Alberta Launches Record Setting Construction Season
The province will invest almost $2 billion through the Capital Plan in 2008 on the ring roads in Calgary & Edmonton, new highway & bridge construction, & widening & on repaving of highway. 

Nearly 3,500 New Child Care Spaces to open
Opening across AB in 2008, these new spaces will ease some of the challenges families face when looking for quality child care.  In addition to these spaces, government will take action to support the creation of 14,000 more child care spaces by 2011.  With the Space Creation Innovation funding, operators can access up to $1,500 for each new space, to help offset the costs of planning, minor renovations and purchasing supplies, equipment and toys.  The fund is helping 106 applicants who operate either urban or rural programs, to open new child care spaces in 51 communities--before the end of the year.  Visit www.child.alberta.ca/childcare for much more! 

Student Assistance Package Boosted by $13.4 Million
Enhancements include:

• 2.5% interest rate reduction on student loans (variable rate loans have been reduced to the prime lending rate & fixed rate loans have been cut to prime plus 2%)
• doubling monthly part-time earning exemptions to $800/mo
• removing restrictions on scholarship earnings
• increasing annual student loan limits to $13,300
• 5% increase to the student living allowance

 AB Invests $79 Million to Enhance Students’ Career Pathways
…& in addition, the provincial government provided more than $14 million to school jurisdictions for equipment upgrades to more then 100 CTD labs throughout AB.  Out of the province’s 62 school boards and authorities, a total of 53 proposals (some containing multiple lab project upgrades) were submitted & approved for funding. 

In Pursuit of Olympic Excellence, AB Increased Support for Athletes & Training Facilities
AB’s high performance athletes & training facilities are receiving new funding as part of the government’s commitment to athletic excellence & promoting AB’s role in the Olympics & Paralympic Games.  The government is injecting $1.5 million annually to the Podium Alberta program, which will supplement the funding provided to AB’s high performance athletes by the federal government.  Calgary-Lougheed constituent Russ Tynan will lead an Olympic & Paralympic Secretariat responsible for coordinating AB’s approach & activities leading up to and during the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games.  The Secretariat will focus on coordinating & promoting AB’s sport, tourism, & cultural activities. 

AB to Improve Royalty System Evaluation & Public Reporting
The Government of Alberta will implement 13 recommendations to enhance how the performance of the royalty regime is measured and how that performance is reported back to Albertans.  The recommendations were included by former provincial Auditor Gerneral Peter Valentine in his report “Building Confidence:  Improving Accountability & Transparency in Alberta’s Royalty System.  In accepting the report, the government has also committed to the 30-, 60- and 90- day time frames identified by Valentine to begin work & establish plans for the implementation of the recommendations related to oversight, business processes & controls, & reporting. 

Health Care Premiums Eliminated Three Years Earlier than Expected
Albertans & Albertan businesses will save $1 billion annually with the elimination of health care premiums on January 1, 2009; and nearly $300 million in other targeted tax relief. 

New AB Enterprise Act Sets Next Generation Economy in Motion
AB has sent a signal to global investors by announcing a cornerstone to diversify & sustain the provincial economy.  Bill 4 will establish the Corporation—which will be independently managed & mandated--to develop a locally managed venture capital industry specifically supporting knowledge-based AB companies, while improving access to early stage venture capital.  This $100 million investment is one of the many steps to build on our strengths, & steer AB’s economy in a new direction--as a demonstrated leader in the next generation global economy.  AB’s plan includes a future where our children will fully participate in tomorrow’s global industries! 

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