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Premier Stelmach announces provincial aid to Haiti

Premier Ed Stelmach announced that the Alberta government will donate $500,000 towards the relief effort in Haiti.

"Like all Albertans, I've been saddened and shocked by the horrific images coming out of Haiti following the devastating earthquake," said Stelmach. "The Government of Alberta will provide $500,000 to the Red Cross to aid in the rebuilding of this shattered nation. I have also pledged that my government will work closely with the Red Cross to provide whatever personnel assistance we can to relief efforts, where and when it is needed most."

The relief money will come out of the Other Initiatives Fund administered by the Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit.
Province helps Edmonton's homeless find permanent homes

Alberta has taken another step towards implementing its 10-year plan to end homelessness. The province is providing $7.3 million to the Hope Mission for the construction of 52 permanent homes for the homeless in Edmonton.

Budget ‘09 committed a total of $100 million for the creation of over 700 units in communities across the province. With lower than expected building costs, the province now anticipates that more than 900 units will be added. An additional $32 million was provided to help community-based agencies deliver support services for those moving into the units. Services include treatment for addictions and mental illness, life skills training, and help finding employment.

The new facility, to be located at 106 Avenue and 107 Street, will be developed using modular construction techniques so residents will be able to move in sooner than in a traditional build. The Hope Mission anticipates that the units will be complete and ready for occupants by late spring. The agency's Rapid Exit program will provide the support services that assist these individuals in addressing their barriers to permanent housing.

In March, Alberta became the first Canadian province to endorse a provincial 10-year plan to end homelessness. Alberta's 10-year plan to end homelessness is based on a "Housing First" model that provides long-term housing along with the health and social supports homeless people need to resolve underlying issues and break the cycle of homelessness. For more information on A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Years, please visit www.housing.alberta.ca.

Maintaining support for the programs and services Albertans need most, such as health care, education, and safe and vibrant communities, is an important part of The Way Forward - Alberta's plan for economic recovery. For more information on this plan visit www.alberta.ca.
Improvements to mental health care in progress at Alberta Hospital Edmonton

After an extensive review and consultation process that began in October, the Alberta Hospital Edmonton Implementation Team (the I-Team) has made the following recommendations to Alberta Health Services (AHS):
  • establish a geriatric mental health campus that would co-locate a number of services and would be a hub for geriatric mental health programs and services in the Edmonton area;

  • include Villa Caritas, a new 150-bed facility that will open later this year, and other Covenant Health facilities at the Misericordia West Edmonton site as part of this campus; and

  • once Villa Caritas is fully equipped, staffed and ready, transfer the regional geriatric psychiatry program from Alberta Hospital Edmonton to this new site.
Following consultation with Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness, AHS will accept the I-Team's recommendations. In addition, AHS will withdraw proposals to transfer 146 beds from the acute psychiatry and rehabilitation psychiatry programs at Alberta Hospital Edmonton to other facilities.

Villa Caritas will be operated by Covenant Health. All support programs and resources available to patients in the geriatric psychiatry program at AHE will be transferred and available to patients on the new campus.

The Forensic Unit at AHE, which was not part of the original proposal, will also remain at AHE, along with adult acute care and rehabilitation care.

Please see www.albertahealthservices.ca for more details.
New cabinet team will ensure Alberta is stronger than ever

Our Premier, Ed Stelmach, recently named a new cabinet team, which will focus on four goals that will bring Alberta out of the recession and into a stronger position than ever before. Premier Stelmach promised Alberta's new cabinet will be focused on ensuring Alberta has:
  • the strongest financial position of all provinces coming out of the recession;
  • the most innovative and competitive economy in North America, creating jobs and attracting investment in traditional and emerging sectors;
  • the best performing public health care system in Canada; and
  • the most advanced infrastructure built in North America.
Our government remains steadfast in our commitment to lead Alberta to economic recovery and getting our budget back in the black in three years. The new Cabinet along with our strong caucus will tackle Alberta's fiscal challenges with determination. Alberta is in a strong fiscal position thanks to our financial planning; since the last recession, our government paid off a $23-billion-dollar debt and saved another $25 billion dollars for times like these.

Together, our government will take the necessary steps to ensure we emerge from this economic downturn in a position to prosper when economic growth returns. Our long-term economic plan will guide Alberta to recovery while making the necessary investments in our province and our people.

Alberta's future is bright, and our best days are yet to come.

See the cabinet list below and visit www.Alberta.ca for more information on the new team and for complete committee lists.
Premier Stelmach's Cabinet team in order of precedence

