Dear Constituents:
On August 31st, Finance Minister Joe Ceci gave the government’s First Quarter Update for 2018.
The good news is that the deficit is down $1 billion and Alberta’s economic recovery is on pace. Exports are up, wholesale trade is up, manufacturing is up, and household and corporate earnings are up.
While Alberta’s economy continues to recover, we still have work to do. We remain committed to our plan for a recovery that is built to last.
Our government will continue to eliminate waste, find efficiencies and manage costs, including managing public sector compensation, controlling health spending by keeping expenses below growth in population and inflation, and continuing to tightly manage discretionary spending across government.
We will also continue to defend funding for our classrooms and hospitals, so our kids have good schools and our loved ones get the care they need.
As you must know, The Federal Court of Appeal ruled against the Trans Mountain Pipeline, quashing the decision to approve the pipeline. This ruling is bad for working families and the economy.
The Trans Mountain Expansion is long overdue. The pipeline would inject $15 billion into the national economy.
That’s why Premier Notley made the decision to pull out of the federal climate plan and has called on the Prime Minister to immediately launch an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Our government has also demanded Ottawa must recall an emergency session of Parliament to assert its authority and fix the National Energy Board (NEB) process.
If the federal government acts boldly and gives this crisis the attention it deserves, construction can re-start early in the New Year.
We cannot accept—no one in Canada should accept that the only way to sell Canada’s resources is through the US.
