More than $39 million to
help Alberta communities
attract investments, create jobs and transition to a sustainable
green economy
WABAMUN, AB,
July 3,
2024 /CNW/ - Canada
and the world are shifting away from coal-fired power, to protect
our climate, and create a more sustainable and robust economy. The
Government of Canada is investing
in communities, workers and people impacted by the coal transition,
and we are making sure that they are at the centre of our work.
Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan,
announced $39,432,507 for 10 projects
– through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) and Canada
Coal Transition Initiative-Infrastructure Fund (CCTI-IF) – to
support sustainable economic growth in coal affected communities
across Alberta. This funding,
through PrairiesCan, is supporting the building of new
infrastructure to attract new investments, help business grow, and
create strong and resilient communities with more well-paying
jobs.
Examples of projects receiving support include:
- Parkland County is receiving $17,500,000 to upgrade the Wabamun wastewater facility, develop a water
feature and redevelop the existing public waterfront park in the
Hamlet of Wabamun.
- Paul First Nation is
receiving $850,000 for a transition,
training, and employment centre for entrepreneurship training and
business support.
- The Town of Castor is receiving $891,000 to reconstruct and convert a campground
area into a year-round multipurpose venue.
- The Town of Coronation is receiving $891,000 to renovate and retrofit two buildings
into business incubator and accelerator centres that offer business
supports and programming to foster commercial growth.
- The Village of
Forestburg is receiving $313,000 to develop land and underground
utilities for the proposed Jeanne Lougheed Historic Park and to the
Flagstaff County border to support a proposed joint industrial
park.
Projects receiving funding will support more than 680 jobs and
help Alberta communities take
advantage of economic opportunities reflective of the increasingly
diversified Prairie economy.
In line with the principles of the Government of Canada's Framework to Build a Green Prairie
Economy, these investments are about working together on common
interests, to make a sustainable and prosperous net-zero economy
achievable by enhancing capacity and skills development in these
communities and providing support to grow their businesses.
Quotes
"Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is good for our
environment, our economy, our health, and our future. This
government's support for these 10 projects represents our
prioritization of workers and communities impacted by coal
transition. These investments will help create good-paying jobs,
attract new investment opportunities and build a stronger, more
sustainable economic future in Alberta and across the Prairies."
–The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan
"As we transition from coal, the federal government is doing our
part with municipal and regional partners to ensure Albertans
receive the support they need. Driving economic growth, creating
the jobs of the future, and opening opportunities that make
transition easier for Alberta's
coal communities is what today's investments are all about."
–The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment,
Workforce Development and Official Languages
"These investments are key to encouraging the future growth of
our community and improving the quality of life of our residents,
businesses, and visitors. This funding supports improvements to
County infrastructure and will boost local tourism and development
while leading to future economic prosperity and a sustainable
economy. We look forward to the many opportunities and economic
development that will arise from these investments – Parkland
County's future is bright."
–Allan Gamble, Mayor, Parkland
County
"Paul First Nation is exceedingly
pleased with the valuable contributions made towards our training
and capacity building. With this assistance and support, we will
greatly enhance our opportunities for economic and social
development, as well as stimulate the economy while building good
relationships and upstanding role model citizens. We would like to
extend our thanks to PrairiesCan. It is our desire to take
full advantage of this opportunity. By providing grass roots
cultural teachings and rituals, we will provide our young people
with the necessary tools to succeed."
–Dennis Paul, Technical Advisor, Paul
First Nation
Quick facts
- Today's investments bring total federal funding for
Alberta communities to over
$14 million invested since 2018
through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) and over
$60 million invested since 2019
through Canada Coal Transition Initiative-Infrastructure Fund
(CCTI-IF).
- The Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) supports skills
development and helps communities adapt to a low-carbon
economy.
- The Canada Coal Transition Initiative – Infrastructure Fund
(CCTI-IF) aims to help communities move away from coal by investing
in infrastructure.
- The Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy is a long-term
commitment to work differently, through stronger coordination among
federal departments on investments for the Prairies and closer
collaboration with Prairie partners on their priorities for a
prosperous and sustainable Prairie economy.
Backgrounder
PrairiesCan is investing $39,432,507 for 10 Alberta projects to support
skill development, infrastructure investment and economic
diversification in impacted communities transitioning from
coal-fired electricity generation. Projects receiving funding will
have significant environmental and economic benefits, including
supporting more than 680 jobs while
enabling coal-affected communities to create new sources of
economic growth.
PrairiesCan funding for these 10 projects is through the Canada
Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) and Canada Coal Transition
Initiative – Infrastructure Fund (CCTI-IF).
Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) - $1,382,507
CCTI is an investment of $35
million over five years. It supports skills development and
helps communities adapt to a low-carbon economy. The fund was
launched on April 1, 2018, and ended
March 31, 2023. Investments under
CCTI have supported a total of 15 projects in Alberta.
Projects announced today as receiving support through the CCTI
include:
- Paul First Nation is
receiving $850,000 to develop a
transition, training, and employment centre for entrepreneurship
training and business support.
- Paul First Nation is
receiving $532,507 to conduct a
feasibility and technical study for the requirements of a solar
park development.
Canada Coal Transition Initiative-Infrastructure Fund
(CCTI-IF) - $38,050,000
The CCTI-IF was launched on August 20,
2020. This $150 million fund
aims to help communities move away from coal by investing in
infrastructure. The initiative is set to end on March 31, 2025. To date, investments under
CCTI-IF have supported a total of 14 projects in Alberta.
Projects announced today as receiving support through
the CCTI-IF include:
- County of Paintearth is receiving $2,300,000 to upgrade and develop wastewater and
stormwater easement infrastructure for a mixed-use industrial
park.
- Parkland County is receiving $17,500,000 to upgrade the Wabamun wastewater facility, develop a water
feature and redevelop the existing public waterfront park in the
Hamlet of Wabamun.
- Parkland County is receiving $12,400,000 to upgrade Spruce Valley and
Pinchbeck-Bevington Road intersections on Highway 16A to increase
access to Acheson Industrial Area.
- The Town of Castor is receiving $891,000 to reconstruct and convert a campground
area into a year-round multipurpose venue.
- The Town of Coronation is receiving $891,000 to renovate and retrofit two buildings
into business incubator and accelerator centres to offer business
supports and programming to foster commercial growth.
- The Village of
Forestburg is receiving $313,000 to develop land and underground
utilities for the proposed Jeanne Lougheed Historic Park and to the
Flagstaff County border to support a proposed joint industrial
park.
- The Village of
Forestburg is receiving $250,000 to develop the planning and design of
the Forestburg South Industrial Subdivision.
- The Village of
Forestburg is receiving $3,505,000 for design and construction of roadway
and utility extensions in the industrial park in the Village of Forestburg.
Associated links
- Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
- Green Prairie Economy
- Powering Past Coal Alliance: phasing out coal
- Task Force: Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and
Communities
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SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada