Media releases

EDMONTON - Following the UCP Government announcement that Recovery Alberta will be fully operational on September 1st,, Public Interest Alberta is raising the alarm about how this decision will  throw employees, patients, and Albertans into chaos.The progressive advocacy organization is urging the government to pause the transition.

EDMONTON - Following the release of new analysis from the Business Renewables Centre-Canada showing Alberta municipalities are missing out on $91 million per year in local tax revenue after last year’s provincial renewable energy moratorium, Public Interest Alberta is calling on the Alberta government to release its finalized roadmap for renewable energy development as soon as possible.

EDMONTON — Progressive advocacy organization Public Interest Alberta is ringing the alarm about the flagrant lack of transparency from the UCP government around their pension plan. Postmedia reported that the Ministry of Finance has delayed the release of UCP pension survey engagement for months, even denying Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) requests. In response, Public Interest Alberta is formally requesting an expedited investigation by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner into the delay and demanding the department to release the results prior to the investigation’s conclusion. 

EDMONTON - In response to yesterday’s disappointing Edmonton Public School Board decision to bring police officers back into public schools, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune made the following statement:

EDMONTON - Public Interest Alberta is calling on the provincial government to amend its budget and invest in climate mitigation and adaptation. The provincial government’s proposed budget lacks any real investment in climate adaptation and mitigation to keep people safe and healthy, and protect agricultural lands and ecosystems. While other provinces, like British Columbia, have spent the past several years developing strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation, Alberta has instead cut funding to piecemeal projects and neglected to convene resources in an overall government strategy.

EDMONTON - “For the third year in a row, the budget is balanced — on the backs of Albertans,” said Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune. “Don’t fall for their spin. This is an austerity budget, plain and simple. The UCP are ignoring the needs of Albertans to continue their disastrous record of cuts, chaos and privatization.”

EDMONTON - The Alberta provincial budget will be released on Thursday, February 29th. In anticipation of its release, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune has issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - In response to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s public commitment to call a special meeting to declare a housing and homelessness emergency, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - With sources within City Hall and administration confirming the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has unilaterally enacted a plan to forcibly decamp hundreds of Edmontonians in what is likely the city’s largest encampment sweep ever, Public Interest Alberta and allies are calling for EPS to stand down. The planned decampent is an infringement of the Charter rights of houseless people by EPS, will make the situation worse on the ground, and will bring Edmonton’s already massively strained emergency health system further to the breaking point.

EDMONTON - Today, The Child and Youth Advocate released their annual report. This report included the disturbing revelation that the office of the Advocate saw the highest number of deaths of young people in care since 2012, the year the office received a mandate to conduct investigative reviews. Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, issued the following statement in response: