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Toews talks Budget 2023 in rural roundtable

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Ian CroftLocal Journalism Initiative [email protected] the drop of the new provincial budget on Feb. 28, the Alberta government held a post-budget round table on the following day to go into more details of some of the main concerns of this budget is addressing. Travis Toews, president of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, started things off by going over some of the main and minor themes that were key in this budget.“Budget ’23 really consists of a number of things,” said Toews. “Two themes that have been standing agenda items for every budget since we took office, number one is that Budget ’23 includes the objective standing agenda item of positioning Alberta’s economy for competitiveness resulting in economic growth, investment attraction, economic diversification, job creation, and ultimately expanded fiscal capacity which result in additional government revenue. That’s been a standing agenda item in every budget that I have presented. I believe that s...

Alberta’s low tax regime paying off in Budget 2023, argues Hunter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Trevor BuschSunny South NewsAlberta’s Budget 2023 isn’t showing any fiscal blue clouds based on a wealth of petro-dollars pouring into government coffers over 2022, but financial analysts are warning some rainy days may not be far off as key indicators continue to point to a recession in the near future.While the prospect of an economic recession is slowly moving from speculation into the realm of hard numbers, Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter is firmly focused on the positive aspects of the UCP’s budget which includes posting an expected $2.4 billion surplus.“It’s always nice when we have royalties,” said Hunter. “But I don’t think that’s the whole picture. I think the full picture is the fact that for the last three years, we’ve been very careful with our budgeting. We’ve got our per capita spending and government spending in line with the other top four provinces in Canada. Before that we were an outlier. And I think that that has now allowed us to be able to be in this enviable ...

County approves Phase 2 for bike path connecting city with Coaldale

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsCounty council has approved the Phase 2 and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Cor Van Raay LINK Pathway Project.Over a decade in the making, the project will move forward with the proposed 11 km Phase 2 route which will connect the 3.5 km Phase 1 segment at Highway 512 to the City of Lethbridge.Following council’s decision, Lethbridge County Reeve Tory Campbell said “Approving Phase 2 of the Cor Van Raay LINK Pathway today aligns with the goals in the County’s Strategic Plan,” and added the County’s, “focus on regional collaboration and governance that represents the best interest of our community were factors in the decision to move forward with this project.”Of the nearly six hour council meeting on March 2, an hour and 45 minutes was spent discussing the Link Pathway Project Committee’s request for Council to approve Phase 2 of the MOU between the Cor Van Raay Link Pathway Committee, Lethbridge County and the St. Mary River Irrigation Distr...

Local basketball teams prepare for 1A/2A zones

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Garrett SimmonsSunny South NewsKate Andrews High School took home the Deep South Basketball League senior boys championship last Wednesday with a big 75-56 win over Coaldale Christian.It was a battle between top ranked Kate Andrews and third ranked Coaldale Christian, as the teams both made it through their respective playoff brackets.Kate Andrews started its run with a win over No. 8 Picture Butte, and then defeated No. 4 W.R. Myers in the semis. Coaldale Christian beat No. 6 Immanuel Christian Secondary School to start the playoffs, and then upset No. 2 Stirling in the semifinals.Picture Butte’s playoff run came to an end with a consolation semifinal loss to Winston Churchill High School.Now, the focus for local high school teams shifts to the 1A and 2A zone championships, hosted this week by Lethbridge College.For the 1A girls, Picture Butte started its tournament with a late game Monday night against Erle Rivers (results unavailable at press time). A win in the opening round ...

Ignorance is not bliss

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

Dear Editor,MLA Drew Barnes tells us Tamara Lich was “…subject to the most overreach from a government imaginable.”(News- Mar. 1/’23).  His imagination is stultified, and his statement is on par with one by the other Medicine Hat MLA, Danielle Smith, who told us “Those not vaccinated are the most discriminated against group I have seen in my lifetime.”(News- Oct.22/’22)Please review the following examples of actual, real “government overreach” and “discrimination”, and remember that Ms. Lich and the unvaccinated all had a choice open to them, and they freely made their choices, but Mr. Barnes and Ms. Smith think they should be exempt from the consequences of their choices.  Up to about 100 years ago women were disqualified from voting in federal and provincial elections in Canada. Indigenous people were not allowed to vote federally until well into the 1950s-I don’t have an exact date.In Alberta, people with mental development problems were sexually sterilized, forcibly, under Socia...