Ed Stelmach (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville)   Premier, President of Executive Council, Chair of Agenda and Priorities, Vice-Chair of Treasury Board
Doug Horner (Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert)   Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, and Minister Liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces
Ted Morton (Foothills-Rocky View)   Minister of Finance and Enterprise
Dave Hancock (Edmonton-Whitemud)   Minister of Education, Government House Leader. He will also serve as Political Minister for Edmonton.
Lloyd Snelgrove (Vermilion-Lloydminster)   President of the Treasury Board
Iris Evans (Sherwood Park)   Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations
Ron Liepert (Calgary-West)   Minister of Energy
Luke Ouellette (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake)   Minister of Transportation
Mel Knight (Grande Prairie-Smoky)   Minister of Sustainable Resource Development
Alison Redford (Calgary-Elbow)   Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Deputy Government House Leader. She will also serve as Political Minister for Calgary.
Rob Renner (Medicine Hat)   Minister of Environment, Deputy Government House Leader
Gene Zwozdesky (Edmonton-Mill Creek)   Minister of Health and Wellness, Deputy Government House Leader
Yvonne Fritz (Calgary-Cross)   Minister of Children and Youth Services
Jack Hayden (Drumheller-Stettler)   Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ray Danyluk (Lac La Biche-St. Paul)   Minister of Infrastructure
Mary Anne Jablonski (Red Deer-North)   Minister of Seniors and Community Supports
Lindsay Blackett (Calgary-North West)   Minister of Culture and Community Spirit
Heather Klimchuk (Edmonton-Glenora)   Minister of Service Alberta
Cindy Ady (Calgary-Shaw)   Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Hector Goudreau (Dunvegan-Central Peace)   Minister of Municipal Affairs
Frank Oberle (Peace River)   Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security
Len Webber (Calgary-Foothills)   Minister of Aboriginal Relations
Jonathan Denis (Calgary-Egmont)   Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Deputy Government House Leader
Thomas Lukaszuk (Edmonton-Castle Downs)   Minister of Employment and Immigration
List of Parliamentary Assistants
Greg Weadick (Lethbridge-West)   Advanced Education and Technology
Broyce Jacobs (Cardston-Taber-Warner)   Agriculture and Rural Development
Janice Sarich (Edmonton-Decore)   Education
Teresa Woo-Paw (Calgary-Mackay)   Employment and Immigration
Diana McQueen (Drayton Valley-Calmar)   Energy
Cal Dallas (Red Deer-South)   Environment
Raj Sherman (Edmonton-Meadowlark)   Health and Wellness
Manmeet Bhullar (Calgary-Montrose)   Municipal Affairs
Fred Horne (Edmonton-Rutherford)   Seniors and Community Supports
Evan Berger (Livingstone-Macleod)   Sustainable Resource Development
Jeff Johnson (Athabasca-Redwater)   Treasury Board (Oil Sands Sustainable Development Secretariat)
Government committee membership

Membership of the Government of Alberta's Agenda and Priorities Committee, Treasury Board and Legislative Review Committee was announced by Premier Ed Stelmach. The Premier also announced chairs of the government's five cabinet policy committees.

Agenda and Priorities Committee
Ed Stelmach - Chair (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville)
Doug Horner - Vice-Chair (Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert)
Ted Morton (Foothills-Rocky View)
Dave Hancock (Edmonton-Whitemud)
Alison Redford (Calgary-Elbow)
Gene Zwozdesky (Edmonton-Mill Creek)
Ron Liepert (Calgary-West)
Rob Renner (Medicine Hat)
Iris Evans (Sherwood Park)
Robin Campbell (West Yellowhead)
Richard Marz (Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills)
Dave Rodney (Calgary-Lougheed)
Fred Horne (Edmonton-Rutherford)

Treasury Board
Lloyd Snelgrove - Chair (Vermilion-Lloydminster)
Ed Stelmach - Vice-Chair (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville)
Ted Morton (Foothills-Rocky View)
Doug Horner (Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert)
Dave Hancock (Edmonton-Whitemud)
Alison Redford (Calgary-Elbow)
Gene Zwozdesky (Edmonton-Mill Creek)
Ron Liepert (Calgary-West)
Luke Ouellette (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake)
Jack Hayden (Drumheller-Stettler)
Jeff Johnson (Athabasca-Redwater)
Barry McFarland (Little Bow)
Ray Prins (Lacombe-Ponoka)
George Rogers (Leduc-Beaumont-Devon)
Wayne Drysdale (Grande Prairie-Wapiti)
Doug Griffiths (Battle River-Wainwright)

Legislative Review Committee
Alison Redford - Chair (Calgary-Elbow)
Dave Hancock - Vice-Chair (Edmonton-Whitemud)
Neil Brown (Calgary-Nose Hill)
Jonathan Denis (Calgary-Egmont)
Verlyn Olson (Wetaskiwin-Camrose)
Tony Vandermeer (Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview)
Kyle Fawcett (Calgary-North Hill)
Art Johnston (Calgary-Hays)
George VanderBurg (Whitecourt-Ste. Anne)

Cabinet Policy Committees
Resources and the Environment - Chair: George VanderBurg (Whitecourt-Ste. Anne)
Public Safety and Services - Chair: Neil Brown (Calgary-Nose Hill)
Health - Chair: Tony Vandermeer (Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview)
Economy - Chair: Kyle Fawcett (Calgary-North Hill)
Community Services - Chair: Art Johnston (Calgary-Hays)
If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact me at:
Carl Benito
#218, 4128A 97 Street
Edmonton, AB
T6E 5Y6
Phone: (780) 414-1000
edmonton.millwoods@assembly.ab.ca
  

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•
 Premier Stelmach announces provincial aid to Haiti
 
•
 Province helps Edmonton's homeless find permanent homes
 
•
 Improvements to mental health care in progress at Alberta Hospital Edmonton
 
•
 New cabinet team will ensure Alberta is stronger than ever
 
•
 Premier Stelmach's Cabinet team in order of precedence
 
•
 List of Parliamentary Assistants
 
•
 Government committee membership