Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights Show US welcomer Policy, Human Joys.
I'm about to brief the Security Council on IT eighty. THEU meditarian situation is appalling, but there are faint glimmers of hope. I heard the Security Council and the international community to step up for the people of eighty at this pivotal time. I also want to say a word about the unfolding tragedy that is Gaza. Unbelievablely, civilians are facing yet another deadly escalation. Israel's initial steps to military takeover Gaza City signals a new and dangerous face. Expanded
military operations in Gaza City will have devastating consequences. Hundreds of thousands of civilians, already exhausted and traumatized, would be forced to flee yet again, plunging families into even deeper peril.
These must stop.
At the same time, we have seen yet more unconscionable Israeli strike, including earlier this week at NASE Hospital in Conunis. One attack was followed by another, killing civilians, including medical personnel and journalists who were carrying out their essential work.
All with the world watching.
I know so many of the reporters here along with us, have lost their colleagues. These attacks are part of an endless catalog of orrors. There must be accountability. Gaza is piled with rappel, piled with bodies, and piled with examples of what may be serious violations of international law. Ostriches taken by a mass and other groups must be released, and the atrocious treatment they have been forced to endure
must stop. Civilians must be protected, and let's be clear, the levels of death and destruction in Gaza are without parallel in recent times. Femine is no longer a looming possibility. It's a present day catastrophe. People are dying from anger, Families are being torn apart by displacement and despair. Pregnant women are facing any imaginable risks, and the systems that's the same life, food, water, else care have been systematically dismantled.
These are the facts.
On the ground, and they are the result of the liberate decisions that defy basic humanity. Israel, as the occupying power, as clear obligations it must ensure the provision of food, water, medicine and other essentials. It must agree to and facilitate far greatermlitarian excess. It must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and it must end the destruction of that which is
indispensable for the survival of the civilian population. The International Court of Justice has given binding provisional measures, and these include the obligation to take all steps to ensure unfettered humanitarian and medical assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza, without delay and in full cooperation with United Nations. These measures must be implemented fully and immediately. The UN and our partners
are doing all we can, often at great personal risk. Indeed, surrendered sixty six UN personnel have tragically been killed, day after day. Our efforts are being blocked, delayed, and denied. This is unacceptable. In West Bank, the situation is also profoundly alarming. Military operations, settler violence, demolitions, and discriminatory policies
are driving displacement and deepening vulnerability. The relentless expansion of settlements is fracturing communities and cutting off access to vital resources. There isn't approval of a plan for the construction of thousands of settlements in the EU area would effectively separate the northern and southern West Bank an existential threat.
To the two state solutions.
I repeat the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law. Israel must seize such actions and comply with its obligations. There is no military solution to the conflict. I appeal once again for an immediate and permanencies fire and fattered meditarian access across Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release.
Of all hostages.
Starvation of the civilian population must never be used as a method of warfare. Civilians must be protected. The meditarian access must be an impedance. No more excuses, no more obstacles, no moral lies. Thank you, Thank you.
Welcome back to Policy and Writes here Depictions Media Radio. I'm your host, Michael Kloggs. Announcement from the Canadian government. The Federal government is improving access to cultural to culture and ensuring that arts organizations can leverage the latest technology to showcase talents, innovation and ideas that strengthen Canada today.
The Honorable which I'm recording this on August twenty eight, twenty twenty five, The Honorable Stephen Colbert of the Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announced an investment of eighty nine thousand dollars in the Creative City Center following a tour of the new Cornwall Street location where the innovations are underway. This funding, provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, will be used for the
purchase and installation of special specialized equipment. This includes projectors, screens and public access system, audio and recording equipment, a hearing assistance system, and professional quality lighting, draping and staging. These upgrades modernize the center's technical systems while also increasing accessibility and enhancing the audience experience. The renovated building will house an art gallery, performance video classrooms, artists in the
Residence studio, a recording and production studio. Other tenants will include Articulate, Ink, First Nations Artists, Collective, common Wealth, Community Arts and Saskatchewan Arts Alliance. This project is expected to be completed in March of twenty twenty six. Wow, that's pretty quick. Okay, So a couple quick facts about the Creative City Center. It was originally established in two thousand
and eight, officially open in twenty eleven. Its mandate is to provide affordable spaces and opportunities for artists to develop and share their work. The Creative City Center presents one hundred and fifty to two hundred events every year. These include music concerts, visual arts exhibition, spoken word poetry, slams, comedy nights, live drawing sessions, ELM screenings, and other workshops
and community events. The Canadian Cultural uh Spaces supports the improvement of physical conditions for the arts, heritage and culture and creative innovation. Innovation in addition to UH fund supports renovation projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment, and planning, design feasibility studies related to the arts and cultural spaces. So it's really cool that the Canadian government is supporting all
types of arts. Arts and culture are especially what actually tells the story throughout history to future generations about hey, what is happening right now. It also allows us to speak out and demonstrate ideas and injustices as well as as justice, how the justice justice system in our society actually works in actually celebrating those who do wonderful things.
