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Our government continues to lay the groundwork for future growth with our clear plan for economic recovery - The Way Forward. Our plan set the stage for Budget 2010, which strikes the right balance of meeting today's needs while supporting our vision for lasting prosperity. This vision centres on a strong, competitive Alberta, with the most advanced infrastructure and the best publicly funded health care in Canada.
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Surgeries Increased, Wait Times Reduced
Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Alberta Health and Wellness announced a six-week plan through March 31 to immediately increase the number of surgeries in high-priority areas. Surgeries will be further increased during April, May and June as more surgical capacity becomes available, including more operating-room time and increased availability of surgeons and surgical teams.
At least 2,230 more surgeries and non-surgical procedures with long wait lists have been approved for the initial surge through March 31, including cancer surgery, orthopedic surgery (including hip and knee replacements), neurosurgery, heart surgery and cataract surgery. As well, 3,500 more MRI and CT scans will be added immediately.
Increases in non-surgical services (such as endoscopies) are also underway. More surgeries and non-surgical services will be performed at several hospitals throughout Alberta, including: Foothills Medical Centre, University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Northern Lights Health Centre, Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, and the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie.
The number of surgeries performed will continue to increase steadily, and AHS is compiling wait time and wait list information that will be publicly reported annually. The impact on wait times and wait lists will be evaluated as part of the longer-term plan. AHS will also provide the year-over-year increase in total surgeries at that time.
The Alberta government has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. An important part of The Way Forward is maintaining support for programs and services Albertans need most, such as health care.
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Premier fulfills commitment to add 300 police officers
Premier Stelmach has made good on his promise to increase police ranks in Alberta by adding 300 officers over three years as he announced the distribution of the final 100 frontline police. A total of $30 million over three years is being provided by the Safe Communities Secretariat to fund these positions.
In order to qualify for additional positions, police agencies had to demonstrate where and how the new officers will be used and that all its frontline police positions were filled.
Through this commitment, the Edmonton Police Service will gain 35 officers in 2010-11 for a total of 105 new officers over three years.
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Highway construction moves forward in Edmonton area
Continued work on the Edmonton ring road and other important highway improvement projects in the Edmonton area highlight the 2010 construction season.
Major projects in Edmonton include:
- Anthony Henday Drive NW - Continuing construction of the 21-kilometre northwest section at a cost of $1.42 billion in 2008 dollars, which will open to traffic by fall 2011;
- Anthony Henday Drive W - Continuing construction of the Stony Plain Road interchange at a cost of $168.6 million, which will open to traffic by fall 2011; and
- Anthony Henday Drive W - Continuing construction of the Lessard Road and Callingwood Road interchanges at a cost of $45 million, which will open to traffic by fall 2011.
Other highway construction projects in the Edmonton area include:
- Highway 2 - Re-paving (27 km) from Highway 13 to Highway 39 in Leduc;
- Highway 16 - Re-paving (10 km) from Highway 16A to west of Highway 43;
- Highway 625 - Re-constructing from Sparrow Drive to 9th Street in Nisku; and
- Highway 627 - Re-paving (21 km) from Highway 779 south of Stony Plain to Edmonton.
In 2010, the Alberta government will invest $1.9 billion in the provincial highway network. Visit www.transportation.alberta.ca/614.htm to view Alberta's three-year highway construction program.
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Bill 1 - The Alberta Competitiveness Act
One of our government's highest priorities this session is enhancing Alberta's competitive edge in the global marketplace, and the first piece of legislation introduced will work to achieve this goal. Bill 1, the Alberta Competitiveness Act, would see a greater focus on increasing collaboration between government, businesses, industry and Albertans in order to help make Alberta one of the most attractive places in the world to invest. In turn, this will serve to create new business opportunities and sustainable jobs, and increase provincial revenues that will support priority programs like health care, education, and services for our most vulnerable citizens.
The Government of Alberta's efforts to increase our competitive profile will cut through all sectors of our economy, from agriculture to petrochemicals, research and development to transportation, and beyond. Bill 1 hopes to achieve a more competitive Alberta by:
- advancing current Alberta competitiveness initiatives, such as the oil and gas competitiveness review and the Western Economic Partnership;
- developing strategies to encourage innovation, productivity and the adoption of new technologies;
- promoting effective policies and regulatory systems that will deliver the economic, environmental and social outcomes Albertans expect; and
- measuring progress and reporting to the public about how Alberta's competitiveness contributes to the province's prosperity, environment and quality of life.
By coordinating and integrating our efforts to advance shared goals, this new partnership will develop strategies to enhance Alberta's competitiveness for the long-term benefit of all Albertans.
An important part of The Way Forward, our four-point plan for economic recovery, is making sure Alberta's industries remain globally competitive. For more information on the plan visit www.alberta.ca.
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