Alberta’s economic recovery is continuing to drive our province forward.
Recently, we saw Alberta’s credit rating upgraded for the first time since 2001. This follows our government tabling Alberta’s first balanced budget in nearly a decade. Most importantly, however, our people are going back to work.
According to Statistics Canada’s most recent labour force survey, Alberta has created nearly 40,000 net new jobs this year so far, and 200,000 since January 2021.
We have seen six straight months of job growth for our province. But better yet, Alberta’s unemployment rate has now dropped to 5.8 percent, the lowest level it has been since 2015. While we have further to go, this means we have undone much of the economic damage caused by the short-sighted policies of the previous government.
I hope you are finding time this summer to celebrate this good economic news with friends and family in your community. Alberta is embarking on another economic boom – one that is more diverse and resilient than ones seen before.
While rising energy prices are good for Alberta’s primary industry and government royalty revenue, this also causes inflated prices for almost everything we consume. Our government has already removed the provincial tax at the pump for gasoline and diesel and will be offering natural gas rebates for October through March to support more than 1.6 million homes, farms, and businesses facing high heating bills next winter.
On a personal note, on June 21, I was honoured to be sworn in as Alberta’s Transportation Minister. I thoroughly enjoyed my past three years as Minister of Infrastructure and I’m happy to pass this portfolio over to the capable hands of Nick Milliken, MLA for Calgary-Currie. I look forward to the new challenges in transportation, including working to complete Calgary’s Ring Road.
MLA – Calgary Edgemont Prasad Panda proudly serves the following Communities: Dalhousie, Edgemont, Hamptons, Hawkwood, Ranchlands
