Safe and Strong Communities

Another priority of the government will be to make Alberta communities as safe, strong and self-reliant as they can be.

The fight against crime remains a top priority for this government. This year, community groups will receive more than five hundred and fifty thousand dollars in grants for crime prevention initiatives. The Victims of Crime Act will be amended to better support and serve victims of crime by ensuring equitable award decisions and simplify the appeal process.

Albertans value a caring society, where children, seniors, and others who are vulnerable receive the support they need. The government is committed to providing this support, beginning with giving children a strong start in life, particularly those that are most at risk.

This year, a new pilot program will be implemented in which mobile community teams respond to crisis situations involving children, youth and families in government care or at risk of coming into care. Another new program will be introduced to provide mentoring to youth leaving child welfare to ease their transition to adulthood.

Support for low income Albertans will continue to be provided. The government will review income support programs to determine whether they continue to meet clients' needs.

Arts and culture play a vital role in sustaining the high quality of life Albertans enjoy. Recognizing this, the government will extend the Alberta Film Development Grant Program to encourage the continued development of film arts in the province.