Notley talks non-confidence vote, economy during Lethbridge speech

NDP Official Opposition MLAs voted against the UCP’s budget, with party officials saying it fails to provide relief for families struggling with the high cost of living.

The NDP says the UCP’s Budget 2022 contains a fake natural gas rebate, increased private health care, higher school fees, and a billion-dollar tax on inflation. Under the UCP plan, the NDP says Albertans will continue to pay more income tax while critical needs in health care, education, child care, justice, infrastructure, and more remain unfunded.

“Our Caucus gave the UCP every opportunity to push pause and go back to the drawing board on a budget that would actually support families and make life better for Albertans but instead of working with us, they refused,” said NDP Children’s Services Critic Rakhi Pancholi.

“This budget was balanced off the backs of real people who are struggling to make ends meet. It’s wrong and we will continue to stand up for all the Albertans who have been left behind.”

The Opposition suggests reindexing programs like the Alberta Child Family Benefit, the Alberta Seniors Benefit and AISH would offer real support for Albertans, saying it would save families hundreds of dollars annually and help those struggling most.

While the UCP presented Alberta’s first balanced budget in several years, the NDP says it came at the cost of budget cuts in certain areas.

During her speech to the Lethbridge Chamber, Notley claims that areas like healthcare and post-secondary education saw large reductions, and believes that the budget is “not actually doing anything to protect Alberta families from the affordability crisis.”

She was pleased to learn recently that the strike at the University of Lethbridge ended after nearly six weeks, but believes it only carried on as long as it did because of budget cuts.

Since 2019/20, the school lost approximately $21 million in annual provincial funding or about 20%.

If the vote of non-confidence had gone through, it would likely trigger an election, potentially sooner than the already-planned one in 2023.

While not directly being in election mode, Notley says the NDP is ready to go if one were to be called.

“So if being ready for the election means that we’ve been connecting with Albertans and hearing what matters to them, and what are the things that would help them in their lives the most, and knowing what the answers to those questions are – if that means being ready for the election, yep, we’re ready to go.”

She spoke to Chamber members extensively about economic platforms including the need to diversify the economy, expand investments into renewable energy, what she believes are the financial failures of the UCP government, and how communities like Lethbridge should be better supported by the province.

Notley also acknowledged that most provincial government administrations in Alberta have more or less ignored Lethbridge. She says it is crucial to have strong MLAs in the cabinet who are going to ensure that the voices of specific regions and communities are heard loud and clear.

(With files from rdnewsNOW)

by David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Notley talks non-confidence vote, economy during Lethbridge speech

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