
“This investment is a game-changer for rural Albertans and Indigenous communities. These investments in connectivity will ensure that thousands of households can access the tools and resources they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Access to reliable, high-speed internet will provide better education, health and economic opportunities, and will ensure that rural and Indigenous communities are full partners in Alberta’s growing economy.”
Gudie Hutchings, Federal Minister of Rural Economic Development
Under Budget 2023, Alberta’s government invested $369 million over three years to support underserved communities. These projects will not only bring improved internet access but will also help continue Alberta’s economic momentum by creating jobs and injecting money into Alberta’s economy.
Quick facts
The 26 communities that will benefit from ongoing construction work include:
Salt Prairie
Sunset House
Enilda
Joussard
Kinuso
Heart River
Gull Lake South
Rimbey
Viewmar Estates
Bluffton
Brocket (Piikani Nation)
Rainbow Lake
Brant
Kirkcaldy
Cayley
Carmangay
Champion
Ensign
Herronton
Little Bow Resort
Mossleigh
Queenstown
Travers
Vulcan
Lake McGregor Country Estates
Milo
Within three years of achieving universal coverage and adoption of services, the following economic outcomes are expected:
Up to $1.7 billion in annual GDP growth.
Up to five per cent GDP growth in the agricultural sector resulting from adoption of agricultural technologies.
Up to 40,000 Albertans without access to a primary health-care provider may have improved access to telehealth, and the cost to deliver those services will be reduced.
More than 120,000 students will have improved access to remote education.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or comments can reach out to the local constituency office. They can do so via the form on the contact page or by phoning (403) 342–2263.