All right, So let's move forward, and we're actually going to hear from well Russia on Iran and as there have been further complications into the Iranian nuclear program, and as Russia puts it, Russian Russia states that Western states are just simply trying to control the future of fuel and energy and making it so that Iran cannot put their own products out on the market because well, simply put, the Iranian government doesn't always want to participate in the
ideas of the World Bank and capitalism as we know it. So moving forward from there, we're gonna hear Antonio Guerrerez as he's talking about escalation of hunger and suffering in Haiti. He also will talk about Gaza and how Israel is breaking international laws with with some of their occupation and settlements, and how it needs to come to it in so
that a two state solution can be found. We've been talking about this two state solution for quite some time, and there are certain groups that in our world they do not want to see a two states solution happen between Israel and Palestine. They don't want to see Palestine being to be seen as a sovereign territory, and they want to deny the Palestinian people the right to the land that their ancestors have always held claiming it for them for themselves. In some respect, it isn't much more
than just colonialism happening all over again. Okay, and to Canada, we're going to hear from Alberta as they're talking about talking about fuel that there are some possible struggles and things that happened with especially with how the United States has been acting tariffs no taraff yo yo effects of how the Canadian beachmen from the tarzans is to be handled, tariffed,
sold in other things. Simply put in my opinion is that Alberta has to be allowed to find a new customer because right now they have one, well really only one customer, and that is the United States. They need to find other viable solutions in order to sell their products to the to the rest of the world, and hopefully without building pipelines that actually destroy the environment. Which that brings me to something that I found on social media.
And again, yes, I spend way too much time on social media, but sometimes you come across these little tidbits that really want to make you think. Somebody said that for the sake of clean air, that all wood burning fireplaces, wood stoves and things alike should be registered through the government so that they well, the government knows who is actually polluting the air, because the wood burning stoves, fireplaces and barbecues are sources of pollution and should be gotten
rid of. Well, okay, the alternative, of course would be, well, we have the one alternative, which is propane, which is a oil based product and has to be dug out of the ground the same as any other oil based thing. Or going with electricity. And the answer back to the electricity thing is, especially in British Columbia, well, there's an overwhelming amount of electricity being used on the BC Hydro grid, and so much so that BC Hydro found a way to build a super dam. Well, the costs to the
environment for that super dam is tremendous. That superdam will be coming online as it has been mostly completed. But the thing about it is the plant life that was destroyed, the animal life that now has to find a new ecosystem in order to live. In the diversion of fish, the destruction of water born species that in other animals that depended on the river that the dam was built to survive is there now in jeopardy. The trees that were cut down are carbon sinks. They suck up the
carbon that is being put into the air. The wood burning stoves and the wood burning fireplaces and barbecues would put out that these trees would actually sink that carbon back into the ground, but they were they were cut down and destroyed. Their lives were ended there, and thus we don't have the trees to do the job they were supposed to do. So what is the real benefit of making everything go electric? Thus the electric heating and the electric cars. Now, granted, the the the gas burning
car is there. There is no difference between the electric car and the gas car as far as carbon footprint is concerned. But the continuation of tearing down ecosystems that that are rich in carbon sinks doesn't make sense. So we need to find ways to power up fuel what have you, without with doing minimal damage to our environment
so that all life on our planet can survive. Okay, So in one uh, one last item, they we'll hear from the Canadian Minister of Energy as he talks about he's speaking from Germany, as he's talking about fast track projects to actually help fuel Europe, and of course the
pipelines are one of those fast tracked ideas. For projects to get the Alberta tar sans beechamen to Europe for refining and for them to use it as fuel, because as we know that Germany was hit hard in other and they're just one of the countries that was hit hard in Europe by the cut off of oil based products from Russia. The EU is struggling with fuel needs and fuel supplies to operate their society. So they're turning
towards Canada to take up the slack. So why don't we get started, And we already listened to some of Antonio Guerrera said, so why don't we listen to the rest of what he had to say at the UN Security Council as he spoke about what is happening in Haiti.
Senior President President, I would like to thank Panama for convening this briefing on the humanitarian and child protection situation in Haiti, Your excellencies, the people of Haiti are in a perfect storm of suffering. State authority is crumbling as gang violence in gulfs portou Prince and spreads beyond paralyzing daily life and forcing families to flee. Civilians are under siege with appalling reports of rape and sexual violence. Hospitals
and schools are under repeated attack. The rule of law has collapsed. The humanitarian toll is staggering. One point three million people, half of them children, have fled their homes. Six million people need humanitarian assistance. Haiti is now among the five global hunger hotspots of highest concern. Aid workers, especially local responders, are being targeted, facing threats of violence, extortion and kidnapping. Let me be clear, all parties must
respect international humanitarian law. Humanitarian personnel, asse and facilities must be protected. Despite the danger, humanitarians remain on the ground delivering food, water, medicine and shelter. In the first quarter of this year alone, they reached one point three million people.
Yet Haiti remains shamefully overlooked and wofully underfunded. For twenty twenty five, we require nine hundred eight million dollars to support three point nine million people, but less than ten percent of that has been received, making Haiti the least funded humanitarian appeal in the world. As a result, over one point seven million people risk receiving no assistance at all. This is not a funding gap, it is a life
and death emergency. I urge all turners to act before life saving operations coined to a halt.
Excellencies, children are bearing the brunt of these crisis. In my annual report on Children Are in Conflict, it ranked among the top five countries for grave violations against children in twenty twenty four. Children are being abducted and killed, recruited and used, and subjected to orific sexual violence, including gang rape. These are crimes that scare bodies, minds, and futures.
The United Nations verified two thousand, two hundred and sixty nine grave violations against t thousands, three hundred seventy three children last year and nearly fivefold increase from the year before. This includes two hundred and thirteen children killed when ender thirty eight MA and three hundred and two children recruited and used.
We also verified five.
