Have your say

By Leela Sharon Aheer Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Hello Chestermere Strathmore readers. The province is gathering public input on spending a potential surplus. Albertans can rate their priorities from a list of affordability supports, healthcare funding, and economic diversification. The online survey is open until Jan. 15.

We have received many emails regarding the building of schools. Thank our school authorities for their incredible work alongside our municipal partners. 

It is vital for residents to participate in civic discourse and even more vital for that discourse to be civil and professional. I share your concerns and would like to share some facts drawn from the MGA. The MGA states that where there is a joint reserve agreement between the municipality and the school board, that agreement must be adhered to. In Rocky View, we have this important agreement that clearly outlines the obligation of each party, including the provision of the land regarding schools in Chestermere. 

Each party will do what is needed and what is in their power to get this school site ready. Purchasing the necessary acres is a vital step. Doing this in a timely manner will increase our chances of being approved for funds for the school. Thank you to all for advocating for schools, our municipalities, and school authorities who work together to get this critical infrastructure built. Thank you again for your advocacy as parents and residents! 

Canada-Alberta Job Grant is available for “eligible employers can get government funding to help employees, and unemployed Albertan’s access training opportunities.” 

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where employers apply for eligible training costs on behalf of their present or future employees. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.

Funding is provided by the Government of Canada is through the Workforce Development Agreement. This is an amazing opportunity, and eligible employers must contribute a minimum of one-third of the training costs for existing employees. Government contributes two-thirds of the cost to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee per fiscal year. If hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 100 per cent of training costs could be covered, up to $15,000 per trainee.

Individual employers will have a cap of $300,000 for the grant funding they can receive per fiscal year. This ensures that funding is available for as many Alberta employers as possible.

The CAJG is available for direct training costs only, including:

• tuition fees or instructional fees charged by the training provider

• mandatory student fees

• examination fees

• textbooks or software

• other required materials directly relevant to the training course and distinct from materials required to run the employer’s business

• eligible travel cost for participants and trainers (outside of Edmonton and Calgary) when training is over 100 km one way within Alberta for small and medium-sized organizations. Please visit their website for more information (the above Canada-Alberta Job Grant information has been copied from that site).

As always, we love to hear from you.

(Leela Sharon Aheer is the MLA Elect for Chestermere-Strathmore)