The agency began notifying affected non-union employees on Monday, and will inform guild workers in early December. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees said many affected members are technicians and technologists. Alberta Innovates administers R&D grants and runs startup-support programs, and its two subsidiaries conduct research for government and business clients. The provincial budget cut $129.7 million from the agency’s budget over the next two fiscal years, a difference of nearly a quarter. (CBC)

Talking point: Last month’s budget changes are the latest in a string of reductions. Between 2015 and 2017, Alberta Innovates’ budget dropped $76 million; it laid off 23 people in June 2017. The provincial government has also redirected some of the organization’s funding, directing it in the budget to spend $6.5 million to “help businesses innovate using data-enabled technologies.” That money is coming from the agency’s existing budget, Trevor Lynn, senior business partner, told The Logic in October. Alberta Innovates has traditionally focused on sectors like energy, health and biosciences rather than software—the three made up nearly half of its scheduled spending in 2019.