Alberta’s government is extending the use of blue lights to improve highway safety for roadside workers and drivers.
In 2022, Alberta’s government initiated a small trial allowing the optional use of flashing blue lights on snowplows, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles contracted to the Government of Alberta to increase their visibility and safety while working on Alberta highways.
Based on feedback to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors from snowplow, tow truck and highway maintenance vehicle operators, Alberta’s government is extending these exemptions for an additional five years. With this extension, these vehicles can continue to display flashing blue and amber lights to show drivers when and where they’re working, improving safety conditions for roadside workers and drivers so they can all return home safely.
“The original pilot projects were brought to increase visibility and improve safety of those working on our highways. We are extending these projects to make sure these important safety measures remain in place so those who work on our highways can go home safely to their families at the end of their shifts.”
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors
These changes are in addition to new rules under the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, which come into effect Sept. 1, requiring drivers to slow down and move over when passing highway workers.
With the extension of the project, Alberta’s government is continuing to assess whether legislative changes are needed to outline optimal light configurations to improve the visibility and safety of roadside workers.
“I’m pleased to see this announcement from the minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. The extension of the blue light project will bring increased visibility and improve road safety for everyone in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.”
Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
“Adding blue lights on tow trucks has been a simple change with a profound benefit. It has improved visibility and safety on the roadside for our province’s essential tow operators and the Albertans they’re responding to. We’re grateful for this five-year extension, which provides ongoing certainty to Alberta’s tow operators as we work towards making this well-proven change a permanent reality.”
Michelle Chimko, president and CEO, Alberta Motor Association
Quick facts
Since December 2019, there have been 17 serious roadside incidents and at least 39 near misses involving Alberta tow trucks and passing vehicles.
Between March 2018 and March 2021, there were 128 collisions involving snowplows contracted by Alberta Transportation.
A recent AMA study indicates that of those who have seen blue flashing lights in use on a tow truck, there was 86.9 percent agreement that they are more visible than amber alone.
The registrar’s exemptions include conditions for users, including:
All flashing lamps must be compliant with the Society of Automotive Engineers standards.
Flashing lamps must be controlled from inside the vehicle cab and vehicles must be equipped with an indicator inside the vehicle that can be seen by the driver to indicate that the flashing lamps are on.
Alberta’s government is removing mandatory entry level training (MELT) for Class 2 licensees to help alleviate bus driver shortages while maintaining safety on Alberta roads.
Alberta school boards have reported difficulty hiring and retaining new school bus drivers to provide safe transportation for students. Removing the MELT requirement for Class 2 drivers will make it easier for school boards and bus companies to hire and train drivers, helping to alleviate the ongoing school bus driver shortage.
Drivers must still obtain the S endorsement on their licence if they will be driving a school bus. To obtain the S endorsement, drivers must first complete the school bus driver improvement program. The S endorsement will be added to their licence after they successfully complete the school bus driver improvement program, which consists of classroom training, practical training and knowledge assessments.
“Alberta is an outlier on requiring MELT for Class 2 licences, as no other province or territory in Canada requires it for their bus drivers. Removing this requirement will make it easier for Albertans to obtain their Class 2 licence if they are able to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills during the knowledge and road test.”
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors
Watch the Press Conference on reducing the school bus driver shortage.
Effective April 23, Class 2 drivers will no longer need to take MELT when seeking their Class 2 licence. School bus drivers will still be required to possess an S endorsement on their licence. Drivers need the correct class of driver’s licence for the type of school bus they will drive. The required class of licence for a school bus is decided by its designed seating capacity.
A new voluntary on-the-job training program for Class 2 and Class 4 school bus drivers will be available by the end of April to support drivers, ensuring they have the skills required to operate a school bus safely. Drivers will get hands-on experience in their work environment using equipment and experiencing real-life scenarios that occur as they do their job.
