Dear Constituent,

I hope that this update finds you well, and that you are enjoying your summer, and all the festivals, barbeques and other events that make this time of year special.

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Alberta's 2009-10 deficit down to $1 billion

• Revenue was $35.7 billion, $4 billion higher than forecast at budget.
• Expense was $36.7 billion, $303 million higher than forecast at budget.
  

The tight controls on spending and higher-than-expected revenue helped reduce Alberta's 2009-10 deficit to $1 billion, which is less than a quarter of the original estimate of $4.7 billion.

Revenue from oil and oil sands royalties, investment income and corporate income tax were all significantly higher than forecast in Budget 2009 while expense was up only slightly due mainly to assistance for disasters and emergencies. The resulting lower deficit means less will be drawn from the Sustainability Fund, which stood at $15 billion at March 31, 2010. (The Heritage Fund is not the Sustainability Fund, and will not be used to cover the deficit).

While the 2009-10 deficit is considerably smaller than expected, Alberta's revenue picture in the current fiscal year remains highly uncertain, with natural gas prices low, and oil prices, financial markets and the Canadian dollar fluctuating on a daily basis. As a result, there is no reason at this time to expect any improvement in the forecast deficit of $4.7 billion for 2010-11.

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, education and safe and vibrant communities. For more information on the plan visit Alberta.ca.

Minister Evans used the three-day meeting to update U.S. Governors on the leadership Alberta has demonstrated in responsible energy production. She also learned first-hand how Alberta's largest and most important trading partner is dealing with economic and environmental challenges in these turbulent times.

The Western Governors' Association is a non-partisan organization made up of governors of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming as well as the three U.S. flag Pacific Islands - American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. Canada's Western Premiers have a standing invitation to participate each year. For more information about the Western Governors' Association visit www.westgov.org.

More Alberta Students Completed High School

Our Government understands the importance of education in our province. Thanks to a joint effort between government and school jurisdictions to keep students engaged and motivated to stay in school, Alberta's high school completion rate increased in 2009. The rate rose to 71.5 per cent in 2009, from 70.8 per cent in 2008.

Under the province's High School Completion Framework, Alberta Education works with school jurisdictions to identify the barriers to graduation and develop plans that enhance existing programs and fit the needs of school communities.

The framework includes five strategies: personalized learning, successful transitions, collaborative partnerships, positive connections and tracking progress. It provides a focused approach to helping students complete high school by clearly outlining the various initiatives that support completion and identifying potential gaps in programming.

Initiatives under the framework include a new Advancing Adolescent Reading research project and four new outreach programs, which help students finish school in non-traditional learning environments. For more information about the Alberta High School Completion Framework, visit www.education.alberta.ca/highschoolcompletion.

'As Albertans know, I raised this issue with China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu during my trade mission to Asia in May. I told him that Alberta cattle are among the healthiest in the world, and subject to some of the most stringent health and safety standards thanks to provincial animal identification and traceability programs. Minister Han assured me that it was his desire to see normal trade relations between our jurisdictions. And he agreed that food quality and safety is the top priority.

'The new agreement between China and Canada on beef shows the importance of establishing personal relationships with key members of governments with which we want to trade. Trade missions, such as the one I participated in with the New West Partnership in May, are vitally important to building and maintaining these relationships.

• energy evaluations for homeowners to assess the current energy efficiency of their home and to measure its efficiency after improvements are made;
• efficient home heating systems, hot water heating systems, clothes washers and insulation upgrades; and
• new homes achieving a high level of energy efficiency.

'The tremendous response to the energy efficiency rebate program in just under a year speaks to the commitment of Albertans to reduce their environmental footprints,' says Environment Minister Rob Renner. 'Consumers have the power to make a positive environmental impact through their day-to-day energy decisions. Clearly, the people of our province want to do their share.'

Delivering on commitments laid out in its 2008 Climate Change Strategy, the Government of Alberta invested $36 million over three years to help Albertans reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the rebates are tied to the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, enabling consumers to recoup costs from both programs. The program is administered by Climate Change Central, a non-profit organization empowering Albertans to take action on climate change.

Rebates are available on purchases retroactive to January 1, 2009. To apply for a rebate, visit http://www.climatechangecentral.com/ or phone 1-888-537-7202.

For Immediate Release