Hundred sixty six cases of sexual violence against miners, including one one hundred and sixty cases of gang rape, and the scoring how such crimes are used as a weapon of terror and control. Basic services have collapsed. Mass displacement has left children without education, else care or safety. As a vapul gang violence have interrupted the schooling of two
hundred forty three thousand students. We verified when added, fifty four abductions when added, fifty four attacks on schools and hospitals, and seven hundred twenty eight incidents of denial of humanitarian access. The twenty twenty four Handover Protocol between the United Nations and the Government of at is an important step toward protecting children detained for a large association with armed groups,
but implementation remains uneven. Conditions that SERMI call the Integration Center for miners in conflict with the law are deeply troubling. I'm also alarmed by the rise of so called community self defense groups, some aligned with police forces implicated in
grave violations, including summary execution of children. I urge all authorities to implement the and Over Protocol nationwide and the dictation of children for a large association with armed groups, ensure access to specialized services, including for survivors of sexual violence, and guarantee accountability for all perpetrators. I call on this Council to prioritize the protection of children extencies. The political situation remains fragile, but there are emerging signals of hope.
I am encouraged by.
Growing corporate between the President, the Transitional Council, LA Hansin Sir and the Prime Minister aliks dd FME, who are both leading consultations to move the political process forward. We are also seeing closer coordination between the Prime Minister Task Force, the Asian National Police and the Multinational Security Support Mission improving operations on the ground. These fragile gains must be
protected and expanded. That requires decisive and coordinated international security support to strengthsen national efforts, protect the population and create conditions for a return to the rule of law and credible inclusive elections. I welcome efforts by members of this Council to advance my twenty four February proposal to strengthen the Multinational Security Support Mission through even logistic and operational support.
I urge the.
Council to act with other delay and authorize an international force supported by the Unitied Nations ZOLO, logistical and operational backing and predictable financing. Voluntary contributions to the MSS Trust Fund remain essential, but assessed support would ensure impact and sustainability. Security measures must go and in hand with increased pressure
on those fueling the violence. This includes an effective arms embargo as well as a target expansion of sanctions against gang leaders, financiers, arm traffickers.
And others connected to them.
These steps are vital to cut off the weapons and money that sustain chaos. Enforcement at ports, borders and online must be strengthened in close coordination with regional partners. My Special Representative Carlos Ruige Mossieu is in Porto Prance working with national Internet national partners to build consensus at this pivotal moment. BIRINU will continue to support an inclusive political process and work closely with the Asian National Police, the
MSS and donors to ensure coherence coordinated assistance. I urge all national stakeholders to seize this moment and sustain the spirit of cooperation. Excellencies, With unity inside the country and resolve from this council, the ancient people can emerge from the perfect storm, begin to turn hardship into hope and reclaim their future. I reaffirm my we neighboring solidarity and the determination of United Nations to stand side by side with the people of eighty for peace, dignity and security.
And I thank you.
Aco so Di Acollegues, thank you very much for responding to our call. I want to make an important announcement About an hour ago Russia and China put into blue draft Security Council resolution. It's very short, so I will read it aloud. I think you will bear with me. The Security Council, recalling its Resolution twenty two thirty one, twenty fifteen, acknowledging the importance of finding a negotiated diplomatic solution to the issues related to Resolution twenty two thirty
one twenty fifteen. Recognizing the necessity of allowing additional time for negotiations on this matter, PERA one decides to technically extend for six months till eighteen April twenty twenty six, the ten year term after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action jcpoa adoption day indicated in the Resolution twenty two thirty one, twenty fifteen and its annexes, with a possibility for a further extension too, urges all initial participants of
the JCPOE to immediately resume negotiations on the matters related to the Resolution twenty two thirty one and the JCPOI that's it.
It's a very short text.
I think it's absolutely clear, self explanatory. Unlike many other Security Council resolutions, and I will make some additional comments. So now the world is at crossroads. It's quite clear. One option is peace, diplomacy, goodwill, normal human contact. Another option is kind of diplomacy at the barrel of the gun, hence extortion and blackmail all other things. The second option is clearly represented by the action that was triggered today by France, Yuki and Germany. You all know that they
circulated a letter triggering so called snapback. I will not explain you this procedure in detail. I think everybody who is knowledgeable of this fact doesn't have such a necessity. But I will say that this move by European countries, in our view, has absolutely no legal bearing because they were not implementing Resolution twenty two thirty one in good faith. For example, they did nothing in terms of in terms of lifting sanctions against Iran during the so called Transition
Day two years ago. They are acting absolutely in breach of JCPOE in each and every sense and letter and spirit of this document. They have not exhausted the mechanisms foreseen by JCPOE first and foremost dispute resolution mechanism. So we do not think that this move by these three countries should entail any action from the Council. This is our very strong and principled conviction. Of course, it will affect the overall climate.
Over the.
Issues related to Iranian nuclear program. It will complicate international cooperation in this regard. So we think that the option that proposed Russia and China today is a way that everybody should follow in order to avoid complications, in order to avoid problems, serious problems for international peace and security, in order to give some chance and breathing space for diplomacy. So once again we believe that the move by E three cannot and should not entail any legal or procedural effect.
A mirror is collatory step. It's something that is absolutely showing that the Western countries do not know what is diplomacy about. They don't care about diplomacy. They care only about blackmail and threats and coercion of independent countries. Not yet,
we are thinking about it. You know that when resolution is put into blue, the vote can be requested at any moment, and that is something that we are now thinking about with our partners, and the countries that support us are much more numerous than simply Russia and China.
Yeah, mister ambassador, if you really believe that these countries who started this snapback process are just interested in making problems, and so what hope do you hold for your resolution draft resolution to pass in the Security Council? And do you I really believe that in six months all these problems with Iran and their violations of the j c p o A will be solved.
