AB Gov't Disappoints on Enviro Action

Not surprisingly, environmental initiatives weren't high on the Alberta Government's list of priorities in to 2010-11 Budget. As someone who is trying to teach kids the importance of protecting the environment, it's awfully hard to do when the government is cutting funding to clean air and climate management programs in order to save their botched health care experiments.

In 2009-10:

"Budgeted program expense for Environment is $347.7 million in 2009-10.

The 2009-10 budget includes:

$172 million for initiatives to address climate change, including $95 million for the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund which will support projects or technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province and $52 million for projects under the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.
$102 million for ongoing environmental management programs.
$16 million in operating support for the Water for Life strategy, which represents the majority of a cross-ministry total of more than $22 million budgeted in 2009-10.
The 2009-12 Capital Plan includes $100 million in 2009-10, budgeted in the Ministry of Transportation, in capital support for regional drinking water and wastewater projects supporting the Water for Life strategy."


The 2010-11 Budget reads:

"Budgeted program expense for Environment is $307.9 million in 2010-11, a $17.5-million or 5.4-per-cent reduction from the 2009-10 forecast. The ministry’s budget reflects lower revenue and expense for the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund, and savings from contract deferrals and reduced discretionary spending.
The 2010-11 budget includes:

$141 million for initiatives to address climate change, including $78 million for the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund and $46 million for projects under the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change.

$96 million for ongoing environmental management programs.

$19 million in operating support for the Water for Life strategy, which represents the majority of a cross-ministry total of $25 million budgeted in 2010-11.
In addition, there is $63 million in capital support in 2010-11, budgeted in the Ministry of Transportation, for regional drinking water and wastewater projects supporting Water for Life."