Province announces new funding for municipal fire services
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on February 25, 2025.
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com Monday the provincial government announced it would provide $585,000 of support to municipal fire services and the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association. A total of $500,000 will go toward a one-time increase to the Fire Service Training Program that provides grants to all municipalities, Métis Settlements and First Nations communities across the province, bringing the total funding to $1 million in 2025. The other $85,000 will be provided to the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association to enhance its core competency tool, “which municipalities can use to conduct risk assessments, develop appropriate fire service response plans and determine training needs,” reads a press release. Last year the province provided the AFCA a $200,000 grant to strengthen provincial fire reporting. The goal is to create an improved reporting system so local leaders have a better position to make informed decisions about local fire services and protection strategies. “We are committed to public safety and improving how we support our brave and dedicated fire services,” said Ric McIver, minister of municipal affairs. “We appreciate the valuable feedback we received during our fire service review and look forward to the ongoing dialogue and collaboration we’ll achieve through the Provincial Fire Liaison Committee.” This committee will be made up of municipal, First Nations, Métis and fire service representatives and will support the role of municipal fire services by strengthening public safety, the province says. “The diversity of the representatives on the committee will ensure that a variety of demographics, community sizes, skill sets and fire department structures are considered as part of its work,” reads the release, stating the committee is anticipated to be in place later this year. 9-8
Is there a provincial election in already? The UCP are handing out bribes again. That’s not it, because the (postponed) provincial election in Alberta isn’t until 2027. The UCP were involved with another very costly debacle, that is well over $600 million, so they want to make Albertans forget about it.