We believe in common sense, We believe in diplomacy, We believe in the fact that many countries understand what can follow if this situation is going to the spiral of violence and further breach of international law. I also need to remind you about the context where this whole is happening. The IA repeatedly failed to notice any threats, for in terms of nuclear reliferation from Iranian nuclear program. So regardless
of what Iran this is interpreting, this is interpretation. And we all know that the measures that were taken by Iran in terms of uranium in Richmond, they were taken in response to the US withdrawal from JCPOA, and these measures can easily be reviewed. So Iran it was always open to diplomatic solution of this issue. United States abandoned JCPOA and since then the situation started deteriorate, So we should not confuse the real source of the problem that
happened in twenty eighteen. Also, we shouldn't forget about the context of absolutely unlawful strikes that were conducted against Islamic Republic of Iran in June by Israel and then by the United States, including against the objects that are placed under the JCPOA safeguards. So this was and this still is a serious breach of international law, and we cannot
ignore these context. So these countries that want to follow further on the parts of escalation, they continue breaching international law. Maybe they still believe in the so called rules based international order, but in their action they show that this international order has nothing to do with international law. This
is very obvious. So we believe in common sense, we believe in peace, we believe in diplomacy, and the option that thrush Is Shina is now providing for the whole world should lead us to this aim without further problems.
Is it.
Do you think it's consistent with.
Your argument, sorry, with your argument that this is not a legal move. If it's not legal, why are you trying to extend it? Is there inherent sort of clash there. If you don't think they're not member of j CPO anymore the E three and they have no legal basis to even trigger a snapback, So why are you extending it?
Can you simply say that.
May make no mistake.
Our move is not linked to snapback, it's just coincided. We launched the work on this resolution a long time ago, before the even the intention of these three countries to launch to launch snapback. First second, if you were listening to me attentively, I quoted para two of our resolution where we call for initial participants in the JCPO. It means that this implies that now, of course, several certain countries cannot be considered to be members of the h JCPOE,
for example the United States. I haven't heard about these three countries leaving JCPO, but by their actions, they already put themselves outside of the legal framework of this of this document.
This is true.
So thequal is for the initial participants in the JCPO A to come back to where we started and to find a solution to this issue.
It goes through and they veto your resolution. To you, does Russia find itself obligated to the previous sanctions. Do you think that it's legal those those previous sanctions will hold water?
Are you going to implement them?
Or This question has no legal bearing because their move is legally null and voids and we are not in hypothetics so far because we haven't yet called for the vote and we don't know what will follow them. We hope that the common sense will prevail even with these three countries that have already made this absolutely illegal move. But we are not bound by this move in any way in the security counts.
I love so.
So yes, so I think I'm so many with you from killed on News. I have yeah, okay, one question about to make sure the relationship between snapback and your draft resolution. So if the draft resolution is adopted, will subtle the rifle snap also be stopped and extended.
We call for the for the extension of the provisions of twenty two thirty one. It means, of course, the any action, any considerable action within the framework of twenty to thirty one will also be suspended and prolonged to the next stage. But again, don't forget that we do not acknowledge the legal grounds behind this snapback, So for us, nothing happened. What we're speaking about is the extension of twenty thirty one as such.
About the snapback, our reaction.
Disappointment, of course, because we believe that we are dealing with serious people with serious intention, and it looks like that we're dealing with some kind of I don't know, gangsters. So that's it.
Just to clarify, if snapback happened in thirty days, Russia will not implement the UN sanctions.
Snapback has not happened. It was not launched thirty days. If this process comes to a conclusion, how can it come to a conclusion if it has not started. Be consistent in your precise.
Options implement UN sanctions on a run.
Again and they are not being introduced. If they are, how can they be introduced If the snapback that is being launch light right now.
Is illegal, Well that's Europe.
I don't I don't see I don't see any consistency in your in your question, so biologically, sorry, why I can't hear?
Why do you call it illegal?
I explained to you because these countries were breaching j cpie, they were not observing the provisions of JCP and they have not exhausted the mechanisms that are provided by j CPE first of all the DRC. So that's why they don't have any any reasons to appeal to this document because they were not implementing it, not in good face, not technically in any way. I think that's what international law prescribes to us. If it's about rules based international order.
If they leave in this paradigm, it's up to them. But we live within the paradigm of international law.
So do you have any comments about the timing of the E three doing this right now one month before High Level Week and before the Russian Federation as the presidency of the Council in October? Do you have any comments about the timing of this row?
I didn't think about, frankly, because we do not consider it as a legal move, so timing is very secondary in this regard. Any more questions question?
Okay, thank you.
So it's it possible Russia can bring a new drug resolution to Security Council in order to like lift this lab back.
We've just presented a resolution. Yeah, you were a little bit late, but we can write it after them. Okay, everything is clear.
Do you think would you would you would you request a meeting even this weekend for this or what's the urgency that I know? It's to the president.
I heard that there is some kind of request for consultations for tomorrow, but I have no confirmation. So of course the Council will discuss this issue for sure. But I think that to our position is clear right now. Yes, thank you very much.
There no vote to sorry, no vote tomorrow on your doctor resolution.
It may happen, I don't know.
Still, every option is on the table.
Thank you, thank you. Good morning everyone.
Today I'm pleased to present the government Alberta's twenty twenty five twenty twenty six first quarter fiscal.
Update and economic statement.
It's clear twenty twenty five has brought a share of challenges for everyone. Our provincial neighbors to the east are projecting larger than expected deficits, and they're not alone. Geopolitical uncertainty, inflation, and unstable oil prices continue to impact Alberta's fiscal position. We're experiencing many pressures on the economy that are outside of our control. The price of oil has been up
and down this calendar year alone. We've seen oil prices fall as low as fifty seven dollars US per barrel and reach as high as eighty dollars. This volatility, in conjunction with the ongoing trade conflict with our largest trading partner, has significantly affected our revenue. As a result of this volatility, we are now forecasting a six point five billion dollar deficit,
our first deficit in five years. That's one point three billion more than what we projected when we release budget twenty twenty five in February.
