This release was issued under a previous government.

Premier Alison Redford issued mandate letters to her Cabinet calling on Ministers to work together as one team to deliver results for Albertans.

“As a government, we have the honour and privilege to serve Albertans,” said Premier Redford. “These letters highlight key actions Ministers need to carry out for Albertans, and set out the cooperative and transparent way we will work together as a Cabinet team.”

The mandate letters outline the plan for government which includes actions such as designing a plan for family care clinics, establishing a minimum of three-year funding cycles for education and municipalities, consulting with Albertans on legislation and taking national leadership on energy efficiency and sustainability. The letters form a blueprint for a new way of working across the Government of Alberta with an emphasis on cooperation, innovation and integrated solutions.

“This spirit of cooperation goes beyond government,” said Premier Redford. “Our partnerships must be broad and meaningful so each and every Albertan knows they have an important role in building Alberta’s future.”

The mandate letters are online at http://alberta.ca/premier_cabinet.cfm.

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Backgrounder: Mandate letter objectives by ministry

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Kim Misik
Media Relations Manager
Office of the Premier
780-422-4905
[email protected]

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Backgrounder

Mandate letter objectives by ministry

Advanced Education and Technology

  • Enhance the Alberta Innovates model to build more capacity and funding stability in agriculture and energy research and strike a better balance between the priorities of researchers and government.
  • Identify strategies to expand the recruitment of post-secondary students in rural areas, including those within Métis and First Nations communities.

Agriculture and Rural Development

  • Together with the Ministers of Energy, Environment and Water and Sustainable Resource Development, design and implement an initiative to make Alberta the national leader in energy efficiency and sustainability.
  • Work with the Minister of Service Alberta to deliver high-speed internet connectivity to unserviced locations in rural Alberta.

Culture and Community Services

  • Convene a forum with arts and culture partners to make recommendations on cost-effective initiatives that promote the sustainability and long-term growth of the sector.

Education

  • Working with the Ministers of Finance and Treasury Board and Enterprise, establish minimum three-year funding cycles for education.
  • Table a new Education Act reflecting the principled, learner-centred, inclusive, competency-based education system proposed in the Inspiring Education report.

Energy

  • Review the Electric Statutes Amendment Act (formerly Bill 50) and the two high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) transmission facilities between the Edmonton and Calgary Regions.
  • Lead Alberta’s participation in the development of the Canadian Energy Strategy.
  • Together with the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Water and Sustainable Resource Development, design and implement an initiative to make Alberta the national leader in energy efficiency and sustainability.
  • In collaboration with the Ministers of Environment and Water and Sustainable Resource Development, implement the Regulatory Enhancement Task Force recommendations, including the creation of a single regulator for oil and gas.
  • Together with the Minister of Environment and Water, work with the federal government to ensure future coal-fired regulations support the common goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, without unduly impacting Alberta consumers.

Environment and Water

  • Begin the final stage consultation on key actions under the Water for Life Strategy with proposals on how to move forward together with stakeholders and experts.
  • Together with the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy and Sustainable Resource Development, design and implement an initiative to make Alberta the national leader in energy efficiency and sustainability.
  • Develop the appropriate partnerships, inside and outside of government, to deliver a credible and open source information system on science-based environmental indicators.
  • In collaboration with the Ministers of Energy and Sustainable Resource Development, implement the Regulatory Enhancement Task Force recommendations, including the creation of a single regulator for oil and gas.
  • Together with the Minister of Energy, work with the federal government to ensure future coal-fired regulations support the common goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, without unduly impacting Alberta consumers.

Finance

  • Develop and implement a renewed fiscal policy and savings strategy to reduce dependence on non-renewable resource revenue and seek Albertans’ input on the future of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund.
  • Working with the Ministers of Education, Municipal Affairs and Treasury Board, establish minimum three-year funding cycles for education and municipalities.

Health and Wellness

Within a publicly funded health care system

  • Consult stakeholders and design a plan for the implementation of Family Care Clinics to support the evolution of primary health care.
  • Together with the Minister of Seniors, design a plan to develop and implement Continuing Care Centres.

Human Services

  • Involving other Ministers, lead the development of a social policy framework to guide the alignment and redesign of social policy and programs to achieve better outcomes for children and families.
  • Establish the Child and Youth Advocate as an independent officer of the Legislature.
  • Create the Alberta Interagency Council on Homelessness to lead the implementation of A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 Years.
  • Ensure information sharing practices within government and with service agencies support the best decisions possible in regard to the health, education and safety of children and families.

Infrastructure

  • Review the Land Assembly Project Area Act (formerly Bill 19) to ensure full consultation, consistency with existing legislation and access to the courts by individuals and companies.

Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations

  • Implement Alberta’s International Strategy, including the negotiation of “externships” - competitive placements of talented Albertans in international organizations, foundations, multilateral institutions and the private sector.
  • Continue to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal communities and people, including those related to land management and resource development.
  • Work with the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy and Sustainable Resource Development to expand market access, attract investment and make Alberta a preferred global supplier of agricultural, energy and forestry products and services.

Justice

  • Lead cross-ministry partners in implementing the Safe Communities program to deliver positive outcomes for Albertans.
  • Assess the appropriateness of amending or repealing Section 3 of the Alberta Human Rights Act.
  • Work with the Minister of Transportation and the Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security to design proposals for administrative penalties related to impaired driving.

Municipal Affairs

  • Working with the Ministers of Finance and Treasury Board and Enterprise, establish minimum three-year funding cycles for municipalities and review and assess the Municipal Sustainability Initiative.

Seniors

  • Together with the Minister of Health and Wellness, design a plan to develop and implement Continuing Care Centres.
  • Design a plan to develop and implement increases to the monthly living allowance and the employment income exemptions for clients of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program.

Service Alberta

  • Work with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to deliver high-speed internet connectivity to unserviced locations in rural Alberta.

Solicitor General and Public Security

  • Work with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to continue to implement the Safe Communities program to deliver positive outcomes for Albertans.
  • Work with the Ministers of Justice and Attorney General and Transportation to design proposals for administrative penalties related to impaired driving.

Sustainable Resource Development

  • Review the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (formerly Bill 36) to ensure full consultation, consistency with existing expropriation legislation and access to the courts by individuals and companies.
  • Together with the Ministers of Energy, Environment and Water and Agriculture and Rural Development, design and implement an initiative to make Alberta Canada’s leader in energy efficiency and sustainability.
  • In collaboration with the Ministers of Energy and Environment and Water, implement the Regulatory Enhancement Task Force Recommendations, including the creation of a single regulator for oil and gas.

Tourism, Parks and Recreation

  • Ensure Alberta grows as a tourism destination.

Transportation

  • Develop a multi-modal Transportation Strategy that, within an aligned funding model, supports Albertans’ priorities, including competitiveness, sustainability, and the timely completion of major projects such as the Calgary and Edmonton Ring Roads.
  • Work with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security to design proposals for administrative penalties related to impaired driving.

Treasury Board and Enterprise

  • Support and work with Deputy Ministers to develop and implement a plan to make the Alberta Public Service a leader in innovation, efficiency and delivery of services to Albertans.
  • Working with the Ministers of Education, Finance and Municipal Affairs, establish minimum three-year funding cycles for education and municipalities (including the review and assessment of the Municipal Sustainability Initiative).
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Media inquiries may be directed to:

Kim Misik
Media Relations Manager
Office of the Premier
780-422-4905
[email protected]

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.