Hello friends and neighbours!
Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday and were able to take some time off to rest and recharge in anticipation of a wonderful 2018.
As we move into 2018, our economy is looking up. Since mid-2016, Alberta has added more than 70,000 full-time jobs, mostly in the private sector. The number of drilling rigs has doubled 2016 levels for much of the year. Retail sales are up, and housing starts are up—almost every measure that should be up is up. There is more work to be done, but our government is committed to working with industry, and businesses of all sizes, to diversify our economy and get our pipelines built to the coast.
Our government is also working diligently to reduce government spending while protecting the programs and services that Albertans rely on. We are on-target to reach our in-year savings goals, and will continue with the salary freeze for management and non-union employees until September 2019.
We would love to hear your input on Budget 2019. Please visit budget.alberta.ca to complete the survey. There will also be a telephone town hall on January 31 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm for Southern Alberta. Please feel free to contact our office for details.
A reminder that families making less than $41,446 per year are still eligible to receive the Alberta Child Benefit when filing their tax return. Families who receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and Income Supports are also eligible for the Alberta Child Benefit.
If you have any questions about the provincial budget, Alberta Child Benefit, or any other provincial program please do not hesitate to contact our office by telephone at 403-640-1363 or via email at [email protected]
I look forward to all the great things 2018 will bring!
