Planning for the future

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

More school spaces and career-training opportunities are opening across Alberta, alongside investments in rural internet connectivity and plans for future electricity needs. Our government is supporting Albertans to have better access to everyday services while building more opportunities to secure a prosperous future right here at home.

Alberta is working with Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories to prepare for growing electricity demand and to strengthen the reliability of the power grid across the region. Premier Danielle Smith has signed an agreement that will allow the three jurisdictions to share information and explore the development of nuclear energy, including large reactors and small modular reactors. This deal will also look at building or expanding power lines between the three provinces so electricity can move more easily when demand is high. Alberta’s government is developing a nuclear energy roadmap for early 2027, which will help guide decisions about whether and how nuclear power could become part of the province’s future energy mix. The goal is making sure Alberta has enough reliable and affordable power to support growing communities and industries.

An additional 1,833 Alberta households will soon have access to high-speed internet through two newly funded projects, supported by a joint $24.8 million investment from our government and the federal government. These projects will deliver high-speed internet to rural and remote residents, making it easier for them to access online learning and essential services, while helping local businesses connect with customers and new markets. When Alberta launched its broadband strategy in 2022, nearly 201,000 households didn’t have access to high-speed internet. Today, more than 98 per cent of Alberta households are connected, and further projects are underway to reach even more communities. 

Families across the province will have even more choice in education as new charter schools move forward. Through the Schools Now program, our government has committed nearly $84 million to advance four new public charter schools, with planning and design work now approved. These projects are expected to create nearly 4,280 new student spaces and renovate more than 870 existing spaces. Their specialized programs and different teaching approaches give parents greater opportunity to find the right learning environment for their children’s needs. Last year through the Schools Now program, the Rural Route Agriculture Academy opened just outside of Strathmore, providing K-12 public charter education with an agriculture focus. Together, these investments bring the number of charter school projects supported through the Schools Now program to 12 across the province.

More than 8,000 additional post-secondary spaces will create new opportunities for Albertans to prepare for careers in in-demand fields. Alberta’s government is investing more than $148 million over three years to support this expansion, including nearly 1,000 spaces in nursing, more than 150 in paramedicine, more than 750 in engineering, and nearly 1,000 in education. Technology and skilled trades programs will also benefit from this investment. By expanding access to these programs, students will have more opportunities to pursue rewarding careers, while helping address our province’s growing need for healthcare professionals, teachers, and skilled workers. This investment builds on nearly $313 million committed through two previous rounds of funding to expand post-secondary enrolment across Alberta.

Finally, I am pleased to share that True North Society received a grant of $75,000 through Alberta’s Community Pathways to Justice program for 2026-27. This funding will help support survivors of gender-based violence and strengthen community justice pathways in Strathmore and area.

Reliable services and accessible education will help families build their lives here in Alberta and give businesses more confidence to invest and create jobs. Alberta’s government will continue investing in the infrastructure and training needed to support economic growth and to connect communities with the services they need across the province.

As always, please free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions (Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca).

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)