Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks on everything Red Deer, central Alberta, and the province

She explained that Red Deer has become more than a place to visit, but a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

She said it’s also become an increasingly great place to invest thanks to local community builders and more.

“When I look around this room, I see people who believe in Alberta. In our communities, in our industries, and in our entrepreneurial spirit that built this province,” she said. “And you can see that in our population growth and in the many businesses that are choosing Alberta. We are growing, innovating, creating jobs, and we are attracting investment.”

She explained Red Deer County has emerged as a serious contender in the global race to attract next-generation technology investment.

In Springbrook, Parrish and Heimbrecker continues to develop its new state-of-the-art flour mill that she said will strengthen Alberta’s agri-food processing sector, create jobs, and add value to the crops grown here.

“Businesses are placing their bets on Alberta’s future and are increasingly seeing the potential of success in central Alberta,” she said. “We’re cutting red tape, keeping taxes low, and ensuring companies have the freedom to innovate and grow.”

Smith added that they are also supportive of organizations with vision, such as those at Red Deer Polytechnic. The premier recognized RDP for its Centre for Innovation and Manufacturing Technology Access Centre, which continues to expand.

“Once complete, about 450 post-secondary students will have hands-on learning opportunities every year,” she said. “They also have a plan for a health training centre so we can train the next generation of health professionals in central Alberta.”

As Red Deer welcomes more people into the city and region, she said her government is working to ensure that Red Deer and the rest of the province remain the best place to live.

She said that over the last 12 months, the number of jobs in Alberta has increased 4.1 per cent, which she said is far above the national growth rate of less than one per cent. Since Smith became premier, the province has gained over 300,000 jobs. Over the past five years, Alberta’s population has increased by 600,000 people.

Smith added that Alberta has the highest average weekly earnings of any other province, along with the greatest labour productivity.

Last year, they also had a record 55,000 housing starts and received over $60 billion in private investment.

Meanwhile, venture capital, she said, remains strong with $465 million invested across 73 deals last year. She said businesses are also lining up to do business in the province.

Rapid population growth has put pressure on things like the cost of living, infrastructure, and key services. This is why Smith explained they’re taking action to make life more affordable, such as putting money back into the pockets of citizens through the new Alberta energy rebate.

The province is investing in 161 new school projects, including some in Blackfalds, Red Deer, Penhold, Wetaskiwin, Sylvan Lake, and more.

She said the province needs to hire more healthcare workers and build more health facilities close to home. Smith highlighted the work being done in the Red Deer Regional Hospital redevelopment project, including adding 200 beds, six operating rooms, two cardiac catheterization labs and a new ambulatory care building.

Smith’s said her government supports integrated community-led solutions such as Project Nexus in Red Deer, which she said she would be visiting after the event.

“That brings housing, healthcare, and recovery services together to help the most vulnerable get back on their feet,” she said. “Thanks to the leadership of council for working with us on both of these projects. It’s not easy to get community buy-in when you’re relocating services like this. It probably wasn’t an easy decision to ask us to close a consumption site and take that risk but it’s demonstrating that it’s working in Red Deer.”

Smith said continuing to invest in infrastructure is important, including the $279 million to twin Highway 11 from Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House.

She said they’re also supporting the expansion of the Red Deer Regional Airport.

“Conversations have already started with your council about the future site of a hub for our high-speed train. We are having these conversations in Calgary and Edmonton, but Red Deer’s going to be pretty darn important in that,” she said. “There’s lots of potential for where that site is going to be located.”

She explained that Alberta continues to be the land of opportunity and that she doesn’t want to lose the momentum they’re starting to gain.

She touched on the deal they reached with Meta to build its first Canadian data centre in Sturgeon County, marking an investment of $13 billion into the province.

Smith defended the decision.

“If you’re going to use Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, or any of those other applications, the data is going to be processed and stored somewhere. I would rather have that data processed in Alberta rather than in China or somewhere else,” she said.

She said as Westerner Days began in Red Deer, she’s reminded that Alberta has always been defined by people who believe in possibility, who work hard, take risks, and those who see opportunity rather than obstacles.

“That spirit built this province, and I believe that Alberta’s best days are ahead of us,” she added.

@rdnewsnow
Premier Danielle Smith and Minister Adriana LaGrange spoke with local Red Deer media on Wednesday.

♬ original sound – rdnewsNOW

In an interview with local media after the event, Smith was asked about the widening of Highway 2 near Red Deer.

More specifically, concerns were raised by citizens about the widening that it could impact Maskepetoon Park.

They feel that they that their concerns aren’t being heard by the provincial government and that it’s already a done deal.

Minister Adriana LaGrange took the question and said that Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen has committed to looking at all the available options.

“But because of the geology, there’s only certain places. You can’t totally relocate the highway and the current way it’s travelling, but we do have to make it safer,” LaGrange said. “We have so many cars on our highway, so we have to make sure that our highways are safe but also that they go into a location that is safe… It’s not a done deal from my understanding.”

Smith was also asked about Project Nexus, which is a proposed social care campus and emergency shelter in Red Deer by the Red Deer Homeless Foundation, located at 7740 40 Avenue.

Smith was set to go visit the site following the event and said she was excited for it.

“If we can establish a model that will work in Red Deer, we’ll establish a model that will work in other mid-sized communities,” Smith said.

by Ian Gustafson

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks on everything Red Deer, central Alberta, and the province

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