What was “Making Provincial and National Conversation” in 2022?
January
- The Christmas Break for Peace Region students was extended for an extra week, due to COVID
- The Provincial Government offers cash incentives to doctors for working in rural Alberta, including High Level, Fort Vermillion and Fox Creek.
- The fourth dose of the COVID Vaccine is now available.
February
- Mask Mandates began to ease, as the Restrictions Exemption Program backed off.
- Courthouses across the province resumed in-person trials.
- PM Justin Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act.
March
- Provincial mask mandates began being lifted on March 1st.
- Manning and Valleyview are among a number of rural communities in the province getting money for new schools in the provincial budget.
- Teenagers became eligible for COVID booster shots.
- The Traffic Safety Amendment Act, is introduced. The Bill requires motorists to slow down to at least 60 km/h when passing a stopped roadside worker vehicle with its lights flashing.
- Investigations with ground penetrating radar has confirmed 169 traits associated with graves, linked to a former Residential School in Grouard.
- The Provincial Government joined forces with West Fraser in Slave Lake, and Tolko in High Prairie to create the Joint Forest Management Agreement.
- The Provincial Government suspends the 13-cent fuel tax.
April
- The province invests $59 million dollars into the new K-6 curriculum.
- Gas and Electricity have rebates implemented to offset costs of living.
- Alberta develops a new area code – 368.
June
- $113 Million Dollars over three years is earmarked to students in Alberta School Children for academic and mental health support.
- Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee in June.
- Gift Lake Metis Settlement is one of 13 organizations receiving Provincial funding to help suicide prevention and mental health supports to children and teens.
July
- Premier Jason Kenney resigns, after a 51% vote of confidence during the UCP convention.
- Pope Francis asked for forgiveness in front of thousands of survivors and their families at a gathering in Maskwacis. The Pope apologized for the ways members of the Catholic Church participated in a system of cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples.
August
- Tornados touch down in Hines Creek causing significant damage. No injuries were reported.
- Alberta begins the proposal process of Provincial policing.
September
- Queen Elizabeth II passes away at age 96.
- $8 million Dollars is invested into post-secondary schools in Alberta, including to Northern Lakes College and Northwestern Polytechnic.
- Duncan’s First Nations is suing the province for cumulative environmental effects.
- An estimated 4 billion people worldwide, watched the Queen’s funeral.
October
- 29 year-old Kyra Backs, a day-home operator in High Prairie, is arrested and charged in the murder of 7-month old Oaklan Cunningham.
- Danielle Smith is voted in as Premier of Alberta, this after Jason Kenney resigned during the summer.
- Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen was elected as the vice-chair of the International Human Rights Sub-committee.
- The Government of Alberta introduced a Natural Gas rebate to help with the cost of living in the Peace Region during the winter months.
November
- Central Peace Notley MLA Todd Loewen is appointed as the new minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism.
- Supply shortages hit Peace Region Pharmacies hard.
- Female personnel of the RCMP debuted locally-made Red Dresses, as part of their community-events uniform, at the National Aboriginal Remembrance Day ceremonies in Peace River.
- The Peace Region is rocked by several earthquakes in the area. One of which is measured at 5.8 on the Richter Scale, deemed as the largest in Alberta’s history.
December
- The Metis Nation of Alberta voted YES to self-government.
That’s what was “Making Provincial and National Conversation” in 2022!
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