Province welcomes Ukrainian newcomers; puts money where their mouth is

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Cal BraidSunny South NewsOn the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Province pledged new funding to assist Ukrainian evacuees in Alberta. The infusion of $7 million in additional funding will be directed towards settlement programs. The announcement was held in Vegreville and led by Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, parliamentary secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Settlement,Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Trade, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, opened by saying, “It’s wonderful to see so many people here today, including those who have recently arrived in our province. We’re so glad to welcome you and offer you protection and a safe place where you can rebuild. Millions of Ukrainians had to drop everything, leaving behind their homes, their possessions, their jobs, their schools, and much, much worse: their family and friends.” She said that Canadian agencies have done an “extraordinary job” of helping newcomers when they arrive. The practical details of relocating to a...

Chinook Arch Regional Libraries announce collection of therapy lamps to combat seasonal blues

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsSAD lamps can now be accessed at 26 libraries in southern Alberta.The aptly-named Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other conditions can be effectively treated with light therapy, according to Chinook Arch Regional Libraries.Libraries offer a plethora of services and supports beyond just books to members including yoga classes, active living equipment, and free seminars and events. Now, a partnership between AHS and Chinook Arch has made access to light therapy lamps possible for use in 26 Chinook Arch member libraries, including Picture Butte, Coaldale, Stirling, Magrath, Vauxhall, Warner, and Cardston.AHS provided information on the value that light therapy lamps could provide to members across the region.CEO of Chinook Arch, Robin Hepher, said the collection of SAD lamps, “is just one way we’re working with local public libraries to make unique resources available in communities across southwestern Alberta.”Hepher noted, “Libraries offer value ...

County forms committee to consider land acknowledgement statement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsLethbridge County Council has established a committee which will be tasked with bringing forward options for Indigenous land acknowledgement statements which would be read at the start of future council meetings.The agenda report noted, “most councils throughout the province do some form of land acknowledgement within their municipality.”Reeve Tory Campbell noted during the March 2 council meeting, “I think that there is tremendous opportunity that lies here in southern Alberta that transcends what we are talking about today. The Blood have a tremendous opportunity in front of them as far as agriculture goes.”He added, “I think if we look at our strategic plan and how it speaks to good governance, region, and prosperity, there is opportunity in front of us. I think a big piece of that moving forward is that reconciliation piece. Having said that I think having discussions with council we want to make sure we are all on board with this and we are all u...

GAF update received during Nobleford council

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsThe following are selected briefs from the Feb. 28 regular meeting of Nobleford town council.Open Floor for Town of Nobleford ResidentsDon McDowell, vice-president of Green Acres Foundation, gave an update on recent happenings with the foundation.• No word on the assessment for Rose Butte Apartments in Nobleford, and another inquiry was sent out to Edmonton, which they are still waiting to hear back from.• Abby Road Terrace Art Project is on schedule, with the first section scheduled to open in June. It is located at 18th Street South, between 6th and 5th Avenue.• The Town of Coaldale has asked for another GAF building, and is getting ready to do a needs assessment.• The Town of Coalhurst is back on Green Acres radar regarding a GAF facility. While a preliminary design was discussed three years prior, it had contained low-cost apartments, and the council at the time did not want to go in that direction at the time and the project was terminated. The ...

Picture Butte Council approves final capital and operating budgets for 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:54:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsPicture Butte has approved the final draft of the 2023 capital and operating budgets. Council reviewed the document during the previous week’s Committee of the Whole meeting.The Town’s draft operating and capital budgets were passed in December 2022 after deliberations.During the Feb. 27 meeting, CAO Keith Davis said, “Council seemed pleased with the budget that was presented, which is based on a four per cent tax revenue increase.” Davis added, “the discussion was, ‘Does council want keep that four per cent tax revenue (increase) or keep the mill rate the same?’ That is really the direction that administration needs.”Deputy Mayor Henry De Kok sponsored a motion to approve the budget as presented and keep the mill rate as presented. The motion was passed by council.Following the decision, Council discussed how the 2022 operating budget surplus would be allocated. The total surplus for 2022 was $194,385. Council approved a motion to approve the surplus...