| The Alberta government has allocated $5.5 billion to capital spending over the next three years in its new budget, revealed on April 8.
The amount of money for capital spending this year is double that of last year – $1.5 billion for highways, $893 billion for municipal road construction, $970 million for health facilities and equipment, $511 million for school facilities and equipment, and $373 million for post-secondary infrastructure.
The government had been under increasing pressure to fix the province’s crumbling infrastructure after years of focusing on debt reduction. For example, many of the schools still in use today were constructed by the Social Credit government, which was voted out more than 30 years ago.
The government also says it has increased health care spending by 7.3 per cent, and created an energy stabilization fund to help ward off fluctuations in energy prices.
The Canadian Red Cross is asking for cash donations from Canadians to support relief efforts in Iraq and bordering countries.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is seeking $219 million worldwide to provide humanitarian aid for Iraqis as the war with the invading American army continues.
For information call 541-6100.
Only 800 of the city’s 3,300 bars and restaurants have declared their smoking status under a new bylaw, according to city statistics.
Beginning March 1, bars and restaurants were required to declare themselves smoking, non-smoking or mixed-use facilities. Of the 800 declared businesses, 441 have gone non-smoking, 225 are smoking and 133 are mixed-use. |
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