Edmonton

Alberta throne speech focuses on education, oil industry

Premier Alison Redford’s government outlined its agenda for Alberta today in the speech from the throne.
Alberta Premier Alison Redford addressed Progressive Conservative MLAs hours before the lieutenant governor read the speech from the throne outlining her government's agenday. (CBC)

Premier Alison Redford’s government outlined its agenda for Alberta this afternoon in the speech from the throne, focusing on education and Alberta's economic driver, the oil industry.

Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell delivered the speech shortly after 3 p.m. MT.

The Redford government used today's throne speech to announce that it is coming up with a new school
curriculum.

The province says it wants to make sure that Alberta students can compete with the world and will use a new "student-centred curriculum" to do it.

Premier Alison Redford will be on Edmonton AM and the Calgary Eyeopener on Tuesday after the 8 a.m. MT edition of World Report 

Controversial provincial achievement tests will be replaced with "student-learner assessments" which will focus on basic numeracy and literacy. 

The province also plans to build a pipeline training facility — billed as Canada's first-and-only dedicated school teaching pipeline construction. 

The government also announced the creation of new endowment funds to support research and innovation in areas of apprenticeships, agriculture and social issues such as family violence and poverty. 

The details for all the initiatives will come in Thursday budget.