Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. (Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press

GDP On The Rise

Kenney touts ‘Alberta is back’ in first speech to Calgary Chamber since 2019

Dec 8, 2021 | 3:52 PM

CALGARY – Premier Jason Kenney used his first address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce since the start of the pandemic to tout the recovery of Alberta’s economy amid high energy prices.

Saying that ‘Alberta is back’, he noted that in the first quarter next year the provincial GDP is expected to finally surpass the level it was in 2014 before a crash in oil prices pushed the province into recession.

He says that is a sharp turnaround from the early days of the pandemic when unemployment hit 25 per cent and for close to 10 weeks the province was unable to sell an Alberta government bond.

Kenney says the recovery has been helped by an increase in demand for oil and gas, but argues that it’s not part of a roller-coaster in commodities because rising prices show the continued importance of energy.

He used the address to emphasize his United Conservative government’s strategy of low taxes to attract investment, noting that the province accelerated its corporate tax cut to make it the lowest in Canada.

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Kenney also says his government is focused on attracting more people to the province to boost its labour pool through initiatives like rapid certification programs.

NDP Energy Critic and MLA for Calgary-Mountain View Kathleen Ganley issued the following statement in response to Premier Jason Kenney’s speech at the Calgary Chamber:

“The UCP’s rhetoric does not match the reality Alberta families are living in.

“In today’s address to the Calgary Chamber, Premier Jason Kenney did not acknowledge the harsh reality so many Albertans are facing. Families are struggling to make ends meet as they face the rising cost of electricity, tuition fees, car insurance, property tax, and income tax. Jason Kenney offered no hope or plan.

“Alberta’s unemployment rate is significantly higher than the national average, with Calgary having the second highest unemployment rate among major cities in Canada.

“The Premier did not take any responsibility for the fourth wave of the pandemic that pushed the healthcare system close to the brink of collapse and resulted in needless deaths and delayed surgeries. During the entirety of his speech, Jason Kenney didn’t say one word on how his government plans to repair the damage they have done to our health care system, or on his plans to attract doctors and nurses that the province desperately needs. We need a strong healthcare system to ensure we can attract talent to the province.

“After dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for the last two years, Albertans want their government working to address the issues that are important to them; our healthcare system recovering, and a real plan to address jobs and the soaring cost of living.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)