I want to.
Acknowledge that this is a big shift from the eight point three billion dollar surplus we had at the end of March just five months ago. We know how important stability is for el Burtons, and we also know it hasn't been easy. Many Oburtons are struggling with high grocery bills, utilities and the pressure of mortgage or rent payments.
And as we.
Promised at budget, we'll face these challenges together, and that commitment stands even with a higher deficit. We'll tackle these challenges head on, making responsible choices to deliver on the priorities that matter most twelve burdens. That's why careful fiscal management matters, so we can keep delivering the quality programs and services Alberton's count on today and in the future. Despite ongoing challenges, Alberta's economy remains resilient and is expected
to outperform the rest of Canada. We are facing less severe US tariffs on our goods than we initially anticipated a budget. Nearly ninety percent of our top export to the United States energy is protected under the Canada United States Mexico Agreement that means it's exempt from tariffs. Drilling activity is up along with our oil export volumes due to the added flow capacity from the TMX pipeline. Consumer spending is outperforming expectations with easing inflation and a resilient
job market. In the first half of the year housing starts, we're up thirty two percent. Alberta's population is projected to grow in twenty twenty five by two point four percent, a more reasonable rate compared to the four point four percent record surge we experienced in twenty twenty four. We also revised our GDP projections up from budget to two percent and expect to lead the country in twenty twenty five. While we have many positive milestones to celebrate, Alberta still
faces some significant pressures. Unemployment is expected to remain high and even with lower tariff rates. Tariffs have slowed global economic growth and made investors think twice about expanding internationally.
So what does this.
Mean for our bottom line?
Revenue for twenty twenty five twenty twenty six is forecast at seventy three billion, down one point two billion from the budget. Expense for twenty twenty five twenty twenty six is forecast at seventy nine point four billion, up one hundred million from budget. This means Alberta's deficit is now six point five five, a one point three billion dollar
increase from what was first projected. This is largely due to falling revenues from non renewable resources down one point four billion, or an eight percent drop from budget.
Low oil prices.
Have driven down royalties, and a stronger Canadian dollar means we get less for our product. Overall, a narrower light heavy differential drives up the price of our heavy crude and helps offset the lower.
Than budgeted price of WTI.
As of the first quarter, we have lowered our projected price for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate to sixty three seventy five US per barrel, down four dollars and twenty five cents from budget. While corporate income tax revenue is up driven by revision to corporate profits, revenue from personal income taxes is down with lower than expected twenty
twenty four tax assessments. Now turning to expenses, operating expense is forecast at sixty five billion, up about one percent or six hundred cent seventy nine million, in large part due to compensation pressures and to support collective bargaining. We deeply appreciate the people who keep our public services running.
Their work impacts us all every single day. More than half of the approximately one hundred and fifty five separate collective agreements for public sector employees that are negotiated with unions have been signed in the current round of bargaining. There are also additional dollars for key initiatives that will enhance seniors care, provide meals to kids, create a center of Excellence in Alberta for aviation training, and help Elberton's
facing gender based violence navigate the courts. The twenty twenty five twenty twenty six capital plan is up largely because we've reprofiled unspent funds from last year into this year to continue to deliver on approved projects. We're building recovery communities to support recovery for mental health and addiction, and we've added eighty nine million to accelerate the construction of eleven new schools as fast as possible in growing communities.
Budget twenty twenty five we included a four billion dollar contingency, double the amount set aside in the previous budget, to cover unexpected in year expense increases. We anticipated what was coming and planned ahead. By providing this increase, the government can better navigate unexpected economic pressures and support collective bargaining commitments.
As for the first quarter, we v allocated roughly one point five billion of the contingency, including seven hundred and six million for disaster and emergency spending to fight wildfires and to replant trees affected by wildfires. This leaves two and a half billion in the contingency to address pressures that may arise through the remainder of this fiscal year. In terms of other first quarter updates, taxpayers supported debt is forecast to be up one point seven billion since
budget due to the higher deficit. Higher boring requirements have also pushed up debt servicing costs. The challenges faced by Alberta and our economy are significant. Loyal prices have result in a significant drop in the non renewable resource revenues our budget relies on, and uncertainties in trade and security are.
More notable than ever.
The oil price forecasts for you this year sits as I said at sixty three seventy five US, down four dollars and twenty five cents from budget. For every dollar the price drops, Alberta loses hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. This is a substantial change. Our government has taken a very measured approach to dealing with the highs and lows to protect Alburtons and our province from those
unpredictable swings. While we can't control external factors, we can control our spending to protect the vital services Alburton's rely on. We carefully save during the good years and in years like this one, we stick to our fiscal framework and make responsible fiscal decisions so that important government services remain
viable for our kids and grandkids. Elburtons want our government to be frugal, provide the services they need, and look for efficiencies and opportunities to speed up economic growth and stability.
That's exactly what we'll do.
We will protect Alberta's economic security and ensure that Alberta remains the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family.
Thank you, and I'm happy to take questions. All right, thank you, minister. Now we'll move to the media question the answers.
We have time for one question, one follow up.
Just ask the media to identify yourself and your outlet for asking the question. We'll start in the room and then go to the phones.
I see we have some questions lined up.
Yes, please go ahead.
Natzki's going to get pressed.