“Alberta’s student transportation leaders have been asking for this change since 2019. It safely allows us to provide individualized training based on competency instead of a time-based format that does not take existing skills into consideration. I applaud Alberta for listening to our concerns and am excited for the improvements our communities will feel.”
“Alberta School Boards Association has been advocating for adjustments to MELT requirements as it has created hiring and retention challenges, resulting in school bus driver shortages and increased costs. We are pleased to see that school bus drivers will no longer require MELT and that specific training will remain in place to ensure the safety of students.”
Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association
“The CASS board of directors is pleased that training, specific to transporting students on school buses, will replace MELT as this approach will help address driver shortages while maintaining safety. ”
Scott Morrison, president, College of Alberta School Superintendents
“The Student Transportation Association of Alberta has been asking for changes since the implementation of the MELT program in 2019. This change will allow school divisions and contractors to provide individualized training based on competency instead of a time-based format that did not take existing skills into consideration. I applaud the Alberta government for listening to our concerns and we as an organization are excited to be able to work with all new drivers in providing a targeted training based on their skill level.”
David Shaw, president, Student Transportation Association of Alberta
“The ASBCA expresses its satisfaction with the modifications made to reduce the prescriptive nature of the MELT program. This change will enable contractors to expedite the on-boarding of new drivers and improve the quality of service to families in Alberta.”
Mark Critch, president, Alberta School Bus Contractors’ Association
Transportation and Economic Corridors has also developed a new voluntary on-the-job training grant program for Class 1 drivers. Post-licensing training options will be created for industry by industry in partnership with the Alberta Motor Transport Association. This voluntary training program for licensed Class 1 drivers will be designed to provide participants with job-related skills, knowledge and competencies to meet the full scope of work performed by a commercial truck driver.
Both training programs (Class 1 and Class 2 licensees) will begin this year and are focused on helping alleviate labour shortages in key areas of the commercial driving industry within Alberta.
In March, Alberta’s government introduced regulatory changes to student transportation, adding 33,000 students who are now eligible for government-funded busing services. Alberta’s government is responding to this increased demand for busing services and bus drivers with additional student transportation funding, and by eliminating MELT for Class 2 drivers.
Quick facts
On March 1, 2019, MELT became a new licensing requirement for Class 1 and Class 2 drivers in Alberta
As of March 31, 2022, there were 147,134 Class 1 drivers and 24,699 Class 2 drivers in Alberta.
Alberta is the only province in Canada to mandate MELT for Class 2 licence holders.
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.
Advanced road tests are no longer required to get a full Class 5 and Class 6 Alberta’s driver’s licence.
Effective April 1, 2023, eligible drivers currently in the Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program will save $154 by not having to take an advanced road test to become fully licensed.
“There are close to half a million drivers who will benefit from this,” said Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen. “These changes will help GDL drivers exit the program and apply for other classes of driver’s licences whether it’s for a semi-truck, gravel truck or bus.”
Alberta brought in the GDL program in 2003. The program placed new drivers on a 24-month probationary period for safety. This was followed by an advanced road test to exit the program and become fully licensed.
However, about 65 per cent of drivers over the past five years have not taken their advanced toad test. Neither did 99 per cent of motorcycle riders.
Watch the press conference.
“Requiring a second test costs too much, it’s a roadblack to finding jobs and has created unnecessary red tape for my generation,” said Mount Royal University student Mark Emes.
“The elimination of the Class 5 and Class 6 advanced road tests under the Graduated Driver Licensing program is opne of the most significant cost-saving and red tape reduction measures introduced for young Alberta drivers.”
About 700,000 Albertans are currently in the GDL program. Under the new rules, 500,000 drivers may be eligible to exit the program.
Drivers who have an urgent need to exit the GDL program – needing a non-GDL licence for a job, etc. – can go to a registry agent office to confirm their eligibility. If the registry agent determines a driver is eligible, they will exchange the driver’s GDL licence for a non-GDL driver’s licence free of charge.
On June 25, 2023, the Government of Alberta will implement technology that will automatically exit eligible Albertans who’ve demonstrated safe driving behaviours from GDL drivers to non-GDL status.
