News Releases

JOINT AGREEMENT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ALBERTA

WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD.

Backgrounder

CANADA/ALBERTA WESTERN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

About the Agreement

• The purpose of the Agreement, signed in March 1998, is:
  
  • to encourage the economic and regional development of Alberta using complementary and focused efforts, as well as improved intergovernmental consultations; and
    
    
  • to provide for mechanisms to achieve greater federal-provincial cooperation, improved delivery of government services, the clarification of respective roles and responsibilities, and more effective coordination of activities related to economic development in Alberta.
    
    
• These mechanisms include regular meetings of federal ministers with Alberta's Council of Economic Development Ministers and the establishment of working groups to improve cooperation in regards to community development programs, science and technology initiatives, and the whole range of government activities affecting economic development activity in Alberta.
  
  
• This Agreement commits the federal and Alberta governments to engage in prior consultations on new initiatives and to work towards the same overall policy goals and objectives.
  
  
• The Agreement's goals were developed taking into consideration Alberta's economic strategy and the input received from Albertans during the 1997 Growth Summit. The goals are:
  
  
  • to expand the competitive ability of the economy of Alberta in key areas including economic infrastructure;
    
    
  • to encourage the creation, expansion and modernization of small and medium-sized businesses, and to increase value-added activities in all sectors of the Alberta economy;
    
    
  • to build on the strengths of local communities;
    
    
  • to provide and promote increased opportunities for private sector investment and entrepreneurship;
    
    
  • to encourage research and development, and promote the application of technology by Alberta businesses;
    
    
  • to encourage trade in products and services and in new markets;
    
    
  • to promote sustainable economic development;
    
    
  • to encourage a skilled and flexible workforce that meets the requirements of industry and permits broad participation by Albertans in the benefits of economic growth; and
    
    
  • to ensure the programming under this Agreement complements other federal and provincial programs.

