At a Glance - Week of August 13

West Coast Pipeline Designation Advances

The federal government is moving toward designating Alberta’s proposed West Coast oil pipeline as a project of national interest under Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act. A notice published August 1 begins a mandatory 30-day notice and consultation period before the project can be listed for a fast-tracked approval process, including environmental assessments. The proposed pipeline would carry about one million barrels of crude oil per day along a roughly 1,250-kilometer route, similar to the existing Trans Mountain corridor.

Alberta says the project would strengthen Canada’s energy independence and global competitiveness. However, environmental groups have criticized the accelerated process, raising concerns about climate change, endangered species and reduced oversight. Ottawa will consult Alberta, British Columbia and Indigenous communities, while the public has until September 18 to submit comments.

Southwest Alberta Collaborates on Aviation Growth

Four southwestern Alberta municipalities are working together to grow the region’s aviation and aerospace sector. Cardston County, the Municipal Districts of Pincher Creek and Willow Creek, and the Town of Fort Macleod will promote their airports as a regional cluster with support from the Alberta Southwest Alliance.

Each airport offers different strengths, including flight training, emergency response, and available hangar space. A recent study found that the region has valuable aviation assets but lacks the resources and expertise needed to fully develop them. Sean Miles, the alliance’s director of investment development, commented: “A number of rural airports have these assets and they’re just sitting there and often under utilized so often times they either (just) break even or lose money.”

Continued Funding for Community Health Centres

Alberta’s government is investing an additional $30 million in community health centres in Calgary and Edmonton, bringing total funding to $60 million over four years. The funding is intended to help vulnerable Albertans facing barriers such as poverty, homelessness, mental illness and addiction access integrated primary care and social supports. Funding will support Alex and CUPS Calgary Society in Calgary, as well as Radius Community Health & Healing and Jasper Place Wellness Centre in Edmonton.

Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Justin Wright, stated: “Every Albertan deserves access to the care and support they need, when and where they need it, without having to navigate the system alone. This investment will help more people facing barriers build lasting relationships with care teams, and access health and social supports in their community.”

Province Criticizes EPS "Report Hate" Campaign

Premier Danielle Smith and Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis criticized an Edmonton Police Service social media video encouraging residents to report hate incidents. Ellis said police should focus on “violent crime, theft, illegal drugs and vandalism” rather than “policing opinions,” while Smith emphasized free speech and warned against policing controversial statements.

Dan Jones, justice studies chair at NorQuest College, said the post lacked clarity about the difference between hate crimes and non-criminal hate incidents. However, he described the government’s response as overreach, calling on the Edmonton Police Commission to address the issue themselves.