GDL drivers must have no suspensions or demerits within their last 12 months of probation, including zero tolerance for any alcohol and/or drug consumption.
Drivers who exhibit poor driving behaviours and incur demerits, or are ticketed for other unsafe driving offences during the last year of their probation will have their probationary period extended for an additional year.
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 Red Deer airport if poised to become a national logistics hub with a $30-million provincial investment.
Alberta’s Government made the announcement on March 15, as part of Budget 2023.
“As the MLA for Red Deer-North and as a resident of Red Deer, I know this expansion will be a welcomed addition for the community,” said MLA Adriana LaGrange. “This expansion will be an asset to the transportation corridor, as it will attract new passenger and cargo services, improve tourism and create jobs.
“I am happy to see further investments that will support our booming community.”
Building on a $7.5-million provincial grant to upgrade and repair the airport runway, the funding will go towards critical infrastructure. This includes road construction, water sanitation, stormwater, and fibre optic installation. It will also improved emergency access to Springbrook.
This will lay the foundation to attract low-fare passenger airlines. Planning for a new passenger terminal that would accommodate fir 737 aircraft is already underway.
Watch the press conference regarding a $30-million investment in the Red Deer Regional Airport.
“We are glad this government has recognized the unique opportunity the airport and central Alberta can play in expanding our economic impact through diversification,” said Red Deer Regional Airport CEO Graham Ingram.
“We already have a tenant looking to expand their business as a result of this positive development. By building the road north, we now have the opportunity to access the additional 220 acres, which we hope will bring in cargo, aircraft repair and other airline-related services.”
That tenant is aerial firefighting company Air Spray, which is the largest business at the airport. They announced plans to add additional hangar space.
Boosting airport competitiveness
The investment aligns with a broader strategy to improve the competitiveness of airports. The province is looking at policy changes to compete with U.S. airports like Seattle that can bring in cargo at lower prices than is currently possible in the province.
The Strategic Aviation Advisory Council was formed in 2020 by the government to help with this, and advise on how to increase economic development through airports, as well as expand markets and create jobs.
The Aviation and aerospace industry employs more than 18,000 people, as per Statistics Canada, and contributed $1.5 billion to Alberta’s GDP in 2021.
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 won’t see increases to passenger vehicle insurance rates in 2023.
The provincial government is pausing private passenger vehicle auto insurance rate increases for the year. This measure is part of efforts to combat rising inflation and cost-of-living, as well as support long-term affordability for Albertans struggling to heat their homes and feed their families.
“We share Albertans’ concerns about the rising cost of living during the current inflation crisis. We will continue to meet with members of the insurance industry to find additional longer-term solutions for automobile insurance,” said President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Travis Toews.
While no new rate increases will be approved by the government, Albertans may see increases to their insurance as a result of already approved increases. Changes to their insurance profiles or driving records – including tickets and at-fault claims – can also cause increases.
Concerns from Albertans over having to pay their full auto insurance premiums up front are also being addressed. The provincial government is requiring insurance companies to provide payment plans for most Albertans.
Previously, Alberta implemented reforms in the fall of 2020. Supply chain issues in the auto industry, as well as inflation, have impacted those reforms in the short term.
Consumer tips for keep insurance rates down:
Consumer tips
In Alberta’s competitive marketplace, Albertans can often get better rates by shopping around and exploring their options.
Albertans should continue to work with their insurance companies or brokers to get the best rates.
Alberta drivers can get discounts of up to 20 per cent for bundling their home and property insurance, in addition to discounts for good driving behaviour.
Alberta has a unique consumer protection in the grid rating system. Insurers must look at the grid premium and their own premiums and charge the lesser rate for basic automobile coverage.
View the original press release for the pausing of insurance rates on the Government of Alberta website here.
Those living in Red Deer-North wanting to have their voice heard can contact the Red Deer-North Constituency Office through the contact form.