Thanks for taking questions. In this update, w HIT forecast has dropped about four dollars credib Blestments from different agencies say that could drop to about mid fifty dollars by the end of the year. For Q four, are you concerned that oil presses could drop further?
How much is that weighing on you right now?
Oh, we're always concerned, especially having this job. You know, if I followed every day, I think it's important to understand, you know, what and budget we're forecasting for the entire year and at every period of reporting here we're at Q one. We take into account the actuals that we've seen, so I can tell you that the actuals to date over the first three months of this fiscal year have oil at sixty four fifty two, so you would need maybe sixty three and a.
Quarter for this forecast to realize.
But we take all those things into consideration and try to weigh them against the actuals.
We are in a different place from three four months ago in terms of trade negotiations with the US. You mentioned last update the investment install do to a fair bit of uncertainty. Given where we are now, how do you describe the past three four months where we are now.
Compared to then?
Well, I think, as I said, the actual tariff implications for Alberta between US and the US have been lighter than we anticipated a budget.
The actual.
Weight of the tariffs is around three percent for everything that we trade with the US.
So that's a good thing.
I'd say, it's presented itself a little different in Alberta's circumstance. I'd say the global uncertainty and a lot of the trade discussions that the US is having with all of the other trading partners around the world has affected Alberta more.
We do see a.
Bit of a chill regarding large investments, a lot of dollars sitting on the sidelines, just waiting for more stability. And it's definitely impacted us through the oil price dramatically. And you know, the demand, the demand still looks still looks looks stronger, is even stronger than a budget but we're just seeing that that risk weighted heavily in the market.
So that's the way it's impacted Alberta.
Thank you.
Hi Edward from City News.
Minister.
If the price for oil goes below that sixty dollars per barrel mark, is Alberta in trouble and can the province potentially be cutting services here as well too?
Well?
If it goes below that, the deficit will be higher if we don't make some other changes on the expense side. I would maybe just say this, it's much talked about the royalty roller coaster that albert has been on.
That's very true.
But the way it affects actual elburtens is when governments ratchet up spending in surplus years to try to catch up and then drastically cut in deficit years.
What our commitment has been is.
That we'll use the surpluses appropriately to improve our fiscal position, either through debt repayment or savings in the Heritage Fund. And well by managing the surpluses appropriately, we can weather some of these deficit cycles. I don't want to immediately match our spending when oil is at eighty dollars, and I likewise right now, I'm not going to bring down our spending to match sixty three dollars. So we are going to have to weather some of this. But I
think the fiscal rules will help us. Back to your original question, you know, we have budget twenty six deliberations upcoming this fall. We also have a program review Committee that's going to look at the existing budgets of all ministries. We're going to look for opportunities and efficiencies. I think Alberta can't afford to be an outlier in many places. We are one when it comes to taxation, and that's that's the one place we we'd like to protect.
But we're going to look at everything.
And currently teachers are in negotiations for a new contract. Would any potential races come from the contingency Fund?
In Well, we've we've done a few things you know, we have we have put some of the expectations around bargaining into into ministries' budgets, but we can't budget for what we don't know. So it will depend on where these deals actually land once they're ratified, but they will a large portion will have to come from the contingency.
Yes, thank you.
Seeing no further questions in the room, will move to the phones operator.
Can you please put through the first collar.
Yeah, that's question from Sarah Comedina from Global Chelane yourself, I thank.
You for taking my question. So how will you be using the contingency fund as often the blow right now?
So the way the way the contingency works, it's at four billion, Like we said, we've allocated one point.
Five to date.
A large portion of that is for wildfire.
As ministries face pressures throughout the year, UH, they'll return to treasure report and UH ask that we resolve them. My from my perspective, I think the way you approach the contingency and asks are you start with the things that are unavoidable, the things that are legislated obligations of which we have many, and things that we have some choice in the matter. Maybe may get may get deferred to a later date, but that's basically the approach we take.
We deal with what we can avoid.
And if allow up what kind of ye What kind of direction are you giving ministers right now with the potential of test economic times. I know you mentioned that you're not looking to match this sixty three dollars vary, but if things continue like this into next year the future, like, what direction do the ministers get?
So that's a great question.
I know I updated Caucus and Cabinet in the last couple of days. My expectation is I want them to understand that any new un budgeted ask is going to increase the deficit at this time. So first, first, and foremost, I want them to ask that question, is this something that we want to borrow for on behalf of il burdens.
I wouldn't rule out the possibility that we may have.
Spending target memo come out at Q two before the budget process starts. Much like we've seen the federal government. We're not as fat as the federal government, so it probably won't be as I we've done a lot of work on the spending site since twenty nineteen, but I wouldn't.
Rule that out.
Thank you operator, please put through the next question.
NXT question is from Jackiekermichael from Edmonton. Joinal here line is oping.
Thank you for taking my question. You described good years and then deficit year and it looks like we're in a deficit year. When is the last time it was worse or more deficity than this?
Well, this will be the first deficit if that's how this year ends in five years, so it's been been some time.
Can you follow up?
Yes, Alberta is an outlier in taxation, but you say everything's on the table and that includes taxation as a consideration, So that's going to be look that this year.
Well, it's always a consideration for government.
But I would say from our government we have a strong commitment and belief that we really need to look under every stone on the spending side and ensure we've done that work before we come back to Alburton's and ask for more revenue on large scale revenue reform, that hasn't stopped us from looking at revenue in specific cases.
Just in Budget twenty.
Five we updated many fees that hadn't been looked at sometimes in forty years. So we're constantly looking at revenue as well, you might have saw the Data Center announcement from yesterday where we saw that we wanted to ensure that Alburton's got a fair deal if those investments do come do come to pass, and thought that it maybe didn't totally align with our tax structure, so we ensured that there was a.
