Cultivating economic growth in rural Alberta

May 07, 2024

Alberta’s government is committed to attracting investment and jobs to continue to drive the economic engine of Canada. In addition to reducing unnecessary red tape and introducing the job creation tax cut, which ensured the province has the lowest taxes in the country, Alberta’s government introduced its deal-closing incentive, the Investment and Growth Fund (IGF). This program builds on the Alberta Advantage: the lowest corporate tax in Canada and among the lowest in North America, a highly skilled workforce, an abundance of natural resources, a world-class education system, and a thriving research and development pipeline.

Thanks in part to the rural stream of the IGF, Logistik Unicorp Inc. has chosen to invest in the development of a processing hemp plant in Elk Point in partnership with Frog Lake First Nations. The facility will create an estimated 33 permanent full-time and 50 temporary jobs.

“Alberta’s government has created an investment friendly environment with policies and programs that support companies like Logistik Unicorp in choosing to expand in our province. With the lowest corporate tax rate in Canada, a highly skilled workforce and investment incentive programs like the Investment and Growth Fund, businesses can feel confident about investing in Alberta.”

Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade
Quebec-based Logistik Unicorp Inc. is the largest uniform company in Canada and has more than 10 years’ experience in the hemp industry. Their goal is to create the most advanced hemp processing plant in the world. The company received $1.1 million through the IGF to advance those goals in Alberta.

This partnership, operating under the Askiy Hemp LP, involves building a decortication, refinement and cottonization hemp plant with a capacity to process 40,000 tonnes of hemp stalks per year. The aim is to use hemp cultivated nearby in Frog Lake First Nations and other neighbouring Indigenous communities on 125,000 acres of land. Together, the new hemp growing operation and the hemp processing plant will contribute to the growth of Alberta’s agriculture sector and create valuable jobs in the region.

“This investment by Logistik Unicorp is great news for the town of Elk Point and will bring in much-needed jobs and investment to the community and highlights our government’s commitment to economic development in all corners of Alberta. These kind of foundational moments trigger growth in an area, and we see a real opportunity.”

Scott Cyr, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul

"We are pleased to be part of the transformation of the Canadian industrial landscape by fostering economic development for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Working with Frog Lake First Nations is a natural step in creating this new market within our economy. In line with Canada's vision of growth and reconciliation, this inspiring project is rooted in and springs from our environmental values, bringing about the creation of a unique and promising new hemp industry, a reflection of Canada’s resourcefulness."

Louis Bibeau, president and CEO, Logistik Unicorp Inc.

“As the Chief of Frog Lake First Nations, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our people. This can only be done by diversifying and by making investments such as this, as it is an important factor to the nations’ growth. I want to take this time to thank Logistik Unicorp for approaching Frog Lake First Nations to develop a joint venture partnership and form Askiy Hemp LP. This is a great opportunity for economic growth for Frog Lake First Nations. It will provide a large scale of opportunities in green energy, food and water sovereignty, clean transportation, carbon sequestration and sustainable projects. It will also provide a number of employment opportunities for our nation’s members as well.”

Chief Gregory Desjarlais, Frog Lake First Nations
Alberta’s government is committed to working with Indigenous communities like Frog Lake First Nations to create economic and social opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. Welcoming Logistik Unicorp to the region will support strong, vibrant Indigenous communities and create opportunities for Indigenous people to fully participate in a prosperous, competitive and diverse Alberta. Frog Lake First Nations is a majority owner in the project and plans to cultivate hemp to supply to the facility.

“On behalf of the Town of Elk Point, we are excited that with the assistance and encouragement of our government, Askiy Hemp LP has decided to invest in our town. Askiy Hemp LP is a shining example of the collaboration between our First Nation friends and the private sector to promote economic and agricultural development within our region. Most important of all, this venture also provides employment opportunities for our Frog Lake First Nations and residents, as well as future economic development opportunities within our region.”

Parrish Tung, mayor, Elk Point
The IGF has been providing an extra incentive to close deals across Alberta since 2021. Budget 2024 dedicates $15 million for the Investment and Growth Fund to secure private-sector investments, of which $5 million is dedicated to rural Alberta.

Click here to see more...

Video: Spring 2026 weather outlook for Wisconsin; What an early-arriving El Niño could mean

Northeast Wisconsin is a small corner of the world, but our weather is still affected by what happens across the globe.

That includes in the equatorial Pacific, where changes between El Niño and La Niña play a role in the weather here -- and boy, have there been some abrupt changes as of late.

El Niño and La Niña are the two phases of what is collectively known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO for short. These are the swings back and forth from unusually warm to unusually cold sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean along the equator.

Since this past September, we have been in a weak La Niña, which means water temperatures near the Eastern Pacific equator have been cooler than usual. That's where we're at right now.

Even last fall, the long-term outlook suggested a return to neutral conditions by spring and potentially El Niño conditions by summer.

But there are some signs this may be happening faster than usual, which could accelerate the onset of El Niño.

Over the last few weeks, unusually strong bursts of westerly winds farther west in the Pacific -- where sea surface temperatures are warmer than average -- have been observed. There is a chance that this could accelerate the warming of those eastern Pacific waters and potentially push us into El Niño sooner than usual.

If we do enter El Nino by spring -- which we'll define as the period of March, April and May -- there are some long-term correlations with our weather here in Northeast Wisconsin.

Looking at a map of anomalously warm weather, most of the upper Great Lakes doesn't show a strong correlation, but in general, the northern tiers of the United States do tend to lean to that direction.

The stronger correlation is with precipitation. El Niño conditions in spring have historically come with a higher risk of very dry weather over that time frame, so this will definitely be a transition we'll have to watch closely as we move out of winter.