  Third Phase Initiatives

	Alberta	Canada
Theme One:
Technology & Innovation Infrastructure	$1,967,500	$2,007,500
Micro Systems Technology Research Institute (MSTRI)	$500,000	$500,000
Located in Edmonton, this project involves the creation of a national multi-disciplinary institute that merges microelectronic, information technology and biological science. The purpose of MSTRI is to create a national institute, which can become a meeting place for technology, ideas and applications. The institute would begin with the established excellence already present within Alberta universities and local industry. MSTRI will have a strong technology commercialization focus.
Industrial Regional Benefits (IRB) Equity Fund Start-up	$300,000	$300,000
This project involves a feasibility study to launch a venture capital fund (targeted at early stage investments) for emerging technology businesses. This fund would improve access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises in western Canada by addressing a specific funding gap in equity markets, namely investments less than $500,000. The capital for the venture capital fund would come primarily from corporations seeking to discharge their IRB obligations. An IRB is a commitment to the federal government by a contractor to a federal capital project to create an economic benefit in a region of Canada. The project will be managed by a non-profit organization - Partnerships for Commercialization of Technology Research Fund.
DNA Microarray Technology	$100,000	$100,000
The purpose of this project is to develop a DNA microarray (DNA chip) for the detection of such water born organisms as Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. The current DNA microarray technology is not available for detecting these organisms in biological, water and food samples. The development of a DNA chip to identify these organisms could support the development of commercial diagnostic kits, which would be valid, accurate, swift and economical. Furthermore, this project provides researchers with an innovative way to address water quality and human/animal health issues. The DNA chip will be applied in Alberta, but could also be marketed throughout the world. This sophisticated biotechnology will provide opportunities for employment, economic diversification, and will open up new markets for Alberta based goods and services.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Technology Showcase	$137,500	$137,500
Funding for this project will support the development of a web site designed to benefit potential buyers and sellers of GHG technologies. The showcase web site will contain background information on the Kyoto Agreement and the challenges at hand. It will be a virtual display of products available to GHG emitters. The Environmental Services Association of Alberta will implement the project.
Health Data Visualization	$150,000	$150,000
The purpose of this project is to expand and support the Spatial Public Health Information Exchange (SPHINX), a national health surveillance system. Health surveillance consists of on-going, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of selected data on health outcomes, environmental quality parameters and populations exposure. The Alberta expansion will build on the existing SPHINX network to ensure effective access throughout the province. Development of this system will be of use to many clients, for example Alberta Environment, Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. It is a toolkit that will allow users to select and view data from a variety of databases in real time.
Cereals Fractionation Food Processing Development Centre (FPDC)	$100,000	$100,000
The FPDC in Leduc provides research and development facilities for companies in the agri-food industry. The Centre makes available a modern, fully equipped pilot plant and product development laboratory to companies of all sizes. The facilities and equipment within the Centre's pilot plant have the sophistication and flexibility for processes development, custom processing and packaging of a variety of food commodities. Pilot plant equipment can provide simulation of industrial production to assess and evaluate product or process performance. Funding for this project will provide for the purchase of specific equipment for cereal fractionation.
Olds College Innovation Centre (OCIC)	$250,000	$250,000
The OCCI will assist agri-business and resource industries to create new products, new technologies and capture more market opportunities. The Centre will offer two main programs: innovation education and training for agri-businesses, and applied research and commercialization. Both programs are intended to strengthen Alberta's innovation capacity by training people to meet industry growth needs, stimulating and coordinating multi-disciplinary, applied research, consolidating innovation information, and providing shared-use facilities in an incubator facility. Funding for this project will be used to help make the innovation centre a reality.
Edmonton Waste Management Centre	$180,000	$220,000
The purpose of this project is to establish a pilot scale composter to facilitate and enhance research and development, verification and commercialization of new technologies. This pilot facility will allow for the testing of different technologies and waste materials as feedstock under variable conditions to produce a marketable end product. Edmonton is well positioned to become a centre for the development of compost technology. The city has the necessary infrastructure as well as the presence of qualified and experienced scientists and engineers, and is at the leading edge of large-scale composting technology.
Alberta Centre for Climate Change Technology (ACCCT)	$250,000	$250,000
In response to the challenge of global climate change, Alberta's technology strategy identifies the need for infrastructure to focus on the energies of all climate change stakeholders and significant opportunities for the province. The Alberta Research Council (ARC) will plan, coordinate and channel the development and demonstration of climate friendly technologies in Alberta through the development of the ACCCT.
Theme Two:
Community Development	$1,305,500	$1,305,500
Animal Health Effects Re: Flare Emissions	$400,000	$400,000
Funding for this project will be directed towards studies on the effects of oil and gas industry flares on animal health. Within a multi-stakeholder setting, Alberta Environment will be a leader in managing the project. The flaring-animal health studies will enhance the science concerning flaring activities in Alberta and other Western provinces.
Competitive Intelligence Training and Pilot	$65,500	$65,500
This initiative involves the hiring of consultants to facilitate twelve competitive intelligence-training seminars across Alberta. Competitive Intelligence (CI) techniques have been developed as tools to increase the competitiveness of private sector companies. CI involves the use of the Internet and other sources of information to systematically acquire and identify market opportunities, particularly in export markets. CI has the potential to improve the competitiveness of Alberta companies and attracting investment to this province, both of which result in the expansion of exports. This initiative is being undertaken by Trade Team Alberta, a joint Canada-Alberta initiative to promote coordination and collaboration on international business activities.
Connectivity 2000	$100,000	$100,000
Under this joint venture between Alberta Economic Development and Alberta Innovation and Science, workshops will be hosted throughout Alberta to enhance community awareness of the value of e-commerce to their market and competitiveness. The project has three components. The first was a series of workshops held, in March 2000 throughout rural Alberta, on e-commerce. The second will involve the filming of three presentations relating to web marketing and Internet financial security. The third will involve additional workshops and further development of an on-line e-commerce business kit delivered throughout Alberta in collaboration with industry associations.
Supplementary Alberta Attractions	$95,000	$95,000
Funding for this project involves two areas: the Fort McMurray Oil Sands Discovery Centre, and the Trans Canada Trail. The Oil Sands Discovery Centre project helps improve a delivery of extension/education programs through the new learning/resource room within the existing building. The Trans Canada Trail project involves the development of a comprehensive economic impact study of Alberta's portion for the Trans Canada Trail, namely the 160-kilometer Palliser segment of the route from Camrose to Drumheller.
Integrated Information Strategy And Implementation	$100,000	$100,000
The purpose of this project is to assess current information technology infrastructure and information platforms used by community/regional systems and provincial /federal systems and develop a strategy to improve e-linkages among these groups.
Canadian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (CCSE)	$150,000	$150,000
The purpose of this project is to establish a centre within the University of Alberta's Faculty of Business to encourage entrepreneurial thinking and approaches to social concerns within the voluntary, private and public sectors. The CCSE's main activities will be research, education and community engagement. The CCSE will research, investigate and engage the community in a dialogue around issues of social entrepreneurship including areas such as new models of governance, corporate social responsibility, adaptive leadership, asset-based thinking, core competencies for social entrepreneurship and emerging trends. The CCSE will be actively involved within the Alberta and national communities to foster dialogue and debate, and to facilitate community-building initiatives to promote economic and social well-being.
Northern Participation in Mineral Exploration and Development	$75,000	$75,000
Development of Alberta's other mineral resources lags behind its energy resources. Although mineral exploration has increased over the past few years, the level of investment is well below potential. This project will provide funds to work with northern communities, colleges, business and other organizations to: increase awareness of these minerals; identify economic opportunities in mineral exploration and development; provide early identification of barriers to exploration and development; explore issues or infrastructure requirements; and identify topics or communities where harmonization of regulations is required. Northern Alberta Development Council is leading this initiative for Resource Development.
Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Initiative	$150,000	$150,000
The project provides financial support to the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Initiative Steering Committee in its efforts to establish a coherent, integrated approach to program and service delivery to meet the needs of the Edmonton urban Aboriginal community. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by a representative of Alberta Human Resources and Employment and representatives from the three Aboriginal organizations involved, and one representative from the business community.
Traditional Use Study	$100,000	$100,000
Aboriginal communities are undertaking traditional use studies (TUS) to ensure that sites of significance are protected during exploration and development activities; and to improve their opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, activity occurring near their communities. This initiative will involve Aboriginal communities and organizations, industry, other levels of government in the development of criteria and processes agreeable to all parties involved in TUS.
Métis Nation of Alberta Association (MNAA)	$70,000	$70,000
The project involves supporting the efforts of the MNAA to develop a Strategic Economic Development Plan and to ensure the MNAA is able to fully participate in a nation-wide federal government initiative known as the Aboriginal Business Services Network (ABSN). A strategic plan for economic development will assist the MNAA with identifying key priorities and opportunities for increased participation by the Métis community in the Alberta economy. Participation in the ABSN will help position Métis entrepreneurs, businesses and communities to better take advantage of business/economic development opportunities.

There is approximately $700,000 yet to be distributed to anticipated projects.

Archives : 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000