Levy that will be applied.
So opportunities like that exist l larger scale revenue reform. Remember, wants to make sure we have spending in a place we're comfortable before we have that conversation.
All right, thank you, operator, Please put through the next collar.
Our next one is Katherine, because you're from all Alberta. Your line is open. Yeah.
Thanks, And so along that line, you said said you may be preparing those spending targets for cabinet, but in terms of all Burtons, what should they be bracing for? What's what's your message as as they prepare for this government to be frugal?
Well, I don't I don't think I would tell Burton's you know, I know the Premier's comment with Alberton should brace themselves. I guess I would say Alburton's should be prepared for, you know, a government that's looking at everything and doesn't want to be an.
Outlier in any way.
Regarding spending, we still have you know, a lot of our a lot of our programs are still the highest in the country. We we do have to we do have a look at those things and unless we want to increase the debt and deficit even higher, you know, it's going to be part of a process. The process is the thing we can lean on, and we have the fiscal rules to guide us, which I'm grateful for. Continue to keep our spending growth, you know, below population
plus inflation. Do everything we can to stay within the contingency. That's the rules that we've legislated ourselves to live by UH and that's been seen.
Favorably by credit rating agencies.
They want to ensure that we spend the surplus as well, and then we can manage the deficit years.
All right, thank you, go ahead?
Kay?
All sure?
From Berlin and Germany. This is my first international trip. Is Canada's miss of energy and natural sources.
And I to be here.
Let me be clear, this destination is not a coincidence. It's a deliberate choice reflecting the important place of Canada's relationship with Germany, especially when it comes to energy and natural resources, as well as manufacturing, trade and defense. Canada and Germany share a long standing partnership rooted in common values, mutual respect, and shared commitments to democracy, sustainability and global leadership.
That partnership has been significantly significantly strengthened by this visit and a strong relationship between our Prime Minister and.
The German Chancellor.
Over the course of these two days with Prime Minister Kearney and the Canadian delegation, we have had many productive meetings and discussions with Key and German companies committed to advancing strategic projects for both our countries. These conversations advanced are shared priorities, strengthened by lateral cooperation, and are driving towards results. Our alliance is extremely important because we are
living through a hinge moment in global history. Today's geopolitics have shown the risks and role of vulnerabilities of over reliance on a single supplier or customer for energy or critical minerals. Three years ago, Russia's full scale invasion of the Ukraine plunged Europe into the worst energy crisis since the nineteen seventies, and Germany faced the harshest energy shock
in generations. Meanwhile, Canada, Canada is facing a trade war that has caused us to look to retool our economy and build a new economic and security relationship, not only with the US, but with.
Our allies around the world. These are stark reminders that energy.
Is not just about economics, but also about national security, industry and manufacturing, and our sovereignty. As such, the new federal government has made a conscious choice to recenter energy in how we think about our domestic affairs, but also Canada's place.
In the world.
As the world is recalibrating, Canada is stepping up to be a trusted partner and supplier.
We are securing our.
Place as a global energy superpower. From critical minerals, to oil, natural gas and to hydrogen. We are ready to be a cornerstone of Europe and the world's energy resilience in a matter in a manner that demonstrates our commitment to diversified trade relations, indigenous reconciliation, and the energy transition. Over the past two days, a key focused our discussions has
been critical minerals cooperation. Canada has what Germany and Europe needs secure reliable supplies of responsibly produced minerals that are essential to clean technologies.
Events and advanced manufacturing.
During this trip, I was pleased to meet German CEOs and take tangible steps towards attracting German investment into Canadian critical minerals projects. For example, at the G seven Leaders meeting in June, we announced that Canada and ore like minded allies will co fund projects, strengthen research and development, and secure the minerals that power evs and batteries, aerospace and defense from market manipulation and non market based competition
via our Critical Minerals Production Alliance. Yesterday, Jeremy announced the appointment of their envoy to the alliance, who will be a direct counterpart to our envoy, Isabella Chan. Our two envoys will work together over the next few months, especially leading up to the G seven Ministerial meeting in the fall, to connect Canada and Germany on discussions and work to stockpile and develop critical minerals needed for defense and technology.
We also saw the signing of three agreements between Canadian and German companies, material steps to advance the crucial work I'm talking about. Troylist Corporation, Canadian Mining Company reached.
The supply agreement for significant.
Portion of future copper constant concentrate production with the Rubus AG, a leading European smelting and recycling group headquartered here in.
Hamburg, Germany.
Torn Gat Metals, a Quebec based rarer's development company, and Vacuum Smelts, a global leader in the production of rare earth's permanent magnets, have signed an agreement for the long term supply of Canadian rare earth oxides to the company.
Rock Tech Lithium, a Canadian German clean tech company, signed an MLU with Entertrack to connect their lithium conversion plant in goub And, Germany to Anthratrags solar and offshore wind farms, allowing rock Tech to decarbonize its operations and offer its customers more competitive pricing. This is a major step forward as we prepare for the G seven Energy and Environment ministers meeting in the fall.
On lerg.
As you likely heard, our new government is taking a somewhat different position. I want to be clear this is not to speak ill of the past government. To do what democratic governments are elected to do, evolve based on the moment and what Canadians and our allies are asking for.
Based on new information, new.
