Latest news with #RajanSawhney
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Alberta minister 'cautiously optimistic' about tanker ban reversal after northern B.C. visit
OTTAWA — Alberta's point man on a massive western corridor project says he's 'cautiously optimistic' about getting rid of a major roadblock to the construction of a new West Coast oil and gas pipeline after visiting British Columbia's northern coast. Article content Devin Dreeshen, the province's minister of transportation and economic corridors, told the National Post that he was stuck by the level of opposition among locals to the federal moratorium on northern B.C. oil tanker traffic, with several pointing out that the ban does nothing to stop tankers coming and going from nearby Alaska. Article content 'When you go out there and you look at (the coastline), there's almost an oil tanker a day going down from Alaska,' said Dreeshen. Article content 'So, when you look at American tankers going north and south along the coastline, but us not allowing our Canadian tankers to go straight west, away from the coastline… The hypocrisy (of the situation) was pointed out by a lot of folks,' he noted. Article content '(People are) saying that we should be able to compete the same way the U.S. and other counties do, by being able to ship our oil out to our tankers.' Article content Dreeshen was in the northern port city of Prince Rupert, B.C., last week to strengthen Alberta's ties to the critical Pacific trade outpost, joined by Alberta Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney and members of Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association. Article content Alberta already moves nearly $4 billion of merchandise through the Port of Prince Rupert annually — including propane, agricultural products and wood pulp — but both Dreeshen and his boss, Premier Danielle Smith, think that this number could be much bigger. Article content Smith said in a May letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney that Prince Rupert would make the ideal endpoint for a new pipeline carrying Alberta oil to non-U.S. markets. Article content 'As (one of) North America's closest ports to Asia… the Port of Prince Rupert offer(s) year-round deep-water ports and existing terminal infrastructure,' wrote Smith. Article content The letter called for Carney to repeal the tanker ban to enable oil exports from the Port of Prince Rupert. Article content Smith called for a 'grand bargain' at this month's first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon where some of the revenue from a new northwest coast pipeline would be used to finance the multibillion-dollar Pathways oilsands decarbonization project. Article content Dreeshen said that his work in building out a rail and transit network from central Alberta's industrial heartland to northern B.C. and the premier's pipeline advocacy are 'two sides of the same coin.'
CBC
16-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith shuffles cabinet, splits health portfolio
Social Sharing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced an overhaul of several government ministries, creating two new health services portfolios and replacing her Indigenous relations minister. Former health minister Adriana LaGrange has been sworn in as minister of primary and preventative health services, while former jobs minister Matt Jones is in charge of hospital and surgical health services. WATCH | Some promises fulfilled, plus a few surprises: What you might have missed during the Alberta Legislature's spring sitting 20 hours ago Duration 3:16 The Alberta government fulfilled some promises and revealed a few surprises during the spring sitting, including legislation that makes it easier for citizens to force a provincial referendum. Former Indigenous relations minister Rick Wilson is minister of mental health and addiction. He replaces Dan Williams, who moves to municipal affairs. Rajan Sawhney will now head Indigenous relations.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
WATCH LIVE: Premier Danielle Smith announces plan to enhance U.S.-Alberta relations
Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney share details on a plan to increase Alberta/Canada-U.S. policy research, LIVE here.
CTV News
11-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Province announces $25 million in funding for Olds College upgrades in apprentice training
Alberta Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney announced $25 million in funding for Olds College Friday. (Photo: X@RajanSaw)
CBC
14-04-2025
- Science
- CBC
Alberta government investing $100M to renovate U of A sciences building
Social Sharing The provincial government is investing $100 million to renovate the decades-old Biological Sciences Building at the University of Alberta. The announcement was made jointly by provincial and university officials at the U of A's Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science on Monday. "For more than 50 years, this critical branch of science education has operated out of the Biological Sciences Building, which has become a landmark at the University of Alberta's North Campus," said Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney. "But the building has never received any major renovations and is long overdue." According to the province, the building has not had any major upgrades since its construction in 1969. The funding will include major retrofitting and updating of complex utilities, controlled environments and advanced safety features. Renovations will take place on levels 4, 5, 10 and 11 within the zoology wing to transform the space into a wet laboratory space. The building will be renamed the Life Sciences Innovation and Future Technologies Centre — the LIFT Centre. When construction is complete, it is expected to have 3,200 lab spaces, up from the current 1,600. The project will add seats and increase capacity, allowing for nearly 2,500 new domestic students to enter undergraduate programs in the faculty of science. In addition nearly 700 new domestic graduate students will be able to enter master's programs in the faculty of science and the faculty of agriculture, life and environmental sciences. "The Biological Sciences Building has been a hub of innovation and discovery for over 50 years, but time is taking its toll," said university president Bill Flanagan. "This much-needed redevelopment of the building has been a top capital priority of the University of Alberta since 2022."
