Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
Dear readers, The summer is going fast as everyone is having fun especially that we just wrapped up the festivities of the 10 days Calgary Stampede. The weather cooperated in a way where it showered during the parade but it all went well. I’m sure that the organizers of Calgary Stampede were all happy with an [...]
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Report from the Legislature – Province partners with communities to build more housing

The province is partnering with municipalities, not-for-profit groups and the private sector to build homes for low-to-moderate income and homeless Albertans.

The $188-million call for proposals issued by the Alberta government will help fulfill the province’s commitment to add 11,000 affordable housing units by 2012.

The province will continue to work with municipal governments to ensure successful housing projects align to local priorities and reflect community needs and expectations. As part of the application process, applicants are asked to demonstrate the need for affordable housing in their community and identify how they will meet specific non-market housing conditions.

For a home ownership or rental housing development to be considered affordable, rental or home ownership payments must be at least 10 per cent below market rates. All successful projects are expected to maintain affordable rents or payments for a minimum of 20 years.

This is the fourth year Alberta has provided capital funding for affordable housing through the Request for Proposals process. In 2007, Alberta committed to supporting the creation of 11,000 new units by 2012. With 8,700 units already in development or available to Albertans, government is on track to meet its goal. To date, 940 of these units have been developed specifically to provide permanent housing for the homeless.

The application process closes on Sept. 24. Successful projects will be announced in late 2010 and early 2011. Application forms and program details are available at www.housing.alberta.ca. Municipalities may also access the information through the Municipal Grants Web Portal on the Municipal Affairs website at www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca.

Plan a Parks Day at your nearby provincial park

Celebrate Canada’s Parks Day at a number of provincial parks on Saturday, July 17. For 21 years, national, provincial, and territorial parks and historic sites have staged Canada’s Parks Day events. From campfires to sandcastle competitions, shoreline bingo to logger sports for children and geocaching, the events are as diverse as the parks where they take place and the people who celebrate.

Saskatoon Island Provincial Park, 20 kilometres west of Grande Prairie, is celebrating the importance of shorelines for people and wildlife. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can dip for pond creatures; pull invasive tansy, a noxious weed, for prizes; and play shoreline bingo. The event is co-sponsored by the Saskatoon Lake Management Committee.

Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, 60 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, is hosting a sand-castle building contest, face painting, and more from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, 60 kilometres west of Edmonton, is celebrating with kids’ games and activities from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Crimson Lake Provincial Park, 16 kilometres northwest of Rocky Mountain House, is hosting special interpretive programming and a sand-castle building contest at the day-use area from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Gooseberry Lake Provincial Park, 12 kilometres north of Consort, is serving up a free barbeque and cake along with games from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Enjoy cooling off in the new water-spray park following your activities.

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, 35 kilometres southeast of Medicine Hat, is celebrating with the Safeway Muscular Dystrophy Walk starting at 10 a.m., followed by a barbeque and activities including pedal tractors, GPS geocaching, agility dogs and logger sports for children. The day will conclude with fireworks at Elkwater Lake.

On Sunday, July 18, Bow Valley Provincial Park, 25 kilometres east of Canmore, will hold its annual Kananaskis Country Parks Day celebration. The event attracts nearly 2000 participants annually, and will feature a helicopter-sling rescue, free lunch and prizes. Events go from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Willow Rock Campground.

Alberta Parks Day information is available under the Events section at www.parksday.ca. For information on Alberta’s parks, visit www.albertaparks.ca. Reserve a campsite at one of 50 provincial parks through www.Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca, or by calling 1-877-537-2757.

New wilderness adventures for Albertans with disabilities

The Government of Alberta is hosting five inclusive nature challenges this summer through its Push to Open Nature initiative. These challenges, in partnership with Cenovus Energy, Encana Natural Gas, non-profit groups and volunteers, encourage people with disabilities to enjoy provincial parks using adaptive equipment, which can remove barriers to participation.

A number of non-profit organizations, societies and clubs are involved in this initiative through the Push to Open Nature Society. To volunteer or to join the Push to Open Nature Society, visit www.albertaparks.ca/pushtoopen, email [email protected] or call 403-678-5508 (dial toll free by calling 310-0000).

Through the Plan for Parks, the Government of Alberta is committed to supporting the participation of all people in provincial park experiences by offering modern programs and encouraging interest and new opportunities in parks. For more information on Alberta’s Plan for Parks visit www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/p4p.

As the MLA for Edmonton Mill Woods, I am always available to assist constituents. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the affordable housing Request for Proposals, Canada Parks Day, the Push to Open Nature initiative, or any other matter, I can be reached in my constituency office at #218; 4128A-97 Street, or in my Legislature office at (780) 422-9299. I can also be reached through email at [email protected]

Report from the Legislature – Province partners with communities to build more housing

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