Facts on the ground, and changing geopolitics, recognizing that LERG projects under construction in Canada will primarily serve Asian markets. Over the course of our time in Germany, I heard there is still strong demand for Canadian energy here and across the EU, and we are open to exploring how Canadian energy can play a significant role in the world's
evolving energy mix beyond Asia. If the demand and the infrastructure aligned in Canada had seid, I want to be very clear to the Canadian audience any project that could potentially serve European markets would have to be built in collaboration with the affected provinces, with indigenous partners, and have a strong chance of successful execution. In my meetings with German Energy Minister Katharina Recre I also had the chance to discuss how we can progress hydrogen cooperation, which remains.
A key pillar of our bilateral relationship.
Despite challenges in the global hybrigen market, Canadian projects continue to advance and we know there will be long term demand for hydrogen as a sustainable fuel source, a demand it is in our interest to meet as an energy superpower for today and tomorrow. This trip has been about more than trade. It has been about building a future where energy is secure and sustainable and Canadian products are being traded in alignment with a commitment to democracy and
a free market. It is about attracting capital investment to Canada and we get back into business of building big things. I see the enormous potential to deepen Canadian German cooperation
in energy, mining, infrastructure development and technological innovation. These are areas where Canada brings not only resources, but reliability, expertise, and a commitment to the low carbon products that Germany is looking for as they, like Canada, look to navigate the energy transition without compromising industrial strength.
Or energy security.
In a time of global uncertainty, Canada is offering predictability and purpose. We are proud to be a trust worth to the continued collaboration with Germany. Thank you, Mercy, and I'll take your questions.
Thank you.
We will now begin to begin taking questions. Most sons that now for our first question, we will start with Megan Potkins. Just a reminder to please share your name and affiliation and ask your question. I will prompt you to unmute now.
Meghan, Hello, minister, thank you for taking my question. This is Megan Potkins with the Financial Post. You talk about, you know, evolving, an evolving situation and facts that are changing that have led to your government's position. I guess
specifically I'm asking about LNG. We also know that that LNG projects, specifically that are offering that could potentially involve shipping Canadian lerg across the Atlantic, have been challenged by things like incredibly high capital costs, you know, the restricted shipping season through the Arctic if it was something through
the Port of Churchill. We also know that it's faced political opposition as well as frankly, the risk that buyers German buyers who might be running might be running on hydrogen before the first cargo itself would leave Nova Scotia or the East Coast. These have all been raised. I say these, these have all been raised its objections to
or challenges to a project advancing. I'm curious if you could articulate what gives either you, I don't want to say confidence, but incredible evidence that a project could advance. What gives proponents of these projects who are apparently saying they could potentially deliver this within five years the kind of confidence that the belief that this could potentially be different, that we could see a project advance that involves shipping Canadian ergy energy across the Atlantic.
I'll speak about what I heard and what Canadian LNG producers heard, and I'll caveat this by saying, as I in my private sector life build projects, what you do to decide whether there's need of a project is talk to your customers. What we heard loud and clear from German LNG buyers and LNG users.
Is they believe there is demand and they want to buy our products. What we heard.
Very clearly from a number of German LNG buyers and users and from the German government is while they believe natural gas is a transition fuel, what they have come to realize over the last several years, given the geopolitical uncertainty, given the rapidly increasing demand for electricity, partially driven by the AI Revolution, is that they will need more of that transition fuel than they thought a few years ago.
They will need materially more than they thought a few years ago, and they will need it for longer than they believed a few years ago. That was a message we heard consistently from German buyers of energy and users of energy and from the German government. We had four different Canadian energy projects that are at various stages of commercial operation over here. All of them were receiving the
same message from Germans. So in my experience, the best way to tell whether there's a demand for something.
Is to talk to the customers. The customers are saying there's.
Demand, Thank you, Megan. Next we will go to Katherine Levec.
Hime Minister Catherine Levec from the National Post. You said the Major Project's Office will be launching later this week. Could you clarify which date exactly, who will be in charge of this office and does the government have a list already ready to go or will this be more of a piecemeal approach where you're going to be announcing you know, port, infrastructure and just a few projects at a time.
Thank you.
So I always learned not to jump in front of your boss. My boss has said that it will be announced later this week. Today's Wednesday, so it'll either be Thursday or Friday.
In terms of.
Major projects, the Prime Minister has said he would expect there to be announcement at some point in the next two weeks. I think that's a pretty good guidance for you. I'm not going to go further than that, so I'm hopeful you will be quite pleased on Thursday or Friday with the announcement of the launch of the Major Project's Office, the leadership of the Major Project's Office and the plans for it, and I would expect over the next two weeks the first projects.
To be announced.
Thanks Catherine. Next we'll go to David young Gren with writers.
Yes, good afternoon. Thank you for doing this.
Given the long list of hurdles that you and others have enunciated about getting LERG to Europe. I mean, how realistic is it to expect Canada we'll be exporting l Europe, not just anytime soon, but anytime ever.
I can tell you that.
Many of the buyers are prepared to buy LNG off the West coast of Canada and trade those products in the international market for LNG.
That was something that was a really important learning experience for me.
Many of the buyers have trading operations in North America, in Asia and in Europe, and they will swap cargoes, and so they can buy cargoes on the West Coast and swap those cargoes for cargoes in Europe, and so German companies today are looking at buying West Coast LNG and swapping it for deliveries into Europe so that they can take advantage of our production on the West Coast to.
Supply German needs in the Atlantic.
As we move forward and projects move through the One Project One review, and if they're projects of national interests were through the Major Project's Office, we are confident we can get to a place where the right projects, with strong proponents and with the support of provinces and First nations,
we will get those through. And I would just point out to you when you look at the projects in British Columbia, they have the support of the province, they have the support of First Nations, and I expect that to be the case for several other projects as well.
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